TILTING PAD BEARING DESIGN by John C. Nicholas Chief Engineer Rotating Machinery Technology, Incorporated Wellsville, New York John Nicholas received his BSA.E de gree fromthe University of Pnsburgh (1968) and his Ph D. degree jrom the Universityof Virginia (1977) rotor and bearingdynam ics Whileat Virginia, he authoredthe iting Fadl and pressure dam bearing computer Drograms that are used by many rotating ‘equipment vendors, users, and consultants. Dr. Nicholas has worked in the turboma ‘hinery industry for the lat 17 years in the rotor and bearing dynamics areas, includ. ing five years at Ingersoll-Rand ard ive years as the Supervisor of the Rotordynamies Group at Dresser-Rand. (Currently, Dr. Nicholas is part owner and Chief Engines for Rotating Machinery Technology, Incorporated, a company that ‘manufactures high performance iting pad journal and thrust bear ings, sleeve bearings, and seals for the rotating equipment indistry {for ihe last six years: Dr, Nicholas, a member of ASME, STLE, and the Vibration Insitute, has authored 27 technical papers concerning tilt pad bearing dynamics, pressure dam tearings,rotordynamics and Sup- port stiffness effects on critical speeds. ABSTRACT The basics of tilting pad bearing design are discussed 10 include limits of operation for load, speed, and metal tempera ture. Optirvum temperature sensor locations are recommended for self aligning and sanaligning tilting pads. Tilting pad Dear- ing geometric properties and their influence on bearing and rotordynamics are addressed including Ye advantages and dis- advantages of 2070 preloaded pads. Also, the advantages of Increasing the pad axial length are shown. ‘Example calculations are presented for the tilting pad pivot film thickness which isnecessary to determine ifthe top pads are loaded or unloaded, Tilting pad static shaft sink and elearance ‘measotement techniques are addressed. The equations to calcu latenormal forseand breakaway torque arederived including an ‘example calculation cornparing a tilting pad bearing to a two ‘axial groove beating. Tilting p28 bearing oil flow and tempera- tute rise are included along with &discussionaf reduced emper- ature tilting pad designs. INTRODUCTION As the speeds of turbomachinery are increased in order to lsprove aerodynamic performance, bearing designs are sietched totheit limitand, in some eases, beyond. Itis becoming increas: ingly important for the bearing designer touse every design tool possible Co ensure that bearings will operate satisfactory for these high performance applications. To this end, many of the design considerations for high performance beatings are discussed in an effort to establish sonesal design guidelines for tilt pad bearing design. It must be 119 Understood, however, that there are always exceptions to any rule. Therefore, the conclusions and tecormendationsare meant to be used as a'starting point or guide forthe bearing designer when designing high performance tilting pad bearings. JOURNAL BEARING LIMITS OF OPERATION ‘A (wo axial groove sleeve bearing is illustrated in Figure 1 supporting a vertically dowaward load with a displacement js not direetly downward, but at some attitude angle, with fotation from bottom dead center. This property of sleeve bear: ings is responsible for producing destatlizing cross coupling forces that cause oil whirl (exactly 50 percent of syachronous speed vibration) andjor shaft whip (reexcitation of the rotors Fits ritical speed ata frequency that is less then 50 percent of synchronous speed). ECCENTRICITY RATIO fete, Det 10 x Figure 1, Two Axial Groove Bearing. ‘This phenomena is most prevalent a high speeds andjor light loads. For this reason, in addition to a high load design limit, a low load limit is also placed on sleeve bearings. Define the ‘beating unit load as a ior o For sleeve bearings, suggested load design limits are L, $200 psi ® 1,2 100 psi @180 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM eal, love beating soul be designed between hese Unite However, Bearings wth ges un Toads can operate shout bln as ong acre akon prope cel he Searing at in ons aove be design hiya Nigel ova ado edweedenpertare design sia thee ose se Seton “ower odin may be eine somewhat if sbiied steve