Page 163 - Compression Machinery for Oil and Gas

Integrally Geared Compressors Chapter 4 151

FIG. 4.12 Example of pinion gear-shaft with thrust collars. (Courtesy Hanwha Power Systems
Americas Inc.)

FIG. 4.13 Thrust collar load area.

FIG. 4.14 Example of pinion gear-shaft with thrust bearings. (Courtesy Waukesha Bearings.)

Bearings
The shafts of an IGC are supported by hydrodynamic fluid film journal bear-
ings. The type of hydrodynamic bearing used is mainly dependent on bearing
load and bearing velocity. High-speed shafts are usually supported by tilting pad
bearings, whereas low-speed shafts, like bull gear shafts or turbine drive
pinions, are supported by multilobe fixed pad bearings.