Long-term Operation of an AMB-Supported Coolant Pump in a Lignite Fired Power Station -Results and Operational Experiences-

A conventionally suspended coolant pump was converted to a pump with complete active magnetic bearings and installed in a lignite power plant for demonstrating purposes. The main objectives were to test the possibilities of active magnetic bearings in turbo machines operating in a power plant and to proof their suitability. After commissioning the pump was used and tested in the power plant regime for this purpose. In addition, using the system-inherent signals of the magnetic bearings allows a machine and facility diagnosis and an online determination of the bearing forces.