SEW Back-to-Basics Twenty tips for thrust monitoring ‘by Chartie Jackson Turbomachinery Constliant 1. The design theust load on thrust bearing should not ‘exceed 200 psig (1.48 MPa) active babbitt pressure. An inch @03 mm) Kingsbury thrust bearing has approx imately 32 in? 822), of 20,645 mm? of babbit area. 9 inch @29 mm) Kingsbury thrust bearing has approx: imately 40 in? (92/2) oF 26,129 mm? of habbit area. 2. Thrust bearing catalog values run appreximately 450 psig. (3.1 MPa) Lab test values are higher. Remember that the bearing notin ab tis in a machine. Alignment is ery sSignificin to even the oad and avoid Fret, 3. The flload, thrust hearing mesal temperature should nor excoed 190°F (88°C), at the recommended TCRTD post tion of 75% are and 75% radius and 182 inch (8 mn) behind che babbitt 10 padstellintefiee. 1. Ol recirculation ts a high contributor to bad thrust bear ‘ng lubrication designs, Get the oil in. and ger if ont. Tangential discharge, pumping rings, ditected lube and offset ratio should all be considered 5. Do not use multiple thn shims to set thrust bearings for Alt, eg, 300 mis (7.6 mm) of thin shin ino ea defect 15 mils (38 mm) due co spongy shims. Single thick hams mus. be used. 6. If most ofthe rotor cold “bump” thrust floats are in the 15-17 mil 38-43 mm) range, adopt aunit standard ot +8 mis 2mm), active as@ normal range forthe unit. Let the “inactive” se Rl Some OFMs read static balance chamber pressure for ‘overload alarms; others use balance line pressure for alarm. Some use Row; others use diflerential pressure ‘now which system is used, 8. Some OEM's initlly “counterbalance” the thrust to the active side when a compressor is new andl in perfect seal tlearance condition, 9. A-machine with tiple (3 times) clearance inerease on a balance piston has fale rust bearings. 10. For = 30 mill (76 mm dhiek babbitedheust bearings, a active defection of 15 mils (38 mm) has proven 10 be {good evel for the alarm, with 2 dual voting “automatic” shutdown at 25 mils (64 mm) election. 11, Nery Few thnast earings can survive 250°F (121°C) metal cemperatures, Few can survive 238°F (113°C) March 1994. 12, Wet gas, liguid ingestion, oF wee steam in a turbines can -momentaniy deflect atheust bearing 15:mils 38 mm) and stil recover without damage (iseress)c© te babbic. It ‘an also shear coupling keys, impeller keys, blow out steam chest gaskets, et 13. Most bearings are designed (API) for 120°F (49°C) oll inlet temperatures. IF you operate at 105-110°F (AI t0 43°0), you need 10 allow for cooler fouling 10 use the 120°F (49°C) limit, Most thrust bearings intermix active and inactive ol lows before reaching the drain or outlet line temperature indicator. 14, Asa predictive corecation too}, consid tha if {€) the thrust bearing is 20 mills (31 mim), 5 els (13 mm) past alarm, but aot yet to tp the balance chamber pressure has increased 20 psig (138kPa) ac the same load the activel-loaded theust bearing shows metal tem perature at 230°F (110°C) from an initia value of 190°F (88°C) a planned shutdown is definttety justified! 15, While the sePleveling links are generally designed for $7 times the babbsttthrust rating they shouldbe inspected at each available incident for freting under the pads 16, Compressors in surge can fal thrust bearings due 10 cavitation” fast repetitive establishing of an oi film if axial osellations occur). One solution $6 “directed” lube ‘design. Leading oil grooving may have the same success. 17 “Frosting” on thrust bearings can accur due 10 improper ‘welding procedures around machines. Electricity wll ek ‘out the doses! clearance for the eleetsomagnetic charge to dissipate to earth. The closest clearance isthe thrust, bearing dlearance @ 6 18. The use of symthetc olls may necessitate increased! fw and more cooking 19, Do not pant TCARTDS into the babbnt white metal) 20, Don't try to save a thrust bearing on thrust shut- down limits. Save the machine. ++ wr pack wlio Doma ety, Dr Age nia ents Rowr Dynan: Research Corrina caer ‘rong she cance Stachoney Dynami Coun gi 264 ‘aetna Orbit 15