Bearing Support Assembly for Micron-Level Gas Bearing Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic pressure gas bearings in centrifugal compressors face challenges due to low gas viscosity and high machining and assembling precision requirements, leading to low bearing capacity and instability.
Innovation Solution
A bearing supporting assembly with a fixing plate, radial bearing, and thrust bearings, along with a machining method that ensures precise alignment and mounting of these components through a split structure and double location system, enhancing coaxiality and perpendicularity to improve assembling precision and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If dynamic pressure gas bearing is used in centrifugal compressor, then friction loss is reduced and life is extended, but bearing capacity becomes low due to low gas viscosity
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing support is divided into two detachable parts: the bearing support body and the fixing plate. This segmentation allows for precise separate machining of each component and their surfaces, enabling better control over bearing clearance and positioning accuracy, which compensates for the low bearing capacity by optimizing the bearing geometry and fit
2Manufacturing precision
If bearing clearance is reduced to micron or tens of microns level, then bearing precision is improved, but machining and assembling difficulty increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By splitting the bearing support into two parts that can be machined separately and then assembled, each component can be precision-machined independently using standard machining equipment. The detachable design allows for precise positioning features to be created on each part, making it easier to achieve and control the required micron-level clearances compared to machining the entire assembly as one piece
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing plate acts as an intermediary component that bridges the bearing support body and the bearing assembly. It provides precise positioning surfaces and mounting features that facilitate accurate alignment and clearance control, serving as a mediator that simplifies the overall machining and assembly process while maintaining high precision requirements
3Manufacturing precision
If high machining precision is required for bearing assembly, then bearing performance is improved, but production cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented design allows components to be pre-machined to high precision standards independently, then assembled using standardized precision fixtures and locating features. This approach enables parallel production of components and simplifies the final assembly process, improving overall productivity while maintaining high assembling precision
Solution Approach 2:
Precision locating features, mounting surfaces, and clearance control elements are built into the bearing support and fixing plate during the machining stage. This preliminary preparation of precision features eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustment and fitting during assembly, thereby improving production efficiency while ensuring high assembling precision
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a bearing supporting assembly and a machining method thereof, and a centrifugal compressor. The bearing supporting assembly includes: bearing supports, provided with through holes for mounting radial bearings; and a fixing plate, detachably mounted at one end of each of the bearing supports along an axial direction, sides, away from the bearing supports, of the fixing plates being configured to mount first thrust bearings.