How to perform single and two plane

balancing of rotors

Suri Ganeriwala, Ph.D.

SpectraQuest Inc.
Richmond, Virginia, USA
suri@spectraquest.com

Reliability 2.0
2013 Las Vegas
 Outline

 Introduction
 Balancing Measurement
 One Plane Balancing Methods
1. Influence Coefficient Method
2. Four run Method without phase
 Two Plane Balancing Method
Influence Coefficient Method
 Why Balancing May Not Work
 Balancing Standard

Reliability 2.0, 2013 Las Vegas

 Introduction

 Unbalance and Balancing

1. Unbalance is the most common rotor system
malfunction
2. Balancing is the process of attempting to improve the
mass distribution of a body so that it rotates in its
bearings without unbalanced centrifugal forces.
3. It is important to recognize that most balancing
operations are performed below the first critical.

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 Definitions and Concepts

 Unbalance Related Concepts

1. Unbalance
2. Heavy Spot
3. High Spot
4. Synchronous or 1X
5. Runout
6. Eccentricity
7. Units of Unbalance
8. Centrifugal Force
9. Slow Roll and Slow Roll Compensation

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 Graphical Illustration

 Centrifugal Force
Rotating Shaft with an Eccentric Mass Moving in a circular path
experiences centrifugal force

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 Graphical Illustration

 Eccentricity
The eccentricity is
the amount of
displacement
between the center
of gravity and the
rotating axis

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Unbalance Configurations

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 Definitions and Concepts

 Influence Coefficient
1. An influence coefficient or influence vector, is a
complex number that describes how the 1X vibration of
a machine will change when a balance weight is added
to the machine. Or, how a balance weight will influence
the amplitude and phase of the vibration of the rotating
machine.
2. With a valid influence coefficient, the required
correction weight can be calculated in one step.
3. When balancing, it is important to remember that a
change in the machine since the last balancing operation
may have changed the influence coefficient.

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 Single Plane Balancing

 Introduction
 1-Plane Balancing with Influence
Coefficient Method.
 1-Plane Balancing with 4 Run Without
Phase Method.

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 Single Plane Balancing
 Introduction
1. Single plane balancing is the method utilized to correct unbalance in one
plane.
2. Single plane balancing corrects for static unbalance only and cannot help
a machine that is experiencing a couple or dynamic unbalance
3. Any rotor that is classified as a thin rotor can be single plane balanced.
Also, single plane balancing may be used for long rotors when a majority
of the unbalance is in one plane. The unbalance masses on the long rotors
do not have to be in the same plane, only on the same side of the
circumference of the rotor.

Long rotor with single plane Thin rotor with single plane
unbalance unbalance

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Steps of 1-Plane Balancing with Influence Coefficient Method

1. Determine the state of the machine and establish that unbalance is

indeed the problem. Many times another problem will be causing the 1X
vibration.
2. Record the vibration amplitude and phase of the rotor, measured at the
bearing points, in the unbalanced condition.
3. Attach a trial weight to the rotor after it has come to a complete stop.
4. Start the rotor and record its vibration amplitude and phase measured
at the same points and speed as Step #2.
5. Stop the rotor.
6. Determine the size of the correction weight and its position on the
rotor.
7. Remove the trial weight and add the calculated correction weight.
8. Start the rotor and record its vibration amplitude and phase measured
at the same points and speed as Steps #2 and #4.
9. If the new vibration data is within an acceptable range, then the
balancing job is complete; otherwise, either a trim balance is required (back
to Step #4) or unbalance may not be the problem.

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General Procedure of 4 Run Method

First Run
1.Measure the original vibration amplitude (9.4 mils).
2. Draw a circle with a radius equal to the original vibration
amplitude (9.4 mils or units).

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 General Procedure of 4 Run Method
2nd Run
3.Choose a 0˚ location on the rotor and mark
it (after rotor has stopped). Rotate the rotor
and mark subsequent 120˚ and 240˚
locations.
4. Determine the size of the trial weight (100 g
in this example) and place it at the 0˚
location on the rotor.
5. Start the rotor and let it reach typical
operating speed.
6. Measure the new vibration amplitude. For
the example, the vibration amplitude is 6.6
mils.
7. Draw a circle with radius equal to the new
vibration amplitude (6.6 units) from the 0˚
location on the original circle as the center
in Step #2.
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 General Procedure of 4 Run Method

3rd Run
8.Stop the rotor and move the trial weight
to the 120˚ location on the rotor.
9.Start the rotor and let it reach typical
operating speed.
10.Measure the new vibration amplitude.
For the example, the vibration
amplitude is 11.3 mils.
11. Draw a circle with radius equal to the
new vibration amplitude (11.3 units)
from the 120˚ location on the original
circle as the center in Step #2.

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 General Procedure of 4 Run Method

4th Run
12. Stop the rotor and move the trial
weight to the 240˚ location on the
rotor.
13.Start the rotor and let it reach typical
operating speed.
14.Measure the new vibration amplitude.
For the example, the vibration
amplitude is 17.9 mils.
15. Draw a circle with radius equal to the
new vibration amplitude (17.9 units)
from the 240˚ location on the original
circle as the center in Step #2.

