Paper 13: Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings: Factors Affecting Performance and Improvements with Directed Lubrication

1969 ◽  
Vol 184 (12) ◽  
pp. 93-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Bielec ◽  
A. J. Leopard
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Specific Pressure ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
External Variables ◽  
Factors Affecting Performance

The effect on flooded tilting pad thrust bearing performance of a number of external variables is examined. At sliding speeds between 10 and 100 m/s, and for specific pressure between 15 bar and 55 bar, measurements were made of oil film thickness, bearing temperature, and power loss for various oil inlet systems, oil quantities, housing pressures, and degrees of misalignment. Power consumption in high-speed thrust bearings can be safely reduced by the use of directed lubrication with a drained casing, bearing temperature being reduced and oil film thickness increased.

The Influence of Injection Pockets on the Performance of Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearings: Part II — Comparison Between Theory and Experiment

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Heinrichson ◽  
Axel Fuerst ◽  
Ilmar Ferreira Santos
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
High Pressure Injection ◽  
Theoretical Pressure

This is Part II of a two-part series of papers describing the effects of high pressure injection pockets on the operating conditions of tilting-pad thrust bearings. Measurements of the distribution of pressure and oil film thickness are presented for tilting-pad thrust bearing pads of approximately 100 cm2 surface area. Two pads are measured in a laboratory test-rig at loads of approximately 0.5, 1.5 and 4.0 MPa and velocities of up to 33 m/s. One pad has a plain surface. The other pad has a conical injection pocket at the pivot point and a leading edge taper. The measurements are compared to theoretical values obtained using a three dimensional thermoelasto-hydrodynamic (TEHD) numerical model. At low and intermediate loads the theoretical pressure distribution corresponds well to the measured values for both pads although the influence of the pocket is slightly underestimated. At high loads large discrepancies exist for the pad with an injection pocket. It is argued that this is likely to be due to the unevenness of the collar surface. The measured and theoretical values of oil film thickness compare well at low loads. At high loads discrepancies grow to up to 25 %. It is argued that this is due to the accuracy of the measurements.

Steady State Performance Characteristics of a Tilting Pad Thrust Bearing

2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 608-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei B. Glavatskikh
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Shaft Speed ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Bearing Load ◽  
Steady State Performance

The paper reports results of the experimental investigation into the steady state performance characteristics of a tilting pad thrust bearing typical of design in general use. Simultaneous measurements are taken of the pad and collar temperatures, the pressure distributions, oil film thickness, and power loss as a function of shaft speed, bearing load, and supplied oil temperature. The effect of operating conditions on bearing performance is discussed. A small radial temperature variation is observed in the collar. A reduction in minimum oil film thickness with load is approximately proportional to p−0.6, where p is an average bearing pressure. It has also been found that the oil film pressure profiles change not only due to the average bearing load but also with an increase in shaft speed and temperature of the supplied oil.

The Significance of Oil Thermal Properties on the Performance of a Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearing

2001 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 377-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei B. Glavatskih ◽  
Michel Fillon ◽  
Roland Larsson
Keyword(s):  
Thermal Properties ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Friction Torque ◽  
Temperature Fields ◽  
Outer Diameter ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Viscosity Grade ◽  
Mineral Base

This paper is a report into an experimental and theoretical investigation of the effect of oil thermal properties on the performance of a tilting-pad thrust bearing. Three oils, namely poly-α-olefin, ester and mineral base, were chosen for this study. These oils all have same viscosity grade (ISO VG46) but differ in their rates of viscosity variation with temperature and in their heat capacity and thermal conductivity values. Mineral base oil of a higher viscosity grade (ISO VG68) was also analyzed for comparison. Experimental data were obtained from an equalizing tilting-pad thrust bearing with an outer diameter of 228.6 mm operating in a flooded lubrication mode. Simultaneous measurements of pad and collar temperatures, friction torque, pressures and oil film thickness were taken. In the tests, oil supply temperature and flow rate were held constant for all load-speed combinations. The theoretical analysis of oil performance was based on a three-dimensional TEHD model. In the analysis, thermal effects were locally taken into account and heat transfer into the pads was considered. The displacements of the active surface of the pads, due to pressure and temperature fields, were determined. The effect of initial pad crowning on the oil film thickness is discussed. Experimental and theoretical results are compared and analyzed in terms of the inlet and outlet oil film thickness, bearing operating temperature and power loss.

