Voith Turbo

Geared Variable-Speed Couplings

Voith – Our company

Voith is a reliable partner to essential industries.

We set standards worldwide for paper making technology,
power transmission, power plant equipment and for industrial
services. With annual sales of approx. € 3.3 billion,
24,000 employees and 180 locations worldwide Voith is one
of the large family-owned companies in Europe.

We want to be our customers’ preferred The engine of our strong growth:

supplier and business partner innovative power and reliability

Quality, reliability and soundness are key concepts
of our identity.
These are expressed in three words:
Voith – Engineered reliability.
Voith engineers have again and again written
new chapters in the history of technology.
Today, Voith holds over 7,000 active patents
worldwide. Approximately 400 new ones are
added every year.

Voith has operated in the black since its founding

on January 1,1867. The dynamic development
and the growth over the last few years confirm
that we have taken the right steps.

We will continue to expand our worldwide

dedication to our markets.
Geared variable-speed couplings

Precise control of maximum powers page 2

How will you benefit? page 3

Geared variable-speed couplings page 4

with modular design

Geared variable-speed couplings page 5

for high-speed driven machines

How to select the right coupling page 6

Product range page 9

for high-speed driven machines

Geared variable-speed couplings page 10

for low-speed driven machines
Precise control
of maximum powers
Voith Turbo is the largest manufacturer of geared variable-speed
couplings worldwide. Over 4,000 drives have been supplied so far
and are operating successfully. Powers up to 60,000 kW and speeds
up to 20,000 rpm are possible. Drives with geared variable-speed
couplings are renowned all over the world for their outstanding
features and customer benefits in a wide range of applications,
i.e. in power plants, in the petrochemical industry, the chemical
industry, the iron and steel industry as well as many others.

Economical operation with excellent
reliability is a priority in modern
power plants. Whether they are
installed in boiler feed pump or fan
drives, in thermal power stations, in
combined cycle power plants or
nuclear power plants, Voith geared
variable-speed couplings meet
these requirements, both in the
feed water and in the cooling water
circuit of the power plant.
Controlling the speed of the driven
machine provides accurate and
energy-saving adaptation of power
to the operating point of the plant.
In pump and compressor drives in
chemical and petrochemical indus-
try, the geared variable-speed
couplings ensure that driven
machines operate more economi-
cally. Voith Turbo has the perfect
geared variable-speed coupling for
virtually all requirements – be it the
smooth acceleration of motor and
driven machine or the precise and
dynamic adaptation of the speed of
driven machine.
Offshore or onshore, in extremely
hot or cold temperatures, on plat-
forms, pipeline stations or in the
desert – Voith geared variable-
speed couplings have been de-
signed and built to withstand
rough and extreme conditions,
year after year, with a minimum
of maintenance and maximum
reliability and availability. Designs
to API specifications are available
also.
 How will you benefit?

Applications: How will you benefit?

Power plants Petrochemical industry Chemical industry 䡲 Power savings and extension of driven machine life
compared to throttle control; lower operating costs
Boiler feed pumps Pipeline pumps Compressors 䡲 Precise load adaptation of driven machines due to
the high control accuracy and fast reaction times
Boiler fans Crude-oil pumps Fans 䡲 Reliability > 99.9%
(Evaluation based on units in operation)
Circulating pumps Injection pumps Centrifugal pumps 䡲 Vibration damping
䡲 Relieved motor start-up and smooth acceleration
Coal mills Pipeline compressors of heavy masses
䡲 Robust and compact design
Process compressors 䡲 Easy maintenance, low maintenance costs
䡲 Long service life

Combined with a robust squirrel-

cage motor, geared variable-speed
couplings have proven themselves
as the preferred choice when com-
peting against alternative drive
systems.

