Speed of the expander
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Dear sea friends, at what speed below which will the expander be damaged?
The problem isn’t clearly stated; they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. But there is a minimum rotational speed setting for each operation.
There is a minimum speed requirement when starting an expander; in our case, the speed must exceed 5000 rpm within a few seconds. This is because expanders generally have a surge zone at low speeds, and when the speed falls within the critical range, it can cause excessive vibration in the expander’s bearings, leading to damage to the expander. The surge zone varies from one machine to another. Furthermore, gas bearing lubrication suffers from poor oil film formation, which makes seizure likely; therefore, it is necessary to rapidly increase the speed and move out of the low-speed range, mainly to ensure the safety of the expander.
Got it. I’ll check the manual for our expander then. Thank you both for your advice; if there’s anything I don’t understand, everyone can discuss it together