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Skyler Identifies Critical Imbalance in Gas Turbine Torque Converter

By:

SKYLER

The Challenge

At a peaker plant with four GE 7E gas turbines, 800 HP starter motors engage Voith torque converters. These systems run on irregular, demand-driven schedules—ramping from cold to full powerin under 30 minutes. Route-based vibration monitoring wasn’t possible.

With no predictability, critical components like torque converters remained unmonitored and exposed torisk.

torque-converter-imbalance

The Skyler Solution

Skyler installed wireless vibration sensors with auto-triggering, activating only during startup. This enabled dense data capture from the first run—without manual effort. Within a month, enough data was collected to compare all four units.

One unit showed elevated vibration velocity RMS—over 16 mm/s, just under the OEM’s 18 mm/s shutdown threshold. Spectral data from the converter wheel revealed a strong running-speed peak, pointing to a pump wheel imbalance. Theissue traced back to an overhaul without dynamic balancing—missed due to lack of monitoring.

Skyler installed wireless vibration sensors with auto-triggering, activating only during startup. This enabled dense data capture from the first run without manual effort.

torque-converter-imbalance_chart_1

Velocity RMS readings in axial plane noted continuously above 16mm/s, where 18 mm/s is OEM specified shutdown level.

torque-converter-imbalance_chart_2

The Result?

The plant scheduled a converter overhaul for fall, avoiding peak demand downtime. Unplanned failure and secondary damage were prevented, and unit availability maintained.

Vibration trendsare now tracked for changes. Skyler delivered early warning and control—before failure occurred.

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