Fottinger principle

Two opposing, radially bladed impellers are housed in a leakproof housing. The impellers are not mechanically connected to each other. Because of the axially parallel arranged blades, the torque is transmitted independently of the direction of rotation and solely by the oil filling.

Hydrodynamic couplings have the characteristic properties of fluid flow engines. The transmissible torque depends on the density and quantity of the operating fluid and increases as the square of the drive speed and the fifth power of the profile diameter denoting the coupling size. In the driven pump impeller, mechanical energy is converted into kinetic flow energy of the operating fluid. In the turbine impeller, which is connected to the output side, flow energy is converted back to mechanical energy.

To generate the operating fluid circulation necessary for torque transmission, a difference in speed is necessary between the pump and turbine impellers. A centrifugal force pressure field is set up that is greater in the faster rotating pump impeller than in the turbine impeller. The difference in speed, usually termed “slip”, at the continuous operating point of the coupling is between 2 % and 6 %, depending on application and coupling size. Immediately after drive motor start-up slip is 100 %, i.e. the pump impeller is driven at the speed of the motor, but the turbine impeller remains stationary.

Slip multiplied by the transmitted power represents the power loss of the coupling, which is converted into heat inside the oil filling. The amount of heat generated must be released into the environment via the coupling housing to prevent an impermissible temperature rise. The rated coupling output is mainly determined by the power loss which can be dissipated at a still acceptable operating temperature or a reasonable set slip limit. This distinguishes the FLUDEX coupling from all positively acting coupling assembly options for which the rated coupling torque is the defining characteristic.

Depending on the FLUDEX coupling series, drive is via the inner rotor (shaft/hollow shaft with rigidly connected blade wheel) or via the bladed housing impeller (blade wheel housing). The driving impeller is the pump impeller, and the driven impeller is the turbine impeller.

A low-viscosity mineral oil VG 22/VG 32, which also serves to lubricate the bearings, is used as fluid. In special types water, a water emulsion or low-flammability fluid may be used as a non-combustible fluid.

Slip-torque characteristics for different filling levels FG

The torque characteristic depends on the oil filling quantity FG in the coupling. This enables the transmissible torque on starting up to be set via the filling level. With a higher filling level the starting torque increases, while the operating slip and thus the coupling temperature rise decreases.

Conversely, with a lower filling level the starting torque decreases, the coupling becomes softer, while slip and coupling temperature rise.

Operation of the delay chamber

Starting torque can be reduced without increasing continuous operating slip by using a type of coupling with a delay chamber. On these couplings part of the oil filling is initially stored inactively in the delay chamber. The starting torque is considerably reduced because of the thus reduced starting filling in the working chamber of the coupling. The filling in the delay chamber runs very slowly, mostly only at the finish of the starting operation, from the delay chamber into the working chamber, causing the active filling in it to rise gradually and the continuous operating slip to reach a value corresponding to the whole filling.