Working process of thrust bearings
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What is the function of the thrust bearing in a compressor or turbine? What is the workflow like? What is the difference between the main thrust bearing pad and the auxiliary thrust bearing pad?
Classmate*, I hope you can explain the specific working principle
Function: To balance the remaining axial thrust and prevent excessive axial movement, which could lead to friction between the moving and stationary components. Airflow impact and the pressure difference on both sides of the impeller can cause axial thrust. The axial thrust is mainly balanced by the impeller pairing, openings, and balance drums; the remaining portion is taken care of by the thrust bearings. There are detailed descriptions on the original forum, so I won’t go into it here. Axial thrust causes changes in the gap between the thrust disc and the thrust bearings on both sides, which in turn leads to changes in the thickness of the oil films. The thinner the oil film, the greater the pressure it can withstand.
A thrust bearing, also known as a thrust pad, serves to support the remaining axial thrust of the rotor (the majority of this axial thrust is balanced by other methods). It fixes the axial position of the rotor, thereby ensuring an appropriate axial clearance between the moving and stationary parts within the steam turbine. The thrust bearing is usually located at the front end of the turbine; it forms a combined structure with the turbine’s first main bearing, which is known as a Miller-type supported thrust combined bearing.
There’s a document here that you can take a look at regarding thrust bearings and metallurgical information (Metallurgical Information)
The function of a thrust bearing is to prevent excessive axial force from causing movement, thereby protecting the components inside the machine. It is the direction of the axial force that determines whether to use primary or secondary bearing shells. During operation, the shaft keeps moving due to process requirements; the balance disc comes into contact with the bearing shells, creating an oil film
Thrust bearings are also known as radial bearings~
In simple terms, thrust bearings serve two main functions: 1. Axial positioning of the rotor； 2. Balance the axial force. The common types are Kingsbury bearings and Mitchell bearings; you can find out their structure by searching on Baidu. The main principle is similar to that of a sliding bearing, with the thrust disc supported by the stiffness of the oil film. The primary and secondary thrusts are determined by balancing axial forces in different directions and of different magnitudes.