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ASYNCHRONOUS
VIBRATIONPROBLEM

OF CENTRIFUGAL
COb_RESSOR

Takeshi Fujikawa, Naotsugi Ishiguro and Mitsuhiko Ito

Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Kobe, .Japan
INTRODUCTION

Unstable asynchronous vibration problem in high pressure centrifugal

compressor were reported by J.C. Wachel(ref.l), K.J. Smith(tel.2), D.W. Fowlie
(ref.3), etc. This paper describes the similar problem we have experienced and
the remedial actions against it.

GENE_ILCONFIGU_ITION

A schematic of compressor train system is shown in Fig.l.

5000kWmoter drives L.P. (low pressure) and H.P. (high pressure) compressors
through the speed up gear. Asynchronous vibration was observed in H.P. compres-
sor. Fig. 2 shows the cross sectional view of the H.P. compressor. The rotor
has 6 shrink fitted impellers and one balance piston which is integrated with
the shaft. The rotor is supported by tilting pad journal bearing characteris-
tics of which are described in table i. The Kingsbury type thrust bearing is
used. The compressor has 1703 mmbearing span length with the rigid critical
speed of 3894 rpm in the original design. L.P. and H.P. compressor are
connected with a diaphragm type flexible coupling.

OBSERVED
VIB_\TION

Asynchronous vibration of H.P. compressor took place when the discharge

pressure Pd was increased by controlling the valve, after the rotor was already
at full speed. Fig. 3 shows the typical spectral data of the shaft vibration
while Pd is increased. As the pressure Pd increases, pre-unstable vibration
appears and becomeslarger, and large unstable asynchronous vibration occurs
suddenly at Pd = 5.49MPain this case, as shown in Fig. 3 (d), (e).
Fig. 4 is the spectral time history of the shaft vibration in the condition
like Fig. 3 (c). The amplitude of pre-unstable vibration fluctuates at some
levels. A typical relationship between vibration amplitude and Pd is shown in
Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows the shaft orbit just before the vibration growing up
large.

REMEDIAL
ACTIONSANDSOLUTION

In order to prevent the above vibration, various kinds of remedial actions

are tried based on the results of the complex-eigenvalue analysis mentioned
later. Remedial actions adopted and their results are summerizedin table 2

109
and Fig. 8, where
Case_ : The original design

Case_ : The width of pads of journal bearings is reduced to 2/3 of

case_.

Case_ : The bearing span is shortened from 1703 mmto 1553 mmto
increase the shaft stiffness.
Rigid critical speed increased from 3894 rpm to 4560 rpm.

Case_) : Bearing width is put back to original one and 0.5 pre-load
journal bearings are used.

Case5_ : Lubricating oil is changed from #90 (viscosity of 34 cSt

at 38 degrees C) to #140 (50 cSt at 38 degrees C) in order
to increase the damping effect.

Case_ : 0.i pre-load journal bearings are used.

After all, the full load operation is successfully carried out in the condition
of case _.
ANALYSIS

The computer program is used to analyze the rotor stability problem in

order to help the remedial plans. The program calculates the logarithmic
decrement and the dampednatural frequency of the rotor bearing systems. The
procedure of the program is as follows. Using a finite element method, the
equation of motion of rotor bearing system is given by :
[M]:_+ [CIL+ [K]_ = _ (1)

where [M] : mass matrix

[C] : dampingmatrix

[K] : stiffness matrix

The massmatrix consists of the concentrated mass of the rotor sections. The
impeller has the mass effect and the gyroscopic effect. The stiffness matrix
of rotor is obtained based on the beamtheory. The bearing characteristics
and the destabilizing factors are dealt with as the concentrated added damping
and spring coefficients in the program. The destabilizing force Q is
estimated by eq. (2) based on Lund (ref.4).

Q=t% 7r-h-
r (2)

where : destabilizing force coefficient

ii0
 T : torque

r : nominal radius of impeller

h : nominal width of impeller

In order to get the eigenvalues, eq. (i) is transformed into the canonical form
and QRmethod is applied. The example of calculation model and results are
shown in Fig. 7(a), (b).
DISCUSSION

Since there are many obscure points in the destabilizing forces (aero
cross coupling forces), the six cases of remedial actions were prepared and
carried out in order to be able to operate at full pressure load.

Fig. 8 shows the calculated results of log-decrement _ and the maximum

pressure Pd attained without large vibration for the six cases in the field
test.

Fig. 9 shows the change of stability due to oil temperature. Lower oil
temperature gives better _ In calculation of _, the nondimensional factor
is estimated to 5 including the labyrinth effect. It is seen that the increas-
ing of the rotor stiffness and the oil viscosity are effective to improve the
stability of the system. The high preload bearing is not good. The system
became to be operated in almost full load in case 5_. However, the pre-
unstable vibration level was not small, so the case_was carried out.
The comparison between the results of calculation and field data is shown
in Fig. i0 The bearing was selected in order that the limit _ and _ of case
_6be larger than those of case 5_). The stability of case_was improved and
the pre-unstable vibration was suppressed sufficiently small in the field test.

