Crankshaft Annealing Salvages Damaged Crankshaft
Mitsubishi 18KU30B Repair In Rufisque, Senegal
Having previously performed in-situ machining at the plant in Rufisque in western Senegal, Goltens was already very familiar with the engines when Mitsubishi asked Goltens to inspect one of the nine Mitsubishi 18KU30B generators in operation there.
An inspection revealed that the 330mm crankpin journal had suffered a bearing failure resulting in hardness levels as high as 596 Brinell. Goltens proposed to Mitsubishi to anneal and machine the crankshaft to salvage the shaft within the rated diameter. But a shop trial awaited Goltens before it could begin annealing…
Power plant in Rufisque Senegal
Annealing Equipment installed on intentionally hardened crankshaft at Mitsubishi
Annealing demonstration in process in Yokohama Japan
Finish machining of crankshaft in shop trial/demonstration
Annealing pads installed on damaged crankpin in Senegal
Insulated crankpin during annealing of crankpin in Senegal
In-Situ Machining of the annealed crankpin in progress
Demonstration of annealing process
Mitsubishi invited Goltens to demonstrate its annealing process on a crankshaft that had been intentionally hardened for the demonstration in its factory in Yokohama, Japan. Goltens technicians traveled to the factory and, following its GL-approved process, demonstrated the effectiveness of annealing to Mitsubishi.
After the successful shop trial, Goltens was engaged to anneal the damaged crankpin and mobilized its technicians, annealing equipment and in-situ crankshaft machining tools to Senegal to conduct the work. Goltens undertook all of the engine preparation required by its process to ensure the operation would not cause any damage to the engine casing from linear expansion of the crankshaft and machined the crankshaft surface free of cracks. The technicians then connected the annealing equipment and performed the heat treatment of the shaft.
PROJECT FACTS
| MITSUBISHI 18KU30B | |
|---|---|
| Location: | Rufisque, Senegal |
| Journal Diameter Pre-Machining: | 330mm |
| Final Journal Diameter: | 326mm |
| Max Hardness Pre-Annealing: | 596 HB |
IN-SITU ANNEALING RESULTS
After annealing, Goltens took hardness readings and the hardness levels were dramatically reduced and accepted by Mitsubishi. The crankpin was then machined and polished to a finish diameter of 326mm removing only 4mm from the shaft diameter.
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