r

r NAVY BALANC E STANDA HD, 4 W/N, CUHREN TAPl STD. VALUE (EQUIVA LENT ISO 0.67):

The current API Standard s now refer to the 4W/N (oz-in) balance standard for

r Residual Unbalan ce. W= journal (or Rotor) Weight In lbs.; N= rotor speed, rpm, Ur
Is In ounce-In ches. This Is a stricter balance to meet at low to medium speeds. At
-14,200 rpm, the previous 0.1 g API Dabncc Standard becomes stricter. This is because

r the denomin ator has the rpm as a squared term (Issac Newton seemed to go along with
that logic also). The ISO Dalance Units by Gra<le (Class),G, are also determln e3 using the
speed In radians/ sec divided into a mm/sec Balance Grade.

The Navy (API) Standard for our above example would be:

U, (oz-inch es) = 4 (1,000 lb. journ:;I weight)/ 6,000(rp m) = 4,000/6,000 =0.667 oz-
Inches or - 60% lower than tile previous value. Now the eccentricity, e, of the rotor (and
balancin g machine ) Is 0.667 oz-in/1000 lbs(16 oz./lb) = 41.67 micro-Inches. Most
balancin g machine s in proper calibrati on guarante e 25 .nlcro-ln ches sensitivity. Now the
vibration from such a residual unbalan ce would be 41.67 micro-Inch x 2 = 83.33 mlcro-
lnches (0.083 mils) peak-to-peak.

For another point of reference, many full speed, vacuum chambe r balancin g facilities have
an ISO balancin g Standard of 1.0 mm/sec. Now to apply that value to this example :

U, = 1.0 mm/sec divided by the speed in radians/s ec(628.3 19) = 0.001592 mm(e)
.
·= 0.001592 mm/25.4 mm/in. = 0.000063 inches (or) 63 micro-inches

On an ISO Balance Standard Chart, the ordinate is labeled both in eccentricity (mm) and
in Residual Unbalan ce Units,e.g. Kg-mm/Kg, or gm-mm/gm, or lb-in/lb (US units), or even
oz-in/lb.mass. In the purest expressi on, the balance unit,Kg-mm, divided by the mass
unit,Kg, will yield the eccentricity, mm. Therefore, the :-~les are of the same units.
NOTE: RADIAN SPEED IS 2 PI/60 OR 0.105 TIMI 'S RPM ..6,000 RPM= 628.319
RAD/SEC .SPEED, I.E. (0.105)( 6,000).

The Couplin g Balance Standard s are also 4W/N In the API but one should use the
Couplin g Weight only for \V. In some instances, It may be the Mass-Moment. The
Couplin g can be balanced in several different specifica tions: ·~ ·
1. Compon ent Balance, where ea·: h compon ent is balanced to 4W/N. And the
random assembly is held to 40W/N.
2. Assembly Balance, where the assembly (not the individual compon ents) are
balanced to 4W/N. Match marks would be required .
3. Compon ent & Assembly Bala:1ce, most expensiv e of the 3, where each
compon ent is balanced to 4W/N, and the assembl y is balance d to 4W/N .. Match marks
again would be required .

BALUNITS.191 2 PAGES VIBRATION INSTITUTE NOTES C.JACKSON REV.1/91

27
[
DAl.ANCING VALUES. HESIOUA L UNDAl.ANCE. & THIAL WEIGIITS

r The balancin g formula is derived from f=Ma: 1:(lbs.) = W/g e w

1

r W=wclg ht In lbs. ; e= eccentric ity in inches ; w= speed in radians

""'
A.IL '' ~·.-
.....,._..,.
..,DJI
This formula can be difficult to manage so it can be simplifie d,
r F (lbs) = 1/16. [rpm/LOOO]' . gram-Inches (or) •x nn i'
F (lbs) = 1.77 . [rpm/1000)1 . ounce-In ches
·~\
The 1/10 "g" expressi on for residual unbalanc e allows one to determin e a resklual
. 'ti
r unbalanc e that wiH create an unbalanc e force .at full speed that is equal to 1/10 the
weight of the rotor at rest. One can use the total weight of the rotor, (or) one can use

.r the journal welghts, i.e. the portion supporte d at each journal. For example , take a rotor
that will operate at 6,000 rpm and -weighs 2,000 lbs and Is equally support ed on each
journal,i.e. 1,000 lbs effective at each of the two journ:::ls,i.e. left plane= left journal, right

r plane = right journal.

