Salient Field Pole Hydro Generator Static Rotor Balancing

Traditionally, rotors of salient field pole hydro generators are balanced dynamically via a time-intensive iterative cycle of placing a weight, measuring vibration, placing another weight, etc., until an acceptable vibration level is achieved.  It is common that the vibration levels are so poor at initial startup that multiple iterations are required merely to bring the rotor to synchronous speed, followed by further iterations to bring the vibration to acceptable levels throughout the load range. Such an operation typically follows work on the rotor which alters the rotating body center of mass, such as after a field pole piece refurbishment. The engineers of FE have developed a process which removes the need for the iterative balancing process, saving typically five full crew man days and lost generation during that period.