Numerical and Experimental Simulation of a Vertical High Speed Motorcompressor Rotor Drop onto Catcher Bearings

A new research program was jointly set up between GE Oil&Gas and Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), to predict and test the dynamics of a vertical rotor drop on catcher bearings. A numerical tool able to account for flexible rotor and stator dynamics, catcher bearing stiffness and damping mechanism was developed. An experimental activity on a new vertical rotor test rig was carried out. A first analysis of numerical simulations and experimental analysis is presented in this paper.