bening design soa. sore dn oF mule feng el uta sce velocity init shuld lobe noted Define thesttoe velo at (3) ‘The recommended journal surface velocity upper design limits, y, * | cy 2 U,< 3001/5 o ‘Again, this fimit may be exceeded, but care must be taken to properly cool the bearing, ‘Typics! Dearing clearances range from 1.5 to 2.0 mils of 0)-Typel Joven 0420 uae goggngo SYA gee agg ~ seamne eat ne 2a ee Figure I: liptical Vibration Orbit. RP lure 12 Epica! Vibration Orb a by aD operating cecentciy rato 0.43 for cemly pve guts eBrmpre to 0.3 for 0.5 Lower valucsoecceneiy fae r—rSS higherlndeupaly- Alo offset pvascens bang tae ceciay Ke compared corel plvte pads igure). TILTING PAD BEARING PRELOAD = RS ana, Possibly she most important tilting pad bearing parameter eee ee available tothe bearing designer is tilting pad bearing preload. Referring to Figure 14, tilting pad bearing preload is defined as Figure 14, Zero Preloaded Tilting Pad.es PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM preload values range from 0.2 to 0.6 (20 percent to 60 percent) ‘When a pad is preloaded, a converging film section exists and the pad will produce hydrodynamic forces even ifthe bearing load approaches zero. JOURNAL ume PAD PRELOAD, m =!—°b/¢fp TYPICAL m=.210 6 (20% t 60%) p-ASSENBLED BEARING ‘Steanance p= PAD CLEARANCE Figure 15, Preloaded Tilting Pad. ZERO PRELOAD ADVANTAGES [AND DISADVANTAGES The biggest advantage of reducing the tilting pad preload to zero oF neat 2070 is illustrated in Figuee 16 (3), For this tlt pad beating example, as preload decreases, bearing damping in creases while bearing stiffness remains approximately constant. Both of these trends help in increasing the bearing effective damping, This trend generally holds for a majority of turboma- ‘chinery applications, Effective damping isa measure of tow much bearing damping is effective inshatt vibration suppression, As effective damping increases, shaft vibration decreases. Bearing stiffness has a big influence on the amount of effective damping that a bearing produces. Normally, as bearing damping increases, bearing stiffness increases. "This trend can be seen from Figure 16. As bearing assembled clearance decteases fora constant preload, bearing stiffness and damping both increase. Even hough bearing damping increases, the effective damping decreases because the corresponding increase in bearing stiffness makes the bearing damping less effective. Tho incteased bearing stiffness prohibits the shaft from moving inthe bearing thereby reducing the effectiveness of the oil film produced damping ‘The beneficial effect of decreasing preload for another tilting pad bearing example is illustrated in Figure 17 [4]. In this ease, as preload decreases from m = 0.6 to m = 000, the bearing ‘damping increases while the bearing stiffness decreases. Again, both of these effects contribute to increasing effective damping. ‘The influence on zotor stability forthe bearings in Figure 17 ‘may be seen in Figure 18 for an eight stage centrifugal compres- $00 $a py =| =a R orsanm (3.0 m0) { ore nm aor) bes 4 a heron (200m) | LZ roxennce nance 1 K (t/in x 10-8) AXIAL, COMPRESSOR #1 We 21079 W (4739 bs) 4 N= 5500 RPM 4 4 PAD BETWEEN BEARINGS 4 Figure 16. Tilting Pad Bearing Stiffness and Damping vs Pre: load and Bearing Clearace 82am apn) Figure 17. Tilting Pad Bearing Effect of Negative Preload and Unloaded Top Pads. sor [4]. As preload decreases from 0.6 0 0.0, the general trend is to stabilize the compressor (Le., move the rotor bearing system from Well within the unstable regime to well within the Stable area of large negative growth factors), Since this is typical of many rotor fearing systems, the temptation to decrease tit pad preload to near zero to improve machine stability is strong. However, there are several major disadvantages to low preload pads, two of which can be seen in Figures 17 and 18, First, note the drastic decrease in horizontal stiffness and damping (K,, and C, ) as the pad preload becomes negative inTUTORIAL ON TILTING PAD BEARING DESIGN 1s x vara “ 4 STAGE. ceynmrugnscoumnesson Wy +2906 W (671 tbs) 5 PAD ON BEARINGS yr 0635 nm (25 mis) a Figure 18. Stability vs Preload—Effect of Top Pad Damping. Figure 17. The