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Oil Whirl and Whip Instabilities - Within Journal Bearings PDF
Oil Whirl and Whip Instabilities - Within Journal Bearings PDF
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OIL ANALYSIS
Oil whirl is probably the most common cause of subsynchronous instability in hydrodynamic
journal bearings. Typically, the oil film itself flows around the journal to lubricate and cool the
bearing. This develops an average speed slightly less than 50 percent of the journal surface
speed (Figure 1).
Normally, the shaft rides on the crest of an oil pressure gradient, rising slightly up the side of
the bearing somewhat off vertical at a given, stable attitude angle and eccentricity. The
amount of rise depends on the rotor speed, rotor weight and oil pressure. With the shaft
operating eccentrically relative to the bearing center, it draws the oil into a wedge to produce
this pressurized load-carrying film.
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Any of these conditions can induce oil whirl after a disturbing force induces an initial rotor
deflection.
2. Sometimes machines exhibit oil whirl intermittently due to external vibratory forces
transmitting into the unit or from sources within the machinery itself. In these cases, these
vibratory forces have the same frequency as the oil whirl frequency of that bearing and can
contribute just the right magnitude of disturbing force at just the right tuned frequency to set
the shaft into the whirl motion. This vibration transmits from other machinery through
attached structures such as piping and braces, or even through the floor and foundation. If
this occurs, it may be necessary to either isolate this machine from surrounding machinery, or
to isolate the offending machine itself.
3. Oil whirl is easily recognized by its unusual vibration frequency which is generally 40
percent to 48 percent of shaft RPM. (Reference 2 states that pure oil whirl occurs at 43
percent of shaft speed, but that the instability may occur at the first critical speed.)
4. Figure 2 shows the development of oil whirl just after the shaft is brought up to speed.
Note that the shaft went into whirl at a machine speed of approximately 1,800 RPM and
remained in whirl until about 4,000 RPM. At this point, note that the shaft 1X RPM speed
entered resonance, which actually generated sufficient force to overcome oil whirl. However,
once the machine passed through resonance, whirl once again occurred just above 5,200
RPM.
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Dry whip occurs in journal bearing machines subjected to either a lack of lubrication or the use
of the wrong lubricant. When this occurs, excessive friction is generated between the
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stationary bearing and rotating journal. This friction can excite vibration in the bearing and
other components. This kind of vibration is called dry whip. Dry whip can also be caused by
journal bearings having excessive clearance as well as those having insufficient clearance.
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The dry whip condition is similar to rubbing a moistened finger over a dry pane of glass. It will
generate a frequency specifically dependent upon the shaft and construction materials,
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geometries and lubricant properties. Normally, this frequency will produce a high squealing
noise similar to that generated by dry rolling element bearings. The frequency content itself
will not be an integer multiple of the machine speed. When dry whip is suspected, it must be
taken care of quickly in order to prevent a potential catastrophic failure. And when dry whip is
suspected, both the lubricant itself and the lubrication system should be closely inspected
and the bearings should be checked to ensure they have proper clearances.
References
1. Berry, James E. Applications of Time Waveform Analysis. Analysis II Concentrated
Vibration Signature Analysis and Related Condition Monitoring Techniques. Chapter 6,
Pages 6-72 to 6-75, 2002.
2. Mitchell, John S. An Introduction to Machinery Analysis and Monitoring. Tulsa, Okla.:
Pennwell Publishing Co. Pages 141-151, 172-204, 1981.
3. Bently, Donald E.; Zimmer, Siegfried; Palmetier, George E.; and Muszynska, Agnes.
Interpreting Vibration Information from Rotating Machinery. Sound and Vibration
magazine. Volume 20, No. 2. Pages 14-23, February 1986.
Machinery Lubrication (5/2005)
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Journal Bearings and Their Lubrication
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Can WD40 be Used as a Bearing Lubricant?
NORIA CORPORATION
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