Best Practice

SABP-G-004 28 January 2007

Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test
Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines Standards
Committee

Saudi Aramco DeskTop Standards

Table of Contents

1 Introduction..................................................... 2
2 References..................................................... 2
3 General........................................................... 3
4 Definitions....................................................... 3
5 Vibration Detectors......................................... 4
6 Shop Verification of Unbalanced
Response Analysis................................. 4
7 Tests Procedure............................................. 5
8 FAT Acceptance Criteria................................ 6

Previous Issue: 31 October 2004 Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009

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Primary contact: Hussain, Khaleel Ma'Atug on 966-3-8730311

Copyright©Saudi Aramco 2007. All rights reserved.

Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this Practice is to establish guidelines in reviewing the dynamic

analysis of centrifugal compressors during Factory Acceptance Test (FAT).

1.2 Scope

This Best Practice gives general guidelines for reviewing vibration

instrumentation requirements, test procedure and acceptance criteria during the
Factory Acceptance Test and does not include performance test acceptance
criteria.

1.3 Disclaimer

This Best Practice is being provided for the general guidance and benefit of
Saudi Aramco engineers attending centrifugal compressors Factory Acceptance
Test (FAT). The use of this Best Practice during factory acceptance test,
however, does not relieve the manufacturer from his responsibility or duty to
confirm or to verify the accuracy of any information presented or from his
contractual liability to perform an accurate FAT that conforms to Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements. The use of the information or
material contained herein will not guarantee that the resulting product satisfies
the applicable requirements of Saudi Aramco Standards. Saudi Aramco assumes
no responsibility or liability whatsoever for any reliance on the information
presented herein or for FAT performed by manufacturer in accordance with this
Best Practice document. Moreover, this Best practice is intended only to
provide guidelines for Saudi Aramco engineers attending the Factory
Acceptance Test and shall not be considered as a replacement for the Mandatory
Saudi Aramco Engineering Requirements. Saudi Aramco® is a registered
trademark of the Saudi Arabian Oil Company. Copyright, Saudi Aramco, 2004.

1.4 Conflicts with Mandatory Standards

In the event of a conflict between this Best Practice and other Mandatory Saudi
Aramco Engineering Requirement, the Mandatory Saudi Aramco Engineering
Requirement shall govern.

2 References

This Best Practice is based on the below referenced standards:

2.1 Saudi Aramco References

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Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard

SAES-K-402 Centrifugal Compressor (8 March, 2006)

Saudi Aramco Materials System Specifications

31-SAMSS-001 Centrifugal Compressor (8 March, 2006)
34-SAMSS-625 Machinery Protection Systems (31 July, 2005)

2.2 Industry Codes and Standards

American Petroleum Institute (API)

API STD 617 Centrifugal Compressors for Petroleum, Chemical
and Gas Services Industries, 6th Edition
API STD 670 Machinery Protection Systems, 4th Edition

3 General

• This best practice gives general guidelines for the vibration instrumentation
requirements, test procedure and acceptable limits during centrifugal compressors
factory acceptance test. The attendee should review the rotordynamic analysis prior
to the test.

• The Vendor shall submit written test procedures for the mechanical and
performance tests through the Company or Buyer Representative for approval by
the Compressors, Gears & Steam Turbines Standards Committee Chairman at least
12 weeks prior to the scheduled tests. Comments on these test procedures shall be
submitted back to the Vendor at least four weeks prior to the scheduled tests. Other
test should be in accordance with the Inspection & Test Plan (ITP).
(31-SAMSS-001 /P 4.3.1.2)

• The vendor shall notify the purchaser not less than five working days before the date
the equipment will be ready for testing. If the testing is rescheduled, the vendor
shall notify the purchaser not less than five working days before the new test date.
(API STD 617/ P 4.3.1.3). However, it is suggested that the vendor sends
notification six weeks prior to any witness test.

4 Definitions

Factory Acceptance Test (FAT): A performance/mechnical running test conducted at

the factory to check the integrity of the machine.

Acceptance Vibration Level: This is the vibration level (displacement) at which a

machine can run indefinitely without inducing vibration related maintenance.