A Performance Investigation into the Elastically Stepped and Shrouded Thrust Bearing

1967 ◽  
Vol 182 (1) ◽  
pp. 769-782 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Hemingway
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Frictional Resistance ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Elastic Deflection ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Thrust Pad ◽  
A Performance

An experimental investigation is reported in which a stepped and shrouded thrust pad was formed from an initially plane pad face by elastic deflection caused by pressures generated hydrodynamically in the oil film. The pad shape was optimized experimentally and it produced thicker films than a comparable tilting pad bearing but with higher frictional resistance. Pressure and film thickness contours were investigated and plotted. A comparison is made with stepped pad bearing results. This paper is based on sections of a thesis presented in 1966 for the degree of Ph.D., University of London.

Effects of High-Operating Speeds on Tilting Pad Thrust Bearing Performance

1976 ◽  
Vol 98 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Capitao ◽  
R. S. Gregory ◽  
R. P. Whitford
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Flow Rate ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Full Scale ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Speed Performance ◽  
Bearing Loads

A comparison of the high-speed performance characteristics of tilting-pad, self-equalizing type thrust bearings through two independent full-scale programs is reported. This paper presents experimental data on centrally pivoted, 6-pad, 267-mm (10 1/2-in.) and 304-mm (12-in.) O.D. bearings operating at shaft speeds up to 14000 rpm and bearing loads ranging up to 2.76 MPa (400 psi). Data presented demonstrate the effects of speed and loading on bearing power loss and metal temperatures. Included is a discussion of optimum oil supply flow rate based upon considerations of bearing pad temperatures and power loss values.

The Influence of Injection Pockets on the Performance of Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearings—Part II: Comparison Between Theory and Experiment

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 904-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels Heinrichson ◽  
Axel Fuerst ◽  
Ilmar Ferreira Santos
Keyword(s):  
High Pressure ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Pressure Distribution ◽  
The Other ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Pressure Injection ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Oil Injection ◽  
High Pressure Injection

This is Part II of a two-part series of papers describing the effects of high-pressure injection pockets on the operating conditions of tilting-pad thrust bearings. The paper has two main objectives. One is an experimental investigation of the influence of an oil injection pocket on the pressure distribution and oil film thickness. Two situations are analyzed: (i) when the high-pressure oil injection is turned off and (ii) when the high-pressure injection is turned on. The other objective is to validate a numerical model with respect to its ability to predict the influence of such a pocket (with and without oil injection) on the pressure distribution and oil film thickness. Measurements of the distribution of pressure and oil film thickness are presented for tilting-pad thrust bearing pads of ∼100cm2 surface area. Two pads are measured in a laboratory test rig at loads of ∼1.5MPa and ∼4.0MPa and velocities of up to 33m∕s. One pad has a plain surface. The other pad has a conical injection pocket at the pivot point and a leading-edge taper. The measurements are compared to theoretical values obtained using a three-dimensional thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) numerical model. At the low load, the theoretical pressure distribution corresponds well with the measured values for both pads, although the influence of the pocket is slightly underestimated. At the high load, large discrepancies exist for the pad with an injection pocket. It is argued that the discrepancies are due mainly to geometric inaccuracies of the collar surface, although they may to some extent be due to the simplifications employed in a Reynolds equation description of the pocket flow. The measured and theoretical values of oil film thickness compare well at low loads and velocities. At high loads and velocities, discrepancies grow to up to 25%. This is due to the accuracy of the measurements. When using hydrostatic jacking the model predicts the start-up behavior well.

Computation of Thermal Deformation of Thrust Bearing Pad Concerning the Convection by Non-Uniform Oil Flow

2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Hemmi ◽  
Koushu Hagiya ◽  
Katsuhisa Ichisawa ◽  
Sukeyuki Fujita
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Thermal Deformation ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Turbine Generators ◽  
Precise Estimation ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Oil Flow ◽  
Water Turbine

Tilting-pad thrust bearings are used to support the loads of large rotating machinery, such as water turbine generators. When such machines are in operation, thermal deformation is so extensive that it is comparable to deformation caused by the pressure of the oil film, and it influences the bearing’s performance. So, the temperature distribution in the pad, which determines the thermal deformation, should be calculated correctly. This requires precise estimation of the convection by the ambient oil at the pad’s surfaces, but the complexity of the pad’s shape and ambient oil flow of oil around it makes this estimation difficult. Using CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software, we computed the temperature distribution in the pad by solving the heat transfer in the pad, in the oil and interfaces of them simultaneously. The thermal and stress deformation were then calculated by the FEM code and is used in oil film analysis to determine the characteristics of the bearing. Comparing its results with the experimental ones validated the computational process.

