A journal bearing test rig was designed and fabricated by an Multidisciplinary Senior Design team in 2013-2014 to simulate Dresser-Rand’s ESH-1 reciprocating compressor. This project, P15453, will serve as a continuation of P14453, the 2013-2014 project. The reciprocating compressor test rig allows for rapid testing of the crank journal bearing found in the full scale Dresser-Rand compressor. Comparatively, disassembling the full scale compressor can take over six hours while disassembling the test right can take approximately 30 minutes. The rapid disassembly allows for testing and monitoring of the crank journal bearing while reducing time between tests. Currently, the test rig is fitted with static loading due to time and budgetary constraints associated with dynamic loading. However, this does not accurately simulate the environment found in the compressor.

The goal of this project is to successfully adapt the existing test rig with dynamic loading while meeting bearing loads of 1900lb at 6 Hertz. Both the dynamic loading actuation and the original test rig should also be fitted with data acquisition sensors for condition monitoring. Additionally, the project is required to stay within an $8,000 budget. The resulting design will add both dynamic loading as well as data acquisition without sacrificing ease of use, safety, or afore mentioned budgetary constraints.

Project Name

Dynamic Journal Bearing Loading System

Project Number

P15453

Project Family

Dresser-Rand Reciprocating Compressor Projects

Start Term

2141

End Term

2143

Faculty Guide

William Nowak, wjnddm@rit.edu

Primary Customer

Dr. Jason Kolodziej (RIT)

Scott Delmotte (Dresser-Rand)

Sponsor (financial support)

James Sorokes (Dresser-Rand)

Photo Gallery

Planning & Execution

Gate Reviews

Problem Definition

Systems Design

Detailed Design

Build, Test, Document

Publications & Presentations