Page 58 - Compression Machinery for Oil and Gas

Centrifugal Compressors Chapter 3 49

FIG. 3.19 Tilting pad journal bearing with directed lubrication. (Courtesy of Waukesha,
Barry Blair.)

FIG. 3.20 Self-equalizing tilting pad thrust bearing. (Courtesy of Kingsbury, Scan DeCamillo.)

land) are seldom encountered in centrifugal compressors constructed after
about 1970. Fig. 3.20 shows a self-equalizing tilting pad thrust bearing. This
type of thrust bearing has a linkage construction that will compensate for mis-
alignment. The bearing shown operates in an oil-flooded cavity with oil exiting
primarily through a top tangential drain and secondarily through shaft oil seals.
Fig. 3.21 shows a bearing for the same envelope with directed lube features con-
sisting of oil feeds going directly to the pads. These bearings are operated within
an evacuated cavity with oil drained from the bottom. The directed lube design
with evacuated cavity reduces thrust bearing temperatures and power
consumption.