• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2024

The Morton effect (ME) is an instability phenomenon occurring in rotating machineries supported by fluid film bearings and is induced by the thermal deformation of the overhung mass, which is a part of the rotating shaft. Herein, we describe the ME during the high-speed balancing test of a 20 MW class steam turbine. Additionally, to predict the rotating speed at which the ME occurs, we apply the sensitivity vector theory for the steam turbine. During the operation of the steam turbine, we observe a continuous increase in vibration and hysteresis near the rated speed, which is typical of the ME. Increasing the temperature of the lubricating oil supplied to the bearings from 40 to 60℃ suppresses the occurrence of the ME. The rotordynamic analysis for the steam turbine suggests the existence of a mode in which the overhung mass undergoes significant deformation near the rated speed, and we presume that such a mode will increase the occurrence of the ME. The predicted rotating speed of ME occurrence, obtained through the sensitivity vector method, correlates with the test results. Moreover, increasing the temperature of the supplied lubricating oil mitigates the occurrence of ME by reducing the sensitivity between the temperature deviation vector and unbalance mass vector.