Abstract
This paper presents an experimental study of high cyclic synchronous vibration observed on the top pinion of an integrally geared centrifugal compressor. This cyclic synchronous vibration was different from the previously reported Morton effect. In a typical cycle, the vibration began with a long quiet period, then took off and followed by settle-down. Sometimes, vibration peaked above a shutdown limit, which subsequently tripped the compressor and then the air separation plant. Frequency spectra showed this new cyclic vibration was dominated by synchronous vibration. To obtain reliable and meaningful phase information for the diagnosis, a new signal processing technique was developed to analyze the historic vibration data captured without a key phasor. An experimental study of this new rotordynamic phenomenon was conducted on the machine in operation. Test data showed the high cyclic synchronous vibration was closely related to Morton effect though it does not have a significant phase shift. An effective remedy measure was therefore taken, and the cyclic synchronous vibration was eliminated. Since then, this compressor has been running smoothly for 17 months. A possible mechanism of the cyclic vibration is discussed in this paper.
21425 An Experimental Study of Surge and Rotating Stall Occurring in a Small Centrifugal Compressor
