AMCA International

Technical Seminar 2009

Equipment Vibration
Presented by:
Bill Howarth, Illinois Blower Inc.

The Air Movement and Control

Association International (AMCA), has
met the standards and requirements of
the Registered Continuing Education
Providers Program. Credit earned on
completion of this program will be
reported to the RCEPP. A certificate of
completion will be issued to each
participant. As such, it does not include
content that may be deemed or
construed to be an approval or
endorsement by NCEES or RCEPP.

Learning Objectives

Describe the distinction between balance and

vibration
Know the levels of balance quality
Know the levels of installed vibration
Understand the importance of an adequate
foundation
Recognize symptoms and causes of problems
Know how to avoid vibration problems

Equipment Vibration
Presented by

Bill Howarth
Hartzell Fan, Inc.

ANSI / AMCA 204-96

Balance
Quality and
Vibration
Levels for Fans
Balance
Vibration

BALANCE
Balance
Synonymous with Unbalance.
A physical property results in
centrifugal force being
applied to the fan impeller.
Measured as the product of
unbalance mass and distance
from axis of rotation (oz-in).

UNBALANCE
Center of
Mass

EXAMPLE:
Shaft

Axis of
Rotatio
n

Fan
Impelle
r

ROTOR WEIGHT =
300 LBS
RADIAL SEPARATION
OF CENTER OF MASS
FROM AXIS OF
ROTATION=0.0052
INCHES
UNBALANCE =300
LBS * 16 OZ/LB
*0.0052 IN.
=25 OZ-IN.

UNBALANCE
A. Particulate
builds up
uniformly on the
rotor.

Sticky-wet
particulate
in gas
stream

Scrubbe
r

B. A piece
of
particulat
e flies off.
C. Center of mass
shifts so that it no
longer coincides with
the axis of rotation.

Fa
n

UNBALANCE
Dead spot
250F at
top of
housing

250
F

Top of shaft =
188F

Bottom of shaft =
120
F wheel weight = 8500187F
Fan
lbs.
Differential Expansion:
(188 - 187) * (6.5E-6in/in-F) * (200 in) =
120F at
0.0013 in
bottom of
Shaft Bows Upward!
housing
= Displacement from axis of rotation = 0.36
Then Unbalance = (8500)*(16)*() = 49,000 oz-in
200.00

13
200.00
00

R
ot
on at
i

UNBALANCE
Dust accumulation
inside hollow airfoil
blade.

R
ot
on at
i

UNBALANCE
Buildup of dust on the
backside of backward
curves blades.

UNBALANCE
Hub

Shaf
t

Setscrews initially hold hub tightly

in position on the shaft. Setscrew
tips are corroded or worn by
fretting over time. This allows the
hub and entire fan wheel to be
displaced relative to the axis of
rotation causing unbalance.

Interference fit
eliminates the
possibility of the hub
being displaced
relative to the shaft in
most systems.

EFFECT OF
TEMPERATURE
CHANGE

Fan impeller
initially operating
at 70 F.
Weld
Process gas
temperature
increases rapidly.
Integral hub and
Fan impeller and
shaft for very rapid
hub heat up more
temperature change
quickly than the
applications.
shaft.
Example:
Conclusion:
Shaft dia. = 3.9375 in.
Initial interference fit should
Hub average temp = 215 F
be in excess of 0.002 inches
Shaft average temp =80 F
to allow for thermal
Then hub growth relative to shaft:
expansion plus an allowance
for hub expansion due to
(3.9375) * (80) * (6.5E-6) = 0.002 in.
centrifugal force.
Fan impeller weight = 250 lbs..
(250 lbs. x 16 oz/lb. x 0.002 inches)
Resulting unbalance = 8.0 oz-inches

ANSI / AMCA 204, TABLE

4-1
Table 4-1 Fan Application Categories

APPLICATION

EXAMPLES

DRIVER
POWER
kW (HP)
LIMITS

FAN
APPLICATIO
N
CATEGORY,
BV

RESIDENTIAL

Ceiling fans, attic fans,

window AC

<= .15 (0.2)

>.15 (0.2)

BV-1
BV-2

HVAC &
AGRICULTURAL

Building ventilation and

air conditioning;
commercial systems

<=3.7 (5.0)
>3.7 (5.0)

BV-2
BV-3

INDUSTRIAL
PROCESS& POWER
GENERATION, ETC.

Baghouse, scrubber,
mine, conveying, boilers,
combustion air, pollution
control, wind tunnels

<=300
(400)
>300 (400)

BV-3
BV-4

TRANSPORTATION &
MARINE

Locomotives, trucks,
automobiles

<= 15 (20)
> 15 (20)

BV-3
BV-4

TRANSIT/TUNNEL

Subway emergency
ventilation, tunnel fans,
garage ventilation,
Tunnel J et Fans

<=75 (100)
> 75 (100)
ANY

BV-3
BV-4
BV-4

PETROCHEMICAL
PROCESS

Hazardous gases,
process fans.

