Design and Performance of Compliant Thrust Bearings With Spiral-Groove Membranes on Resilient Supports

1981 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Licht ◽  
W. J. Anderson ◽  
S. W. Doroff
Keyword(s):  
Load Capacity ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Flexible Membranes ◽  
And Performance

Novel thrust bearings, with spiral-groove, flexible membranes mounted on resilient supports, were designed and their performance convincingly demonstrated. Advantages of surface compliance were thus combined with the superior load-capacity of the spiral-groove geometry. Loads of 127–150N (29–33 lb) were comfortably supported on an area 42 cm2 (6.5 in.2), at speeds 43,000–45,000 rpm and mean clearances 15–20 μm (600–800 μin.), by these self-acting and air-lubricated bearings. Support-worthiness was proved under exacting conditions, when tested in conjunction with foil journal-bearings and a 19N (4.3 lb)-rotor, excited in a pitching mode by a total unbalance of 43 μm.N (6100 μin.oz).

The Influence of Ambient Pressure on the Measured Load Capacity of Bump-Foil and Spiral-Groove Gas Thrust Bearings at Ambient Pressures up to 69 Bar on a Novel High-Pressure Gas Bearing Test Rig

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Wilkes ◽  
Ryan Cater ◽  
Erik Swanson ◽  
Kevin Passmore ◽  
Jerry Brady
Keyword(s):  
Power Loss ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Foil Thrust Bearing ◽  
Thrust Load

Abstract This paper will show the influence of ambient pressure on the thrust capacity of bump-foil and spiral-groove gas thrust bearings. The bearings were operating in nitrogen at various pressures up to 69 bar, and were tested to failure. Failure was detected at various pressures by incrementally increasing the thrust load applied to the thrust bearing until the bearing was no longer thermally stable, or until contact was observed by a temperature spike measured by thermocouples within the bearing. These tests were performed on a novel thrust bearing test rig that was developed to allow thrust testing at pressures up to 207 bar cavity pressure at 260°C while rotating at speeds up to 120,000 rpm. The test rig floats on hydrostatic air bearings to allow for the direct measurement of applied thrust load through linkages that connect the stationary thrust loader to the rotor housing. Test results on a 65 mm (2.56 in) bump-foil thrust bearing at 100 krpm show a marked increase in load capacity with gas density, which has not previously been shown experimentally. Results also show that the load capacity of a similarly sized spiral-groove thrust bearing are relatively insensitive to pressure, and supported an order-of-magnitude less load than that observed for the bump-foil thrust bearing. These results are compared with analytical predictions, which agree reasonably with the experimental results. Predicted power loss is also presented for the bump-foil bearing; however, measured power loss was substantially higher.

Rotordynamic and Bearing Upgrade of a High-Speed Turbocharger

2002 ◽  
Vol 125 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Pettinato ◽  
P. DeChoudhury
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Oil Leakage ◽  
Bearing Life ◽  
Thrust Load

The paper discusses the redesign of a high-speed turbocharger for improved bearing life and mechanical operation. The bearings were changed from a pair of combination journal/thrust bearings to a pair of redesigned journal bearings with double acting thrust bearing at the center of the unit. Internal oil passages, drain cavities, and seals were also revised. These modifications resulted in reduced oil leakage across end seals, reduced coke buildup at the turbine, increased thrust load capacity, and improved rotordynamics. Both the analytical and experimental results, which consisted of bearing performance and vibration data of original and modified systems are presented.

Influence of Groove Molded Lines on the Lubrication Performance of Water-Lubricated Spiral Groove Thrust Bearings

2013 ◽  
Vol 694-697 ◽  
pp. 538-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Yan Liu ◽  
Jia Sheng Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Pressure Field ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Loading Capacity ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Pressure Fields ◽  
Lubrication Performance

The water lubrication performance of spiral groove thrust bearings was affected by different groove molded lines. The pressure fields and the load capacity of water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearings with different groove molded lines were simulated by computational fluid dynamics. The results show that the spiral groove which can produce the best loading capacity and steadier pressure field is appropriate to water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing. The line spiral groove can be used for decrease the process difficult when the loading capacity require is low.

Rotordynamic and Bearing Upgrade of a High-Speed Turbocharger

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian C. Pettinato ◽  
Pranabesh DeChoudhury
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Load Capacity ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Original Design ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Vibration Data ◽  
Bearing Life ◽  
Oil Flow

The paper discusses the redesign of a high-speed turbocharger for improved bearing life and mechanical operation. The modifications resulted in reduced oil leakage across the end seal, reduced coke buildup at the turbine, increased thrust load capacity, and improved rotordynamics. In particular, rotordynamic stability was improved by eliminating subsynchronous vibration at the operating speed. The redesign consisted of changing the bearings from a pair of combination journal/thrust bearings to a pair of journal bearings and a double acting thrust bearing at the center of the unit. The active thrust bearing was moved away from the hot turbine end of the machine. The thrust bearing geometry was modified for increased minimum film thickness, reduced metal temperature, and increased load capacity. Inlet and drain passages were revised for better oil flow distribution. Unit rotordynamics were improved by upgrading the journal bearings from three-axial-groove to three-lobe design. The upgraded unit kept the same footprint as the original design with only piping modifications required. Extensive analysis and testing were conducted. Testing of the original and revised turbochargers showed improvements in the redesign with reduced bearing metal temperatures and improved rotordynamic stability. Theoretical results along with test data consisting of bearing performance and vibration data of the original and modified system are presented in this paper.

