Process fluid-lubricated thrust bearings (TBs) in a turbomachine control rotor placement due to axial loads arising from pressure fields on the front shroud and back surface of impellers. To date, prediction of aerodynamic-induced thrust loads is still largely empirical. Thus, needs persist to design and operate proven TBs and to validate predictions of performance derived from often too restrictive computational tools. This paper describes a test rig for measurement of the load performance of water-lubricated hydrostatic/hydrodynamic TBs operating under conditions typical of cryogenic turbo pumps (TPs). The test rig comprises of a rigid rotor composed of a thick shaft and two end collars. A pair of flexure-pivot hydrostatic journal bearings (38 mm in diameter) supports the rotor and quill shaft connected to a drive motor. The test rig hosts two TBs (eight pockets with inner diameter equal to 41 mm and outer diameter equal to 76 mm); one is a test bearing and the other is a slave bearing, both facing the outer side of the thrust collars on the rotor. The slave TB is affixed rigidly to a bearing support. A load system delivers an axial load to the test TB through a nonrotating shaft floating on two aerostatic radial bearings. The test TB displaces to impose a load on the rotor thrust collar, and the slave TB reacts to the applied axial load. The paper presents measurements of the TB operating axial clearance, flow rate, and pocket pressure for conditions of increasing static load (max. 3600 N) and shaft speed to 17.5 krpm (tip speed 69.8 m/s) and for an increasing water supply pressure into the TBs, max. 17.2 bar (250 psig). Predictions from a bulk flow model that accounts for both fluid inertia and turbulence flow effects agree well with recorded bearing flow rates (supply and exiting through the inner diameter), pocket pressure, and ensuing film clearance due to the imposed external load. The measurements and predictions show a film clearance decreasing exponentially as the applied load increases. The bearing flow rate also decreases, and at the highest rotor speed and lowest supply pressure, the bearing is starved of lubricant on its inner diameter side, as predicted. The measured bearing flow rate and pocket pressure aid to the empirical estimation of the orifice discharge coefficient for use in the predictive tool. The test data and validation of a predictive tool give confidence to the integration of fluid film TBs in cryogenic TPs as well as in other more conventional (commercial) machinery. The USAF Upper Stage Engine Technology (USET) program funded the work during the first decade of the 21st century.
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February 2017
Research-Article
A Water-Lubricated Hybrid Thrust Bearing: Measurements and Predictions of Static Load Performance
Luis San Andrés,
Luis San Andrés
Mast-Childs Chair Professor,
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
e-mail: lsanandres@tamu.edu
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
e-mail: lsanandres@tamu.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Stephen Phillips,
Stephen Phillips
Research Engineer
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Search for other works by this author on:
Dara Childs
Dara Childs
L.T. Jordan Chair Professor
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Search for other works by this author on:
Luis San Andrés
Mast-Childs Chair Professor,
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
e-mail: lsanandres@tamu.edu
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
e-mail: lsanandres@tamu.edu
Stephen Phillips
Research Engineer
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Dara Childs
L.T. Jordan Chair Professor
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Fellow ASME
Turbomachinery Laboratory,
Mechanical Engineering Department,
Texas A&M University,
College Station, TX 77843-3123
Contributed by the Structures and Dynamics Committee of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Manuscript received June 23, 2016; final manuscript received June 28, 2016; published online September 13, 2016. Editor: David Wisler.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Feb 2017, 139(2): 022506 (10 pages)
Published Online: September 13, 2016
Article history
Received:
June 23, 2016
Revised:
June 28, 2016
Citation
San Andrés, L., Phillips, S., and Childs, D. (September 13, 2016). "A Water-Lubricated Hybrid Thrust Bearing: Measurements and Predictions of Static Load Performance." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. February 2017; 139(2): 022506. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4034042
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