Observer-Based Control of Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearings

The active control of hydrodynamic bearings is beginning to receive more attention in the pursuit lower power losses and reduced maintenance. This paper presents a method by which, from simple measurements, rich information can be deduced running bearing that used modify operating parameters unit. line-pivot, unidirectional, steadily loaded, directly lubricated tilting pad thrust bearing. achieved designing an Observer whose inputs include output measurement(s) is, some ways, inverse model (or Plant) runs parallel estimates states bearing, such as applied load, pivot height, minimum film thickness, maximum temperature, effective temperature loss. These estimated then algorithm inlet or location. It demonstrated disturbances load on detected simply measuring representative changes height. Appropriate corrective action employed. Whilst only steady-state operation considered, could developed study time-varying situations.