A Rotordynamic, Thermal, and Thrust Load Performance Gas Bearing Test Rig and Test Results for Tilting Pad Journal Bearings and Spiral Groove Thrust Bearings

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Rimpel ◽  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Jongsoo Kim
Keyword(s):  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Temperature Gradients ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Gas Bearing ◽  
Thrust Load ◽  
Tilting Pad Journal Bearings

A high speed gas bearing test rig was developed to characterize rotordynamic, thermal, and thrust load performance of gas bearings being developed for an oil-free turboexpander. The radial bearings tested in this paper were tilting pad journal bearings with radial compliance features that allow the bearing bore to increase to accommodate shaft growth, and the thrust bearings were a spiral groove type with axial compliance features. The thrust bearing accounts for over 90% of the combined bearing power consumption, which has a cubic relationship with speed and increases with case pressure. Radial bearing circumferential pad temperature gradients increased approximately with speed to the fourth or fifth power, with slightly higher temperature rise for lower case pressure. Maximum steady state bearing pad temperatures increase with increasing speed for similar cooling mass flow rates; however, only the thrust bearing showed a significant increase in temperature with higher case pressure. The thrust bearings were stable at all speeds, but the load capacity was found to be lower than anticipated, apparently due to pad deformations caused by radial temperature gradients in the stator. More advanced modeling approaches have been proposed to better understand the thrust bearing thermal behavior and to improve the thrust bearing design. Finally, the radial bearings tested were demonstrated to be stable up to the design speed of 130 krpm, which represents the highest surface speed for tilting pad gas bearings tested in the literature.

A Rotordynamic, Thermal, and Thrust Load Performance Gas Bearing Test Rig and Test Results for Tilting Pad Journal Bearings and Spiral Groove Thrust Bearings

2017 ◽  
Vol 139 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron M. Rimpel ◽  
Giuseppe Vannini ◽  
Jongsoo Kim
Keyword(s):  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Spiral Groove ◽  
Test Rig ◽  
Radial Temperature ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Gas Bearing ◽  
Thrust Load ◽  
Tilting Pad Journal Bearings

A high-speed gas bearing test rig was developed to characterize rotordynamic, thermal, and thrust load performance of gas bearings being developed for an oil-free turboexpander. The radial bearings (RBs) tested in this paper were tilting pad journal bearings with radial compliance features that allow the bearing bore to increase to accommodate shaft growth, and the thrust bearings (TBs) were a spiral groove type with axial compliance features. The TB accounts for over 90% of the combined bearing power consumption, which has a cubic relationship with speed and increases with case pressure. RB circumferential pad temperatures increased approximately with speed to the fourth or fifth power, with slightly higher temperature rise for lower case pressure. Maximum steady-state bearing pad temperatures increase with increasing speed for similar cooling mass flow rates; however, only the TB showed a significant increase in temperature with higher case pressure. The TBs were stable at all speeds, but the load capacity was found to be lower than anticipated, apparently due to pad deformations caused by radial temperature gradients in the stator. More advanced modeling approaches have been proposed to better understand the TB thermal behavior and to improve the TB design. Finally, the RBs tested were demonstrated to be stable up to the design speed of 130 krpm, which represents the highest surface speed for tilting pad gas bearings tested in the literature.

scholarly journals Design, Fabrication, and Performance of Foil Gas Thrust Bearings for Microturbomachinery Applications

2008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Dykas ◽  
Robert Bruckner ◽  
Christopher DellaCorte ◽  
Brian Edmonds ◽  
Joseph Prahl
Keyword(s):  
Load Capacity ◽  
Performance Testing ◽  
Machining Processes ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Marginal Costs ◽  
Bearing Load ◽  
Stiffness Characteristics ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Load Deflection Curve ◽  
Conventional Machining

A methodology for the design and construction of simple foil thrust bearings intended for parametric performance testing and low marginal costs is presented. Features drawn from a review of the open literature are discussed as they relate to bearing performance. The design of fixtures and tooling required to fabricate foil thrust bearings is presented, using conventional machining processes where possible. A prototype bearing with dimensions drawn from the literature is constructed, with all fabrication steps described. A load-deflection curve for the bearing is presented to illustrate structural stiffness characteristics. Start-stop cycles are performed on the bearing at a temperature of 425°C to demonstrate early-life wear patterns. A test of bearing load capacity demonstrates useful performance when compared with data obtained from the open literature.

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