CONCLUSION

(I) The high speed and high pressure compressor has inherently the
possibility of the occurrence of unstable vibration. The stability analysis of
is effective in the design stage of the rotor bearing system and in the
remedial actions in order to prevent the unstable vibration. Details of the
mechanismof destabilizing force is not clarified, so it seemsbetter to
consider the cross coupling force and the negative damping into the stability
analysis.

(2) As the remedial actions, it is effective to increase the shaft

stiffness and to select the appropriate bearings in order to increase the
system damping.

iii
 REFERENCES

(i) Wachel, J. C. : NonsynchronousInstability of Centrifugal Compressors.

ASMEPaper No. 75-Pet-22

(2) Smith, K. J. : An Operation History of Fractional Frequency Whirl.

Proc. 4th Turbomachinery Symposium,Gas Turbine Laboratories,
Texas A & M University, Oct. 1975

(3) Fowlie, D. W. and Miles, D. D. : Vibration Problems with High Pressure

Centrifugal Compressors.
ASMEPaper No. 75-Pet-28

(4) Lund, J. W. : Stability and DampedCritical Speeds of a Flexible Rotor in

Fluid-Film Bearings.
Journal of Engineering for Industry, Trans. ASME,May 1974, pp. 509-517

112
 Table i Tilting pad journal bearing

Diameter 76.2 m_n

Width 31.8 mm

Number of pads 5

Arrangement Load on pad

Table 2 Remedial actions

Bearing Width of Bearing Bearing Lubricating

span length bearing pad diametral preload oil
clearance
mnl mm 2 c/D

CASE 1703 31.8 2.5/1000 0 #90

@ Tr
21.2 vv
0 f!

@ 1553 TI Iv
0 II

® f!
31.8 f!
0.5 f!

® 1! v! Iv
0.5 #140

@ II vv vv
0.i vv

113
 Gear Box L.P.Comp. H.P.Comp.

Hotor

Specifications of H.P. compressor

Suction pressure 1.912 MPa

Discharge pressure 6.865 MPa

Shaft horse power 2980 kW

Shaft speed 10400 rpm

Fluid N2 gas

Fig.1 Schematic of compressor train

ttemrt_l tptm. ° 1_$ i

Fig.2 Cross-sectional view of H.P. compressor

(Original design)

ll4
 A

u]rnchronmm
_eat
(j) _ yreq-e.cy

_s"Jt_' _ '''"

_I. !'d: ''9°_" tOO

(c) 0
3O 5_
Pd-S.4_a's

(d) (e) rreqmeecy

8ma|_ v|brsttol Lar|e vtbrJttos

Ftl. I VJrtatiem elf electra1 Imt_r v/bratte_ u4t_ dtsdutrSe @reeauro

115
 " ---0--- : in case_

]O

I0

I •
3.5 6 4.5

Discharge pressure Pd O_'a)

T1|.5 Varistiou of rotor vibration vlth discharge pressure Pd

T: vertical

rotatioa |: horlzoatal
f

, B

Discharge side
I _ctlou sl_

7il.6 Vhirl orbit of asynchronous vtbra¢iou

116
 shaft Imnped 8LaSS

bearin s

Co} It--ults

1_8.7 Calculstioo mode| and results

full l/d

orlglanl j@-"-"-'-'--O
final
condition

t. i t l i
\ i

®
baarin 8 mpam (ass) 1703 1703 1533 1353 133J 1333

bearing Irtdtb (u) 31.8 21.2 21.2 31.0 31.8 31.8

diarmetrsl clearance 2_cc 2._5_5 2.5 2..___5 2.5 2._55

D I000 I000 I000 I_0 I00_ 10OO
pro- lo6d • • • •. 5 •. S 0.1

oil #90 tgO #90 #90 1160 tl_O

FIg. O System d_tnping and uax/uLnm discharge pressure attained

117
 syDchrooous component

-4O

/_""_ _ynchronoum componen

j -50

4_.e - c.se(_
-6O _" dotted 1Lne - case(_

0.3

I
o.z
"O

I I I I 1
0.1
23 30 35 40 4S

_RpILed o11 temperature (degree C)

Fll.9 Variatiou ef stability due to oil teu_perature

_yDchronous a]rnchronou_

*_ 1.0 -__ J componeat component

0.5 31.0 ffrequency

Deetebilisin 8 force
coefficient

rl8.10 Comparison betveen calculated _ and field data

(reletLv• representetLcm)

118