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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level
Lecture 5: Balancing of Rigid Rotors
The Lecture Contains:
Balancing
Balancing of Rigid Rotors
Balancing Machines
Field Balancing
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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level
Lecture 5: Balancing of Rigid Rotors
Vibration due to Unbalanced Inertia Forces/Moments
Unbalanced inertia force generated in a machine is a common source of excitation. The machine
foundations are subjected to dynamic forces/moments generated due to such unbalanced forces.
The effect of unbalanced forces
Reduction of the life of the supports
Vibrations causing noisy operation
Control Remedies
Balancing of the inertia forces
The first step towards balancing is to analyze the inertia forces (and moments) present in a machine.
We shall discuss some practical methods of balancing the different kinds of rotors
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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level
Lecture 5: Balancing of Rigid Rotors
Balancing of Rigid Rotors
When the operating speed of a rotor coincides with any of the natural frequencies of its transverse
vibration, then the rotor undergoes a significant transverse deflection.This speed is referred to as critical
speed.
For operating speed far below the first critical speed, the rotor deflection is negligible. In such cases, the
rotor is assumed to be rigid and the complete balancing of its inertia (centrifugal) forces can be achieved
by attaching two masses at any two arbitrarily chosen axial planes called the balancing planes.
If, for practical reasons, the masses cannot be attached, the balancing can still be done by removing the
rotor material from the positions diametrically opposite to those positions, the balancing masses would
have occupied.
Basic Principles of Balancing Machines
a. total unbalance of a rigid rotor can be completely expressed in terms of the
unbalances in any two conveniently chosen balancing planes.
b. a rigid rotor balanced at one speed can be considered as balanced for any other
speed well below the first critical speed.
c. the inertia force of the rotor depends on the product of the mass and eccentricity.
The amount of a balancing mass may be adjusted depending on its convenient
radial position to result in the requisite value of the product.
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Module 2: Excitation reduction at source and factors affecting vibration level
Lecture 5: Balancing of Rigid Rotors
Balancing Machines
Various types of balancing machines are commercially available. These are commonly used in the
production line of rotors. There are two common balancing machines:
For low-speed, rough rotors which do not require a very high degree of balancing - pivoted-
carriage machines are used.
For intermediate-speed, smooth rotors which need a comparatively more accurate balancing -
Gisholt-type balancing machines are used.
Pivoted-Carriage Balancing Machine
The rotor to be balanced is mounted on half-bearings in a light but stiff carriage (Fig. 5.1). This carriage
is pivoted near one end and rests on a spring at the other.
Fig. 5.1: Rotor mounted in half-bearings
The rotor is mounted with plane 1 coinciding with the pivot axis so that the unbalance in this
plane has no effect on the carriage motion. When the rotor is rotated in this position, the carriage
oscillates due only to the unbalance in plane 2.
A trial mass is then placed (at a known radius) in plane 2 and the amplitude of carriage
oscillation is noted.
The procedure is repeated with the same trial mass (at the same radius) at different angular
positions. A plot of the observed amplitude of carriage motion against the angular position of the
trial mass indicates the best angular position for which the amplitude is minimum.
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The magnitude of the trial mass is varied at this angular position, and the exact amount of
balance mass, which reduces the amplitude to almost zero, is determined by trial and error.
A similar procedure is followed to determine the required balancing mass in plane 1, the rotor
being mounted with plane 2 coinciding with the pivot axis.
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