corresponding effect on stability can be seen in Figure 18 where the system approaches the unstable regime for preload values less than -0.1. The problem is the tolerance range. If zero preload is desired, the tolerance range on the Journal diameter, the pad radius of curvature and the assembled ‘bearing clearance can all contribute to producing a negative preload. ‘The second problem with ight preload isthe loss of damping. ‘when the top pads become unicaded (Figure 17). This condition is addressed in detail ina following section. The rotor bearing. system is shown in Figure 18 reverting tack into the unstable region after the preload is decreased sufficieniy to unload the top pads. Top unloaded pads also flutter, since there does not exist a tilt angle at which the pad can seek equilibrium. Pluner- ing pads may cause rotor vibration. PAD L/D RATIO Another powerful design parameter available tothe tilting pad ‘bearing designer is pad length-to-diameter ratio, L/D. An exam: ple where inreasing the pad L/D ratio increases bearing damp: ing, but decreases bearing stiffness is shown in Figure 19 [3] ‘Again, both changes contribute to the increase in effective damping, (Of course, itis usually more practical to increase the pad igth as opposed to decreasing the joummal diameter. For this ason, longer pad lengths have become more popular with the bearing designets. The old standard pad L/D = 0.5 is often replaced by L/D = 0.75 or, in extreme cases, with L/D = 1.0. ‘The axial length envelop is often restrictive, but if narrow oil end seals ave designed correctly, larger pad lengths are often possible, Furthermore, as pad length increases, the pad becomes ‘more susceptible to pad-to-shaft misalignment. Thus, a self aligning pivot should be used forthe larger L/D ratios. t 100 —T E AXIAL COMPRESSOR # 1 F We= 21079 (4739 ibs) F 500 RPM 5 4 PAD BETWEEN BEARINGS ee eee] RELOAD Figure 19. Stifness and Damping Vs Preload and Pad L/D Ratio. PRELOAD AND UNLOADED PADS. In order to determine ifa pad is unloaded for a given preload and eccentricity, the bearing oil film thickness atthe pad pivot ‘must be calculated. The pivot film thickness, h, is illustrated in Figure 20 for a single pad and Figure 21 for an assembled bearing (1-m)-(1+ sing) 10) where pivot film thickness, dims ap = bearing eccentricity ratio, dim (12) Tilting pads become unloaded when there no longer exists a converging film thickness between pad andshaft. This condition cexists when the pivot film thickness becomes eqcal to or greater than the pad radial clearance, Thus, for an unloaded fad, b,ze, - a3) A210 ‘Setting h, ~ 1.0 and solving for m, yields ms one as Tresing186 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM [ATTITUDE ANGLE FIXED PAD Figure 20. Single Pad Pivot Film Thickness Figure 21. Tilting Pad Bearing Pivot Film Thickness. ‘Te preload is given in Equation 14 below which the tilting pad ‘becomes unloaded for a given bearing eccentricity rato, e Also, for = 1.0 and for a given preload, the bearing eccentricity sali, e, can be calculated above which the tilting pad becomes unloaded, Tomine as, Example |: Calculate the prelosdat which the top pads ofa five pad, load on pivot bearing become unfoaded. Assume that the beating is operating at e moderate ecceatrcily ratio of € = 0.5. From Figure 21, fora five pad load on pivet bearing, forthe top unloaded pads 6.754", 6, = 126" From Equation (14) O.ssinsa® T+0.35in5a* m= 029 ‘Thus, the top pads would become unloaded for preload values less than m = 0.29. Example 2: Calculate the eccentricity ratio at which the top pads ‘of 8 four pad, load between pivot bearing become unloaded. ‘Assume that the tilting pad preload is m = 03, Fors four pad load between pivot bearing, for the top unloaded pads 45%, = 135° From Equation (15) a Toasnase e> 061 Thus, the top pads would become unloaded for beating eccen: tricity values greater than e = 0.61 TILT PAD STATIC SHAFT SINK AND CLEARANCE MEASUREMENT For between pivot loading, the journal can sink between the pivots, due to pad tlt. The amount of static shaft sink below the bearing center, 8, is given in (Figure 22) 16) CENTERED JOURNAL MAXIMUM SHAFT MOVEMENT SHAFT MOVEMENT "ro PwvoT Figure 22. Tilting Pad Bearing Static Shaft Sink. One