Testing prototype of a multistage subsea pump to obtain the performance curves and vibration response. The performance will be evaluated in multiphase flow conditions. The current test rig is capable of testing 200 mm impellers with 250 HP power input at 3600 rpm. The pump performance will be evaluated for two fluids (water and air) […]
Equipment
Porous Gas Bearing Test Rig
This test rig serves to identify the dynamic and static characteristics of aerostatic thin films. Multiple gas delivery configurations are tested and compared in terms of load capacity, stiffness, and damping. Experimental results will be used to select and optimize the gas delivery configuration, and develop computational models for the design and development of hybrid […]
Subsynchronous Response Due to Trapped Fluid
Subsynchronous vibrations in rotating machinery can be detrimental, reaching amplitudes of vibration much greater than 1x. Subsynchronous vibrations are caused by many factors including fluid trapped in a hollow cavity. For trapped fluid, the system is excited when operating just above the first natural frequency, about 0.9X. A test rig was built to replicate the […]
Thrust Bearing Rig
Process fluid lubrication of thrust bearings is an attractive solution to reliability issues for Electric Submersible Pumps (ESPs). This test rig is built to qualify the performance of thrust bearings in process fluid lubrication, with or without contamination. The current rig is capable of testing bearings up to 11 inches in diameter at speeds up […]
Thrust Collar Test Rig
The thrust collar test rig closely resembles some of the components in an integrally geared compressor. The rig was designed to study the dynamic coupling of two shafts through a thrust bearing element. Recent modifications allow for visualization of the thin film that balances a large load. The rig incorporates testing classic turbomachinery mechanisms like […]
Whip and Whirl Test Rig
The Whip and Whirl Test Rig was designed to operate up to 8000 rpm, reaching an instability state at about 5000 rpm. The rig was designed to evaluate the dynamic response of annular seals/bushing operating under oil whip and whirl conditions in a turbulent flow regime (water lubrication). The in-between bearing design has a 4” […]