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 General Procedure of 4 Run Method

 Solution
16. All three trial weight runs should
intersect at one point. Draw a line
from the center of the original circle in
Step #2 to this point. Measure the
length of this vector using the same
scale as before. The vector should
be labeled “T.” For the example, “T”
is 8.5 units.
17. The size of the correction weight
can now be calculated using the
same formula from single-plane
balancing.

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 General Procedure of 4 Run Method

18. The correct angle to place the

correction place weight must now be
determined. Measure the angle
between 0˚ and “T” using a protractor.
For the example, the angle is 38˚.
19. Remove the trial weight
20. Add the correction weight at the
location in Step #18 (110.6 g at 38˚)
while the rotor is at rest.
21. Start the rotor and let it reach
typical operating speed.
22. Measure the new vibration
amplitude to confirm a decrease in the
original measurements

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Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Introduction
 Cross Effect
 Procedure of Influence Coefficient
Method for 2-Plane Balancing
Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Introduction
1. Two-plane balancing is performed only after unsuccessful single-
plane balancing
2. Two assumptions are required for two-plane balancing: a rigid rotor
and flexible (or semi-flexible), non-resonant supports.
3. Couple unbalance is the main cause for performing two-plane
balancing.
4. Two-plane balancing is normally used when a couple unbalance
and a significant cross-effect are present

Two-plane balancing to
correct couple unbalance
Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Cross Effect
1.The term cross-effect describes how unbalance forces are transmitted in
a two-plane balancing situation.
2.Cross-effect is a property of every type of rotor.
3.Two assumptions must be made when determining cross- effect.
a). The superposition principle applies, meaning that the two
unbalance effects at each bearing can be combined in an additive
manner or broken into their components in a subtractive manner.
b). Secondly, two correction weights can be used to correct any
dynamic unbalance condition.

Cross-effect example of
couple unbalance
Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Procedure of Influence Coefficient Method

1. Verify that the cause of the vibration is unbalance.
2. Start the rotor and let it reach normal operating speed.
3. Record the vibration amplitude and phase measurements at both
bearings.
4. Stop the rotor.
5. Install a trial weight at one side to establish the first correction
plane.
6. Start the rotor and let it reach the same speed as Step #1.
7. Record the vibration amplitude and phase measurements at both
bearings.
8. Stop the rotor and remove the first trial weight.
Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Procedure of Using Influence Coefficient Method (Cont’d)

9. Install a trial weight (could be the same weight at Step #4) at the
other side to establish the second correction plane.
10. Start the rotor and let it reach the same speed as Step #1.
11. Record the vibration amplitude and phase measurements at both
bearings.
12.Using the data recorded from the previous steps, calculate the
correction weight sizes and locations. The following measurements
should have been recorded:
a). Six vibration amplitudes and phase angles
· b). Two trial-weight amounts and locations
Two Plane Balancing - Influence Coefficient Method

 Procedure of Using Influence Coefficient Method (Cont’d)

13. Stop the rotor and remove the trial weights.

14. Install the correction weights in the locations determined in Step
#11.
15. Start the rotor and let it reach the same speed as Steps #1, 5, and 9.
Record the vibration amplitude and phase measurements at both
bearings to confirm an improvement of the unbalance. If the results
are not satisfactory, perform a trim balance.
 Why Balancing May Not Work?

 Other Causes Instead of Unbalance

1. Reciprocating forces
2. Resonance coincident with running speed
3. Looseness
4. Distortion (i.e., bowed or bent shaft)
 Misalignment
 Compounding Effects
 Axial Offset
 Instability
 Nonlinear Response

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 Balancing Standard

 Shop Balancing Standards

 Field Balancing Standards
 Shop Balancing Standards

1. ISO Standard No. 1940 on “Balance Quality of Rotating Rigid

Bodies” provides an easy guide for determining recommended
balance tolerances.
2. American National Standards Institute (ANSI) adopted this
standard in 1989 with ANSI S2.19-1989.

Reliability 2.0, 2013 Las Vegas

 Balancing Standard

 Shop Balancing Standards

1. ISO Standard No. 1940 on “Balance Quality of
Rotating Rigid Bodies” provides an easy guide for
determining recommended balance tolerances.

2. American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

adopted this standard in 1989 with ANSI S2.19-1989.

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 Shop Balancing Standards

 Balance quality grades

for various groups of
representative rigid
rotors Source: ISO
1940-/1

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 Shop Balancing Standards

 Maximum permissible
residual specific
unbalance value
corresponding to various
balance quality grades
Source: ISO 1940-/1 (SI
Units)

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 Balancing Standard

 Field Balancing Standards

1.There is no set of standards like the ISO
1940 for field balancing.

2.The best criterion is to use the

manufacturer’s set of tolerances for a given
machine.

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