Cut Belts and Screw Compressors

Sabotage!

thanks

Same period, everyday. How many days has this being going on?

Does not sound good.

After the second day it happens. one should have begun monitoring your compressors especially and that period of day.

p911

Power supply fluctuations related to some event on or near your plant? Compressor surge due to valves or gates actuation? And, of course, sabotage (any recent layoffs, hirings, changes in work)? Do the belts seem fragilized or too weak to the compressors? Are from the original spec?

There are actually some different probable causes for the observed failures.

One time I've read a case of a guy that had everyday in the dusk time a disruption in a server that caused his system to crash down causing a lot of trouble and interruption of operation, don't remember if it where a shop with online commerce or a web server of some kind. After weeks of troubleshooting and observation, fighting with suppliers and contractors and consultants, they found out that the problem was... the advertisement illumination, using neon and a huge reactor, with the communication cables routing near the power supply and suffering from severe interference during startup.

Maybe you have something like this. Maybe not.

Hi Fahad,

What make Compressor are these...Quincy...

Can you send me a photograph of the snapped belts, with both the cut ends close by.

As such it is a very unusual - may be the Frequency drive has mal function but it is a very remote possibility. Rajesh Shah (info@rayoms.com)

I have checked the other copmressors which still runnig. Compressor A, the temperature of the Motor pulley was 130c and requested the operation to keep the door open!! And temp was decreased to 105C but still high! While Compressor B pulley temp is 60C.

I have over 30 years of compressor servicing experience, the problems you are experiencing are usualy due to problems with belt tension and alignement or worn pulleys, this is indicated by the increased belt temperature and ultimatly failier if at least one belt. In many cases, the failier of one belt will result in damage to other belts fitted to the same pulley resulting in the problems you are experiencing. Also, check that the belts are the same length, you should be able to identify if or not the belst are from the same batch. If when fitted you find that one or more belts are not tensioned the same as the other belts, and that you have confirmed that they come from the same batch, then suspect uneven wear of pulleys and machine or replace as nessesary. Problem solved. From Richard Turner, Air Care compressor services, Cannock, England

thanks Guest, we have adjusted the belt tension and temperature become down to 60C, I have other question, I have attached motor picture, what I have observed one side of the motor base is fixed while other side is free, is it normal I mean do you think this will cause to loose the belt tension or it is normal design. And thanks in advance for valuable advice

Over time your base plate holding the motor will flex more and more if the motor is not properly mounted. All bolts should be present and tight. If the plate flexes and the motor shifts, your belts will loosen and get damaged. Make sure the alignment of the two pulleys are correct or the belts will try to climb off the pulleys causing more wear and heat. Tighten the alignment and adjustment bolts on the plate to assist in keeping it in place.

This does not seem to be a Regular -Common baseplate, and the bolt you have shown is not actually for fixing the motor to the baseplate.

This is a 2 level baseplate and the shown bolt is just a holding bolt between the upper and lower plate with special purpose function.

Do you have any drawing of this complete baseplate?

But otherwise all the bolts have to be completely tightened for compressor as well as the motor after complete alignment.

Hi Fahad,

Firstly it is not sabotage.

Your 1st mail gave impression that all 4 compressor belts gave away (i.e. 20 belts).

But you are actually talking of the 4- belts on one compressor, which have worn uniformly and not snapped- which is most likely due to aging or belt over haeating.

Reasons could be as per the capacity may be you need all five belts in the five grooved pulley.

Belts should be of the same make and if possible same batch. To be replaced all together.

Before you put new belts check - the complete alignment, pulley to pulley distance

and follow proper method of installing the belts with optimum tension.

Also check the Drive program - in case there is any maximum speed more than motor speed.

After 1st time running take the pulley & belt temprature and measure the motor and compressor pulley speed and find out the slip.

If there is more slip & high temperature than the problem could repeat and we have to further investigate.

Do let us know the temp and speed of the pullies.

I too have been servicing compressors for a very long time. When I come across this type of problem I check to make sure that the pulleys are clean whenever I replace belts. Make sure there is no dirt, parts of failed belts , or sharp edges on any parts of the pulleys that can cut the new belts.

As the previous guest stated belt tension may be your problem. In the US belt suppliers do not make a "matched set" any longer unless you special order and request a "machine set" which will normally add 33 percent added cost. This looks like a 5 groove sheave. I always convert to a powerband belt in these cases. This eliminates one or two of the belts carrying the entire load. For instance if this is a B size belt 100 " circumference with 5 grooves you would order # 5/ B 100 powerband.

Is anyone using the Quincy QSI or QSF machine or the Ingersol Nervada or the SSR with a FVD ? Looking for pro's/con's . Thanks .