method of measuring clearances for tilting pad bearings is to use a mandrel with a dial indicator. After the beating is assembled around the mandrel, the bearing is pushed up against ‘one of the pads directly toward the pivot, The dial indicator is 2etoed and the bearing moved to between the opposite two pads ‘The dial indicator reading will be larger than the actual bearing clearance due to static shaft sink. This method of clearance measurement is employed for tilting pad beatings with an odd ‘number of pads. For # four pad bearing, the clearance can be‘TUTORIAL ON TILTING PAD BEARING DESIGN 7 measured from pad pivot to pad pivot directly without going between pads. From Figure 23, x measured diametral clearance, in n= # of pads 5088, / a Fora 5 pad bearing, 0, = 36° X = 6, (2.236) 2.236) MANDREL AGAINST TOP PAD Figure 23, Tilting Pad Bearing Clearance Measurement. NORMAL FORCE AND BREAKAWAY TORQUE ‘Two important parameters for bearing designers are normal force and breakaway torque, Normal force isthe amount of the journal load that the babbit actually experiences. Ths is impor- tant for bearings with high unit loads andlor high operating oil temperatures Breakaway torque, T, is the amount of torque necessary to {umm the rotor aftera prolonged down time. This calculation must bbe made to size turning geet motors. Define the following parameters W, = total rotor weight, Ib Journal load, Ibf Fora plain journal bearing or an axial groove bearing per bearing as) Boa) perbearing a0) = Bw) perrotor 4 Faw) ps ep The above equations may afso be used for @ load on pivat tilting pad bearing. However, for load between pads, the bearing load is shared by the bottom 2 pads (Figure 22) Thus, w Ch 2 From Equation (19), N, Teoat, oy For 4 and 5 pad load between pivot beatings: 6, = 36°, N, = (0.62)°N,, 5 pad between on 48°, 4 pad between. es) (0.11) “Ny Thus, there is + 38 percent less babbitt load, five pad between + 29 percent less babbitt load, four pad between, ccomparedto sleeve bearings. Clearly, for bearings with high unit Toads, a five pad load between pivot bearing would provide Tower babbitt loads compared to sleeve bearings or load on pivot tilt pad bearings. Reducing babbitt load will decrease the ten dency of a bearing 0 wipe at high loads and high babbitt temperatures, These babbitt loads are nearly exact for startup calculations forall bearings. They are also fairly exact for plain journal, axial groove, and zero preloaded tilting pad bearings at operating Speeds. The problem arises for sleeve bearings like the pressure ddam or elliptical designs since, at operating speeds, the upper half produces additional hydrodynamic loads on the bottom loaded pad, thereby increasing the actual perceived babbitt load. ‘The same scenario holds for preloaded tilting pad bearings. From Equation (22), for a tilting pad bearing with load be- tween pads, per bearing 26) Nyt rotor coat, en and the break-away torque is Dw per rotor 8 2088, ‘Comparing Equation (21) to Equation (28) yields 1, 7 - Je cost, per rotor 29) For 4 and 5 pad load between pivot bearings: 6, = 367.7, = (1.24) 5 pad between 0)188 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM 6,5 45%, 7, (140-7, 4 pad berween 6 ‘Thos, there is + 24 percent more break away torque, five pad between, + 41 percent more break away torque, four pad between ‘compared to sleeve bearings. Thus, tit pad bearings may require larger turning gear motors, Example 3: One 250 Ibf man can breakaway an axial compressor ‘with 10 fbae, when the otorran on axial groove bearings. Why ‘cannot the same man breakaway the rotor with a 10 bat after & ‘bearing retrofit to four pad tilting pad bearings with load be- tween pivots? + W, = 16,000 IF + D=80in + 6, 6.0 mils First, check the static shaft sink for the four pad bearing t0| ensure thatthe journal is not riding on the ond seals. Fora four pad bearing, , = 45 degrees, and from Equation (16) 60 costs 85 mils Recall that S, s the static journal sink below the journals centered position. The amount thatthe journal sinks below the pivot eitcle is 8 S\=25 mils But, since $,< c', the journal does not ride on he end seals. Now calculate the breakaway torque. Coefficient of friction: + #1 *0.2 steel on babbitt with thin