Subsynchronous Shaft Vibration in an Integrally Geared Expander-Compressor due to Vortex Flow in an Expander

Abstract

Subsynchronous shaft vibration was observed in an integrally geared expander-compressor when the machine was operated with a partial load in the course of plant start up. The root cause of the synchronous shaft vibration was identified, by means of CFD analysis, as the vortex flow which was generated in the downstream piping of the gas expander wheel. OEM installed an object, called “vortex breaker”, in the piping in order to eliminate the excitation force of the vortex flow, and as the result, the subsynchronous shaft vibration disappeared. This paper provides the detailed shaft vibration data, root cause analysis, countermeasure and the result from the countermeasure.