Background

On 18 April 2018, speed reducer gearbox’s bearing has been found damaged and decision was made
to replace the speed reducer gearbox (RGB). During replacement of the RGB, engine turbine unit also
suspected was damaged due rubbing event, based on noise created when the rotor was manually
rotated.

Further analysis on monthly routine vibration measurement has been requested to find root
cause analysis on this unit.

Analysis

Based on monthly routine vibration record on 8th March 18, as tabulated data below it was observed
that tremendous increment of vibration level (27 mm/s rms) was recorded compared to previous
reading (6 mm/s rms) on 17th February 2018:

Reference Value is the PREVIOUS DATA

PNT PARAMETER CURRENT REFERENCE ABSOLUTE PERCENT ALARM

ID DESCRIPTION VALUE VALUE UNITS DELTA DEVIATION SYMBOL
--- -------------- ------- --------- ------- --------- --------- ------

G7710 - Gas Turbine Generator (08-Mar-18)

D1H OVERALL 12.81 4.780 mm/Sec 8.033 168 %+
D1V OVERALL 11.04 4.691 mm/Sec 6.352 135 %+
D1A OVERALL 27.08 6.276 mm/Sec 20.81 332 %+#
G1H OVERALL 5.392 3.702 mm/Sec 1.690 46
G1V OVERALL 3.094 3.409 mm/Sec -.315 -9
G1A OVERALL 3.274 2.919 mm/Sec .355 12
A1H OVERALL 1.717 1.246 mm/Sec .471 38
A1P OVERALL .336 .470 G-s -.134 -29
A1V OVERALL 2.320 1.156 mm/Sec 1.164 101 %+
A1A OVERALL .845 1.055 mm/Sec -.210 -20
A2H OVERALL 1.460 1.717 mm/Sec -.258 -15
A2P OVERALL .378 1.159 G-s -.781 -67
A2V OVERALL .784 .725 mm/Sec .059 8
A2A OVERALL .959 1.008 mm/Sec -.049 -5
As shown on overall trending and tabulated vibration level above, highest vibration was recorded on
the axial direction of the turbine.

Comparison of spectral and time waveform between two occurrences at the engine axial vibration
are shown as below.

1xTurbine

1xTurbine

As can be seen on last data 8/3/2018 (top), time waveform shows asymmetry characteristic which
there is more energy in negative plane than the positive. To make it clear, both data above has
presented as below where the waveform has been filtered with low pass frequency for easier
observation on the shaft movement.
 Again, it clearly can be seen on 8/3/2018 waveform, it shows there is a restriction on axial
movement of the rotor shaft based on asymmetric waveform characteristic that usually cased by rub,
and further create a light impacting event based on harmonics energy at the spectrum.

On 17/2/2018 measurement, time waveform didn’t shows any characteristic of rubbing.

However, the waveform shows burst energy that come and out (non-uniform), and the spectrum
shows impacting event based on the formation of raised noise-floor around 1xrpm peak.