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Note: The source of the technical material in this volume is the Professional
Engineering Development Program (PEDP) of Engineering Services.
Warning: The material contained in this document was developed for Saudi
Aramco and is intended for the exclusive use of Saudi Aramcos employees.
Any material contained in this document which is not already in the public
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parties, or otherwise used in whole, or in part, without the written permission
of the Vice President, Engineering Services, Saudi Aramco.
Chapter : Mechanical
File Reference: MEX-214.05
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Section
Page
INFORMATION ............................................................................................................... 3
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 3
VIBRATION MONITORING EQUIPMENT ...................................................................... 5
VIBRATION MONITORING .................................................................................... 5
Basic Vibration ................................................................................................ 5
Transducers for Vibration Variables .............................................................. 12
Seismic Probes ............................................................................................. 19
TEMPERATURE MONITORING INSTRUMENTS ................................................ 23
Resistance Temperature Detector ................................................................ 23
Thermocouples ............................................................................................. 25
TYPICAL VIBRATION MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS............................................ 30
HEAVY-DUTY GAS TURBINES ........................................................................... 31
Vibration Monitoring ...................................................................................... 31
Temperature Monitoring ................................................................................ 41
AERO-DERIVATIVE GAS TURBINES .................................................................. 43
Vibration Monitoring ...................................................................................... 43
Temperature Monitoring ................................................................................ 44
GAS TURBINE THERMODYNAMIC PERFORMANCE MONITORING ........................ 45
COMPRESSOR DISCHARGE TEMPERATURE .................................................. 45
TURBINE INLET TEMPERATURE ....................................................................... 47
TURBINE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE................................................................. 48
GLOSSARY .................................................................................................................. 49
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
LIST OF FIGURES
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Advantages, Disadvantages, and Useful Ranges of Transducer Types.......... 13
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Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
INFORMATION
INTRODUCTION
A vibration, axial-position, and bearing-temperature monitoring
system consists of probes, accelerometers, and temperature
sensors; signal conditioning devices, interconnecting cables,
power supplies, monitors, and communication devices. As
defined by Saudi Aramco Engineering Standard SAES-J-604,
the Vibration, Axial Position and Bearing Temperature
Monitoring System will be referred to simply as the Vibration
Monitoring System.
For heavy duty, industrial gas turbines, vibration and axial
position information is acquired by transducers and proximity
probes positioned at optimal locations on a gas turbine.
Transducers convert mechanical responses to electric signals
that are conditioned and processed by electronic instruments.
For aero-derivative gas turbines, accelerometers measure
casing vibration and supply signals to dedicated filters that
continuously read 1 (running speed) vibration for each rotor,
and they can supply a frequency versus amplitude spectrum
when required. Axial displacement is not monitored since the
axial float is restricted by an anti-friction thrust bearing.
Gas turbine bearing temperature information is acquired by
temperature detectors positioned at the bearings.
The vibration monitoring system provides the information
necessary to monitor gas turbine condition and to diagnose
faults. Vibration monitoring systems provide the electrical
signals to the Rotating Machinery Protection System (RMPS)
and the condition monitoring system. The RMPS automatically
sends shutdown commands to the turbine control system if a
turbine vibration, axial position, or monitored temperature
exceeds a specified limit. The condition monitoring system is a
computer-based data collection system that communicates
directly to the vibration monitoring system. The condition
monitoring system will also accept process data from
communication links to the Distributed Control System (DCS) or
directly from process instruments. The condition monitoring
system collects, stores, processes, displays and prints the gas
turbine operating data in a variety of formats. The condition
monitoring system data will typically be used for historical
trending, machinery diagnostics, and predictive maintenance
purposes but not for shutdown protection.
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Vibration Monitoring
Temperature Monitoring
Vibration Monitoring
Vibration monitoring is a monitoring method and process.
Vibration monitoring measures the condition of the machine
from the initial vibration signature after installation and then at
periodic intervals throughout the machines life. This monitoring
method and process enables an accurate accrual or trend of
information by which problems may be diagnosed at an early
stage.
Because vibration is the most sensitive and accurate of the
indicators that are used for monitoring machinery condition, the
information from the vibration sensors is typically used to
prevent unscheduled downtime and/or equipment failure. Saudi
Aramco requires automatic vibration shutdown at preset levels
on all critical equipment. Vibration sensors can identify a
machinery defect earlier than can other types of sensors, and
they can also be used to pinpoint the specific source or
machinery component that is defective; therefore, vibration
analysis is frequently used in predictive-maintenance programs
to provide the basic guidance for performance of maintenance
and overhauls.
Basic Vibration
Vibration is the back and forth motion across a point of
equilibrium. Rotating equipment vibration is usually periodic, that
is, it is related in some manner to the action of the rotating
element. At times, there are nonperiodic vibrations in rotating
equipment, but such vibrations are normally from external
sources. The vibration motion is described by the variables of
frequency, displacement, velocity, and acceleration.
