For Impeller Balancing
For Impeller Balancing
The pump impeller dynamic balancing is done based on API 610 requirements. The
standard requires the balancing be performed based on ISO 1940-1 to the Grade
G2.5
With above information, you will be able to witness the test and verify test report. Let's
start with an example.
The balancing technician mounts the impeller in the arbour and place them on the
balancing machine. The machine starts running and spinning the impeller at 1800
RPM. (Revelation per Minute)
Run 1
Left -183 mg at 217° unbalance 367 mg-in (0.0129 oz-in)
As you see, the amount of unbalance in both left and right planes are more than
acceptance unbalance value (0.001 oz-in)
So the technician works on the impeller by grinding and removing some weight from
certain area to reach the amount of unbalance to the 0.001 oz-in
He stops grinding and runs the machine to measure the amount of unbalance. The
result is as following:
Run 10
Left -7.32 mg at 296° unbalance 14.6 mg-in (0.00051 oz-in)
So this time the amount of unbalance in both planes are less than 0.001 oz-in and
pump impeller dynamic balancing can be approved.
Now let see how pump design engineer calculates the acceptance criteria (the
permissible unbalance amount)
For example, if you have an impeller with 2 Kg weight and with rotor rpm of 3000
RPM, then permissible unbalance will be as following:
The 2.5 is the "grade of balance" is taken from ISO 1940-1 and required by API 610
to be 2.5. The unit for 2.5 is mm/s
The 314.2 is angular velocity of shaft speed. We divided 3000 RPM to 9.54 to obtain
speed in rad/s
The inspector does not need to perform this calculation since the calculated value is
provided in the approved procedure.