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FEEDBACK NO. 19
SWING CHECK
General Description
The swing check is the measurement of radial throw at the free end of the coupled rotor caused
due to non parallelity of the coupling faces and / or their out of square ness wrt rotor axis etc.
The high swing check value may cause high shaft vibration, high bearing shell temperature etc. The
value of swing check depends on axial run out of coupling faces, the diameter of the coupling and
the length of the rotor. During the machining of rotors in the works some tolerances are permitted
by designers on the coupling faces of the rotor resulting to some radial throw at the free end. The
maximum permissible swing values caused due to the above tolerance for different diameter and
length of the rotor can be worked out from the enclosed graph. However it is recommended to
keep the swing values to minimum for better results during operation of the machine. In a multi
rotor turbine generator system it is essential to measure the swing value in both extreme end
where the weight of the rotors are light. For example 200/210 MW machine with Russian Generator
and static excitation system the swing check values are measured on HP rotor front end only. In
500 MW machine the swing values measured in HP front and on exciter rear end.
It is advisable to measure value on IP rotor front end also for better results during operation of the
units. This can be done initially during erection with temporary coupling bolts on LP-IP coupling
before reaming / honing of coupling.
Any variation in swing values may be corrected during erection of machine. Any compromise at
erection stage may cause serious problem during operation of the unit and any correction becomes
much more tedious at a later stage. The correction may be carried out either by interchanging the
coupling position or by correcting the coupling faces by scraping / cutting in consultation of
designers.
Procedure
1)

Before placement of Module / Rotor in position the coupling faces of all the rotors are to
be checked for concavity / convexity of their coupling faces. This can be checked with the
help of a thin rectangular lightweight straight edge. No concavity of about 0.02 / 0.03 mm
is permitted to manufacturing units.

2)

After placement of individual Module / Rotor the coupling faces are to be checked /
measured for axial run out before taking up alignment of various rotors. The HP rotor rear
coupling face can be measured after placing it on both of its bearing. The IP rotor faces are
to be measured after placing IP rear end on bearing and front end on lifting tackle. Similarly
LP rotor may be placed on bearing on its rear end and front end supported on lifting tackle.
Axial run out on coupling faces more than 0.02 mm. may be referred to designers before

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taking up further works.

3)

After completing final alignment of various rotors they are to be coupled with temporary
bolts, taking into account the axial run out of the coupling faces. During coupling with
temporary bolts the highest point of one of the rotor face is to be coupled with lowest point
of coupling face of the adjoining rotor.

4)

During coupling on temporary bolts the equal tightening on all the four temporary bolts is
to be ensured otherwise it can disturb the swing value of the rotor.

5)

First IP-LP coupling is to be made with temporary bolts and swing in IP rotor front end is
recorded. After this only HP-IP rotor is to be coupled with temporary bolts and the swing
value on HP front rotor is recorded.

6)

During swing check of IP rotor its front end is to be supported on auxiliary bearings and
suspended by a sling of 24 mm diameter with a distance of 3.0 to 3.5 meter from crane
hook, without making any connection between HP-IP rotor.

7)

While recording swing check of HP rotor the front end of the rotor is to be supported on
auxiliary bearings and suspended by a sling of 18 mm diameter with a distance of 3.0 to 3.5
meter from crane hook.

8)

During checking of swing measure radial movement of rotor on parting plane and rotate
the rotor in normal direction of rotation either on jacking oil with hand barring or with the
help of E.O.T. crane with thick oil on bearings. Avoid jerk during rotation of rotor while
recording the swing check values. If jacking oil system is used during rotation of the rotor
while recording swing check values, the readings are to be taken stopping the JOP.

9)

After ensuring the swing check values as per the graph with temporary coupling bolts,
the HP-IP coupling may be cleared for reaming / honing of the coupling holes. Any variation
need correction of the coupling before reaming / honing of the holes.

10) The final swing check value of HP front rotor is to be recorded after fitting / elongation of
all the coupling bolts of HP-IP & LP-IP rotors. For improvement of the swing values, the
uneven and non-sequential tightening of the coupling bolts may be avoided.
11) During checking of swing readings, 8-10 initial rotations are to be given and then only the
readings are to be recorded.
12) Similar method is to be adopted while measuring the swing check value of the exciter and
t he rotor is to be hanged on the suitable size of sling.
13) While recording the swing initially with temporary bolts for HP & IP rotor, the fitting of
eight number temporary bolts are preferred in place of four bolts on the coupling.

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