Turbovisory System

Presented By : Oliver Adak

Why Monitor Turbine
Supervisory Parameters?
What are the Turbine
Supervisory Parameters?
How measurement is done?
What are the different
measuring systems?
Why analysis is required?
What is vibration?

To and fro motion.

In Vertical, Horizontal and / or Axial direction.
This includes the torsional to and fro motion of a shaft.

Mechanical vibration is the dynamic motion of machine

components.

Vibration measurement is the measurement of this mechanical

vibration relative to known surface.

In the simplest form vibration can be considered to be the

oscillation or repetitive motion of an object around an
equilibrium position.  The equilibrium position is the position the
object will attain when the force acting on it is zero.
Characteristics of Vibration:
•Mechanical Vibrations are the Oscillatory Motions,
either continuous or transient, of objects and
structures.
•Vibration can be periodic, random or transient.
•In periodic vibration the oscillatory motion of the body
is repeated exactly after a fixed interval of time.
•Random vibration is continuous but non-periodic and
contains many frequency components.
•A transient vibration is one which is non-continuous.
Common Causes of Vibration:
Unbalance
Misalignment
Defective/ damaged anti friction bearing
Worn Gear
Mechanical looseness
Bent Shaft
Eccentric journals
Aerodynamic and Hydraulic Forces
Turbine Supervisory Parameters:
Absolute Vibration
Shaft Relative Vibration
Thrust Position
Eccentricity
Differential Expansion
Casing Expansion
Phase
Other Parameters such as - Valve Position, Speed,
etc.
For machines with a light Casing to Rotor Weight Ratio, vibration is
readily transmitted to the bearing housing, so these are the
vibrations which can be measured on the surface of the machine.
VDI 2056 or ISO2372 recommends the use of rms value of vibration
velocity in the frequency range of 10 to 1000Hz, also referred as
Vibration Severity.
Relative Shaft Vibrations: These are the fast motions of
the rotor shaft relative to the bearing shell.
Relative shaft vibration is measured with non-displacement
pickups.
Two pick-ups are mounted at 90 Degree to each other and
perpendicular to the rotor axis.
Evaluation of relative shaft vibration as per VDI2059
guidelines.
It is an indicator of bearing condition and useful in
correcting rotor unbalance.
Thrust Position/Axial Shift/ Relative Shaft
Displacement:
Axial shaft displacement of rotor is measured relative to
the thrust bearing. It is a measure of axial forces on the
rotor and of thrust bearing wear.
Thrust position indication includes one or two non-
contacting displacement pickups to observe the position
of the thrust collar within its bearings.
Eccentricity:
Turbine rotors can bend in one direction due to gravity while at rest or
due to effects of temperature. This bending of shaft is referred to as
eccentricity.
During run-up, this can cause dynamic overloads of the bearings and
rotor which in turn lead to touch down or rotor fracture during passage
through the resonance region. To avoid this, it is usual to monitor
eccentricity during run-up of the turbine.
A rotor which has been sitting idle during overhaul or has been
inadvertently stopped during coast down for an extended period will
develop a bow or bend. This condition must be corrected by turning
gear operation and, possibly, with auxiliary heating prior to high
speed operation to prevent internal clearance rubbing.

Non-contacting displacement pickups are used to measure eccentricity .

Differential Expansion/ Relative Shaft Expansion:
In steam turbines, the rotor heats up more quickly than
the machine casing during the run-up phase.
The difference in the thermal expansion between rotor
and casing is monitored in order to avoid touch down of
the turbine rotor.
Non-contacting displacement pickups are used to
measure Differential Expansion/ Relative Shaft
Expansion.
Casing/Shell Expansion:
Casing of the machines expand relative to their
foundations during the heating up phase. This is called
absolute casing expansion.
Uneven heat distribution leads to deformation and
internal stresses in casing in the axial direction.
Absolute casing expansion is measured at the free end
of the machine.
Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT) or
Inductive displacement pickups are used for
measurement.
Phase:
Phase, or phase angle, is a measure of the relationship of
how one vibration signal relates to another vibration signal
and is commonly used to calculate the placement of a
balance weight.
This parameter is not usually displayed continuously but is
monitored periodically to determine changes in the rotor
balance condition, deviations in system stiffness such as a
cracked shaft.
 Vibration Measurement System

Physical
Transducer Element
Signal Conditioning Display or Recording Outputs
Variable Element Element
Measurement Technique 
1. Measurement of displacement using Non-Contact pickup.
 Output

Motion

Metallic Surface

Eddy Current Type Transducer:

Eddy current transducer is of non-contacting displacement type. Coil is excited
by high frequency carrier, inducing an oscillating magnetic field around the coil.
The field gets changed due to the metallic surface, whose vibrations are to be
measured.
Due to magnetic field, eddy currents are induced in the metallic surface, setting
upon a magnetic field of their own, interfering with the primary magnetic field
due to the AC supply resulting in beats. After suitable conditioning a voltage
proportional to the displacement of metallic surface is obtained as the output.
Advantages: -
 Measure displacement accurately for very slow speed
machine.
 Shaft vibration and deflection can be measured
directly.
Disadvantages: -
Cannot convert readings into velocity and acceleration.
This pickup is applicable for magnetic material body.
Difficult to get accurate readings.
Sources of error:
a) Run-out of journal, b) Movements of pickup,
c) Magnetic and electrical field, d) Calibration error.
Proximitor:
The Proximitor is an electronic device that has two basic functions:
1. Generates a radio frequency (RF) signal using an oscillator
circuit.
2. Conditions the RF signal to extract usable data using a
demodulator circuit.
To do this it needs a -17.5 to -26 Vdc supply voltage connected
between its VT and COM terminals.
Once the Proximitor’s oscillator has power it will generate an RF
signal at a specific frequency. This frequency is dependent on the
INDUCTANCE (L) value of the probes coil and the CAPACITANCE
(C) value of the extension and probe cables.
The RF signal frequency will be within a range from 500 Kilohertz
(KHz) to 2.0 Megahertz (MHz). Having a MISMATCHED transducer
system (cable length too long or too short) will change the RF signal
frequency and result in an incorrect Proximitor.
The RF signal is transmitted from the probe coil which creates an RF
field around the probe tip. When conductive material is present in
the RF field, EDDY CURRENTS flow in the surface of that material.
The penetration depth of the eddy currents depends on the
materials conductivity and permeability.
 Once the probe is close enough to cause eddy currents to flow in a
conductive material the RF signal is affected in tow ways :
1. Amplitude is at a minimum when distance (GAP) between probe and
material (TARGET) is at a minimum. Maximum eddy current flow occurs.
2. Amplitude is at a maximum when distance (GAP) between probe and
material (TARGET) is at a Maximum. Minimum eddy current flow occurs.

