2008 LUDECA, INC.

Target Specifications
&
Thermal Growth

Targets vs. Growth: Difference?

Target Specifications are the prescribed misalignment to be
set at the coupling in the stopped and unloaded condition, to
compensate for the anticipated changes that will occur in the
alignment as the machines are put in operation and reach their
fully loaded operating condition.

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Thermal Growth values represent the amount of positional

change the shaft centerline is expected to undergo at the
machine supports as the machines are put in operation and
reach their fully loaded operating condition.

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Targets & Thermal Growth

Only the best laser shaft alignment systems allow you to input
both types of data, simultaneously if necessary,
necessary for all machines
in the train.
Only the best laser shaft alignment systems will calculate the
thermal growth values for you, based on the observed
temperature changes of the machines.

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Why is this important?

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Targets & Thermal Growth

Because:
Some machine vendors wont supply you any data at all.
Some machine vendors will only supply one type of data
or the other.

2008 LUDECA, INC.

The vendor of the driver may only supply thermal growth

values for his machine.
The vendor of the driven machine may supply target
specifications for the driver, instead of thermal growth values
or targets for his machine.
How can you deal with both sets of data together?

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Thermal Growth: An Example

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This is the ending

startingcondition,
condition,hot.
cold.

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Thermal Growth: An Example

The starting condition, cold.

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Offset = 0 mils.
Angularity = 0 mils/inch.

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Calculating Thermal Growth

Thermal Growth = TLC

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Where:

T = Change in temperature (t), in deg. F.

L = Height of shaft centerline above shim plane.
C = Coefficient of expansion.

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Calculating Thermal Growth

Thermal Growth = TLC

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Compressor:
T Cold = 80 F.

80 F.

T Hot = 200 F.

240 F.

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Calculating Thermal Growth

Thermal Growth = TLC
Compressor:

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T Cold = 80 F.
= 80 F.
T Hot = 200 F.
= 240 F.
L = 20
C = 0.0059 mils/inch/F (Cast iron)

Coefficients of Expansion
(mils/inch/F)
Aluminum:
Bronze:
Cast Iron, gray:
Mild Steel, ductile iron:
Stainless steel:

0.0126
0.0100
0.0059
0.0063
0.0074

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Calculating Thermal Growth

Thermal Growth = TLC
Compressor:
T Cold = 80 F.
= 80 F.
T Hot = 200 F.
= 240 F.
L = 20
C = 0.0059 mils/inch/F (Cast iron)

2008 LUDECA, INC.

14.2

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Calculating Thermal Growth

Thermal Growth = TLC
Compressor:
T Cold = 80 F.
= 80 F.
T Hot = 200 F.
= 240 F.
L = 20
C = 0.0059 mils/inch/F (Cast iron)

18.9

2008 LUDECA, INC.

14.2

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Calculating Resulting
Misalignment
Thermal Growth = How much misalignment at coupling?
Angularity = Rise/Run.
Offset = Known Offset + Angularity Run to desired location.

18.9

2008 LUDECA, INC.

14.2

?
?

13.8
9.6

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Calculating Resulting
Misalignment
Thermal Growth projected to the Coupling: Calculated automatically

3.3

18.9

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14.2

17.2

22.2
3.4

13.8
9.6

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Calculating Resulting
Misalignment Targets

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Thermal Growth = How much misalignment? Calculate targets directly:

Gsb = Growth, back feet, left machine.

Gsf = Growth, front feet, left machine.
Gmf = Growth, front feet, right machine.
Gmf = Growth, back feet, right machine.
a = Distance back feet to front feet, left machine.
b = Distance front feet to coupling center, left machine.
c = Distance front feet to coupling center, right machine.
d = Distance back feet to front feet, right machine.
Dia: = Coupling diameter (10).

Vertical Offset:

Vertical Angularity:

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Calculating Target Specs

Target specs at the coupling: Calculated automatically from relative
difference in thermal growth between left and right machines.

3.3

18.9

2008 LUDECA, INC.

14.2

17.2

22.2
3.4

13.8
9.6

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Calculating Target Specs

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Target specs at the coupling: If you would prefer to enter target

specifications directly, you may easily do so:

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Thermal Growth & Target Specs

2008 LUDECA, INC.

Enter thermal growth for any or all machines in the train.

Enter targets and thermal growth separately or simultaneously, as needed.
Enter targets for left or right side of the coupling, or both, for all couplings.
Built-in thermal growth calculator: Simply input observed changes in temperature,
machine material and dimensions.
Automatically calculates coupling targets from thermal growth, or from dial indicator

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