2
3
Geared variable-speed couplings
with modular design
The modular geared variable-speed
coupling is a further development of
the proven geared variable-speed
coupling design. The gear stage
and the hydrodynamic variable-
speed coupling are provided in a
range of separate modules but with
a common interface so that they
can be combined to provide the
optimum solution for a particular
driven machine power and speed.
The advantages of this design
are obvious:
䡲 Increased technical flexibility
䡲 Optimum adaptation by combining
gearbox and coupling
䡲 Integrated rapid-start device
䡲 Compact design, short delivery
times
䡲 Easy maintenance
Scoop tube with electro-
hydraulic actuator and
mechanically operated
oil circulation control valve
– improved dynamics
– increased precision
– low auxiliary power
– compact design
– no electro-mechanical
connecting members.
4
Geared variable-speed couplings
for high-speed driven machines

Design and function Type R..KM

Voith geared variable-speed cou-

plings combine mechanical gears
and a hydrodynamic variable-speed
turbo coupling in one common
housing. The oil tank is bolted to the
bottom of the housing. Depending
on the application or the design,
the gear stage is either arranged
on the input or on the output side of
the coupling.
The coupling fill can be varied as
needed during operation by means
of the scoop tube. As a result, the
speed and power transmitted to the
driven machine can be controlled
steplessly.

Oil supply 1 Gear stage

Voith geared variable-speed
coupling type R..KM
2 Hydrodynamic variable
speed coupling
Both working and lube oil are 3 Scoop tube
supplied from the integrated oil 4 Scoop tube controller
(VEHS)
tank, but have separate circuits.
5 Working oil cooler
The oil system can also be used 6 Lube oil cooler
to supply both the motor and the 7 Main lube oil pump
8 Oil circulation control
driven machine with lube oil.
valve
9 Working oil pump
10 Auxiliary lube oil pump
11 Duplex filter
Design
12 Oil tank
The design of a geared variable-
speed coupling is essentially
determined by the power and the
speed of the driven machine.

5
 How to select
the right coupling

The power diagrams show the Input speed = 1800 rpm (60 Hz countries)
powers transmitted in relation to
the input and output speed for the
various coupling types and sizes. 60
50
40 R 120/119 GS
30

19 120
R 119/118 GS
600

R
20
R 118/117 GS 550
R 110/111 KGS

R1
500 R 18/19 KGS-14

18
10

R1
450
Power [kW x 1000]

17
400 R 16/17 KGS

R1
5
4
3

1
30
R 1 K630
R1 1K6

R 1 ..M

R 1 ...M

R 1 ..M
R 1 ..M
...M

...M

...M

...M
.

.
9K

8K
7K

6K
5K

4K

2K

0K
1
10
R1

R1

R1

R1
R 8 K...M
0,3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 2

Speed [rpm x 1000]

Input speed = 1500 rpm (50 Hz countries)

60
50
40 R 120/119 GS
30
19 120

R 119/118 GS
R

20 600
R 118/117 GS R 110/111 KGS
R1

550
R 18/19 KGS-14
18

10 500
R1
Power [kW x 1000]

450
17

R 16/17 KGS
R1

5 400
4
3

1
30
R 1 K630
R1 1K6

R 1 ..M

R 1 ...M

R 1 ..M
R 1 ...M
...M

...M

...M

...M
.

.
9K

8K

7K

6K
5K

4K

2K

0K
1
10
R1

R1

R1

R1

R 8 K...M
0,3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 2

Speed [rpm x 1000]

 Design to API standard are also Input speed = 3600 rpm (60 Hz countries)
available. The size of the machine
then depends on the specified API
service factor. 60
50
40 R 115 GS
30 R 115 GS
R 114 GS
550
20
R 114 GS R 110/111 KGS
R 113 GS 500/450 R 18/19 KGS-14

Power [kW x 1000]

10

14 115
400
R 16/17 KGS

R
5

R1
4
R 19 GS...M
3

13
R 18 GS...M
R1
2
R 17 GS...M

1
R 16 GS...M
30
R 1 K630
R1 1K6

R 15 GS...M
R 1 ..M

R 1 ...M

R 1 ..M
R 1 ...M
...M

...M

...M

...M

.M
.

.
9K

8K

7K

6K
5K

4K

2K

0K

K..
1
10
R1

R1

R1

R1

R8
0,3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 2

Speed [rpm x 1000]

Input speed = 3000 rpm (50 Hz countries)

60
50
40 R 115 GS
30 R 115 GS
R 114 GS
550
20
R 114 GS R 110/111 KGS
R 113 GS 500/450 R 18/19 KGS-14
Power [kW x 1000]

10
14 115

400
R 16/17 KGS
R

5
R1

4
R 19 GS...M
3
13

R 18 GS...M
R1

2
R 17 GS...M

1
R 16 GS...M
30
R 1 K630
R1 1K6

R 15 GS...M
R 1 ..M

R 1 ...M

R 1 ..M
R 1 ...M
...M

...M

...M

...M

.M
.

