6 research outputs found

    Full Load Testing Of A 12.5 MW Vertical High Speed Subsea Motorcompressor

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    Lecturepg. 79-92In late 2006 Authors’ company was awarded a contract for the motorcompressor for the Ormen Lange Subsea Compression Pilot. This Pilot represents the first subsea motorcompressor unit ever built in a fully marinized version and tested in a water pit, which was developed specifically for the project at the customer’s site (Nhyamna, Norway). The prototype unit is a 12.5MW (16763HP) integrated motorcompressor, which runs up to 10.5krpm in a vertical configuration with the following features: Single casing; High-speed motor rigidly coupled to a multistage centrifugal compressor (3 journal bearings shaft line); Canned Active Magnetic Bearings (AMBs); Process gas used as cooling fluid for the Electric Motor; Internal separation system (to protect the bearings and the electric motor from the intrusion of solid and liquid materials); Fully marinized AMBs control system; The design and validation plan for this complex equipment were developed through a four years program where many challenging milestones were achieved. The Ormen Lange Subsea Compression Pilot motorcompressor has successfully completed an intensive full load testing campaign in the Authors’ Company plant including the following: Static-dynamic tuning of the AMBs; Mechanical Running Test; Compressor Performance Test (ASME PTC-10 Type 2 + Full Load test); Electric Motor Performance Test; Overall cooling system check; Landing test (partial landing and full speed delevitation test). The test campaign has fully demonstrated the functionality of this prototype unit capable of operation in the service conditions. The Next step will be the shipment to the costumer site where the submerged testing will be conducted. This paper will provide a detailed description of the main test results of the subsea motorcompressor covering all aspects of the test program including rotordynamic behaviour, compressor thermodynamic performance, axial load variation versus operating conditions (monitored thanks to the thrust AMB), electric motor cooling system behaviour, electric motor performance, AMBs and control system operability. Of special interest is the rotor delevitation test from full speed consisting in the two ton rotor running at 10.5krpm dropping onto the mechanical emergency bearings until the machine reached a complete stop condition. This test, which was repeated 5 times, provided a full-scale verification of the landing numerical simulation developed by the authors (Ransom et al., 2009)

    PROCESS CONTROL OPTIMIZATION FOR CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSORS ON ACTIVE MAGNETIC BEARINGS

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    LectureDuring the testing activities of a subsea prototype compression station in Norway, which included full load operation of an integrated vertical motocompressor levitated by active magnetic bearings (AMBs), relevant efforts were taken to opportunely tune the process control dynamics so to increase machine protection during transient operations. For such reason compressor shutdown procedure has been modified after the first testing phase in order to improve machine reliability and availability, by opportunely acting on diverse system parameters. 3rd Middle East Turbomachinery Symposium (METS III) 15-18 February 2015 | Doha, Qatar | mets.tamu.edu Copyright by Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M University Process control systems for traditional centrifugal compressors supported by oil bearings are always designed in order to minimize (or even avoid) machine operation in the surge region also for transient operations, while it is less usual to take precautions against operation in choking condition. For a centrifugal compressor on AMBs however, it is necessary to properly take into account the process dynamics and the limited AMB’s capacity to counteract external loads in the diverse machine operative modes. In the following sections, the machine configuration and peculiarities will be described first. Then the thrust balancing for vertical integrated motocompressor will be described. Finally, both the original and optimized process control logic for the machine will be described

    Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study

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    Background: In 2020, ACIE Appy study showed that COVID-19 pandemic heavily affected the management of patients with acute appendicitis (AA) worldwide, with an increased rate of non-operative management (NOM) strategies and a trend toward open surgery due to concern of virus transmission by laparoscopy and controversial recommendations on this issue. The aim of this study was to survey again the same group of surgeons to assess if any difference in management attitudes of AA had occurred in the later stages of the outbreak. Methods: From August 15 to September 30, 2021, an online questionnaire was sent to all 709 participants of the ACIE Appy study. The questionnaire included questions on personal protective equipment (PPE), local policies and screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection, NOM, surgical approach and disease presentations in 2021. The results were compared with the results from the previous study. Results: A total of 476 answers were collected (response rate 67.1%). Screening policies were significatively improved with most patients screened regardless of symptoms (89.5% vs. 37.4%) with PCR and antigenic test as the preferred test (74.1% vs. 26.3%). More patients tested positive before surgery and commercial systems were the preferred ones to filter smoke plumes during laparoscopy. Laparoscopic appendicectomy was the first option in the treatment of AA, with a declined use of NOM. Conclusion: Management of AA has improved in the last waves of pandemic. Increased evidence regarding SARS-COV-2 infection along with a timely healthcare systems response has been translated into tailored attitudes and a better care for patients with AA worldwide

    Evolving trends in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 waves. The ACIE appy II study (vol 46, pg 2021, 2022)

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    Global attitudes in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: ACIE Appy Study

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    Background: Surgical strategies are being adapted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the management of acute appendicitis have been based on expert opinion, but very little evidence is available. This study addressed that dearth with a snapshot of worldwide approaches to appendicitis. Methods: The Association of Italian Surgeons in Europe designed an online survey to assess the current attitude of surgeons globally regarding the management of patients with acute appendicitis during the pandemic. Questions were divided into baseline information, hospital organization and screening, personal protective equipment, management and surgical approach, and patient presentation before versus during the pandemic. Results: Of 744 answers, 709 (from 66 countries) were complete and were included in the analysis. Most hospitals were treating both patients with and those without COVID. There was variation in screening indications and modality used, with chest X-ray plus molecular testing (PCR) being the commonest (19\ub78 per cent). Conservative management of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was used by 6\ub76 and 2\ub74 per cent respectively before, but 23\ub77 and 5\ub73 per cent, during the pandemic (both P < 0\ub7001). One-third changed their approach from laparoscopic to open surgery owing to the popular (but evidence-lacking) advice from expert groups during the initial phase of the pandemic. No agreement on how to filter surgical smoke plume during laparoscopy was identified. There was an overall reduction in the number of patients admitted with appendicitis and one-third felt that patients who did present had more severe appendicitis than they usually observe. Conclusion: Conservative management of mild appendicitis has been possible during the pandemic. The fact that some surgeons switched to open appendicectomy may reflect the poor guidelines that emanated in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2
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