Abstract
The bearings of turbine-generator sets are designed to meet exceptional emergency conditions. On large sets the considerations lead to bearings of such size that the hydrodynamic oil films operate beyond the laminar regime. This is demonstrated by graphs of measured power losses plotted as functions of speed for 19-in and 24-in diameter bearings. The increased losses caused by operation in the non-laminar regime are economically important: the total bearing losses of a 660-MW set reduce the efficiency by 0·5 per cent.
The behaviour of bearings operating in the non-laminar regime is not fully understood, it is therefore necessary to make a study of large bearings.
A description of the test facilities and work performed on bearings by a team of engineers in a company building large turbine-generators is presented. Experimental results are detailed and discussed in relation to hydrodynamic theory and published work on the behaviour of bearings with non-laminar flow.
A new design of bearing, containing loaded pads, is described. This bearing has been devised to operate with reduced loss and to give improved control of journal movement. Test results are presented which indicate that design aims have been achieved.
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