Turbo Machinery & Rotor Dynamics
What is turbo machinery and rotor dynamics? Turbo machinery requires a different level of vibration analysis than general purpose machinery.
This includes identifying natural frequencies or modes of a system to determine if a potential resonance occurs. The complexity of turbo machinery requires a higher level of vibration analysis, which includes understanding the importance of transient data (i.e. start-up/shutdown), the role of rotor dynamics, advanced signal processing, and many other concepts.
Turbo machinery
An essential part of vibration analysis for turbo machinery is the use of measured vibration data to “tune” a rotor dynamic model. This ensures the model accurately represents real operating behaviour.
A tuned rotor dynamic model allows reliable prediction of both stability behaviour and forced response changes. Using this insight, our engineers can advise targeted design or configuration changes to reduce vibration levels to acceptable limits.
Turbo machinery
Vibration analysis for turbo machinery relies on tuning rotor dynamic models using measured vibration data.
This enables accurate prediction of stability and forced response behaviour and supports effective design changes to reduce vibration.
Our solution
AVT Reliability BV (formerly Van Geffen Reliability) has more than 40 years of experience in measuring and modelling turbo machinery across multiple project phases, from early verification through to operational monitoring and troubleshooting.
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Condition Monitoring
Ongoing measurement and assessment to detect changes and prevent escalation.
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Health Check and pre-shutdown inspections
Targeted inspections to support planning, scope definition, and risk reduction.
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Troubleshooting
Rapid investigation of abnormal vibration behaviour and root cause identification.
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Performance monitoring
Measurement and modelling to validate stability and forced response under load.
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FAT, SAT, and witness testing
Support during acceptance and verification phases in factory and on site.
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Project phases supported
Measuring and modelling expertise is applied across the full lifecycle, ensuring decisions are based on validated data and accurate predictive models.
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Our solution
More than 40 years of experience measuring and modelling turbo machinery, applied across key project phases.
Ongoing measurement and assessment.
Targeted inspection support for planning.
Investigation and root cause identification.
Validation under real operating conditions.
Factory and site acceptance support.
Field TestingThe majority of our projects start with measurements in the field. As turbo machinery is often equipped with permanently installed protection and monitoring systems, we commonly measure in parallel by linking our measuring equipment to existing systems, for example using 8, 16, 24, or 32 multi-channel measurement systems capable of simultaneous data capture. Where existing systems are unavailable or limited, we temporarily install the required sensors to enable reliable measurement and analysis. A range of plotting configurations is then used to extract the right data for accurate assessment.
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Rotor dynamic analysis / lateral vibration analysisRotor dynamics consists of two analysis types, lateral and torsional rotor dynamics. Lateral vibration may be caused by instability, unbalance, or other forces acting on the rotor. Lateral analysis simulates the rotating system, calculates critical speeds, predicts vibration amplitudes, and provides recommendations to reduce vibration risk. In torsional analyses, AVT Reliability typically evaluates torsional natural frequencies that can occur when multiple machines are coupled together in a single rotor train, such as a compressor and its motor. |
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Undamped Critical Speed Analysis
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Damped Eigenvalue (Critical Speed) Analysis
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Forced Response Analysis
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Stability Analysis
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Transient and Nonlinear Analysis
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Quality Checks and Reporting
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- Model preparation
- Critical speeds vs bearing stiffness
- Mode shapes and eigenvalues
- Modes across speed range
- Bearing stiffness and damping coefficients
- Separation margins per API (or similar)
- Unbalance response per API guideline
- Separation margins vs bearing clearances
- Oil whirl and shaft whip evaluation
- Damped eigenvalues
- Blade-loss, rubs, and deceleration through critical speeds
- Technical review of model and inputs
- Reporting of results, margins, acceptance, and recommendations
Offering
At AVT Reliability, vibration analysis can be performed anytime and anywhere. Our teams carry out both torsional and lateral vibration analysis on onshore and offshore installations worldwide.
Integrated engineering capability allows us to support vibration-related design and field engineering for turbomachinery. In practice, vibration analysis is often combined with alignment activities and, where required, field balancing.
- Onshore and offshore vibration investigations
- Lateral and torsional vibration analysis
- Design and field engineering support
- Integration with alignment activities
- Combined vibration analysis and field balancing
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Energy & Power Power generation assets
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(Petro)Chemical & Refineries Compression and power generation
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Oil & Gas Compression and power generation
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Pulp & Paper
Power generation assets
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Maritime Steam and gas turbine driven propulsion and generators
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Offering
Vibration analysis for turbo machinery is performed onshore and offshore, covering both lateral and torsional vibration. Integrated engineering support allows vibration analysis to be combined with alignment and field balancing when required.
- Energy & Power
- (Petro)Chemical & Refineries
- Oil & Gas
- Pulp & Paper
- Maritime
Local service backed by global support
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Clear detailed reporting with actionable insights
- Expert support and consultation
Local service backed by global support
- 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
- Clear detailed reporting with actionable insights
- Expert support and consultation