.
9K

8K

7K

6K
5K

4K

2K

0K

K..
1
10
R1

R1

R1

R1

R8

0,3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 15 2

Speed [rpm x 1000]

6
7
How to operate
the coupling

The performance diagram shows Performance diagram

the transmittable coupling torques
125
40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 100%
MK at different scoop tube positions
III Smin
as a function of the output speed.
1
100
The desired output speed becomes I
a stable intersection between cou-
75
pling torque MK and load torque 30% 2
MK [%]

(load curve). II
3
50
20% 4

25
10%
IV
0%
0
50 100
output speed [% of input speed]

Operating Ranges Parameters Typical load characteristics

I, IV Starting Range Scoop tube position in % of the full 1 constant torque

II Control Range scoop-tube stroke. (e.g. positive displacement
III Overload Range pumps and compressors).
MK Transmitted coupling torque 2 decreasing torque
The shape of the coupling charac- (e.g. boiler feed pumps
teristic curves is given for informa- Smin Minimum slip required operating at varying pressures).
tion only, since there may be minor for torque transmission 3 parabolic torque
deviations if coupling sizes, circula- (e.g. resistance parabolae,
tion oil flows, oil viscosity, etc. vary. S= (1 - ) • 100 [%] pumps with back pressure,
blowers).
n
n1 = input 2speed 4 decreasing torque
n1
(e.g. boiler feed pumps
n2 = output speed operating at fixed pressure).
 Product range
for high-speed driven machines
Coupling types for specific applications depend on the respective
arrangement of gearbox and coupling and the power and the speed
of the motor and the driven machine.

Type R..KM Type R..GS

A combination of step-up gear and

variable speed coupling with high
power density, step-up gearing.
Special advantages due to modular
design.

Type R..KGS

A step-up gear is integrated both

at the input and the output side for
particularly high output speeds,
e.g. for high-speed compressors.

Type R..KGS
Type R..GS

The coupling is direct-driven by the

motor and adapted to the required
speed of driven machine by the
step-up gear located at the output
side of the coupling; ideal for high
powers and extremely high speeds.

8
9
Geared variable-speed couplings
for low-speed driven machines

Design and function Type R..A

For low-speed driven machines, the

turbo coupling is fitted with a reduc- 6
tion gear on the output. Coupling
and gear stage are situated in a
common housing, the lower part 8
of which serves as an oil tank. 2

By adding a Voith hydrodynamic 1 4

brake (optional), with an appropri-
ate breaking torque characteristic,
heavy masses of the driven ma-
chine can be rapidly decelerated.

5
7

Oil supply 1 Gear stage

2 Hydrodynamic variable
speed coupling
Both working and lube oil are sup- 3 Scoop tube (adjustable)
plied from the integrated oil tank. 4 Hydrodynamic brake
The oil system can also be used (optional)
5 Oil supply
to supply both the motor and the 6 Working oil cooler
driven machine with oil. 7 Duplex filter
8 Oil pump

Voith geared variable-speed

coupling type R..A
 The control requirements of low-speed driven machines such
as coal mills, I.D. fans or crude oil pumps, vary greatly.
Depending on the application and for optimum adaptation to
the existing space conditions, the gear stage is designed as
a helical gear or bevel gear.

Type R..A
The variable-speed coupling is
fitted with a helical reduction gear
on the output side. Typical driven
machines are coal mills, crushers,
low-speed pumps and fans.
Type R..B
Type R..KGL
A step gear at the input side and
a reduction gear at the output side
make this type into a fast reacting
and compact coupling used e.g. for
fast respones times, loading pumps
and high powers.
Type R..KGL

This type of turbo coupling is fitted

with a bevel gear on the output
side. Geared variable-speed cou-
plings for low-speed driven
machines with high inertia, e.g. coal
mills.

Type R..B

Geared variable-speed
coupling type R..B

10
11
Voith Turbo GmbH & Co. KG
Variable speed drives
Voithstraße 1
74564 Crailsheim/Germany
Tel. +49 7951 32-0
Fax +49 7951 32-650
vs.drives@voith.com
www.variable-speed.com
www.voithturbo.com

cr 269 e 09.03 3000 MSW Printed in Germany. Technical data and illustrations subject to change.