oil film + 11 = 0.44 steal on dry babbist Babbitt load (Equations (19) and (22)): N,, = 8,000 Ibffbearing N,, = 5.687 Ibffpivot Breakaway torque for n+ 0.44 (Equations (21) and (28) 2 2347 FbF 1, = 3319 Foe ‘Thus, witha 10 Fbar, the force necessary to breakaway the roror, 235 16 33216 TILTING PAD BEARING OIL FLOW One ype of flow configuration used with iting pad bearings is illustrated in Figure 24. The oil is distributed around the Dearing by a circumferential inlet groove at the housing outside diameter, The inlet orifices direct the oil between each pal. Some oil i then discharged through the end seals. The majority ofthe oll feaves the bearing through large discharge holes at the top of the bearing housing. ou mcr onaoe hw cusoce oe Figure 24. Non-Pressurized Housing Tilt Pad Bearing Design. ‘This flow configuration results in a nonpressurized housing withthe flow restricted at inlet. The advantage of this setup is that most ofthe oil drains through the top ofthe bearing, into the twin circumferential drain grooves and disectly into the cavity. Very litle oil leaks through the relatively tight clearance foating end seals, keeping oil leaks to a minimum. The disad- ‘vantage is that ho oil produced by the lower loaded pads eannot exit directly, but must travel up through the bearing to the discharge bois. ‘The mest common typeof flow configuration used with tilting pad bearings is ilistrated in Figure 25, All of the oil is dis charged through end souls with relatively open clearances which can be fixed oF floating ‘This flow configuration results in a pressurized housing with the flow restricted at discharge. The advantage of this setup is that the hot oil produced by the lower loaded pads can exit directly through the end seal clearance. The disuivantage isthat all the oil exits along the shaft making ol lingers andoil baffles necessary to prevent ol leaks. ‘A flow configuration that combines the advantages discussed, above for Figures 24 and 25 is shown in Figure 26. Now, ‘relatively tight end seals restrict the drain flow through the end seals minimizing oil leaks. The majority ofthe flow leaves the bearing through twin discharge holes between each set of pads. ‘Thus, most of the oil drains directly into the drain cavity Flow calculations for tilting pad bearings arerelatively simple sincethe flow is essentially speed and eccentricity independent, Tee ow eens oly on oe, detargs ones ed seal clearances and, toa lesser extent, oil viscosi “he ows through the weep holes and ol inlet holes may be calculated from the orifice equation, The flow of an incompress- ible luid through an orifice [S, 3-62] is,‘TUTORIAL ON TILTING PAD BEARING DESION 19 Figure 25. Pressurized Housing Tilt Pad Bearing Design arg, (PE Assuming the following typical values forthe density of oil and the flow coefficient through a short cube [5], page 3-70): 6,7 061 9 = 80% 10 Ihr s*/int 0-250 1a gpm 6 Forn circular holes of diameter d axe? asae 6 = 19.64): nat VAP gpm 6 For the aonpressurized housing configuration of Figure 24 where the flow is restricted on inlet, the housing pressure, P, = O.0and OP +P, -P,=P, Q-Q, = 19.64) -n,881P, Cem — sy Example 4. Calculate the ol flow forthe tilting pa bearing of Figure 24 (nonpressurized housing) with the following flow configuration 4, 0.1875 in P,, = 20 psig P,~ 0.0 psig From Equation (35) with Q = Q = (19.64)(5)(0.1875)? ¥ 20 Q= 154 gpm For the pressurized housing configuration of Figures 25 and 26 where the flow isrestrieted on discharge, the inlet flow from Equation (34) becomes APP, -P, = 19.64) m8 P,=P, (em 6) ‘Again, from equation (34), the oi ow trough the discharge hoes is Q With the drain pressure, P, = 0.0 pisg, Q, = (19.64) -n.e27P, (gpm) on ‘The oll out the end seals may be approximated from equation 2), = @5)4, AP, (epm) 8) — ou fisowaoe sexes Figure 26, Pressurized Housing Tit Pad Bearing Design with il Inter Nozzles.190 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM APP) Pn Py 6%) D+ ed] 0, Substituting (39) and (40) ito (38) yields Q,= 19.64)-n, [(D+ey°-D'] TP, (gpm) 4D) Thus, the otal bearing ol low, Q is equal tothe inlet flow, (in, which must be equal to the total drain low, Qy The dein flow is the sum ofthe flow out ofthe end seals, Q. plusthe