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Since the 1980’s, as a pioneer in High Speed solutions, Converteam has been developing a range of high speed motors which meet all of the speed and performance requirements of pump and compressor systems. Today, having successfully commissioned more than 40 high speed motors, which drive the compressor directly with no intermediate gearbox, Converteam is the world’s leading supplier of high speed solutions.

This high speed solution, based on a two pole induction motor with squirrel cage and laminated rotor, offers many advantages, such as:

• induction motors are simple in build, they can run faster than other designs at the same power, they are smaller in size and lower in weight
• laminated rotor gives low superficial losses, better efficiency and a better power factor (cos phi)
• the first bending mode is kept higher than the maximum rotational speed, so there is no critical speed problem
• cooling by air or processed gas allows more general purposes

Taking away the gears and using magnetic bearings on the motor and compressor avoids the need for an oil lubrication system and offers a lot of advantages such as better reliability.

For the compressor, higher speed means higher efficiency.

The electrical solution proves more attractive because of affordable initial investment combined with lower long term maintenance costs.

Integrated Compressor Units (1 to 22MW)
The high speed induction motor and the compressor are installed inside the same pressurized casing which is directly connected to the gas pipeline, and a portion of the processed gas is used to cool the motor. No gearbox is then required. Using active magnetic bearings, the installation is completely oil-free. Up to 36 installations were successfully commissioned.

Separate Motors (1 to 30MW)
This solution is provided when the process gas cannot be used to cool the motor (highly corrosive or dirty gas). The cooling medium is generally air, pumped throughout the machine by a separately driven motorised fan to an air-to-air or air-to-water heat exchanger. Lubricated bearings or magnetic bearings can also be used. Up to 16 installations were successfully commissioned.