Four Pad Tilting Pad Bearing Design and Application for Multistage Axial Compressors

Abstract

The advantages of operating multistage axial compressors on 4 pad tilting pad bearings are discussed and compared to other fixed bore and tilting pad bearing designs. These advantages include operation free of subsynchronous vibration and, with between pivot loading, placement of peak response speeds well outside of the operating speed range. Examples of analytical design studies of 3 actual rotor systems are presented and discussed to illustrate the design recommendations. Test stand results are also included for 3 axial compressors to help substantiate the analytical results.