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INTRODUCTION
TURBINES
STEAM TURBINES
Bearings for rotating parts are key components for operating The bearing can be oriented in either of two positions
safety, mechanical integrity and durability of steam turbines. according to the load supported:
GE Oil & Gas research has culminating in the replacement of 1. Load on one shoe: standard configuration (Figure 4)
old style four-lobed and elliptical bearings (Figure 1) with 2. Load between shoes: used for large rotors and/or critical
pivot tilting-pad bearings. GE Oil & Gas for all steam tur- as regards flexure (Figure 4)
bines it produces.
The GE Oil & Gas bearings have offset pivots that optimize
Tilting-pad bearings have the following benefits:
load distribution on the shoe when the rotor is in operation
Total elimination of oil-whip and oil whirl phenomena and
and provide a better oil film wedge (Figure 5).
therefore of dynamic instability;
In order to have an optimum oil wedge and to guarantee
Reduction of the amplitude of shaft vibration due to the
greater supportable loads, the GE Oil & Gas tilting-pad
higher damping coefficient of these bearings;
bearings are preloaded. The preload value varies according
Considerable increase in the reliability and operating
to dimensions and the specific application (Figure 5).
safety of the journal bearing system;
Possibility of housing thermoelements (supplied in a GE Oil
& Gas conversion kit) directly the pads to monitor the
operation of the bearings in real time.
STEAM
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
The new bearing system designed and produced by GE
Oil & Gas, consists of a housing split along the centerline (Fig. 3)
and of five shoes with a pad fitted under the rim of each shoe,
which allows the shoes to tilt (Figure 2).
Each pad is circumferentially secured to the housing by
radial pins to prevent the shoe from moving circumferentially
but allowing it to adjust to the position of the shaft. There are
five oil feed holes in the bearing housing in the annular spaces
between the shoes. Oil flow to the bearing is guaranteed and
controlled by two calibrated metallic oil seals that are remov-
able in order to be able to check lube oil flow by measuring
the diameter. The journal shoes are made of low-carbon
steel with a babbitt coating on the bearing surface; the pads
are made of high-carbon steel heat treated to obtain a high
degree of hardness on the tilt surface.
LOAD LOAD
Rotation Rotation
Figure 1
APPLICABILITY
This modification can be applied to all steam turbines with
elliptical or lobed bearings.
GE Oil & Gas has standardised shoes for the following shaft
diameters (mm):
Figure 2 50, 55, 65, 70, 80, 90*, 100, 110*, 120*, 130, 150, 180, 200.
Figure3
Tilting - pad bearing Tilting - pad bearing
LOAD LOAD
Rotation Rotation
oil inlet
oil inlet
Figure 4
One shoe arrangement Between shoes arrangement
Preload
oe
sh
Rs
R
ha
ft
offset
Figure 5
Figure 6
TILTING-PAD JOURNAL BEARINGS
Non-standard sizes can be evaluated on an as needed thrust bearing combined in one piece by replacing the
basis. four lobe load bearing part with the tilting-pad bearing
Pads can also be provided for dimensions other than those and the thrust bearing with a new thrust bearing (of more
indicated and also for steam turbines of other recent design) which could also be made to accommo-
Manufacturers. Given the greater axial and radial dimen- date thermoelements and/or load cells (see Figure 6)
sions of the tilting-pad bearings, it is necessary to carry out (Available in GE Oil & Gas modification kits).
a brief preliminary feasibility study. In general, no machining
on the casing or the rotor and no modification to the existing SCOPE OF SUPPLY
lubrication system is necessary. Machining of the bearings The basic supply consists of the following:
to take into account the greater radial dimensions of the 2 bearing housings including dowels and pins to circum-
bearing housing is necessary in rare cases. ferentially secure the pads
This can be carried out on site with the aid of specialized 10 shoes including pads and screws (5 per bearing)
portable equipment that can be supplied by GE Oil & Gas. 4 calibrated oil seals for controlling oil flow including set-
The modification kit includes modification drawings for the screws (2 per bearing)
bearings. It is also possible apply this modification to Assembly drawing of the modification
steam turbines which have the journal bearing and Assembly instructions and part list.
COMK/MARK 679/I I- Studio Tre Fasi - 9-2002 2002 Nuovo Pignone S.p.A. all rights reserved
Figure 7