API 612 2014

16.3.3 Mechanical Running Test

16.3.3.1 The requirements of Items a) to j), as follows, shall be met before the mechanical running
test is

performed.

a) The contract shaft seals and bearings shall be used in the machine for the mechanical running test.

Bearing housing seals shall be checked and any leaks shall be corrected.

b) All oil pressures, viscosities, and temperatures shall be within the range of operating values

recommended in the vendor’s operating instructions for the specific unit being tested. For pressure

lubrication systems, oil flow rates for each bearing housing shall be measured.

c) Test-stand oil filtration shall be 10 μm nominal or better. Oil system components downstream of
the filters

shall meet the cleanliness requirements of API 614 before any test is started.

d) All joints and connections shall be checked for tightness, and any leaks shall be corrected.

e) All warning, protective, and control devices used during the test shall be checked, and adjustments
shall

be made as required.

f) The mechanical running test shall be performed with the contract half coupling and a coupling
mass

simulator, or moment simulator, in accordance with API 671.

g) All contract vibration probes, cables, oscillator-demodulators, and accelerometers shall be used
during

the test.

h) Shop test facilities shall include instrumentation with the capability of continuously monitoring
and plotting

revolutions per minute, peak-to-peak displacement and phase angle (x-y-y ′). Presentation of
vibration

displacement and phase marker shall also be by oscilloscope.

i) The vibration characteristics determined by the use of instrumentation specified in Items g) and h)
shall

serve as the basis for acceptance or rejection of the machine.

j) If external housing vibration test values are specified, vibration data (minimum and maximum
values and

phase angles) shall be measured vertically and horizontally transverse to each bearing centerline
using shop instrumentation.
16.3.3.2 Unless otherwise specified, operation of the control systems shall be demonstrated and the

mechanical running test of the steam turbine shall be conducted as specified in a) to f), as follows.

76 API STANDARD 612

Test steam conditions should be as close to design as practical. Due to no-load operation for
extended

periods of time during the test, the inlet steam conditions may need to be reduced to prevent
overheating of

the unit and exceeding design clearances.

a) Operate the equipment at speed increments of approximately 10 % from zero to the maximum

continuous speed (avoiding any resonant speeds) and run at maximum continuous speed until
bearings,

lube oil temperatures, and shaft vibrations have stabilized.

b) Increase the speed to trip speed and run the equipment for a minimum of 15 min.

c) Check overspeed trip devices and adjust them until values within 1 % of the nominal trip setting
are

attained. Mechanical overspeed devices, when supplied, shall attain three consecutive nontrending
trip

values that meet this criterion.

d) The speed governor and any other speed-regulating devices shall be tested for smooth
performance over

the operating speed ranges. Check no-load stability and response to the control signal.

e) Record data for governors such that it includes at least the sensitivity and linearity of relationship

between speed and control signal, and, for adjustable governors, the response speed range.

f) Run the turbine continuously at the maximum continuous speed for at least four hours.