flow out the discharge holes, Q.. = Q,=Q-Q +2, 2) ‘The steps necessary to size the inlet holes and calculate the oil flow for a til pad bearing with e pressurized housing are summarized below: + Fora given end seal clearance and discharge hole size, pick «housing pressure. + From Equations (37), (41), and (42), caleulate the drain flow, Q,. + From Equation (36), sized, for Q,,~ Q, Example 5, Size the ol inlet holes fora tilting pad bearing with the pressurized housing design of Figure 26. The following parameters are specified. D=40in «, = 0.008 in diametral 4, 0.125 in ne 2,210 ned P,,~ 20 psig. Firs, pick a housing pressure. Typically. ¥, = 5.0 psig From Equations (37), (41), and (42) calculate the drain flow, Q, From Equation (37), the flow out the discharge holes is = 9.600.255 Q, = 69 ¢pm From equation (41), the flow ou the end seal clearances is Q, = (19.64)(2)| (4.0 +0.008)* - (4.07| 5 @ From equation (42), the total drain flow is 5.6 gpm Q, =69+56= 125 gpm From equation (36), size 4, for QQ, Q % (19.64), =F, 4 2s 4 ° | ase f@0-5) 4, 0.18 in ‘TEMPERATURE RISE ‘The bearing temperature rise, AT is defined asthe difference between the inet temperature and the drain temperature aT-T,-T, °F ren From Equation (7-34) (6, page 204), |, 2.201 - 0) ery 1, °F For bearings larger than D = 2.0 in, the heat loss due to conduction and radiation may be neglecied (6). With atypical value for ol of &, = 3.5 (density ~ 7.0 slug/gal, specific heat = 05 BTU/(slug » °F) for light turbine oil (ISO 32) at about 170°P), 4) From Equation (44), as the flow inereases, the temperature decreases a8 expected, Aiso, as AT and/or Q inetease, the power loss increases. An ideal bearing design provides just enough oil flow to cool the bearing to just below the acceptable maximum, Dabbitt temperature. Any additional oil would lower this maxi- ‘mum temperature, but would inerease the power loss. Usually, bearings are designed with a maximum temperature margin. That is, the flow is increased slightly above the required minimum so that the bearing operates at a temperature th slightly below the maximum, REDUCED TEMPERATURE, TILTING PAD DESIGNS ‘With speeds andjor loads increasing, bearings often operate ‘neat or above the maximum babbitt temperature limit. Inrea ‘ng the ol flow to Further coal the bearing produces exponemtial results. That is, a 10 percent increase inflow may produce a 10 percent decrease in temperature whereas a 20 percent flow Increase would only result in a 12 percent temperature decrease. ‘Another approach is to make the coo! inlet oil more effective in cooling the bearing. For tilting pad bearings, a substar reentage of the hot oil is carried over by the shaft from the ling edge of one pad into the leading edge of the next ped (Figure 27). This carryover is of the order of $0 to 60 percent. ‘One way to more effectively coo! the bearing is to reduce this carryover. The less the carryover, the cooler the lis as it enters the leading edge of each pad. ‘One method of reducing the carryover is to introduce coal inlet oil directly into the pad leading edge as shown in Figure 28 [7]. This effectively blocks some ofthe hot oil carryover while introduces more cooling oil into the pad ‘Another method isthe spray bar illustrated in Figure 29. Here, oil is distributed across the axial length of the pad by the spray bar, Again, thisoil spray blocks some of thehot il earryoverand increases the flow of edo! inlet il into the pads.‘TUTORIAL ON TILTING PAD BEARING DESIGN 191 Figure 28. Leading Edge Feed Groove Tilt Pad Bearing Design ‘An additional feature ofthis design is the open inner end seals that allow the oil to exit the bearing directly. Additional dis: charge holes are located in pairs between each set of pads. This, discharge configuration allows the bearing trun ina complete- ly evacuated housing which further reduces the bearing temper ature by eliminating entrapped hot oil {8} ‘Any of these directed lube features can be successful in lowering the bearings maximum operating temperature for bear: ings that are running hot. A conservative rule of thumb is about 4 10 percent temperature decrease. For bearings what are not Tuning hot, the oil low may be decreased which results in a power loss