SwRI: Machinery Vibration Services: Fan and Duct Dynamics: SwRI has establish reducing the risk of crankshaft failure in Large integral reciprocating compressors

  image of SwRI engineer troubleshooting fan system problem
 

Fan system problems are resolved because of SwRI's 20 years of experience.

To operate efficiently, power plants must optimize the aerodynamic and mechanical performance of fan and duct systems. Dynamics problems, such as foundation resonance amplification, acoustic resonance, and panel and bellows damage, must be resolved as quickly as possible to minimize damage. Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has more than 20 years of experience in troubleshooting power plant exhaust and air supply system problems.

 

Typical Fan and Duct Problems

   

Various fan and duct system problems include:

  • Shaft critical speed operation

  • Foundation resonance amplification

  • Disk wobble from center-plate flexibility

  • Shaft thermal bow

  • Excessive noise

  • Shaft and impeller cracking

  • Unstable variable speed drives

  • Fan rotating stall

  • Flow-induced vibration

  • Blade fatigue failure

  graphic of modal testing and strain gage telemetry
 

To eliminate blade fatigue caused by resonance, engineers combine modal testing with strain gage telemetry.

Diagnostic Services

To identify and resolve dynamic fan and duct problems quickly, a comprehensive series of quick-response SwRI engineering services is available, including:

  • Troubleshooting and consultation

  • In situ multi-plane balancing

  • Modal testing of shafts

  • Modal testing of impellers

  • Foundation shaker testing

  • Structure shaker testing

  • Duct acoustic modes mapping

  • Structural modes mapping

  • Shaft strain telemetry

  • Blade strain telemetry
      image of exhaust duct system
     

    Acoustic resonance in an exhaust duct system, which can cause panel and bellows damage, is identified by SwRI staff.

  • Remote diagnostic monitoring

  • Computational fluid dynamics analysis

  • Finite element analysis

  • Rotor dynamic modeling

  • Duct acoustic modeling

  • Noise measurements

  • Vibration measurements

  • Pulsation measurements

  • Performance testing

  • Performance diagnostics

For more information about machinery vibration services or fan and duct dynamics capabilities at SwRI, or how you can contract with SwRI, please contact  Harold Simmons, P.E., at hsimmons@swri.org or (210) 522-2557.

 

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®) is an independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 12 technical divisions using multidisciplinary approaches to problem solving. The Institute occupies more than 1,200 acres and provides nearly two million square feet of laboratories, test facilities, workshops, and offices for more than 3,300 employees who perform contract work for industry and government clients.