A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING LATERAL ROTORDYNAMIC ANALYSIS TO HELP IDENTIFY AND SOLVE VIBRATION PROBLEMS IN TURBOMACHINERY
Abstract
The primary purpose of performing a lateral rotordynamic analysis for centrifugal compressors, steam turbines and other rotating machines is to ensure that there are no undesirable rotor/bearing performance issues that result in high or unstable rotor vibrations. This is accomplished by predicting lateral critical speeds, evaluating response due to unbalance, and evaluating if there are any selfexcited vibrations that could result in unstable vibration. In doing so manufacturers use rotordynamics to design the shafting, Copyright© 2021 by Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station bearings, seals, etc., as well as establishing criteria for component weights (such as impellers, sleeves, couplings, etc.) and component fits. API standards, such as API-617, define the analyses to be done and the acceptance criteria. Understanding this aids in rotor balancing and helps ensure successful shop tests and field commissioning. However, things do not always go as planned. What happens when actual rotordynamic behavior is different than predicted behavior? What happens if vibration behavior changes over time? Knowing how to interpret rotordynamic analyses can help end users identify potential issues on new machines as well as help with troubleshooting if the vibration behavior changes over time. This tutorial will touch on some of the theory of lateral rotordynamics at a high level, but the purpose of this tutorial is to help end users understand lateral rotordynamic reports, ensure that nothing is missed in the analysis, and demonstrate how this information can be used to help identify and solve vibration problems in turbomachinery.
Description
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Citation
Smith, Patrick J.; Whalen, John; Pavelek, Dustin (2021). A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING LATERAL ROTORDYNAMIC ANALYSIS TO HELP IDENTIFY AND SOLVE VIBRATION PROBLEMS IN TURBOMACHINERY. Turbomachinery Laboratory, Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station; Texas A & M University. Libraries; Texas A & M University. Libraries. Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /196741.