Left Plane = left journal residual unbalanc e = 1/10 of left journal weight =100 lbs.

r Then, F(above) = 0.1(1000) = 100 lbs. = 1/16 [6,000 rpm/1000}1 (gram-in ches)

r The residual unbalan ce (grarr -Inches) then equals 100(16)/ [ 6]2 = 1600/[36} =44.44 gm-In
U, = 44.44 gram- inches (or) 44.44/28.35 = 1.5.Si; ounce-in ches.

·r THIS VALUE OF 44.44 GR.\M-INO-IES WOULD THEREF ORE BE A GOOD 1lUAL

WEIGHT F0'1 THE ROTOR IN THE LEFT JOURNAL PL\NE REGION . TI-IE REASON IT
IS A GOOD TIUAL WEIGHT DERIVES FROM THE FACT TIIAT AT FULL SPEED IT CAN

r ONLY GENERATE 100 LBS. OF FORCE,I.E. 1/10 OF THE ROTOR WEIGH T AT THAT
END. IT IS ENOUG H TO GET A RESPONSE nur NOT ENOUG H TO GET INTO
TROUBLE, SHOUL D IT EV~N BE PI.ACED IN THE WORST POSITIO N,E.G. TilE
"HEAW ' SPOT. (ONLY FORCES 2/10 OF THE JOCRNA L WEIGH T THERE) .

The API, for years had a similar formula, for the residu:il in oz-inche s :

U, = 56,347 Qournal wt. in lhs)/(rpm )

1
so this should give about the same answer.
, ..

(Checkin g) U, = 56,347 (1,0CU lbs.)/(6,000) =56,347 ,000/36, 000,000 = 1.565 oz-inches

2

.
One often wishes to consider the vibration to be c : pected from residual unbalanc e
limits. This can be reasoned well if the residual limit n gram-inc hes is divided by the
rotor weight in that plane,in gram, leaving the Mass Center Displace ment,e,( eccentric ity)
in inches. Example from above .. 44.44gra m-inches /10001bs (454 grams/lb ) = 97.89 micro·
inches,e . The peak-to- peak vibration would be twice that or 0.196 mils p/p.

28
r suffi cient . Runou t must be subtr acted if probe s are used. Veloc ity

r picku ps (seism ic) and accele romet ers give indire ct measu res
vibra tion. The photo electr ic senso r or proxim ity probe give
of th~
the

r most accur ate phase readin g. A strob e light gives good physi
sight into shaft behav ior. Figur e 6 shows proxim ity probe
cal in-
measu re-

r ment of phase angles and vibra tion while Figur e 7 shows measu
made with a strobe light and seism ic picku p. The proxi mity
key phaso r arrang ement have no elect rical lag, thus the probe
remen ts
probe /
nea-
r sures the phase angle betwe en the senso r and the high spot
direc tly.
phase
The seism ic picku p/stro be light comb inatio n has an elect ric
r lag as shown in Figure 7. Beth system s have a mecha nical
betwe en the high spot (peak vibra tion) and heavy spot (loca
phase lag
tion of

r mass unbal ance) .

ROTOR DYNAMICS AND CRITIC AL SPEED S

th
Each rotor has a phase angle lag betwe en the heavy spot and

r high spot as illustrate~ in Figur e 8. The nature of this

depen ds on the rotor dynam ics of the system (rotor , bearin
phase lag
gs, ped-
d
estal s, and found ation) and how many critic al speed s are passe
r throug h to attain opera ting speed . Figur e 8 shows the high
spot-
al
heavy spot relati onshi p for a rotor passin g throug h one critic
r speed .
vi
In the select ion of the locati on of a trial weigh t the peak
r bratio n readin g obtain ed can be relate d to the high spot on
the

r shaft by using inform ation provid ed by the manuf acture r of

the vibr

tion measu ring equipm ent. This relati onshi p is diffe rent for
light s vs photo electr ic probe s and veloc ity pickup s vs proxi
strob
mity

r probe s. By measu ring phase at eithe r end of the machi ne, the
ating speed relati ve to the critic al speed can be obtain ed.
oper-
Of

r cours e if the critic al speed of the machi ne is known , this

not requi red. /'For a rotor opera ting at a speed of less than
test is
one-

r,. half the critic al speed it is in a rigid rotor mode of opera

the heavy spot i~ close to the measu red high spot -- altere
tion an
d only
the high
sligh tly by dampin g. As the first critic al is appro ached ,

