Session: Student Poster Competition

Submission Number: 187189

Performance Measurements of a Hybrid Taper-Land Thrust Bearing in Air, Water, and Liquid Nitrogen 

Modern turbomachinery applications experience significant axial loads resulting from the large pressure gradients between the inlet and discharge stages. To manage these forces, hydrostatic thrust bearings are used to provide precise axial rotor positioning and substantial load-carrying capacity through the use of externally pressurized lubricants. Additionally, taper-land thrust bearing configurations, which incorporate simple wedge geometries, generate hydrodynamic forces during high-speed shaft rotation to further enhance support. This work presents an experimental demonstration and performance evaluation of a hybrid thrust bearing that combines hydrostatic and hydrodynamic features. The test bearing is designed with multiple recessed orifices integrated within a taper-land configuration to leverage both external pressurization and self-acting effects. The experimental facility uses an electric motor to rotate a shaft and thrust collar against the stationary test bearing while a dedicated loading system applies a controlled axial load. To investigate the impact of different working fluids, an external supply system delivers air as a compressible medium, water as an incompressible fluid, and liquid nitrogen as a cryogenic fluid to the bearing film. The experimental results show that the bearing load capacity increases significantly as the film thickness decreases. Furthermore, the measurements detail the specific influence of supply pressures and rotational speeds on the overall performance characteristics of the hybrid bearing. This study provides a comprehensive performance data of a reliable, recessed thrust bearing combined with taper-land geometry across a wide operational range, supporting its implementation in high-performance turbomachinery.

Presenting Author: Homin Lim Hanyang University

Presenting Author Biography: Graduate Research Assistant

Authors:

Homin Lim Hanyang University
Keun Ryu Hanyang University