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Superior Performance Over a Wide Range of Speeds, Loads and Temperatures
For integrally geared ISOPAC compressors, Dresser-Rand recommends the KMC Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearing due to its superior performance. With conventional tilt pad bearings, brinelling and pivot wear rapidly degrade the pad pivots and bearing shell. The results are increased bearing clearance and reduced stiffness and damping at the bearing. These lead to increased rotor vibrations and reduced bearing life. Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearings are manufactured with a unique integral pivot design. This design allows each pad to tilt slightly through the deflection, or flexure, of the flexible support web.
| Features | Benefits |
| Unique flexible pad support structure | Eliminates brinelling and pivot wear thus maintaining constant bearing clearance, using less power, and lowering both operating vibrations and temperatures for longer life |
| Directed lubrication | Allows higher load capacity and reduces the effects of hot oil carry-over |
| CNC manufacturing and integral design | Eliminates tolerance stack-up and increases control of key bearing dimensions for efficient operation |
| Custom design and optimization | Results in optimal rotordynamic performance for reliability |
| Drop-in replacement | Minimizes downtime; increases availability |
| Low cost | Saves money over conventional tilt pad bearings |
Lower Cost than Conventional Tilt Pad Bearings
The tilting action gives Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearings the same excellent stability characteristics of conventional tilt pad bearings, while virtually eliminating pivot wear. The result is lower maintenance costs, increased availability, less power consumption, and lower operating vibrations and temperatures.
Bearing clearance and preload are key design variables affecting machine performance. With conventional tilt pad bearings, the manufacturing tolerances for the individual pads and the bearing shell "stack-up" to make it difficult to control these key design variables. This problem is especially severe for small bearing sizes of less than 4 inches inside diameter. Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearing pads are machined integral with the bearing shell, eliminating any tolerance stack-up and resulting in the tightest tolerances available.
We will continue to offer conventional tilt pad bearings for customers who prefer them. However, due to superior performance, and the cost savings, we recommend the new Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearing.
In addition to Flexure Pivot tilt pad bearings for ISOPAC units, Dresser-Rand provides responsive, reliable technical support, parts, field service, repairs, upgrades and overhauls on reciprocating engines and process compressors, steam turbines and turbomachinery.
Flexure Pivot is a trademark of KMC, Inc.