Deformation, Alignment, and Vibration in Large Turbine-Generator Set

Abstract

Within the Industrial Alignment Project (1990–93) and the Dynamic Alignment Project (1993–96), collaborative research and development efforts involving the Department of Geomatics Engineering at The University of Calgary, the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and a number of industrial partners in western Canada, many high-precision machinery surveys have been carried out. In a project for one of the industrial partners, a number of epochs of deformation, alignment, and vibration measurements were made on a large turbine-generator set. Measurements were made in order to identify the root cause of high vibration levels. Analysis of these measurements reveals that high vibration levels are a result of a “soft foot” condition caused by structural weakness in the reinforced concrete table that supports the turbine-generator set. It was recommended that the owner consider stiffening the table by making solid (i.e. moment resisting) connections between the table and all supporting columns.