PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
( STD SD -112-2 )
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
What is it ?
It is a criterion used to determine piston rod running
alignment variations relative to the alignment of the
cylinder body and the crosshead guide.
Crosshead
Guide
Compressor Cylinder
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Simply,
It is a means of assuring that the
cylinder body is aligned with the crosshead guide.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Why is alignment so important?
If properly aligned, cylinder body and crosshead guide
share common centerline.
Proper alignment assures maximum life of components.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
How is proper alignment accomplished?
New compressor assembly:
As components are assembled, the cylinder bore is aligned with the guide
bore.
Methods of assuring proper alignment:
Optics Wire line Laser Run-out
Run-out requires a “special tool”.
One end of the tool in cylinder bore, and the other end in the guide bore.
The tool is slid across the cylinder bore, and the crosshead guide.
Dial indicators placed above and beside the central portion of the tool,
reveal angular travel of tool.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Field service man’s “special tool”
Dial indicator readings are provided to customer, and are available to the
service man.
Alignment at the site must match the alignment set at factory.
1. Use the same “special tool” as the factory assembler.
2. Get the same “readings” as the factory assembler.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
The “special tool”
Fortunately, the factory assembler sends the “special tool”
with the compressor.
The “special tool” is the
PISTON ROD!
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Crosshead Pin
Clearance Clearance
Piston Rod
Compressor Cylinder Crosshead
Guide
Packing Case
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Vertical Runout
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Measuring Vertical Runout:
Dial indicator above rod close to packing case
Pick up ⊥ to rod
Piston at crank end
Set dial indicator to zero
Bar unit
Observe dial indicator
Record reading
This is the vertical piston rod “runout”.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Top view of cylinder and crosshead guide.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Horizontal Runout
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Measuring Horizontal Runout
Dial indicator at driver side of rod close to packing case
Pick up ⊥ to rod
Piston at crank end
Set dial indicator to zero
Bar unit
Observe dial indicator
Record reading
This is the horizontal piston rod “runout”.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Before you begin
Check level - cylinder bore - crosshead guide - equally level.
Check clearance - piston rod to packing case.
Check runout - nut tight and nut loose.
If the two checks differ, then the face of the nut is not ⊥.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Things NOT to do
Vertical runout should never be adjusted or corrected by
forcing the cylinder and/or distance pieces up or down by
use of the support adjusting screws.
This can put excessive forces and stresses on the
components involved
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Things that can influence runout
Excessive runout can be corrected by realignment of some or all of
the following:
Cylinder, heads, distance pieces, crossheads, crosshead guides,
pistons, piston rods, crosshead nut.
Threads of crosshead nut or threads of crosshead may be out of
square.
A bent piston rod can cause excessive runout.
A bent connecting rod can cause excessive runout.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
No Vertical Rod Runout
Notice no movement at Dial Indicator
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
No Vertical Rod Runout
Notice no movement at Dial Indicator
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Normal Vertical Rod Runout
• Vertical rod runout is not always an
indication of misalignment.
• It may be the result of the difference
between the Piston and Crosshead
running clearance.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Measuring Vertical Rod Runout
To avoid confusion, it is suggested
the runout reading be taken on a
forward stroke with dial indicator set
at zero when the rod is all way back
with the piston at the crank end of
the cylinder.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Positive and Negative
Vertical Rod Runout
•It is positive when the piston end of the rod is
lower than the crosshead end.
•It is negative when the piston end of the rod
is higher than the crosshead end.
•Vertical runout should always be checked by
barring from crank end to head end with the
dial indicator placed on top of the rod.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Rod Length
Stroke
Runout
∆ Drop
Stroke Runout
=
Rod Length ∆ Drop
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
∆ Drop
Runout = X Stroke
Rod Length
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Cold Running Clearance 0.020 “
0.080 “
Rod Diameter = 3.00 “
Typical value
Rod Length = 36 “
Stroke = 14 “
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Rod Length = 36”
Stroke = 14”
Runout
∆ Drop = 0.030”
∆ Drop
Runout = X Stroke
Rod Length
0.030”
Runout = X 14” = 0.012”
36”
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Rod Length = 36 ”
Stroke = 14 ”
Runout
∆ Drop
Indicator
Rod
Runout + 0.012 ” Stroke = 14 “
Rod
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor
ALLOWABLE PISTON Cylinders
ROD RUNOUT
0.03
0.025
Allowable Rod RUNOUT (In.)
0.02
Positive Vertical
0.015
0.014
.
0.01
0.005
Horizontal
0
Negative Vertical
-0.005
.010 .020 .030 .040 .050 .060 .070 .080 .090 .100 .110 .120 .130 .140 .150 .160 .170
Cylinder Running Clearance (in.)
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
ALLOWABLE PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Fig. 2
STD SD-112-2
0.080 ” Cylinder Running Clearance 0.014 “
Calculate Rod Runout Value = 0.012 ”
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Some Points of Attention
• A standard Dial Indicator will read positive (+)
when stem or plunger of the gauge is depressed.
0
-10 +10
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Some Points of Attention
• Before taking Rod Runout readings,
measure the piston rod diameter
to determine any under-sizing due
to packing wear.
•This will influence correct readings.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Some Points of Attention
• When taking horizontal rod runout readings,
check clearance between crosshead pin
and bushings at two (2) points on each side
of the crosshead, to determine if connecting
rod is running on center line.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Some Points of Attention
• During the rod runout inspection, measure running
clearance, crosshead to guide.
• Check clearance at several locations.
• Clearance should be uniform - zero on bottom.
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Some interesting axioms relative to vertical rod run-out
• The larger the bore, the greater the piston running clearance.
• The smaller the bore, the less the piston running clearance.
• Large bore = more running clearance = more run-out
• Small bore = less running clearance = less run-out
• Long stroke = more run-out
• Long rod = less run-out.
• Short rod + long stroke = greater run-out
• Long rod + short stroke = less run-out
• Small cylinder + short stroke + long rod = less run-out
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PISTON ROD RUNOUT
Reciprocating Compressor Cylinders
Any Questions?
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