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Centrifugal
Compressors
Alignment
Procedure
Gianluca Alberati
Technical Trainer

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Alignment procedure is the sequence of actions that

must be done in order to have the compressor shaft and
the turbine shaft in the same rotating axis dournig normal
operation.

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DRIVER SIDE, Turbine, DRIVEN

Gear box or Electric SIDE,
motor Compressor or
Generator

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There are three different kinds of misalignment

•Pure radial
•Pure Axial
•Radial and Axial together ( most frequent )

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•Pure radial

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After installing the tool
alignment on the compressor
and on the driver shaft the
setting operation must be done.
•Position the dial gauge in
vertical position as shown in the
picture
•Set the Gauge at ZERO
0

Z R W

B
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Z=-10.96 R W

B
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0

Z=-10.96 R W

B=-12

Thanks to circular geometry it

is possible to write:
B=W+Z
So inverting the formula we
have:
W=B-Z
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Z=-10.96 R W=-1.04

B=-12
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B
Misalignment on Vertical Plane is: Rv
2
WZ
Misalignment on Orizontal Plane Ro 
is: 2

Ro 4.96mm

Rv  6mm

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The shaft aligment specification says:

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To keep in consideration the alignment specification we

are forced to correct the measured values using the
following formulas:

0 0

Zr=-10.96 Rr Wr=-1.04 Zs=-0.2 Rs Ws=0.22

Br=-12 Bs=0.02

Z  (Zr) (Zs) 10.76

W  (Wr) (Ws) -1.26
B  (Br) (Bs) -12.02
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So to have the correct position we have to considere

the following pattern:
Ro 4.75mm
0
Rv 6.01mm
Ro 4.75mm
Z=-10.76 W=-1.26
R

B=-12.02

B
Misalignment on Vertical Plane is:Rv
2
Rv 6.01mm
WZ
Misalignment on Orizontal Plane Ro 
is: 2

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•Pure Axial
A

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Vertical Plane
Misalignment

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Vertical Plane
Misalignment

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Horizontal
Plane
Misalignment

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To estimate the angular misalignment there are two dial

gauges installed in the tool shown in the slide.
At the begining we are going to set at 0 both micrometers.
The following picture shows the zero position for the
gauges.
0 G

C A E H B F

D 0

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Seeing the tool set

in the flow direction
and turning both
shafts ot 90° in
counter-clockwise
it is possible
measure the C and
F positions.
0 G

C=0.20 A E H B F=0.20

D 0
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Turning the shafts

up to 180° respect
the zero position it
is now possible to
read the D and G
valoues.
0 G=-0.41

C=0.20 A E H B F=0.20

D=0.58 0
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Turning the shafts

again up to 270°
respect the zero
position we are
able to read the E
and H valoues.

0 G=-0.41

C=0.20 A E=0.39 H=-0.61 B F=0.20

D=0.58 0
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Now we have to combine these values together to
understand the real shaft misalignment.
Using the following formulas become very easy
understand which is the shaft angolation:

Horizontal alignment Vertical

alignment
(C E) (F H) (D G)
Ha  Va 
2 2
0 G=-0.41

C=0.20 A E=0.39 H=-0.61 B F=0.20

D=0.58 0
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Now using the following formula it is possible pass from

two dial gauge to only one:
0 G=-0.41

C=0.20 A E=0.39 H=-0.61 B F=0.20

D=0.58 0
(C E) (0.20 0.39)
A1   0.095 0
2 2
(D G) (0.58- (-0.41))
A2    0.495 A1=-0.095 AX A3=0.405
2 2
(F H) (0.20- (-0.61))
A3   0.405 A2=0.495
2 2
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So in this case we have:

(0.20 0.39) (0.20 (0.61))
Ha   0.50
2 (0.58 (0.41))
Va   0.495
This formula says that we 2
are in this situation This formula says that we
are in this situation

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For what concern the horizontal plane, acting in the

dedicated register while the tool is still installed it is
possible easly obtain the correct inclination values.

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In the vertical plane we have:

•X = Va = 0.495
•Y = 240, distance between the gauges X

 X
  arctg 
 Y
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Now, knowing the distance between the shaft end and the
nearer support and the distance between the supports, using
trigonometric laws it is possible to evaluate which thickness
has to be the shim to add or remuve under the compressor
feet.
S1 DBSE sin(α) S2 S1 L  sin(α)

S1
S2
BDSE

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