TURBINES
Gas and steam turbines typically make use of tilting pad journal and thrust bearings, either separately or in combined set, depending on their size. Directed lubrication is commonly applied to minimize power losses, regulate the oil flows, and reduce the temperatures of pad surface. For gas turbines, the requirement of high-speed and high-load often need to use of Cu/Cr backing materials and reliable pivoting mechanisms.
Gas and steam turbines operate at speeds ranging from 3,000 to over 30,000 rpm. Traditional fixed-geometry bearings may experience oil whirl or instability at such speeds.
Tilting pad journal bearings eliminate this risk by allowing each pad to pivot freely, maintaining a stable hydrodynamic oil film regardless of speed or misalignment.
In many turbine systems, especially those with high axial thrust (e.g., condensing steam turbines), tilting pad thrust bearings are critical. They maintain rotor alignment under heavy axial forces, reducing wear on other mechanical components and ensuring smooth, vibration-free operation.
Turbine systems are subject to extreme temperature changes during startup, operation, and shutdown. The tilting pad design allows for controlled thermal expansion and contraction, reducing the risk of binding or misalignment, and extending bearing service life.
To manage the significant heat generated in turbine operation, our bearings are compatible with directed lubrication systems, which:
Deliver oil precisely to the leading edge of each pad
Reduce power losses and oil consumption
Keep bearing surface temperatures within safe limits
Turbine Type | Bearing Function | Recommended Solution |
Gas Turbines | High-speed rotor stability | Tilting Pad Journal Bearings with offset pivots |
Steam Turbines | Heavy axial load & radial support | Combined Tilting Pad Journal + Thrust Bearings |
Cogeneration / CHP | Compact support for multi-direction loads | Custom integrated bearing units |
Power Generation | Long duty cycles, minimal downtime | High-load Babbitt-faced thrust bearings |
Turbine Retrofits | Replacement of legacy designs | Drop-in compatible designs with upgraded materials |
At Journal Bearings, we offer complete OEM & retrofit solutions, including:
Center or offset pivot pad design
4, 5, or 6 pad configurations
High-strength steel housings with babbitt-faced pads
Optional Cu/Cr or polymer backing for enhanced load and thermal performance
3D modeling and hydrodynamic analysis reports within 3–5 working days
Reduced vibration and rotor instability
Increased load capacity under axial and radial stress
Enhanced heat dissipation with directed oil flow
Extended bearing life in severe-duty applications
Modular, maintainable design for quick inspection and service
With decades of experience and a focus on high-speed, high-performance bearing systems, Journal Bearings is your trusted partner in turbine bearing solutions. Whether you require separate or combined tilting pad journal and thrust bearings, we deliver products engineered for precision, reliability, and performance.
Request a technical proposal today. Let us help you increase turbine uptime, improve efficiency, and reduce total lifecycle cost—with bearings that are built to perform.
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FAQ
With a technical team of over 30 professionals
We can customize a wide variety of journal thrust plain bearings according to different requirements
Supply bearing design proposals and calculation reports within 3-5 working days