Dual Mass Simulator for Gas Turbine Rotor Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing balancing processes for rotor modules in gas turbines are time-consuming due to the need for multiple mass simulators and complex assembly/disassembly procedures, which can introduce bending moments and vibrations, especially when correcting for unbalances caused by geometric errors at module interfaces.
Innovation Solution
A dual mass simulator with a shaft and a release mechanism that allows the mass body to be repeatedly mounted and dismounted, enabling accurate positioning and reducing the need for repeated assembly and disassembly, allowing for efficient determination and correction of unbalances across multiple planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple mass simulators are used to determine unbalances at different planes, then balancing accuracy is improved, but the time required for balancing increases due to repeated assembly and disassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The mass simulator is divided into a shaft portion and a separate mass body that can be independently positioned and attached at different axial locations. This segmentation allows the mass body to be moved along the shaft without complete disassembly, enabling multiple unbalance measurements at different planes while significantly reducing the time required compared to using multiple separate simulators
Solution Approach 2:
The mass simulator is designed as a universal device that can function at multiple axial positions along the shaft. The mass body can be attached at different locations to simulate unbalances at various planes, making a single simulator capable of performing multiple measurement functions that would otherwise require multiple separate simulators
2Measurement precision
If mass corrections are applied at balancing planes far from the unbalance source, then unbalance compensation is achieved, but bending moments and vibrations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mass simulator provides dynamic positioning capability where the mass body can be placed at different axial locations along the shaft. This allows the balancing process to determine and apply corrections at optimal positions that minimize bending moments and vibrations, rather than being constrained to fixed balancing planes far from the unbalance source
3Measurement precision
If complex assembly and disassembly procedures are used for multiple simulators, then complete unbalance determination is achieved, but the risk of introducing errors and vibrations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The separable design of the mass body and shaft allows for simplified assembly and disassembly procedures. The mass body can be independently attached or removed without complex procedures, reducing the risk of introducing errors or vibrations during the balancing process while still enabling complete unbalance determination at multiple planes
Data Source
AI summary
A mass simulator to determine unbalance of a rotor module in a balancing machine that simulates the mass of an adjacent rotor module. The mass simulator has a shaft extending along an axis of rotation of the mass simulator. The shaft has an attachment interface at one end for attaching to a corresponding interface, and has a support portion at the opposite end which is rotatably supportable in the balancing machine. The mass simulator has a mass body mounted to the shaft by a release mechanism allowing the mass body to be repeatably mounted to and dismounted from the shaft. The mass simulator being attached to the rotor module at the attachment interface and the assembly of the attached mass simulator and rotor module located in the balancing machine to determine unbalance of the rotor module with the mass body mounted to, and dismounted from, the shaft.