Waukesha Bearings provides expertly engineered fluid film and magnetic bearings for compressors used throughout the natural gas extraction, storage and transmission process. Whether onshore, offshore or subsea, our bearings are designed to last.
Dynamic conditions of high-speed axial and centrifugal compressors often necessitate the use of tilting pad journal bearing technologies. Design features such as ‘Directed Lubrication’ and specialized materials such as copper chrome (CuCr) backing allow us to maximize efficiency.
Waukesha Bearings tilt pad thrust bearings, available in non-equalizing and self-equalizing designs, handle high axial loads with minimal power loss. As with journal bearings, ‘Directed Lubrication’ and CuCr back pads are commonly specified.
Waukesha Bearings brush seals can minimize leakage gaps and increase operational efficiencies in compressors. The brush seal’s compliancy allows sealing clearances to be significantly reduced, while its low profile permits simple integration with labyrinth seals.
Waukesha Bearings horizontal bearing assemblies include highly customized journal or combined journal and thrust bearings designed to interface with an external pressurized oil system or operate as a fully self-contained unit.
Waukesha leads the industry in custom-engineered magnetic bearing systems for large turbomachinery, including centrifugal compressors, motor-compressors, and sealed motor-compressors. Our advanced systems provide extremely high reliability and availability, as well as remote support capability, making them well-suited to remote, unmanned locations.
An upgrade to polymer bearing materials may allow lubrication by water or other thin films.
In screw compressors where refrigerant has reduced the oil viscosity, polymer bearings can continue to support high thrust loads despite the thin film.
In axial compressors, polymer bearings can allow for water lubrication, eliminating the potential for oil to contaminate the compressed product and simplifying the sealing components.
With our in-depth understanding of system rotordynamics, Waukesha Bearings offers proven solutions to improve stability and control vibrations. Chief among those solutions, our ISFD® technology provides highly engineered damping and stiffness to maximize energy dissipation at the bearing locations.
ISFD Technology Rotordynamic Analysis
Over a 13-year span, a major South American oil company’s maintenance department fought recurring high vibrations in three gas reinjection compressor trains. A thorough analysis of the compressors and an inspection of damaged components led to a two-part solution. Since the implementation, the compressors have exhibited low vibration levels and overall efficiency has increased.
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