Set-up of a novel test plant for high power turbomachinery tilting pad journal bearings

Due to the increasing demands of efficiency, especially in the next-generation high power density turbo machinery, lubricated bearings are facing extreme operating conditions, particularly high peripheral speeds. The design effort for new bearings must be supported by experimental investigations. In this work a novel test rig for the static and dynamic characterization of high performance tilting pad journal bearings is described (150-300 mm diameter, 150 m/s maximum peripheral speed and 270 kN maximum static load). Test procedures are illustrated and commissioning results obtained with a four pad tilting pad journal bearing are presented showing the test rig potential.