Trailing edge cooling. Image credit: Waukesha BearingWaukesha Bearing has developed a new cooling technology for tilt pad bearings called trailing edge cooling, which increases heat transfer and expands bearing operating limits.

The patented design features a spray bar to deliver cooling flow, which is located adjacent to the bearing pad trailing edge. The pads also contain grooves in the trailing edge face, which increase the surface area and allow the lubricant to penetrate deeper into the edge pad, further enhancing the cooling effect. The lubricant supplied via the spray bar is part of the lubricant being supplied to lubricate the bearing for hydrodynamic operation.

Trailing edge cooling technology is used on Waukesha's Maxalign® tilt pad bearings, which are ideal large rotating equipment. Maxalign bearings feature reduced oil flow and power loss in addition to a hydrostatic lift design that produces a reliable shaft lift while limiting temperature increases. The cooling edge technology further helps to limit the temperature increase at speeds up to 100 m/s and 3 MPa, without reducing the bearing life or safety margin.

Trailing edge cooling technology may be applied to any radial or thrust pad bearing that runs at higher speeds and loads.