savings. ‘One disadvantage of an evacuated cavity (Figure 29) is that the bearings would not be able to operate as long as a conven- tional bearing (Figures 24,25, and 26), if there isa sudden loss of the oil supply. However, directed lube, evacuated cavity thrust bearing designs have been in service for many years ‘without appatent prablems associated with sudden oil supply Tass. ‘Test results for two seam turbine tit pad bearings are shown in Figures 30, 31, 32, and 33 comparing pad embedded thermo- Figure 29. Evacuated Housing Spray Bar Tilt Pad Bearing Design ‘4. ~ PRESSURIZED HOUSING DESIGN (REF, FIGURE 26) ‘A SPRAY BAR DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 29) ene a EMBEDDED TC TEMPERATURE (DEG F) "e000 6000 8000 10000 12060 1.000 16000 1000 ROTOR SPEED (RPM) Figure 30. Spray Bac Vs Pressurized Housing Metal Tempera ture Comparison—Upstream Pad, Eskaust End, couple temperature readings (speed) forthe pressurized hous- ing design of Figure 26 to the spray bar design of Figure 29. Exhaust end bearing data is shown in Figures 30 and 31, while results for the steam end bearing are presented in Figures 32 and 33. Note that the reduced pad temperatures for the spray bar ‘designs are of the order of 10 percent. Specifically, from Figure192 PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM = PRESSURIZED HOUSING DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 26) a - SPRAY BAR DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 29) 0 zo fF zoo wo uo veo EMBEDDED TC TEMPERATURE (DEG F) 100 14000 6000 8000 19000 12000 14060 16000 18000 ROTOR SPEED (RPM) Figure 31. Spray Bar Vs Pressurized Housing Metal Tempera- ture Comparison—Downseream Pad, Exhaust End, (PRESSURIZED HOUSING DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 26) ‘A= SPRAY BAR DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 29) Be € 8 8 Ty EMBEDDED TC TEMPERATURE (oes F) 4000 600090. Go00 12000 14009 16001000 ROTOR SPEED (RPM) Figure 32. Spray Bar Vs Pressurized Housing Metal Tempera: ‘ture Comparison—Upstream Pad, Steam End. 30 (the exhaust end upstream pad), the maximum TC reading is, about 235°F forthe pressurized design compared to about 200°F for the spray bar design. Similar results are evident in Figures 31,32, and 33. CONCLUSIONS The major conclusions concerning tilting pad bearing design are summarized below. These conclusions and recommenda- (0 ~ PRESSURIZED HOUSING DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 26) fm - SPRAY BAR DESIGN (REF. FIGURE 29) & g “SS Ad ‘4200 6000 8900 0000 1000 4000 16000 18000 ROTOR SPEED (RPM) 5g g EMBEDDED TC TEMPERATURE (ots F) zg Figure 33. Spray Bar Vs Pressurized Housing Metal Tempera ture Comparison—Downstream Pad, Steam End. tions are meant tobe general guidelines and may not hold forall rotor-bearing systems Recommended limits of operation. + Bearing unit loading: L, < 200 psi + Journal surface speed: U, $ 300 fs Maximum metal temperature: < 185°F design (analytical prediction) 7, $ 200°F test acceptance 1T,,, 2 230°F alarm 7, 2 250°F trip Geomerric properties. + Pad pivot offset Load capacity increases as offset increases. + Pad preload. Aspreload decreases, effective damping increases there: by increasing foreed response attenuation and improvingstbility, As preload decreases, the top pads become unloaded, bearing damping decreases and the unloaded pads flutter. Negative preload should be avoided as horizontal tft ness and damping decrease drastically as the prelosd becomes negative + Pad length-to-diameter ratio. [As L/D incteases, the bearing effective damping in- creases, thereby incressing forced response attenuation and improving stability. Clearance measurement. + For a five pad tilt pad bearing, measuring the journal ‘movement from the center of one pad to between the adjacent‘TUTORIAL ON TILTING PAD BEARING DESIGN two pads results in overestimating the hearing clearance by about 10 percent. Babbitt load, + Comparedsosieeve bearings, there is 38 percent less babbitt load for # five pad load between pivot bearing, + Compared tosleeve bearings, there is 29 percent less babbitt load for & four pad load between pivot bearing. Break away torque + Compared oseeve bearings, thereis 24 percent more'reak away torque for a five