The terms and expressions that are used in this discussion of
vibration monitoring are presented in the text that follows.
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Engineering Encyclopedia
Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Transducers for
Vibration Variables
There are two general applications for vibration sensors that are
used on rotating equipment. Both applications are used by
Saudi Aramco.
One application is used to detect the actual vibrations of the
rotating shaft within a hydrodynamic radial bearing and to
provide a signal to the appropriate monitoring equipment. Saudi
Aramco uses a noncontacting proximity sensor for the detection
part of the vibration system in this type of application.
Noncontacting proximity sensors are used for most large
(greater than 10 MW) gas turbines.
The second application is used to detect the effects of the
rotating element vibrations on the static equipment casing
and/or bearing housings. The seismic-type sensor is used in this
application, and it is directly mounted on the surface of the body
to be monitored. When antifriction bearings are used in a
machine, the seismic sensor gives a good indication of rotor
motion because antifriction bearings have essentially zero
clearance, and the dynamic force of rotor vibration is directly
transmitted to the bearing bracket through the bearings. Seismic
sensors are used for all aero-derivative gas turbines and for
small-to-medium-sized industrial gas turbines (less than 10
MW).
Vibration information is acquired through the use of transducers
that are strategically located in various positions on the gas
turbine or the auxiliary equipment. The vibration transducers
convert the mechanical motion of the equipment to an electrical
signal that is sent to a monitoring/control unit. Table 1 describes
the advantages, the disadvantages, and the useful ranges of the
transducer types. The selection and positioning of the proper
transducers are discussed later in various parts of this module.
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Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Transducer
Type
Radial shaft
vibration
transducer
Useful
Frequency
Range
Measurement
0-1 kHz
Displacement
Advantages
Sensor observes
shaft directly
Disadvantages
Senses surface
imperfections
Conductive parts only
Mounting difficulty
Frequency limits
Velocity pickup
1-4 kHz
Velocity
Self-generating
Moving parts
Good indicator of
machine condition
Large
Hand-held
Accelerometer
With
acceleration
output = 1020 kHz
With velocity
output = 2.520 kHz
Acceleration
High frequency
capability
Senses EMFs
Frequency limits
Temperature limits
Rugged
Small size
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
100
10
1.0
0.1
00.1
10
100
1000
10,000
100,000
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
Seismic Probes
Seismic (mass-spring) transducers use the response of a massspring system to measure vibration. The seismic transducer
consists of a mass that is suspended from the transducer case
through the use of a spring of specific stiffness. The motion of
the mass within the case may be damped by a viscous fluid, a
spring, or an electric current. When the transducer case is
contact mounted to the moving part, the transducer may be
used to measure velocity or acceleration, depending on the
frequency range of interest.
Velocity transducers are being used less by Saudi Aramco.
Velocity measurements (usually required for all structural
vibrations with the exception of high frequency gear mesh
vibrations) are obtained through the use of an accelerometer
with signal integration to velocity. This type of transducer
configuration is sometimes called a piezoelectric velocity
transducer.
Velocity Transducers - The velocity transducer is an adaptation
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
where other factors justify the cost. For most applications, base
metal T/C, Types T, J, E, or K, is used. Types E, J, and K are
typically used in Saudi Aramco facilities, depending on the
application.
The Type E T/C positive element is made from a nickelchromium alloy generally referred to by the trade name
Chromel. The negative leg is made from a copper-nickel alloy
called Constantan. The Type E is ideally suited for low
temperature measurements because of its low thermal
conductivity and high corrosion resistance. The Type E
thermocouple is useful for detecting small temperature changes.
Iron is the positive element in a Type J T/C, with the negative
leg being Constantan. Iron is an inexpensive metal and is rarely
manufactured in pure form, which contributes to the poor
conformance characteristics. Although the impurities in the iron
are high, the Type J T/C is popular because of its low price. The
Type J T/C has a more restrictive temperature limitation than
most T/C. At 760C (1400F), an abrupt magnetic
transformation occurs that can cause decalibration even when
the T/C is returned to lower temperatures. Saudi Aramco
Standard 34-SAMSS-625 specifies grounded, Type J
thermocouples manufactured in accordance with ANSI MC96.1
(IEC 584-1) as the standard optional temperature sensor for
journal and thrust bearing temperature channels.
The Type K T/C is similar to the type E with the exception that
the negative element is made from a nickel alloy instead of
Constantan. Type K has a higher temperature range than Types
E or J.
The measuring instrument usually is located away from the
point at which the temperature is measured; therefore, an
extension is needed. Because the temperature-sensing resistor
for maintaining a constant reference junction EMF can be most
conveniently located in the instrument as a part of its circuit, the
reference junction itself must be located in the instrument;
therefore, the thermoelectric circuit must be extended from the
measuring junction, at the point where the temperature
measurement is desired, to the reference junction in the
instrument. This extension is done through the use of extension
wires.
