An Application Of A Hydrostatic Pressure Lift System For Control Of Variable Thrust Loads.

LecturePg. 27-32Thrust bearing failures on older equipment, especially large steam turbines, can be costly problems to remedy. A unique solution to a steam turbine thrust bearing problem that confronted Southern California Edison (SCE) is examined. The prohibitive cost of correcting the problem had forced SCE to consider mothballing the turbine. An evaluation of the situation by experts in the area of thrust bearing design produced a cost effective solution-a hydrostatic assisted thrust bearing design. The solution was implemented, and the results have proven satisfactory