Session: 27-03 Bearing Effects and Stability in Rotordynamics

Paper Number: 122482

122482 - High Speed H2 Centrifugal Compressor: a General Review of Journal Bearing Design and Experimental Validation 

Hydrogen (H2) service is an emerging trend of Energy Transition and centrifugal compressors will be effectively used to support the H2 production and transport chain.  From a Turbomachinery design viewpoint, Hydrogen compression yields many technical challenges which encompass almost all the involved engineering disciplines (e.g. thermodynamics and materials to reference only some of them) and this paper is focusing on the rotordynamic aspects at the journal bearing level

For this compression service the Authors’ Company decided to employ the stacked rotor technology because it allows reaching higher impellers tip speed, hence compressor head, at same machine size and rotor mechanical limits (primarily materials) of a conventional shrink fit assembly. This technology was originally studied for a different gas compression service (Natural Gas), and it was validated through a dedicated program [1].

From a rotordynamic and bearing design viewpoint the main implications of achieving a high rotor peripheral speed are:

·         an increased flexibility: the rotor passes through many rotor modes before reaching the operating speed and they must be properly damped,

·         a high journal surface peripheral speed: this must be managed both from thermal and rotordynamic viewpoint.

In order to comply with the applicable design requirements which are based on API617 [2] the Authors adopted flexure pivot bearings provided with ISFD (Integrated Squeeze Film Dampers). These bearings have been tested along the years and thoroughly verified by the Authors: see [3] for component level testing and [4] – [5] – [6] for system level testing.

This paper shows through some examples how the flexure pivot + ISFD bearings allow obtaining a rotordynamic design fully compliant with requirements and offers also some novel experimental data confirming the sound design output.

Finally, the paper shows how this bearing technology is ready to support the next H2 compressor generation where the rotor peripheral speed will be further increased through the enabling of novel, higher strength materials.

References

[1] – Vannini, Giuseppe. “Rotordynamic Validation of an Ultra High Speed Multistage Centrifugal Compressor Stacked Rotor.” Proceedings of ASME IGTI Turbo Expo, Dusseldorf, Germany, 2014. DOI https://doi.org/10.1115/GT2014-27339.

[2] – API 617, “Axial and Centrifugal Compressors and Expander-Compressors”, 9th edition, 2022

[3] Vannini, Giuseppe, Cangioli Filippo, Ciulli, Enrico, Nuti, Matteo, Forte, Paola, Kim Jongsoo and Livermore-Hardy, Richard. “Experiments on a large flexure pivot journal bearing: summary of test results and comparison with predictions.” Proceedings of ASME IGTI Turbo Expo, Phoenix, AZ, USA, 2019. DOI

[4] Vannini, Giuseppe, Innocenti, Alice, Filippo Cangioli, Kim Jongsoo, “Rotordynamic Evaluation Of A Large High-Speed Rotor Equipped With Flexure Pivot Journal Bearings And Integral Squeeze Film Damper”, Proceedings of ASME IGTI Turbo Expo, Virtual Conference, 2021.

[5] Vannini, Giuseppe, Pelagotti, Antonio, Rizzo, Emanuele and Carmicino, Carmine. “Rotordynamic Test Results from a High Flexibility Ratio-High Pressure Fully Instrumented Centrifugal Compressor Test Vehicle.” Proceedings of the 46th Turbomachinery Symposium, Houston, TX, 2017.

[6] Fontana, Michele, Bernocchi, Andrea, Conte, Gianluca, Libraschi, Mirko and Baldassarre, Leonardo. “Prediction and Mitigation of High Radial Vibrations During Hot Restart of Centrifugal Compressors.” Case Study for 46th Turbomachinery and Pump Symposia, Houston, TX, 2017.

Presenting Author: Filippo Cangioli Waukesha Bearings

Presenting Author Biography: To be added later on.

Authors:

Giuseppe Vannini Baker Hughes
Carolina Giannelli Baker Hughes
Dario Matina Baker Hughes
Filippo Cangioli Waukesha Bearings