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Magnetic Center
8th April Generator Magnetic Center
Motor's or Generator Magnetic Center
Q: What is a motor's "magnetic center"?
A: Sometimes called "electrical center," it's the axial position that the shaft/rotor assembly will
attempt to maintain during steadystate running at rated voltage and frequency, without the
influence of any coupled load.
In the usual ball or rollerbearing machine, the shaft position is fixed by the bearing mounting.
But in sleeve bearing motors, the bearing construction inherently permits mechanical
movement or "float" (typically 1A" or 2", depending upon motor size). Low sliding friction
allows the shaft to drift readily back and forth to seek whatever position is dictated by the axial
forces acting on the rotor.
Q: What creates those forces?
A: Like an elastic band, the magnetic field linking rotor and stator across the air gap will be
stretched if the rotor is pulled axially out of alignment with the stator. A restoring force will
tend to pull it back. Movement in the opposite direction will be similarly resisted. That location
for which such forces are balanced is called "magnetic" center because those forces are
magnetic in nature (although, as we will see, other forces may be present as well).
Q: Why isn't magnetic center necessarily the same as mechanical center?
A: In a perfect machine, the rotor/shaft would find its rest position exactly midway between the
limits of mechanical movement allowed by the bearing and journal relationship. Here are the
main reasons why that may not happen:
Differences between the magnetic structures of stator and rotorin overall length, in flatness
and squareness of the core ends, and in the relative positions of radial air vents in the two
structures. These result from necessary tolerances in the manufacturing process. For example,
core stack length in a large machine is allowed to vary as much as a quarter inch. The result is
axial variation in the magnetic field "stretch," causing the rotor to move until the forces in one
direction are balanced by those in the other.
Nonelectromagnetic forces that are not balanced endforend, because of differences in rotor
fan action. Winding connections typically cause air flow pathsand therefore fan pressure/flow
characteristicsto differ between the two ends of the machine. This effect is most often
observed in 3600 rpm motors.
Q: What difference does it make?
A: As long as the rotor does not seek a magnetic center that forces a shaft journal into
continuous running contact with a bearing thrust face, no harm will result from a difference
between magnetic and mechanical centers. Running uncoupled in a properly built motor, the
rotor will never move far enough to "close up" all the mechanical end play provided.
At the factory, if the magnetic center lies outside (or even dangerously close to) the boundaries
set by the mechanical end play, three corrective measures may be employed depending upon
how the machine is constructed. The most common is to shift the bearings axially in their
housingsmoving the mechanical center closer to the magnetic center. Some sleeve bearings are
fitted with adjustment screws for that purpose.
A second fix is to move the stator in its housing. Some designs permit that; most do not.
Similarly, the rotor core might be moved on the shaftbut large, highspeed machines seldom
permit that. Reworking or replacing the shaft itself, to change the journal positions, is likely to
be required.
Q: How much endwise force is involved when a motor is restrained against finding its
magnetic center?
A: The value is typically quite small Measurement is difficult because holding a spring scale
against the end of the rotating shaft introduces its own axial force. But motor bearings aren't
designed to withstand even these low values. Bearings with thrust capability could be providedat
a price.
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Q: Is thrust the only issue?
A: No. Figure 2 shows another effect, largely resulting from the greatly increased magnetizing
current associated with the distorted magnetic field. But it is of little importance, because no
properly constructed sleeve bearing motor could allow such extreme displacements; they result
only from gross manufacturing errors.
Q: What about shaft movement during starting?
A: The rotor of an accelerating motor will usually "hunt" or "bump" back and forth between its
mechanical limits. That does no harm because it doesn't last long enough. At full speed, most
rotors will settle into one safe position. Others, particularly some 3600 rpm designs, may
continue to drift slowly back and forth, which some users find unsettling. However, proper use
of a limitedend float coupling (in accordance with NEMA standards) will constrain the shaft to
run in a safe position while the load is being driven.
Q: Doesn't that constraint involve some endwise thrust against a bearing in the driven machine?
A: Yes. But the magnitude is too low to constitute any threat to bearings normally provided in
such machinery.
In conclusion: We emphasize again that motor magnetic center often is not, and need not be,
coincident with mechanical center. The only requirement for safe operation is that the magnetic
center fall somewhere within the limits of the mechanical end play. To show that, users
sometimes request a "magnetic center indicator" as a motor accessory. This metal pointer,
bolted to the bearing chamber, shows at a glance whether or not the rotating shaft is "floating"
within the end play limits (shown by scribed lines on the shaft; the motor manufacturer may
also provide a third scribed line indicating the magnetic center as well, either in place of or in
addition to the pointer).
Thermal Growth
As engine and driven equipment reach operating temperatures, expansion or thermal growth
will occur. This growth occurs in all directions. Vertical growth occurs between the component
mounting feet and their respective centerlines of rotation. This thermal growth depends on the
type of metals used, the temperature rise that occurs, and the vertical distance from the center
of rotation to the mounting feet. Crankshaft horizontal growth occurs at the opposite end of the
engine from the thrust bearing. This growth has to be planned for when driven equipment is
connected to that end of the engine. The growth is slight if the driven equipment is bolted to the
engine block, since the block and crankshaft grow at approximately the same rate.
Horizontal compensation consists of using a coupling allowing sufficient relative movement
between driving and driven members. The equipment must be positioned so the horizontal
growth moves into the coupling operating zone, not away from it. One method is to position the
engine crankshaft all the way forward (towards the front of base). Position the generator shaft
back (towards the rear of the base) against thrust bearing. For generators without thrust
bearings, the generator must be positioned in the magnetic center. Adjust generator to half
(50%) of the total endplay of the generator and engine. Failure to do so results in excessive
crankshaft thrust bearing loading and/or coupling failure. Sufficient clearance has been allowed
if it is determined that the crankshaft still has end clearance.
Posted 8th April by kishorereddy kattukolu
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