Discussion on the key of turbine bearing sealing performance and lubrication system

1. Key of turbine bearing sealing performance
The working environment of turbine bearing is extremely harsh. It not only has to withstand the huge centrifugal force brought by high-speed rotation, but also faces the potential threat of high temperature, high pressure and corrosive gas or liquid. Therefore, the design of the bearing external sealing performance device is crucial, which constitutes the first line of defense against the invasion of external pollutants. These sealing devices usually use advanced materials and technologies, such as metal sealing rings, non-metallic sealing materials and labyrinth sealing structures. They are made to have multiple properties such as wear resistance, high temperature resistance and corrosion resistance to ensure that the turbine will not be disturbed by external dust, moisture, exhaust gas and other pollutants when rotating at high speed, thereby extending the service life of the bearing and even the entire turbine machinery.

The quality of sealing performance directly affects the retention and leakage control of lubricating oil. Lubricating oil is not only a lubricant for the normal operation of the bearing, but also a heat dissipation medium, which can effectively reduce the heat generated by bearing friction and prevent material damage caused by overheating. Once the seal fails, the lubricating oil may leak out, which not only causes a waste of resources, but more importantly, the bearing will lose the necessary lubrication and cooling, accelerate wear, and even cause failure shutdown in severe cases, affecting production safety.

2. Efficient support of lubrication system
The effectiveness of lubrication system complements the sealing performance. A well-designed lubrication system can ensure that lubricating oil is accurately and stably delivered to the inside of the bearing through a specific oil path to form a uniform and continuous oil film. This oil film not only reduces the direct contact between the bearing rolling elements and the inner and outer rings, reduces friction resistance, and improves rotation efficiency, but also plays a good role in heat insulation and corrosion protection, providing all-round protection for the bearing.

Modern lubrication systems often integrate precise flow control, pressure regulation and oil temperature monitoring functions, and can dynamically adjust the supply of lubricating oil according to the operating status of the turbine, which not only avoids the increase in energy consumption caused by excessive lubrication, but also prevents bearing damage caused by insufficient lubrication. In addition, some advanced lubrication systems also use magnetic or centrifugal separation technology to effectively remove impurities and metal particles in the lubricating oil, keep the oil clean, and further improve the lubrication effect and bearing life.

3. Future development trends and challenges
With the advancement of science and technology and the upgrading of industrial needs, the sealing performance and lubrication system of turbine bearings are developing in a more intelligent and efficient direction. For example, intelligent sensors are used to monitor the sealing status and lubrication effect in real time, and big data analysis is combined to predict maintenance needs; new environmentally friendly lubricants are developed to reduce pollution to the environment; and nanotechnology and composite materials are used to improve the durability and sealing efficiency of seals.

However, in the face of challenges under extreme working conditions, such as ultra-high temperature and ultra-high pressure environments, as well as the pursuit of higher efficiency and lower emissions, the innovative design of turbine bearing sealing performance and lubrication systems still needs to be continuously explored and optimized. This not only requires researchers to have a deep understanding of multidisciplinary cross-disciplinary knowledge such as materials science, fluid mechanics, and thermodynamics, but also requires strengthening interdisciplinary cooperation to promote technological innovation and industrial upgrading to meet the urgent needs of future industrial development.