Oil film issues during low-speed warm-up of turbines
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Why is it difficult to form an oil film when a turbine is warmed up at low speed for a long time, and how is an oil film formed?
The formation of an oil film requires the following conditions: 1. A wedge-shaped gap (oil wedge) must exist between the two surfaces; 2. There must be an adequate amount of lubricating oil between the surfaces, and the oil should have an appropriate viscosity; 3. There must be a sufficient relative speed of movement between the surfaces in order to generate the required internal pressure within the oil wedge. An oil film is formed between the shaft and the bearing shells, and this oil film allows the shaft to float.
An oil film can form; it’s just a bit lower
Steam turbines generally use hydrostatic bearings, and it is important to control the oil pressure properly