pad load between pivot bearing. + Compared ro sleeve bearings, thereis 41 percent more break ‘away torque for @ four pad load between pivot bearing. Reduced temperature designs. + Test results show about a 10 percent maximum metal tem- perature reduction for a spray bar design with an evacuated ws ‘pressure (psig) pressure drop (psig) pressure drop across the end seal (psig) Inlet, housing, drain pressure (psig) «il flow (gpm) inlet, drain oft low (apm) cil flow out the end seals, discharge holes (gpm) Journal radius (in) ‘bearing radius, pad radius of curvature (in) ‘Somenerfeld number (dim) static shaft sink below centered postion (in) static shaft sink below pivot circle (in) temperature vise (F) inlet, drain, maximum temperature CF) axial groove, it yad bearing break away torque (tb0 svt), compared Toa conventional pressurized housing design. y, ocean cts ol NOMENCLATURE W, total rotor weight (Ibf) x rs W, journal load 160) ‘ foe W*W./2 approximate journal lod (bf) a ies area (im x ‘measured diametral clearance (in) ce beating diametral adil clearance (in) ; . X.Y horizontal, vertical coordinates (dim) 6, tt pa beating diametral, radi! clearance (in) Se paddiamctatradaleanes (ny ‘Np va os im) re! end seal diametral, radial clearance (in) Z fe phat a cm : eens heat @TU/GALrh a cocficiet of friction (dim mie at TUG "F) | Lr — € Tears ee ®, angle (ott pad pivot from bottom dead center ping (btn , see € dimensionless bearing damping (dim) : ren Cu, bearing damping inthe horizontal, vical direction Hee eens a) @ Ca gg eer CoE, dimensionless bearing damping in the horizontal, ananaaniaeatente cece ceeereeeeees uC, dimensiones bearing damping @ nee from it pad leading edge 0 piv (Gop) D Journal diameter (in) $4, ange 0 fis, second tlt pad pivot from +x axis qd diameter (in) (deg) dy, oil inlet, discharge orifice diameter (in) = bearing attitude angle (deg) cr basting soeunrcty Gap ° journal rotational speed (1/3) FF, horizontal, vertical forces (bt) REFERENCES, FF, axial groove, tt pad bearing forees (Ib?) pivot film thickness (in) P ‘Simensionless pivot film thickness (dim) iP power loss (hp) K bearing stiffness (Ibf-sfin) K «dimensionless bearing stiffness (dim) K,,K,, bearing stiffness in the horizontal, vertical dee: tion (bffin) dimensionless bearing stiffness in the horizontal, vertical direction (dim) L bearing axial length (in) a beating unit load (psi) © tilt pad bearing preload (aim) N,N, journal rotational speed (rpm, 5) 8 ", number of tilting pads (dim) umber of oil seals, outlet or discharge holes, inlet coifices (dim) axial groove, tlt pad bearing normal force (bf) hearing, pad, joutnal center (dim) Nicholas, J. C-, Gunter, E. J, and Allaire, P. E, “Stiffness and Damping Coefficients for the Five Pad Tilting Pad Bearing,” ASLE Transactions, 22 (2), pp. 112-124 (april 1979), Nicholas, J. C., Gunter, E. 2., and Bunsett, LE, “The Influence of Tilting Pad Beating Characteristics on the Sta bility of High Speed Rotor-Bearing Systems," Zopics in Fluid Film Bearing and Rotor Bearing System Design and Optimization, sn ASME publication (April 1978) Nicholas, J.C. and Kitk R. G.,"Four Pad Titing Pad Bearing, Design and Application for Multi-Stage Axial Compres- sors,” ASME Journal of Lubrication Technology, 104 (4), pp. 323-532 (October 1982). Nicholas, I. C. and Kirk, R. G., “Selection and Design of Tilting Pad and Fixed Lobe Journal Bearings for Optimum ‘Turborotardynamics,” Proceedings of the Eighth Turbo ‘machinery Symposium, The Turbomachinery Laboratory, ‘Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (1979), Marks Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers, Ninth Edition, New York, New York: McGraw ¥i (3987),19s PROCEEDINGS OF THE TWENTY-THIRD TURBOMACHINERY SYMPOSIUM ‘6. Wilcock, D. F., Booser, E.R.» Bearing Design and Applica tion, New York, New York: MeGraw Hill (1957). 7. Dmochowski, W_, Brockwell, K., DeCamillo,S., Mikula, A. “A Study of the Thermal Characteristics ofthe Leading Edge Groove and Conventional Tilting Pad Journal Bearings,” ASME Journal of Tribology, 115, pp. 219-226 (April 1993) ‘Tanaka, M., "Thermohydrodynamic Performance of a Tilt- ing Pad Journal Bearing with Spot Lubrication,” ASME Journal of Tribology, 1/3, pp. 615-619 (July 1991).