' spot lags the heavy spot more and more up to 90 degre es at
ical speed . After passin g throug h the first critic al speed
the crit
, the
r
r 40
r
r ~oximity Prob
e

r
r
r High spo t-

Figu re 6. Prox imit y Prob e Mea sure men t

Ele ctri cal phas e lag of heav y spo t

tune d at RPM - disp lace men t mark
belo w NCR

Stro be

RPM

Figu re 7. Vel ocit y/A ccel erat ion Mea sure men t

41
 F

Mecha nical Phase Lag Angle

x
Electro nic Phase
Lag Angle
0

Figure Ba. Mechan ical and Instrum ent Phase Lag

Table 7a.- Trial Weight Effects

1. · additio n to heavy spot

2. additio n to llght spot
3. additio n betwee n heavy spot and light spot
4. too- much we1g1"lt
5. too little weight -

Table 7b. ~!_r~_i?~__.!:ight Conven tions

1• station ary protrac tor - -numbe red with rotatio n

positiv e phase angle in directi on of rotatio n

2. rotatin g protrac tor - number ed with/ag ainst rota-

tion -posit- i ve. p.Aese angles in/ against rotatio n

42
r Vibration

r Vibration

Vibra-
tion

'-:
0
High spot in phase with heavy spot
t;J'\01-------
G)
'tJ
-o
0
a> O"I- - - -- - - - - -
02
Id 0
.c:o High spot 180° -out of
P4 co phase with heavy spot
ri

Critical speed

ROTOR SPEED, RPM

Figure 8. High Spot-Heavy Spot Relationship

phase lag continues to lag more u~til it reaches 180 degrees.

Therefore between the first and second critical speeds the cor-
rect ion must be made on the high spot. As you approach the
second critical, the correction is made opposite the high spot.
For speeds above the second critical speed, flexible rotor bal-
ancing techniques or more elaborate two plane balancing tech-
niques must be used for balancing.

TRIAL WEIGHT SELECTION

Not only does prop~r trial weight selection save time but it
.
·may save destruction of a machine. Jackson* has suggested that a

*Jackson, C., The Practical Vibration Primer, Gulf Publishing Company,

Houston, Texas.

43
trial weight which yields a force of not more than 1/10 of the static
weight of the machine rotor be used. This can be calculated with the
following formula.
w
WT =. 56375 . 5 N2e

where: WT = trial weight, oz.

e = eccentricity of trial weight, in.
W = static ~""eight of rotor, lb.
N = speed of rotor, RPM
In any event the smallest possible trial weight should be used. If
..
no vibration response is obtained then the trial weight is too small
or the problem is not mass imba1ance.

BALANCING PITFALLS
Table 6 contains a number of pitfalls in balancing -- some ob-
vious. Errors in data are most common when thermal sensitivity is
a · problem. If thermal sensitivity is a problem, then tests involv-
ing hours of machine operation ...ay have to be conducted t~ get good
•data. In addition, trade-offs :may have to be made on balancing for
given machine conditions. While low speed balancing will suffice
for rigid rotors, it can be vi~·ed as only a partial solution for
high speed machines with flexible rotors.

Table 6. Ba1ancing Pitfalls

Balancing syndrome
Error in original
Balancing at 1ow speeds
Inaccurate data
Thermal sensitivity
Dirty rotor
Resonance and critical speeds
Loose rotor
Loose supports
Trial weight removal

44
r TUTORIAL ON SINGLE PLAl'E BALANCING 125

r SCOPE.
BALANC IN C LIMITS • RO T ATtN G CQtllPM£HT

T£XAS C ITY . TCXAS

Tht• proce4!wt• •ha.JI Mh•• iol•1"&ac•• fer "'.ut.un11m

14 1 f'u ll'li«r tea t -•••hh . W l l . lW , 4W al\all be pr•p•r•d
•nd ? .... Ced .altern.a t •l1 at that rtduu . •p,rn1n1 the
r o t..ati"'r clement arul rc c o~"I all four read1n1• on
lhc llailanc U\1 ma c h l "c• re•do wt.

r •cc•pt••C• •( all r•tahat •l•m••l• r••,.•tlAa bal ... U•I·

T1ch1~r •P"-c• cut be •pccafi.ecl bf tM
er •w,.rriaor l'••Y••ll•I Ml••<• •ork.
•11111.-u r

