In-situ balancing, a powerful tool for dynamic balancing of rotating machines in sugar industries

• Main Authors: Chavan, S. P., Jadhav, M. M., Burle, K. J., Pirjade, A. M, Ramname, S. R.
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Agitators; Balancing; Blowers; Centrifugal pumps; Fatigue failure; Manufacturing; Rotating machinery; Rotating machines; Rotors; Steam turbines; Sugar industry; Sugarcane
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0130171

The sugar factory is a process industry wherein many processes are conducted on the sugar cane to produce sugar. Rotating machines involved in the sugar manufacturing process are leveler, cutter, fiberizor, shredder, juice extraction mill, centrifugal machines, ID Fans, FD fans, SA Fans, Centrifugal machines, feed pumps, blowers, agitators, steam turbines, etc. Except the juice extraction mills and agitators, all other machines rotate with medium or high speed. Mechanical unbalance in these machines causes vibration problems leading to fatigue failure of the machine components and subsequently stoppages in the sugar manufacturing process. In-situ balancing of rotors of the machines avoids failure of machine components and reduces downtime of the plant. The present paper discusses various causes of unbalance in the machines, their effects, method of detecting unbalance, the steps of in-situ balancing as applied to these machines, and its effectiveness. Authors have came across many problems of unbalanced rotors in sugar industries where these problems were tackled with in-situ balancing techniques. Some case studies are represented in this paper