Comparison of Experimental, Thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) and Thermal, Non-Deforming Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Results for Thrust Bearings: Part II

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Deng ◽  
Cori Watson ◽  
Minhui He ◽  
Roger Fittro ◽  
Houston Wood
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Inlet Temperature ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Load Combination ◽  
Bearing Loads ◽  
Relative Errors ◽  
Edge Temperature

A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing permitting rotation between parts but designed to support a predominately axial load. Part I of this study was submitted to ASME 5th Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Summer Meeting. It compared the experimental, TEHD and CFD results for a thrust bearing. Reasonable relative errors between these three results were observed. The outlet oil film thickness at low speeds and the inlet oil film thickness at high speeds as calculated using TEHD were found to be more accurate than their counterparts. Isothermal, non-deforming CFD was found to predict outlet film thickness accurately as thermal deformation has a lower impact in the outlet region. Isothermal and non-deforming CFD was also found to produce a qualitatively accurate film thickness and pressure distribution. Experimental data from a second paper reported by the same authors in Part I, provides temperature measurements in two different pads and showed some variation of temperature from pad to pad. A thermal CFD, different from isothermal CFD in Part I, was performed in this Part II. Different data analysis methods will be included in Part II including a comparison of leading edge, mid-plane and trailing edge temperature at two loads, two speeds. 24 different speed-load combination TEHD cases and 12 CFD cases were run in Part II in addition to the 32 TEHD cases and 8 CFD cases in Part I. Both TEHD and CFD underpredict the slope between temperature and shaft speeds. TEHD also underpredicts the slope between temperature and bearing loads while CFD can get an accurate slope between temperature and bearing loads. An improved inlet temperature model would fix the error between temperature and bearing load in CFD, and also can enable CFD to have the same accuracy as TEHD analysis for the temperature versus shaft speed relation. The inlet film thickness from both TEHD and CFD is underestimated. TEHD is more accurate than CFD in outlet film thickness, or minimum film thickness, which is a critical performance characteristic in fluid film thrust bearings. While CFD is more accurate than TEHD in inlet film thickness and power loss.

Oil-film thickness and temperature measurements in PTFE and babbitt faced tilting-pad thrust bearings

2005 ◽  
Vol 219 (3) ◽  
pp. 179-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. C. McCarthy ◽  
S. B. Glavatskih ◽  
I Sherrington
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Hydrodynamic Lubrication ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Frictional Torque ◽  
Trailing Edge ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
Facing Material

The influence of pad facing material on hydrodynamic lubrication in tilting-pad thrust bearings is investigated in terms of pad and oil-film temperatures and thicknesses. Two tilting-pad thrust bearings are examined: one with babbitt pad facing, the other with a layer of PTFE-based composite material. Frictional torque, pad, collar, and oil-film temperatures and thicknesses are all monitored by means of a comprehensive array of sensors mounted in the bearing and shaft. A considerably smaller range of temperature is seen in the steel backing immediately below the surface material for the PTFE faced pads. Oil-film temperatures measured at the mid-point on the pad trailing edge show no significant difference between the two bearings. Oil-film thicknesses in the two bearings are seen to differ. At the leading edge, oil-film thickness is thinner for the PTFE pad than for babbitt. However, at the trailing edge the PTFE pad has the thicker film.

The Measurement of Film Thickness in Thrust Bearings and the Deflected Shape of ‘Parallel’ Surface Thrust Pads

1965 ◽  
Vol 180 (1) ◽  
pp. 1025-1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. W. Hemingway
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Thrust Bearing ◽  
Oil Film ◽  
Thrust Bearings ◽  
Parallel Surface ◽  
Working Face ◽  
Tentative Explanation

A transducer has been developed to sense the variation of oil-film thickness in a thrust bearing by sweeping across the working face of the pads and ‘viewing’ them from the rotor. This device was used to compare the deflection of a circular pad with theory, and some degrees of correlation was found. The pads tested formed wedge-shaped films by elastic flexure and successfully carried considerable loads. A tentative explanation is provided for their means of starting to operate successfully.

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