What is a Fluid Coupling? http://www.fluidcouplings.co.uk/Pages/Whatisafluidcoupling.
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What is a fluid coupling
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What is a Fluid Coupling ?
Troubleshooting A fluid coupling is a simple mechanical device that connects a prime mover, typically a squirrel cage motor,
to a driven machine. These can be conveyors, crushers, fans, pumps and blowers. They are used in many
Coupling Indentification
industries including Power Generation, Steel Production, Mining and Quarrying, Petrochemical and food
Contact Us production. They have given over 70 years of reliable efficient operation, and still provide the engineer with a
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reliable method of starting a operating heavy industrial equipment.
Member Login The basic principle of operation for any fluid coupling,
irrespective of manufacturer is as follows.
The 'working' part of the coupling consists of two
elements, one (impeller) connected to the prime mover
(usually an electric motor), the second one (runner)
connected to the driven machine. These are positioned
face to face inside a casing, which is partially filled with
an appropriate fluid.
This is called the working circuit.
When the motor is rotated, the fluid is picked up in the
vanes of the impeller and thrown outwards, across the
gap, towards the vanes of the runner. As a result of the
fluid kinetic energy, the runner begins to rotate and
drive the driven machine.
There are no physical connections between the two
halves of the coupling, and therefore the driver and
driven machines are not directly connected
Typical Fluid Coupling Types
Fluid Coupling Considerations
Provides a soft start for the motor
As the motor is allowed to run up
light to full speed, the inherent
overload capacity of the motor can be
used to accelerate the driven machine.
This allows the motor to be sized for
the running duty, and not for starting
the drive. This is at odds with
electronic drives which tend to be
'oversized' to cope with the starting
duty, which has a negative effect on
the initial cost, and the power factor of
the drive.
FCU Design
Reduced Motor Current
For motors fixed rigidly to the driven
machine, they will tend to accelerate
slowly up to speed. During this
acceleration time, the electrical current
being drawn is typically very high. With
a fluid coupling offering the motor a
soft 'no load' start, the electrical
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What is a Fluid Coupling? http://www.fluidcouplings.co.uk/Pages/Whatisafluidcoupling.aspx
current drawn by the motor is
significantly reduced , and
the acceleration time is much reduced.
The coupling will only ever absorb
from the motor the power needed to
run the machine and itself when in a
running condition.
Smooth Controlled Acceleration
As there is no direct mechanical
connection between the two halves of
the coupling, the torque is transmitted
by the fluid due to the relative motion
of the coupling impeller. The vortex
created in the fluid then impinges on
the runner therefore transferring the
torque to the driven machine. This
allows the output side of the coupling
to gradually and smoothly come up to
speed in a controlled and repeatable
manner.
Overload Protection
SFU Design As there is no mechanical
connection between the two coupling
halves, in an overload or stall
condition, the fluid will 'sheer' and the
coupling slip. This capability provides
protection to the driver and driven
machine, without causing any damage
to coupling.
Isolates Shock Loading and Torsional
Vibration
As the two coupling halves are not
mechanically connected, any inherent
vibration or shock loading will be
damped out of the system by the fluid.
This helps to reduce wear on the drive
components and increases machine
operational life.30+ year old couplings
are very common items.
Simple and Reliable Machines
Fluid couplings are very simple
machines with few moving parts. They
are are very robust, making them
extremely reliable in operation. There
are no meshing components and
SCR 4/24 Design
meshing parts to go wrong. They are
also very low maintenance devices.
High Operating Efficiency
Fluid couplings typically operate with
a slip of approximately 2%, giving an
operational efficiency close to 97%
Tolerant to Poor/Low Electrical
Supply
Fluctuations in electrical supply will
not have any direct consequence to
the coupling performance. A fluid
coupling can also help a motor to start
a machine in areas of poor electrical
supply.
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What is a Fluid Coupling? http://www.fluidcouplings.co.uk/Pages/Whatisafluidcoupling.aspx
Scoop Trimming Design
Variable Speed couplings still offer the Engineer a cost effective, robust, and reliable method of providing
machinery speed control. At the same time, due to the characteristics of the fluid coupling, they allow the
equipment to be sized for the running duty, not starting, generally meaning that the equipment will be more
economically selected compared to VFD type drives.
Also when installed with the latest in actuator and control technology, variable speed fluid couplings can still
offer a very effective solution at a fraction of the cost of more elaborate electronic systems. Over the years
they have also proven to be more reliable in operation, again offering the user the most cost effective life
cycle costs.
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