Thrust Gas Bearing Cooling Flow Paths for Uniform Axial Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thrust gas bearings experience uneven cooling fluid flow, leading to potential stagnation and inadequate cooling, which can cause seizure due to uneven fluid distribution between the base plates in the axial direction.
Innovation Solution
A thrust gas bearing design featuring a collar portion with first and second base parts, each having a gas film forming part, and a cooling flow path that includes first and second flow paths extending from the axial center to the periphery and vice versa, ensuring even fluid distribution and efficient cooling of both axial sides of the gas film forming parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If cooling fluid is introduced into the thrust bearing, then cooling effect is achieved, but uneven flow distribution occurs between base plates causing stagnation and potential seizure
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling flow path is divided into multiple independent channels (first cooling flow path and second cooling flow path) that separately cool each base plate. This segmentation ensures uniform cooling distribution and prevents flow stagnation that could lead to seizure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different cooling flow paths are designed for different locations (first base plate and second base plate) to provide locally optimized cooling. Each flow path is configured to address the specific cooling needs of its corresponding base plate, ensuring uniform temperature distribution.
2Device complexity
If cooling fluid flows through a single flow path, then simple structure is achieved, but most fluid flows through one path causing uneven cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The single cooling flow path is segmented into multiple parallel flow paths (first cooling flow path and second cooling flow path), each leading to different base plates. This segmentation ensures that cooling fluid is distributed evenly across all cooling surfaces, achieving uniform cooling without excessive structural complexity.
3Device complexity
If cooling fluid flows unevenly toward base plates, then simpler flow distribution is achieved, but inadequate cooling occurs leading to potential seizure
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into separate flow paths for each base plate, with each path independently controlled to ensure uniform flow distribution. This prevents the fluid from concentrating in one direction and ensures adequate cooling of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling flow paths are configured with asymmetric characteristics relative to the thrust bearing center, with the first flow path serving the first base plate and the second flow path serving the second base plate. This asymmetric configuration ensures balanced cooling distribution across both sides of the bearing.
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
This configuration ensures efficient cooling of the gas film forming parts, reducing the risk of seizure by ensuring uniform fluid flow and effective heat dissipation across both axial sides, thereby maintaining the thrust bearing's operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a first gas film forming part (63) formed between the collar portion (17) and the first base part (61); a second gas film forming part (64) formed between the collar portion (17) and the second base part (62)
Implementation Method 2
The fluid flows through the first flow path (61b) and the second flow path (62b) in series in this order. This configuration can reduce a situation in which most of the fluid flows through one of the first flow path (61b) or the second flow path (62b). As a result, it is possible to cool the first gas film forming part (63) and the second gas film forming part (64) efficiently.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A cooling flow path (67) includes a first flow path (61b) and a second flow path (62b). The first flow path (61b) is formed on one end side, in an axial direction, of the first base part (61) and extends from an axial center toward an outer periphery of the first base part (61). The second flow path (62b) is formed on the other end side, in the axial direction, of the second base part (62) and extends from an outer periphery toward an axial center of the second base part (62). The second flow path (62b) is located downstream of the first flow path (61b).