Extension wires theoretically extend the T/C to the reference
junction in the instrument. This wire is generally furnished in the
form of a matched pair of conductors. The simplest procedure is
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Gas Turbines
Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
to use the same types of wire from which the T/C itself is made.
However, in installations with noble-metal T/C where several
hundred feet of extension wire must be used, or where
numerous T/C are employed, such a procedure may become
too expensive. In such cases, alternative lower-cost materials
with similar characteristics at lower temperatures are available.
Thermocouples, much like RTDs, suffer from errors in their
measurement. Static electrical noise may be introduced into T/C
circuits by adjacent wires carrying ac power or rapidly varying
(pulsating) dc. Static electrical noise may also be introduced if
the T/C extension wires are capacitively coupled to an electric
field. These noises can be minimized or avoided by shielding
each pair of extension wires and by grounding the wire shields.
T/C wires must never run in the same conduit with electric
power wires.
Magnetic noise may be induced into a T/C circuit any time the
extension wires are subjected to a magnetic field, and a current
is produced to oppose the magnetic field. This magnetic noise
can be minimized by twisting each pair of T/C extension wires.
Crosstalk noise between adjacent wire pairs in the same conduit
may also occur. Crosstalk can be avoided by shielding each pair
of extension wires.
Common-mode noise in the circuit between the measuring
junction and the transducer may occur when the circuit is
grounded in more than one place, or when different grounding
potentials exist along the wire path. Three different approaches
can avoid these problems: the noise can be minimized by
proper grounding (T/C circuits are usually grounded at the
measuring junction only), by shielding each pair of extension
wires and grounding the shields at the T/C only, or by using
differential input measuring devices.
The monitor/control unit should be the same as the general
control instrumentation. Monitors must consist of a separate
alarm unit for each point and a single, time-shared temperature
indicator. The alarm units must have dual setpoints and outputs,
and they must accept the signal directly from the element. The
alarm units must be suitable for back-of-panel rack mounting, or
for mounting at a remote location. The alarms must be
displayed on a separate annunciator.
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
The monitor must provide a fault alarm for open or short circuits
in the control wiring between the detector and the monitor.
Monitor relays that are used for prealarm and shutdown output
functions must be the hermetically sealed, plug-in type. The trip
settings must be in accordance with the recommendations of
the turbine manufacturer.
In accordance with SAES-J-601, Recommended Temperature
Alarms and Input Shutdown Devices, 100-ohm platinum RTDs
or thermocouples that are wired directly into a Triple Modular
Redundant Emergency Shutdown (TMR ESD) system, or
analog 4-20 mA dc, or digital signals from ambient temperaturecompensated temperature transmitters/transducer are
recommended for measuring and inputting ESD temperature
signals. Capillary or bimetallic type, direct process actuated
temperature switches with an associated indicating gauge must
not be used unless thermocouple or RTD measurements are
not practical or feasible.
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Evaluating Installation of Vibration
Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
The direction of active thrust for the gas turbine (heavy duty,
industrial type only).
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The thrust bearings shall have dual probes with voting logic
monitoring the axial position.
The X-Y probes are used for diagnosis, monitoring and alarm.
The seismic transducers are used for diagnosis, monitoring,
alarm and emergency shutdown. Installation and calibration
shall be in accordance with 34-SAMSS-625.
Proximity Probes - As mentioned previously, the noncontact
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
12,000
rpm
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Figure 9. API 670 Axial Position Probe Installation for a Shaft with
an Integral Thrust Collar
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Figure 10. API 670 Standard Axial Position Probe Installation Arrangement
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T5
ELLIPTICAL JOURNAL
BEARING
T4
4X
3Y
A1
A2
P1
P2
3Y
4X
5Y
6X
TURBINE
A1
ACTIVE THRUST
A2
VIBRATION MONITORING
SYSTEM JUNCTION BOX
COMPRESSOR
4
5
A2
A1
2
6X
5Y
T3
ELLIPTICAL JOURNAL
BEARING
T2
KINGSBURY THRUST
BEARING
T1
P1
P2
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Temperature
Monitoring
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Temperature
Monitoring
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P2 k
T1 1
P1
=
T2 T1
Where:
T1
T2
P1
P2
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Monitoring Equipment for Gas Turbines
167.5 1.4
1
539.67
14.7
=
1139.67 539.67
539.67 11.395.2857 1
=
600
=
541.84
= .903 = 90.3%
600
- 80F (539.67R)
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GLOSSARY
acceleration
accelerometer
amplitude
babbitt
condition monitoring
critical equipment
displacement
electromotive force
frequency
noncontact proximity
probe
A sensor that detects the gap between its tip and a shaft
surface.
phase angle
phase reference
transducer
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seismic transducer
thermocouple
thermowell
vibration
50