Report No.

DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 1 of 11

Table-1 overall shaft vibration readings of Generator DE and NDE before & after
balancing under no load

Generator DE Generator NDE

Speed Shaft Vibration Level Shaft Vibration Level
Direction in microns “pk-pk” in microns “pk-pk”
Before After Before After
balancing balancing balancing balancing
1500 X-Direction 35 30 30 28
Y-Direction 32 28 25 20

Table-2 overall casing vibration readings of Generator DE and NDE before & after
balancing under no load

Generator DE Generator NDE

Casing Vibration Level Casing Vibration Level
Speed Direction in mm/sec (RMS) in mm/sec (RMS)
Before After Before After
balancing balancing balancing balancing
Horizontal 2.06 1.59 3.13 2.39
1500 Vertical 2.16 0.80 1.35 1.70
Axial 5.96 1.80 9.83 5.90

Measurements and Remarks:

1. An attempt was made to balance the generator in-situ at site conditions

2. In the initial balancing attempt 320 gm was added on the Gen DE and 1600
gm was added on the Gen NDE
3. With the above correction mass there was no predominant change in the Gen
DE horizontal but Gen DE vertical vibrations reduced on the casing
4. Similarly there was a drastic change on the Gen NDE horizontal with vib
levels reducing from 1.33 to 0.3 mm/sec RMS but Gen DE vertical vibrations
increased from 0.51 to 1.48 mm/sec
5. There was no predominant change in the shaft vibration levels with the
above correction
6. In the 2nd attempt 320 gm was added on the Gen DE and 405 gm was added
on the Gen NDE
7. With the above correction there was around 20% reduction in the casing
vibrations.
8. Generator end shields were assembled back and with this arrangement there
was around 40% reduction in the vibration levels while there was no
predominant change in the shaft vibration levels

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 2 of 11

Observations:

1. A predominant 2X frequency component was observed at all 3 directions on

Gen DE and NDE
2. Bump tests performed at selected locations did not show any predominant
frequency at or near 50 Hz
3. This indicates that the unit is not running under any resonance
4. Also with increase in speed it was observed that 2X frequency component is
also getting shifted with respect to running frequency
5. There was a phase difference of about 120 deg with Gen DE and Gen NDE
6. There is no influence of exciter or foundation bolts on the Gen DE axial
vibrations
7. With end shields the vibrations are reducing by around 40%. This is a clear
indication that the generator is having low stiffness in the axial direction
compared to radial direction
8. With end shields in place the axial vibrations are getting arrested because of
the stiffening effect.
9. A predominant 2X frequency component on the Gen NDE indicates that the
bearings may not be concentric with respect to each other
10.Also stator axis with respect to rotor axis may not be parallel because of the
above effect
11.The Gen NDE bearing assembly “may be” getting disturbed during each
rotation “twice” because of which it is restricting the movement of the rotor
in the “axial direction only” 2 times in a revolution
12.This effect and 2X frequency is not seen on the Gen DE side
13.The balancing correction mass will not have any influence on the above 2X
component
14.Recommended to check whether Gen DE bearing assembly is in-line with Gen
NDE bearing

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 3 of 11

Fig-1 showing vibration measurements taken on Gen DE casing. Data showing

predominant peak at 1X component (Cursor value) and its corresponding vibration
level in mm/sec RMS (Vibration data taken with the end shield assembly)

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 4 of 11

Fig-2 showing vibration measurements taken on Gen DE casing. Data showing

predominant peak at 2X component (Cursor value) and its corresponding vibration
level in mm/sec RMS (Vibration data taken with the end shield assembly)

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 5 of 11

Fig-3 showing vibration measurements taken on Gen NDE casing. Data showing
predominant peak at 1X component (Cursor value) and its corresponding vibration
level in mm/sec RMS (Vibration data taken with the end shield assembly)

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 6 of 11

Fig-4 showing vibration measurements taken on Gen NDE casing. Data showing
predominant peak at 2X component (Cursor value) and its corresponding vibration
level in mm/sec RMS (Vibration data taken with the end shield assembly)

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 7 of 11

Gen DE Horizontal

Gen NDE Horizontal

Fig-5 showing comparative time waveform data of casing vibrations taken on Gen
DE and Gen NDE in horizontal direction

Gen DE Vertical

Gen NDE Vertical

Fig-6 showing comparative time waveform data of casing vibrations taken on Gen
DE and Gen NDE in horizontal direction

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 8 of 11

Gen DE Axial

Gen NDE Axial

Fig-7 showing comparative time waveform data of casing vibrations taken on Gen
DE and Gen NDE in horizontal direction

Fig-8 showing overlay time waveform plots of casing vibrations taken on Gen DE
and Gen NDE in horizontal direction

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 9 of 11

25 Hz or 1500 rpm

50 Hz or 3000 rpm

Fig-9 showing 2 events occurring in each revolution/cycle, data taken on Gen NDE in axial
direction

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 10 of 11

Bump Test Measurements:

Fig-10 showing bump test measurements taken on Gen NDE fan blade showing predominant
natural frequency at 21300 rpm

Fig-11 showing bump test measurements taken on Gen NDE Casing assembly top in axial
direction showing predominant natural frequency at 14925 rpm

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly

 Report No. DE/2008-09/057
Date: 15.09.2008
Page 11 of 11

Fig-12 showing bump test measurements taken on exciter body in axial direction showing
predominant natural frequency at 1763 and 6450 rpm. If the turbine speed is at or near
6450 rpm the exciter body may get excited in axial direction. The above frequencies
were observed on the exciter stator in axial direction

Fig-13 showing bump test measurements taken on exciter fan blade in axial direction
showing predominant natural frequency at 9300, 11625, 16800 rpm.

Vibration studies of 15 MW Generator assembly