Method for maintaining a vertical motor thrust bearing
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a system for cooling bearing of a shaft of a motor, comprising: an oil sump adapted to collect oil that contacts a bearing enclosed within the sump; and a heat exchanger physically separated from the sump and the bearing, the heat exchanger adapted to be in fluid communication with the sump and the bearing.
1. A method for cooling an axial thrust bearing of a vertical shaft of a motor, said method comprising a plurality of activities comprising:
collecting oil that has contacted the axial thrust bearing in an oil sump that encloses the axial thrust bearing, the oil sump surrounding an upper region of the vertical shaft;
pressurizing a portion of the collected oil with a pump having a pump outlet with a first and second branch;
directing a portion of the pressurized oil from the pump outlet through said first branch to an oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger that is physically separated from the sump and the axial thrust bearing wherein the heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the sump; and
simultaneously directing another portion of the pressurized oil from the pump outlet through said second branch to the axial thrust bearing.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a static shaft oil level that covers the bearing.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
providing a dynamic shaft oil level that uncovers the bearing.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping the oil from the sump to a bearing capsule retaining the bearing that is in fluid communication with the pump outlet.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping the oil from the sump to the bearing via an oil pump driven by the vertical shaft.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping the oil from the sump to the bearing via an oil pump mounted on the vertical shaft.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping a portion of the pressurized oil away from a bearing capsule retaining the bearing that is in fluid communication with the pump outlet.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
pumping oil from the pump outlet to a bearing capsule retaining the bearing and in turn directing a portion of the oil from the bearing capsule to the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
oil is continuously circulated through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
oil is continuously circulated to the bearing.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
substantially protecting the oil from potential debris in air that contacts the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger.
12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
circulating air through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
continuously circulating air through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
circulating air through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger via a fan driven by the vertical shaft.
15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
circulating air through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger via a fan mounted on the vertical shaft.
16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
circulating air through the oil-to-air tubular heat exchanger via a fan located external to the sump.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the bearing is a hydrodynamic bearing.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the bearing is a tilting-pad bearing.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the bearing is a Kingsbury-style bearing.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the bearing is a rolling contact bearing.
21. A method for cooling an axial thrust bearing of a vertical shaft of a motor, wherein the axial thrust bearing is retained within a bearing capsule, said method comprising:
collecting oil that has contacted the axial thrust bearing in an oil sump that encloses the axial thrust bearing, the oil sump surrounding an upper region of the vertical shaft;
pressurizing a portion of the collected oil with a pump having an outlet that is coupled to the bearing capsule;
directing the pressurized oil from the pump through the bearing capsule;
separating the pressurized oil into portions;
circulating a first portion of the pressurized oil within the bearing capsule to the thrust bearing; and
simultaneously circulating a second portion of the pressurized oil from the bearing capsule to an oil-to-air heat exchanger that is physically separated from the sump and the bearing capsule, to the sump.