The Synchronous Instability of a Compressor Rotor Due to Bearing Journal Differential Heating

Abstract

The paper describes a synchronous vibration instability problem encountered on a centrifugal compressor with oil-lubricated bearings. The problem was solved by modification of the compressor rotor; however, the root cause was not completely understood at that time. A possible explanation was based on a theory that suggested differential heating of the bearing journals. It was decided to verify this theory by experiments. Therefore a test rotor was designed with identical rotor dynamic characteristics to those of the compressor rotor. To fill a gap in the published research on bearing thermohydrodynamics, an experimental technique was devised to measure the surface temperature variations around one of the journals of this rotor. The dependence of significant temperature differentials across the journal upon its orbit was confirmed.