To pro.,1d• balaaca lOlataac•• bae•cl •• 1owraal forc• ,

11•kl-ca "*it•, or Ciapl.acamaat lp/p) •llr.idt •~ii
accommodate Uf m•ch.a.M alliop bda.acer or Hald -.u.
14; J A •rnooth cur we •.._.ll M ploU•d of th• l•• t ••1tht•
v~rsue tht bahncu'I madun.c: readout• . Tliua curve
• lull - cont1tu.1•d •moothly lo a lheorithcal aero
ft' tdO•t.

r Tt.• UHmbU•a •~ k . .,waatially .,._1 ... calll wllll ••

1raatar tlt.&.a two •l•me•h aaaamblelll for ..., IMH.9'\dwa.1
bataaca ·~ut!o•. T'- nw
baluce ab.ell •• , a.Uow •
raalchaal "8b&luca fore• ••c•aclla1 lOft of Lb• rotor' a
Oat.le jo\&ratJ. ••illilil. TM a b&J.aace tol• raaca ab.ell k
....
::c
2
"'
lt

"'uz
r
dat1nmla•if at mu.untUD c-.liavo1i&a a,.acl, l. a., lOS'- TEST WEICHT
ot uUicl apeacl pu API . .G.a.t.d.oa. RAOIUS OT
<
..z
.J APPUCATION
£XCEPTI0tif: For astumdr U&llt htou .,.rau.1areat.rU......10,000 < INCHES
•PM. a t••l..,_1 uMl&ac• llmlt of 0 . 1 oa. -lacMI• •r U
m.icro(p) Lada ,...a.
a..,.alr:Cp/p) . •IUcM-..r •• l•H. ::l

r
, b&U IN obtaU..4..
.J
<
la.bee• •f . . . .,,. low ,,.•• ~Low.u cae _..t t.M C-2. S ::l
••dltr •• rd•rn4 &o u. di.I Staa4ar4• a., tM Sod•ty •I ....
u
C.rm.aa E•at.M•u (atlacM4). <
M!.ANCINC MACHINE READOUT
EXAMPLE:

r
-••tor .. ltkt 1000 l~a• llAL.A.'ICINC MACHINE RESPONSE CHECK
....... l• .,....1.r1c.all,
•ta.dl.•4. (aoraa.Ur MU. <'>Thu procou •b.•U M r•,.at.d tor the oL\.e r ••4 of
;o..r...i w•iaa.ta aH
. . Yrm.ia.•4 ••
-Static
,.u..
,..,....i ..
11•
i111t.t. . soo l h.
the rot.a.ti.al •l•m••t. &a4 a eim.&.lar C\lrtt •"-" be
plaU•a.
-aat.4 .S,.•4 h 9000 aPM
soot
-Ma.a. c .. t. S,.•4 • "4SO •PM {7)J( eitbar ot U.. two uctrapolate4 curns \A•raect•
soot the ortliute ac W/Z or h.i1Mr. u 1ha.U be coocludad
tbat U. Hoeitinty o( the b&lancLl\1 rnactU.M •r•tem
APPLYD<C THE U.MIT, ta u•• u either rnar11a.&l or 'Aaacceplable, &Ad tAe
Forc•(ll•••4\l.Al) • (M&•• )( Acc•l•r•tl-J• L 77 ~
\1000 I C••· •.._,•so ia. ... rotahr.r •l•m••t ab.&11 bo rebalat1cod '*'LDI •more
1e1u1tlve machaao.

r ... . • • • • • . •

(IJ
~aPMt
000 <cm·
(1'..) ia} • 10~ •f soo lb•.
fl) Tba wci1bt. W, aka.Ube ndu c•d Ul •t•p•.
W/4. W / I . ••
11.ftbl tao phaae •Ul aot th.a.ft by 17d d•ar•.. . TIU• CiAal
••11ht and r&duu ab.all be recorded aa the ,..rm&Aeftt
rccorc or lbe re•idual Wlbdaace .

r theft the btla"cc taleraM:•

oa ..i,ac~• • tiovraal wt. lbi. U. 10!

