shaft prevents the disk from moving properly and

consequently the clutch fails to engage.

Correct meshing of the disks is jeopardized by
wear of disk toothing thus preventing clutch
engagement.
The control panel fails to receive the startup per-
missive due to trouble caused by the sliding disk
limit switches.
The clutch fails to engage due to hydraulic piston
problems.
The clutch fails to disengage and startup is therefre
aborted.
In addition, with a jaw clutch the turbine has to be
stationary (zero speed signal) before it can be restar-
ted. A single-shaft, generator drive FR5 gas turbine
can take more than 15 minutes to come to a com-
plete rest if it decelerates from full speed.
A FR6 takes even longer on account of the greater
inertia. For single-shaft, generator drive units it is
important to be able to have the turbine running at full
load in the shortest time possible: if the startup
sequence aborts for some reason (loss of flame, high
vibration, high exhaust temperature, etc.) the time
delay necessary for restarting can be a particularly
penalizing restriction.
Use of a Synchronous Self-Shifting clutch (SSS)
eliminates the drawbacks associated with a jaw
clutch.
INTRODUCTION
The majority of gas turbine plants have a mechani-
cal starting system to increase the speed of rota-
tion from zero rpm to a sufficient speed for ignition
and to self-sustaining speed.
The starting system is generally equipped with a
device connecting the torque converter and acces-
sory gear, which disengages when the turbine is run-
ning independently. Virtually all FR5 and FR6 turbines
installed prior to 97 have a dog clutch, or jaw clutch,
torque transmission device. The jaw clutch consists
of two disks fitted on the end of the drive shaft,
belonging to the torque converter, and on the end
of the driven shaft on the accessory gear. Both
disks have shaped mating surfaces with toothing
made on the surface so that torque can be transmit-
ted solely from the torque converter to the acces-
sory gear and therefore from the starter motor to
the turbine.
The disk connected to the torque converter can
slide along the spline made on the shaft. The disk
is moved, and consequently the clutch is engaged
and disengaged, by two hydraulically operated
pistons.
Jaw clutch starting systems have the following
drawbacks:
Wear of spline toothing on the torque converter
CM
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GE Power Systems
Oil & Gas
Nuovo Pignone
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CM&Us TU/GA05-9/2002
TURBINE STARTING SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENT
As soon as the driven shaft decelerates, or when the
gas turbine slows down, the secondary pawls auto-
matically become active. As the speed of the input
shaft tends to exceed that of the output shaft, the
secondary pawls make contact and the driving and dri-
ven teeth are aligned ready for engagement. On an
increase in the input speed, coupling is completed. In
this mode the turbine is driven by the starter/ratchet
system.
From this description it is clear that with the SSS clutch
there is no possibility of the teeth clashing while being
engaged, or of the drive being taken up before the
teeth are engaged over their full width, due to its desi-
gn. The SSS clutch coupling requires continuous
lubrication (2 rpm = 9 l/min for the 64T model).
Consequently, a number of minor modifications need
to be made to the oil system. An oil feed connection
has to be fitted from the 1.7 barg header to the clutch
with an orifice. Depending on the accessory gear and
adjacent auxiliaries configuration, it may be neces-
sary to make some adjustments to install the clutch.
These shall depend particularly on the type of torque
converter installed, on the high pressure oil pump and
distance between the accessory gear and torque con-
verter shaft ends.
APPLICATION
MS5001 and MS6001 gas turbines
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The SSS clutch is a self-engaging device which tran-
smits power through gears.
The clutch is automatically engaged when the input
shaft speed overtakes the output shaft speed. A pawl-
actuated, helical sliding mechanism is used to bring
the clutch driving and driven teeth into smooth positi-
ve mesh. The clutch disengages automatically when
the torque is reversed.The very instant the input side
of the clutch begins to turn, primary pawls and rat-
chet teeth make contact aligning the driving and dri-
ven teeth ready for engagement.
The small torque applied by the pawl and ratchtet
mechanism progressively brings the driving and dri-
ven teeth into full engagement. The clutch can then
transmit full torque.
As the speed of the input shaft reduces, relative to the
speed of the output, or when the speed of the output
shaft increases relative to the speed of the input, a
reverse torque is applied. This reverse torque acts on
the helical splines making the clutch throw out of
mesh. The clutch then free-wheels.The driven shaft
can be caught even with the turbine running.
ENGAGED POSITION
DISENGAGED POSITION
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0.38" Clearance Min.
0.56" Jaw Tooth Depth
1.00" Total Piston
Rod Travel
The pawls are inactive (they only
become active when the input is
approaching the speed of the output)
Ratchet
Teeth are
disengaged
Output
rotating
Oil rim.
Helical splines
Input
stationary
Shaft centre
CLUTCH DISENGAGED
Oil rim. prevents pawls from
ratchetting until the input speed
approachesthe output speed
PAWLS ACTIVE
CLUTCH ENGAGING
CLUTCH ENGAGED
Input
rotanting
The clutch input speed
increases and at the
instant it overtakes the
output the pawls contact
the ratchet and align the
clutch teeth ready for
inter-engagement
Teeth are
disengaged
Output
rotating
Pawls in contact
with ratchet
Teeth are aligned for
inter-engagement
Output
rotating
Further slight rotation of the input
relative to the output applies the light
torque to the pawls necessary to
the move the sliding assembly along the
helical splines. The aligned teeth are
moved axially into mesh and during
this travel the pawls pass out of
engagement with the ratchet teeth
Input
rotanting
Helical
splines
Sliding
assembly
End stop
Input
driving
output
The moment the sliding assembly meets its end
stop, the clutch is fully engaged and the driving
torque passes through the teeth, not the pawls
Output
rotating
The pawls are out of
contact with the ratchet
CLUTCH DISENGAGED
When the clutch input slows down relative to the output, the
torque is reversed on the helical splines and the teeth disengage
to revert to the condition shown in the first diagram above
SEMPLIFIED OPERATING PRINCIPLES
Nuovo Pignone S.p.A.
via F. Matteucci, 2 - 50127 Florence (Italy)
Tel. +39/055 423211- Fax +39/055 4232800
E-mail: info.service@np.ge.com
www.gepower.com
Regarding the control system, a number of modifica-
tions have to be made depending on the type of control
panel and starter system driver.
As a rule, the following modifications are required:
Addition of a speed control card to give the control
system a signal when the turbine reaches or overtakes
the minimum firing speed (14HM);
Modification of the control sequences adding the
flying restart sequence so that restarting is possible
at or under the minimum firing speed (14HM);
Revision of the cranking motor sequences;
If the starting means is a diesel engine, modification
of the startup sequence to exclude warm-up;
Re-allocation of the starting circuit (33CS), previously
used to signal the engaged jaw clutch position, to
indicate SSS clutch engaged.
SCOPE OF SUPPLY
The scope of supply of the synchronous
self-shifting system is indicated herebelow:
SSS Clutch model 64T (or equivalent).
Lube oil inlet and drain pipes.
Starting system layout modifications.
Control panel modifications.
Modifications strictly depend on the configuration of the
plant in which the new clutch is to be installed.
BENEFITS
Enhanced reliability of the turbine starting system.
Reduced maintenance commitments.
Less starting system trouble.
Drastic cut in restart time after startup sequence
failure.
Input assembly
Helical sliding
assembly
Casing
assembly
Input half
coupling
Helical sliding
component
Primary pawls
Driven teeth
Output
sleeve
Clutch ring
Secondary pawls
Driving teeth
Output
assembly
Proximity
switch
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TURBINE STARTING SYSTEM
IMPROVEMENT
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