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Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

Normal Speed: The speed corresponding to the requirements of the normal operating
point. (API STD 617/ P 1.4.14)

Normal Operation point: The point at which usual operation is expected and optimum
efficiency is desired. This point is usually the point at which the vendor certifies that
performance is within the tolerances stated in the standard. (API STD 617/P 1.4.13)

Minimum Allowable Speed (in revolutions per minute): The lowest speed at which the
manufacturer's design will permit continuous operation. (API STD 617/P 1.4.12)

Maximum Continuous Speed (in revolutions per minute): The speed at least equal to
105% of the highest speed required by any of the specified operating conditions (for
compressors driven by variable-speed prime movers). Maximum continuous speed for
constant-speed drivers shall be equal to the 100% speed. (API STD 617/P 1.4.10)

5 Vibration Detectors

Vibration detection equipment shall be provided as per the below Table-1(for more
detail see 31-SAMSS-001 – paragraph 3.4.7.1):

Table 1 - Required Vibration Instrumentation for Centrifugal Compressors

Seismic Measurement
Relative Measurement
Machine Applicable Reading at the monitor
Train Standard Radial Thru Key Velocity Acceleratio
st Φ n

Centrifugal 31-SAMSS-001
X&Y Dual Yes
Compressor (Sec. 3.4.7.1)

Vibration detectors shall be provided, installed and calibrated in accordance with

34-SAMSS-625.

6 Shop Verification of Unbalanced Response Analysis

6.1 Shop verification of unbalanced response analysis shall be performed as part of

the mechanical running test and the results shall be used to verify the analytical
model. The method to conduct the shop verification test is described in API
STD 617 paragraph 2.9.3.

6.2 The results of the verification test shall be compared with those from the
original analytical model. The vendor shall correct the model if it fails to meet
any of the following criteria (API STD 617/P 2.9.3.2.2):
a) The actual critical speeds shall not deviate from the predicted speeds by
more than ±5%.

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Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

b) The predicted amplification factors shall not deviate from the actual test-
stand values by more than ± 20%.
c) The actual response peak amplitudes, including those are critically
damped, shall be within ± 50% of the predicted amplitudes.

6.3 When the test data does not meet the requirements of API STD 617, paragraph
2.9.3., additional more stringent testing is required. The purpose of this
additional testing is to determine on the test stand that the machine will operate
successfully. (API STD 617, paragraph 2.9.3.3)

7 Tests Procedure

7.1 All purchased vibration probes, transducers, oscillator-demodulators, and

accelerometers shall be in use during the test. If vibration probes are not
furnished by the compressor vendor, or if the purchased probes are not
compatible with shop readout facilities, then shop probes and readouts that meet
the accuracy requirements of API Standard 670 shall be used. (API STD 617/
P 4.3.4.1.8)

7.2 Calibration of the vibration probe and monitor circuits to be used shall be
verified immediately prior to the test, utilizing a wobulator or equivalent device
or method. Alternatively, recent calibration certificates for the vibration
measurement circuits shall be provided. (31-SAMSS-001/P 4.3.4.1.8)

7.3 Shop test facilities shall include instrumentation with the capability of
continuously monitoring and plotting revolutions per minute, peak-to-peak
displacement and phase angle. Presentation of vibration displacement and phase
marker shall also be by oscilloscope. (API STD 617/P 4.3.4.1.9)

7.4 As a minimum, the FFT spectra range shall cover a frequency range from 0.25-8
times the maximum continuous speed but not more than 1500 hertz. (API STD
617/P 4.3.4.3.2)

7.5 Plots showing synchronous vibration amplitude and phase angle versus speed
for deceleration shall be made before and after the 4-hour run. Plots shall be
made of both the filtered (one per revolution) and unfiltered vibration levels.
Polar plots from the testing shall be furnished to the Purchaser immediately
following the testing. The speed range covered by these plots shall be zero to
the specified driver trip speed. (API STD 617 & 31-SAMSS-001/P 4.3.4.3.3)