0.11, cllPM)
lOOO
FtNAI...
REPORT: The nudud ""balat1cc •ha.Ube recordad aloft& ..,,th the
cf'lr,.c c hoft plaftc , tha pha•• a"1le , a"d the ro(ef'c"c• •

r
(Ati.o" M.o.aa.aaoJ .......... .. ..
Appl11•1 U.. ••ampl• 1.Sorrn.atioa:
••-"'·•1.'!~c ·:~·l,z ~ ..o. )16
~vv t,hn• !c •J•lc1n w••d. Ah o uu:lw"cd •hall Lie Lil• ur 1 1,.l
~ (AM" APt 617 \
1
unb:iila.Q cc . at1d the .,c11ht, ra.d1ua, and anal• rcq 1.uud to
2. 11. l, l0/l97l)······ c ort•c&. The b.alan.c.- mac hine r•tpoft•• checlr. """"•'be a
p.1 rl Qf the htL&I report.
• lascllf •• flMl ~.1ht1clfta., tha ra1t4\Ml vnkhnca aft11- ta to k rofareftCad
to a phys ~cal 14°cntlflcacl0ft oo the rotor . • · •·· >0 • CV tr 09 alfttl• 1r.....
hctnt sh.ah cM or 120• . a1alftlt rotation. ha. Uy Jt...Mt 1roove. •

r
OR l CL'lALLY PaEPAAEO BY: Charle• Jackson, Madu.a.acal Tedu,ol•ay.
l'D· •&a.• (0. Jl6 oa-la. ) (ZI. JS FL -la.. /a• ...i&, )• !:.fil T•••• Caty , Te•aa , an 1966. fO, 01 1 1·
REVISION l : C . Jack•on, 1127/ 71, (AdchA1 Procedure).
~· \
w 1
Maaa C•our Dhplac•maat( MC°'.ia. a..i...;o
Wt.
T•l•raace,o•- 1 •
i--raal. oa .
REVt SlON U: C Jack•an. l / lS / 74, (to acne with APt 617 lunit.aJ (0 . Os).
ltYI St ON tl l: C. Jack.son. 12 / 15 / 1). Ph.aH to~ ro tor ph,.s.cal refnenQI: .
--t ~ 2.!!..1!!:.1 •

r
MCD • 116 (T"'1> • )9. S m.acro-iacMafp,.)
(SOOi(l6J I (IO I

Cw:i / 01op1.........,,,,, • 2 a MCD. 2 a " · s• 7' p 1ac1...

--j 1 ,_.... or o . 07'm1h(p/pl roe t.alanctn1. a!tot ac•wenti.al atacfllft&. or trt..a ot rotor •••....,l•
hoe I) U:)dt 1• proaTaH or 2) rotor t4kcn froe lot'!& ten storaa~.

r
11NA.L USULTS: For1:9 •SO 1111•.
lotor Opcr .. tu lot:lov lat 1U114 laNunco
U••&l.aac.• Uaite • o , Jl6 oa-&.cMt or I . 'HI pn·Lac... •
Ola,U.cemoat • , , p iac...• (p/p)

PaOCEt>UU: (l) T ... rotor •IMU ... a.&l.aac•• ...

Mal M.l&ac•.
l. e . •
aero ot wt.tit.la . . \e.1.aac• tolen.ac• witlt. . . ,a.. ••
&l••

r
u1l• or "•Mkr" ,.Ma• ... ~c.aled o• oiU..r •a.I.

Hot. : a\&Aoot •ta.ail '4 c.-..Cke41 &l\er ••cit. p&ir ol ol•m•aLt

.a4 •lo•fta &..re ia.-ta.Ue4 to c-i:lng M'°CK~I 11 ,
S-6 ...uJ •Wm p&ir• a....U• M •••4 to 11-n..-•t al••"
or impeU..r Wa41.a1. '" •Uppi.a1 wt•• alter , ..nail 1nb. lour Operates lctveea ht •nd lad lt11d lcsOf\ance

(Z) A ••a1lllt, W. •lli&ll be placed oa o•• •M a.ad tlM pM.•e

&aal• aow4.
W•Ba..laace Toleraac•/ra~•• of phc.•tn11•t. iacboa
W(oaample)• O. J16/10' 0 ncti•• oe .... ol 1•O, 011' o& .
·~
()) TIM •am• we ltM •M.ll M mo"4 110 . . . ,.. •• IHGt. dt.i.a
pl•cemoat(l). u4 U.. . . . pM.•• . . . i- aot.etl. T'llt.ia
c.lii&aa• •f aatJe •lwtod•
M at leeu no ffan•• Cmla.. 1.
Lostc : Cel\Ccr IW corre<ta l u 90Cle; 4oea aot •fre c t ! rwf eode .
CO\lpl e 1\1 t o r lad: 904c ; '°4• aot afhct lat mode .
r or ht&hcr a:xfu or oon • y..,.utcal ..,...., : uvltv rotoc oodc ah.tpaa .
(2)

Figure 44. Balancing Specification for Plant Use. (Jackson.) Figure 45. Balancing Specification for Plan1 Use. (lackso:i.)