Composite Thrust Bearing Structure for Stable Water Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current water lubricated thrust bearings for nuclear main pumps, particularly those made of graphite and metal-plastic combinations, suffer from poor impact resistance, brittleness, and instability under high-power and high-temperature conditions, posing safety risks and limiting their suitability for large-capacity nuclear power equipment.
Innovation Solution
A composite thrust bearing is developed using a stainless steel base with concave-convex surfaces integrated with an engineering plastic layer through thermoplastic compound molding, enhancing bonding strength and featuring a modified and non-modified polyether ether ketone or Polyphthalazinone ether sulfone ketone powder composite engineering plastic layer, which provides improved impact resistance and compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If graphite plate is used for water lubricated thrust bearing, then self-lubricating property is improved, but impact resistance and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a metal base material (providing strength and impact resistance) combined with a plastic layer (providing self-lubricating properties). This composite material approach allows the bearing to simultaneously achieve good impact resistance from the metal base and self-lubrication from the plastic layer, resolving the contradiction between graphite's self-lubricating property and its poor impact resistance.
2Strength
If metal plate and engineering plastic plate are combined with mechanical structure, then impact resistance is improved, but connection stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the metal base material and plastic layer into an integrated composite structure through processes such as plating, coating, or metallurgical bonding. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanical fastening components like screws and bolts, thereby avoiding connection instability and loosening issues while maintaining good impact resistance. The plastic layer becomes an integral part of the metal base, forming a unified structure with stable connection.
3Ease of operation
If graphite bearing material is used, then self-lubricating property is improved, but adaptability to uneven stress condition deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure of metal base material and plastic layer provides superior adaptability to uneven stress conditions compared to pure graphite. The metal base material has high ductility and can deform to accommodate uneven stress distribution, while the plastic layer maintains self-lubricating properties. This composite approach allows the bearing to adapt to varying load conditions and uneven stress distribution more effectively than graphite alone.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a reliable, radiation-resistant, self-lubricating, and stable thrust bearing with enhanced impact resistance and abrasion resistance, capable of maintaining a stable water lubrication film under pressure and temperature, addressing the limitations of existing bearings.
Implementation Method 1
the concave-convex surfaces and the engineering plastic layer are compositely formed by means of thermoplastic compound molding
Implementation Method 2
The surface area of the stainless steel base is increased by means of the above arrangements to increase a bonding strength between the stainless steel base and the engineering plastic layer
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
A water lubricated composite thrust bearing of a nuclear main pump comprises a stainless steel base (1) and an engineering plastic layer (2). The stainless steel base is provided with a concave-convex surface (3) connected to the engineering plastic layer. The concave-convex surface (3) and the engineering plastic layer (2) are compositely molded by means of thermoplastic compound molding. A ratio of the area of the concave-convex surface (3) to the area of an orthographic projection of the concave-convex surface (3) on the stainless steel base (1) ranges from 1.2 to 2. By means of the concave-convex surface (3) and a specific bonding property obtained after fusion of a rough face (4) and the engineering plastic layer (2), the concave-convex surface (3) is bonded with the engineering plastic layer (2), thereby forming a reliable composite thrust bearing that is physically connected onto a whole. Respective advantages of metal and nonmetal can be brought onto play, which is conductive to establishment of a stable safe lubrication water film. The water lubricated composite thrust bearing is a safe and reliable water lubricated composite thrust bearing with resistance to nuclear radiation.