7.6 The combined total electrical and mechanical runout is presented in Table-2 (for
more detail refer to API STD 617 paragraph 2.6.5):

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Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

Table 2 – Allowable Total Runout

Probes Applicable
Allowable Total Runout (TR)
Location Standard
whichever is greater
API STD 617 • TR ≤ 0.25 x maximum allowed pk-pk vibration amplitude
Radial
(Sec. 2.6.5) • TR ≤ 0.25 mils pk-pk

whichever is greater
API STD 617 • TR ≤ 0.25 x maximum allowed pk-pk vibration amplitude
Axial
(Sec. 2.6.5) • TR ≤ 0.5 mils pk-pk

Note: If the vendor can demonstrate that electrical or mechanical runout is present, a
maximum of 25% of the maximum allowed pk-pk vibration amplitude, or 6.4
micrometers (0.25 mil), whichever is greater, may be vectorially subtracted from
the vibration signal measured during the factory test. . (API STD 617/P2.9.5.7)

7.7 Electrical and mechanical runout shall be determined and recorded by rolling the
rotor in V-blocks at the journal centerline while measuring runout with a non-
contacting vibration probe and a dial indicator at the same shaft location.
(API STD 617/P 2.9.5.6)

7.8 The mechanical running test shall verify that lateral critical speeds conform to
the requirements of API -617 paragraph 2.9.2 and 2.9.3. Shop verification of the
unbalanced response analysis shall be performed in accordance with 2.9.3.
(API STD 617/P 4.3.4.3.4 & P 4.3.4.3.5).

7.9 The equipment shall be operated at speed increments of approximately 10%

from zero to the maximum continuous speed and run at the maximum
continuous speed until bearings, lube-oil temperature and shaft vibrations have
stabilized. (API STD 617/P 4.3.4.2.1)

7.10 The speed shall be increased to trip speed and the equipment shall be run for a
minimum of 15 minutes. (API STD 617/P 4.3.4.2.2)

8 FAT Acceptance Criteria

While the equipment is operating at maximum continuous speed and at other speeds
within the specified operating speed range, sweeps shall be made for vibration
amplitudes and frequencies. The measured vibration shall not exceed the limits in
Table-3. Steps 1 to 3 shown below specify the FAT vibration values that need to be
checked.

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Document Responsibility: Compressors, Gears and Steam Turbines SABP-G-004
Issue Date: 28 January 2007 Centrifugal Compressors Dynamic
Next Planned Update: 1 November 2009 Analysis During Factory Acceptance Test

1) The peak-to-peak amplitude of unfiltered vibration in any plane, measured on the

shaft adjacent and relative to each radial bearing, at the maximum continuous speed or
at any other speed within the specified operating speed range shall not exceed the
overall limit specified in Table-3 (API STD 617/P 2.9.5.5)

2) The frequency spectrum at the maximum continuous speed and at other speeds
that may have been specified in the test agenda should be checked to identify the
highest amplitude (excluding the runing speed) and ensure that it does not exceed
the maximum limit for discrete frequency amplitude specified in Table-3.

3) At any speed grater than the maximum continuous speed, up to and including the
trip speed of the driver, the vibration should not exceed 150% of the maximum
value recorded at the maximum continuous speed. (API STD 617/P 2.9.5.5)

Table 3 – Vibration Limits for Centrifugal Compressor

Location of vibration
Measurement Compressor Shaft
Item (adjacent to bearing)
Item

whichever is less
• Au ≤ (7.74X106 /N)0.5 µm pk-pk
(i) Maximum [(12000/N)0.5 mils pk-pk]
continuous speed or Overall
at any other speed • Au ≤25 µm pk-pk
within the specified (1.0 mils pk-pk)
operating speed (API STD 617 / P 4.3.4.3.2)
range
Discrete frequencies 20% of the above allowable overall limit
(other than N) Af ≤0.2 x Au

(ii) Vibration limits at any speed greater than

150 % of the recorded value at maximum
the maximum continuous speed, up to and
continues speed
including the trip speed

Revision Summary
31 October 2004 New Saudi Aramco Best Practice.
28 January 2007 Minor revisions.

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