After installing high-performance turbine runners during a major overhaul, Akosombo GS had experienced increased thrust bearing operating temperatures and cavitation on its thrust bearing pads. The Volta River Authority contracted Hydro Tech to design thrust bearing improvements: the solution featured new and modified split thrust bearing rotating rings and superior thrust pads of a higher […]
Hydro Tech was called to the Dolgeville Generating Station in January 2018 to review the history of seal failures that occurred from 1987 through 2017. The objective was to see if there was an engineering solution available to keep seals functioning for a reasonable time frame before needing to be replaced. This paper outlines the […]
A single unit station had experienced recurrent thrust bearing failures. The unit is a 9000 HP, Kaplan-type runner that started commercial operation in 1938. A review of maintenance history at Cataract has indicated the unit experienced eight thrust bearing failures since 1959, with four of them occurring since 2003.
After a 90 MW generator’s thrust bearing failed it was determined the best path forward was to install PTFE lined thrust bearings due to their higher load capacity and greater efficiency which would allow for cooler operating temperatures. Hydro Tech Inc. was contracted to design and supply the new PTFE thrust bearing. One year later […]
A multiple unit generating station is currently experiencing thrust bearing failures due to cavitation pitting on the thrust shoes… on and around the high pressure oil lift outlets. The bearing is currently a spring type babbitt bearing with a four-segment loose runner plate (i.e. segments are not keyed and bolted together).
One of the most common causes of unscheduled hydraulic turbine shutdowns is the failure of thrust bearings, commonly referred to as “a wipe.” Under pressure to restore the unit to service, a decision is made to replace the failed bearing with another bearing of the same design, setting the stage for a new failure. The […]
In this study, a Bearing Test Bench was designed to assess wear rates under various loading conditions and to collect critical parameter data for water-lubricated bearing materials in the hydroelectric industry. The research focused on sliding bearings, particularly fluid film bearings using lubricant to create a thin film between bearing and journal surfaces. The study […]
Ontario Power Generation’s Sir Adam Beck – Pump Generating Station (PGS) experienced recurrent bearing failures into the early 1990’s, at which time there was an exhaustive review of the bearing and its split runner plate design (deemed to be the root cause for several failures). This review resulted in a number of changes to the […]
Exploring the Sustainable Power of Lignum Vitae Presented at the 2025 FPS-SWST Joint Convention, this paper investigates how newly harvested Lignum Vitae, a historically renowned hardwood, can replace plastic and oil-lubricated materials in marine bearing applications. The study evaluates Lignum Vitae’s mechanical properties—including compressive strength, wear resistance, and friction behavior—against both historical data and modern synthetic […]