Vibration analysis as an important tool for the centrifugal compressors commissioning. Historical case: Oil-whirl and other defects

Ramírez, Rubén

Commissioning and start-up is the final step before production runs in a processing plant. During this step, it's usual that several problems take place in the machinery. Machinery start-up and adjustments in the process conditions cause vibrations in the units. Centrifugal compressors are especially sensitive machines during this process and very critical. Thus vibration analysis is an important tool to detect mechanical failures and even imbalances in the process. Historical cases such as: oil-whirl, surge and other defects will be presented in this workshop