If the target is moving SLOWLY within the RF field, the signal amplitude
INCREASES or DECREASES SLOWLY. If the target is moving RAPIDLY
within the RE field, the signal amplitude INCREASES or DECREASES
RAPIDLY. Oscillatory movement of the target causes the RE signal to
modulate.
The demodulator circuit deals with a slow or fast changing signal
amplitude in the same way. If the target is oscillating slowly (gap
changing slowly) or NOT oscillating (gap not changing), the Proximitors
output is a negative d.c. voltage, shown opposite by a dashed line. If
the target is oscillating fast (gap changing fast) the Proximitors
output is a varying d.c. voltage (a.c.) shown above by a sinewave. If the
probe sees a vibration, the Proximitor will have a d.c. and a.c.
component output
Velocity Pick up: Converts the This device operates on the
spring-mass-damper principle,
mechanical vibration to an electrical signal
is usually of low natural
that is proportional to the velocity of
frequency and operates above
vibration.
its natural frequency. The
transducing element is either
moving coil with a stationary
magnet or a stationary coil with
a moving magnet.
A voltage is produced in a
conductor when the conductor
cuts a magnetic field and the
voltage is proportional to the
rate at which magnetic lines
are cut. Thus a voltage is
developed across the coil,
which is proportional to the
velocity.
Velocity Probe
Advantages:-
This pickup is robust and withstands high temperature
(1500C).
Cheaper compare to other types of pickup.
This pickup is also used to read displacement.
Disadvantages:-
It will not work in magnetic and electrical field.
Can not read low frequency vibration accurately.
This pickup is quite big and heavy.
It can not read acceleration.
Accelerometer:
The accelerometer uses a piezo-
electric crystal situated between the
accelerometer base and an inertial
reference mass. When the
accelerometer is mounted on a
machine casing or bearing housing,
machine vibration causes a
compression or tension force to act on
the crystal. The crystal, in turn, acts
as a precision spring to oppose the
compression or tension force. The
crystal thus generates a displaced
electric charge. An integrated
amplifier converts the charge to a
voltage signal.
Advantages:-
This pickup is small and light.
It can be used to measure vibration amplitude in
acceleration, velocity and displacement.
This pickup measures vibration accurately in magnetic and
electrical field.
Disadvantages:-
It can not measure very low frequency vibration.
Comparison between Shaft and Housing Vibration.
Advantages of shaft vibration:-
•Shaft vibration is the cause and housing vibration is its effect.
•Shaft vibration will be affected by minor disturbance of rotating
element. This may not affect the housing vibration.
•In case of shaft vibration, shaft orbit analysis is possible in addition
to conventional vibration analysis.
Vibration Signal Characteristics:
Amplitude:

A large vibration amplitude could cause –

Mechanical Failure
Contacting of rotating and non-rotating parts.
Frequency: Repetition rate of a periodic vibration within a
unit of time.
It is due to the tendency of machine vibration
frequencies to occur at direct multiples or sub-
multiples of the rotative speed of the machine.
Vibration frequency can be used to distinguish
the character of the force causing the vibration.
Phase: To determine occurrence i.e. in phase/ out phase.
Phase Angle: It describes the location of the rotor at a
particular instant of time.
Measurable vibration characteristics:
A machine condition and mechanical problems are determined by
measuring and analyzing its vibration characteristics like –
frequency, amplitude (displacement, velocity, acceleration),
phase and processed signals like shock pulse, high frequency
detection, spike energy, spectral emission energy etc.

Relation:
 
Amplitudes Measurement

Peak A
Peak to Peak 2a

RMS 0.707a
Average 0.637a
This relation is only true for pure sinusoidal wave
Physical significance of vibration characteristics:

 Parameter Indicates Physical significance

Frequency What is Vibrating? Why it is Identify the source of the
Vibrating? Vibration.
Amplitude How much is it Vibrating? Identify the severity of the
problem.
Phase Angle How is it Vibrating? Identify the cause of the
Vibration.
Physical
Amplitude Indicates Units
Significance
Displacement Total distance travel by Microns, Mils Stress Indicator
the mass
Velocity Rate of change of Mm/sec, Fatigue
displacement. Inch/sec Indicator
Acceleration It is the rate of change of M/sec2, Force Indicator
velocity. inch/sec2
Sl.No. Make Model
01. Bentley Nevada - USA Model-3500
02. Reutlinger-Germany
03. Carl-Schenck-Germany Vibrocontrol-2000
04. Carl-Schenck-Germany Vibrocontrol-4000
05. Bentley Nevada - USA Model-3300
06. Carl-Schenck-Germany Vibrocontrol-4000 with Vibrocam