• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

In this Part II study, rotordynamic stability analyses were carried out to confirm improvements to the stability of a process high-speed lightweight centrifugal compressor, depending on the effects of tilting pad journal bearing designs. The bearing design variables considered were the clearances, LBPs, LOPs, and preloads. The results showed that the rotordynamic stability of the subject compressor rotor-bearing system improves exactly in accordance with the effects of the bearing design variables, which were determined in the preceding Part I study, owing to reduced bearing stiffnesses. Specifically, it was confirmed that the stability of the rotor system can be greatly improved by increasing both the machined and assembled bearing clearances, but there were no stability improvements by simply changing from an LBP to an LOP design. In addition, it was confirmed that for given fixed machined bearing clearances, the stability can be additionally improved by decreasing the preloads, i.e., by increasing the assembled clearances. In conclusion, it may be necessary to improve the designs of the original tilting pad bearings to obtain a sufficient margin of rotordynamic stability against a possible aerodynamic cross-coupled stiffness in a process high-speed centrifugal compressor. Thus, increasing the machined and assembled bearing clearances and decreasing the preload could be effective solutions.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.229-230
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• 2010

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.386-391
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• 2013

Part I of this study analyzed the effects of tilting pad bearing designs to reduce the stiffness of the bearings used in a process high-speed lightweight centrifugal compressor intended for a domestic refinery use. This was done in an attempt to enhance the robustness of its rotordynamic stability against possible aerodynamic cross-coupled stiffness. The bearing design variables reviewed were the clearances, LBPs, LOPs, and preloads. The results showed that there was practically no difference between the LBP and LOP designs in terms of the bearing stiffness, because the compressor rotor was lightweight and the bearings had relatively high preloads. Increasing both the machined and assembled clearances in bearing designs has resulted in the bearing stiffness being greatly reduced. In addition, it has been confirmed that an additional reduction in the bearing stiffness can be obtained for given fixed machined clearances by decreasing the preloads, i.e., by increasing the assembled clearances.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.47-53
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• 2009

A rotordynamic and detailed stability analysis in accordance with API 617 standard were performed with a turbo-compressor, which is one of key rotating machinery in refinery, petroleum, and power plants. The system is composed of rotor shaft, impeller, sleeve hub, balance drum, and coupling hub. The rotor system is supported by tilting pad bearings, which has 5 pads and pad on loading condition. The rotordynamic analysis specified by API 617 includes the critical speed map, mode shape analysis, Campbell diagram, unbalance response analysis, and stability analysis. In particular, the specifications of stability analysis consist of a Level 1 analysis that approximates the destabilizing effects of the labyrinth seals and aerodynamic excitations, and Level 2 analysis that includes a detailed labyrinth seal aerodynamic analysis. The results of a rotordynamic analysis and stability analysis can evaluate the operating compressor health and can be utilized as a guide of its maintenance, repair and trouble solution.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.562-569
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• 2011

In this study linear and nonlinear dynamic stability characteristics of a medium-size high-speed turbocharger, whose rotor is supported by two 3-lobe journal bearings, are analyzed to evaluate and identify the effects of its bearing design variables. The rotor has the rated speed of 40,500 rpm and maximum continuous speed of 45,000 rpm. At first, utilizing the linear stability analysis method, bearing designs of yielding stable or unstable LogDecs as small as possible are searched by manipulating with machined bearing clearances and preloads. As next, utilizing the nonlinear analysis method, limit cycles of the rotor responses at the rated and maximum continuous speeds are simulated to check their acceptances. Results have shown that for the turbocharger rotor-bearing system considered, the 3-lobe journal bearing design with a smaller machined clearance and a larger preload are preferred for the stable rotor responses. More importantly, since there exists a good correlation between the linear and nonlinear stability analysis results, it is concluded that firstly the linear stability analysis method may be applied to screen quickly the ranges of bearing designs for stable or least unstable solutions and then, lastly the nonlinear stability analysis method may be deployed to check an absolute motion stability in terms of the limit cycle.