HYDROSTATIC AUXILIARY BEARING FOR A TURBOMACHINE

摘要

A system for supporting a rotating shaft, including a primary bearing configured to maintain the shaft within a predetermined range of operational shaft positions; a process fluid source; and a hydrostatic auxiliary bearing having an inner surface manufactured from a self lubricating composite material. The hydrostatic auxiliary bearing is fluidically coupled to the process fluid source and configured to use a pressurized process fluid provided by the process fluid source to maintain the shaft within the predetermined range of operational shaft positions when the primary bearing fails to maintain the shaft within the predetermined range of operational shaft positions when the primary bearing fails.