<= 37 (50)
> 37(50)

BV-3
BV-4

COMPUTER CHIP
MANUFACTURE

Clean room

ANY

BV-5

ANSI / AMCA 204, TABLE

5-1
Table 5-1
FAN
APPLICATION
CATEGORY

BALANCE QUALITY
GRADE
FOR RIGID
ROTORS/IMPELLER

BV-1*

G 16

BV-2

G 16

BV-3

G 6.3

BV-4

G 2.5

BV-5

G 1.0

*Note: In FAN APPLICATION CATEGORY

BV-1 there may be some extremely small
fan rotors weighing less than 227 grams (8
ounces). In such cases, residual unbalance
may be difficult to determine accurately.
The fabrication process must ensure
reasonably equal weight distribution about
the axis of rotation.

ANSI / AMCA 204,

APPENDIX C.2

VIBRATION
Vibration
The alternating mechanical motion
of an elastic system, components of
which are amplitude, frequency and
phase.
In general practice vibration values
are reported as:
Displacement - mils
Velocity - inches/second
Acceleration - peak gs

VIBRATION VELOCITY
1780
RPM
Uper = 12.72
oz-in

Maximum
Vibration
(in free space)
=2.5 mm/sec
(or 0.10 in.sec)

VIBRATION
Small
Diameter,
Light Rotor
Vibrati
on
Pickup

Massiv
e
Bearin
g
Housin
g
High
Stiffne
ss
Pedest
al

Note that the

bearing housing is
considerably lower
than the expected
vibration of the
rotor in free
space.

SLEEVE BEARING
Shaft
(rotating)
Bearing
Housing

Proximity Probe
measures shaft
surface movement
relative to the
bearing housing.
Bearing Liner
(static)
Oil Film
supports
shaft

EFFECT OF
STRUCTURE
Fan Mass

Mass

Cyclic Forces

Fan operating
speed = 1180
RPM

Structural Steel
acts as a spring
cyc/min
Fn = 1200
Flagpole acts as
a spring
Fn = 30cyc/min
Foundation

Circus Flagpole
Acrobat

SOLID FOUNDATION
Normal
Fn = 1680
cyc/min
Operating
speed (F)

1.6
1.4
1.2

Vibrati
on
(in/sec)

1.0
0.8
0.6

0.10 in/sec

0.4
0.2
0.0
0

500

1000

1180

Speed (RPM)
Fn >1.4 * F

1500

2000

STRUCTURAL STEEL
MOUNTING
Normal
Fn = 1200
cyc/min

Operating
speed (F)

1.6
1.4
1.2

0.70 in/sec

Vibrati
on
(in/sec)

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0

500

1000

1180

Speed (RPM)

1500

2000

FLEXIBLE MOUNT
Expansion
Joint
Expansion
Joint

Inle
t
Duc
t

Structural
Steel Platform

Discharg
e
Duct

Rigid Sub-Base
(Often concrete
filled)
Spring Isolation with
static deflection of 1.0
inches
Fn = 187.7/1.5 =187.7
cyc/min

ANSI / AMCA 204, TABLE

6-3
Table 6-3 Seismic Vibration Limits for Tests Conducted in the Factory

Values shown are peak velocity, mm/s (inches/s),

Filter-In, at the factory test speed.
FAN
APPLICATION
CATEGORY

RIGIDLY
MOUNTED
mm/s (in./s)

FLEXIBLY
MOUNTED
mm/s (in./s)

BV-1

12.7 (0.50)

15.2 (0.60)

BV-2

5.1 (0.20)

7.6 (0.30)

BV-3

3.8 (0.15)

5.1 (0.20)

BV-4

2.5 (0.10)

3.8 (0.15)

BV-5

2.0 (0.08)

2.5 (0.10)

VIBRATION UNITS

TRANSDUCER
MOUNTING
Vertical
Axial
Horizontal

SWSI Centrifugal Fans

TRANSDUCER
MOUNTING
Vertical
Axial
Horizontal

DWDI Centrifugal Fans

TRANSDUCER
MOUNTING
Vertic
al
Axial

Horizont
al

Vertic
al

Axial Fans

VIBRATION
SPECTRUM
0.20

Filter
Out

0.15

Filter
In

Velocity
(In./sec.)

0.10
0.05
0.00
0

500

1000 1500
Speed
(RPM)

2000

2500

ANSI / AMCA 204, TABLE

6-4
Table 6-4 Seismic Vibration Limits for Tests Conducted In-Situ
Values shown are peak velocity, mm/s (inches/s), Filter out.
Condition

Fan
Application
Category

Rigidly
Mounted
mm/s (in./s)

Flexibly
Mounted
mm/s (in./s)

Start-Up

BV-1
BV-2
BV-3
BV-4
BV-5

14.0 (0.55)
7.6 (0.30)
6.4 (0.25)
4.1 (0.16)
2.5(0.10)

15.2 (0.60)
12.7 (0.50)
8.8 (0.35)
6.4 (0.25)
4.1 (0.16)

Alarm

BV-1
BV-2
BV-3
BV-4
BV-5

15.2 (0.60)
12.7 (0.50)
102 (0.40)
6.4 (0.25)
5.7(0.20)

19.1 (0.75)
19.1 (0.75)
16.5 (0.65)
10.2 (0.40)
7.6 (0.30)

Shut-Down

BV-1
BV-2
BV-3
BV-4
BV-5

NOTE 1
NOTE 1
12.7 (0.50)
10.2 (0.40)
7.6 (0.30)

NOTE 1
NOTE 1
17.8 (0.70)
15.2 (0.60)
10.2 (0.40)

Note 1: Shutdown levels for fans in Fan

Application Grades BV1 and BV2 must be
established based on historical data.

Questions?