Effect of Higher-Than-Rated-Speed Rotordynamic Modes on Rotor Balancing

Abstract

It was surprisingly reported that a generator rotor could not be balanced to an acceptable vibration level by weights at two balance planes at the drive end (DE) and the non-drive end (NDE) fan rings. Both real measured vibration data and rotordynamic calculations indicate that the rotor at rated speed of 3600 rpm appears to run just above the 2nd critical speed (couple or conical mode). However, couple weights (same weights placed at both DE and NDE with 180-degree-out-of-phase) have little effect on 1X vibration response. A third balance plane had to be utilized to effectively reduce vibration. This paper uses measured data and rotordynamic modelling to explain these findings. It is found that the 4th mode could affect synchronous vibration response at rated speed significantly besides the 3rd mode. The two fan ring balance planes appear to be near the nodal points of the 4th mode, which explains ineffectiveness of the couple weights to vibration response at rated speed in the field. Measured data from real machines including influence vectors are presented from third balance planes such as the coupling and the exciter ends, besides the fan ring wheels. The 3rd and 4th rotordynamic modes are also given along with unbalance response studies.