The present invention relates to a method of increasing the safety of a power plant provided with at least one heat engine and a gearbox (BTP), the engine driving the gearbox (BTP), the gearbox (BTP) having a lubrication system implemented using an aqueous medium stored in a reserve, in which method a fluid comprising water is injected into the heat engine to increase the power developed by the heat engine without increasing the temperature of a member of the heat engine or to decrease the temperature without modifying the power developed by the engine, the fluid being taken from the reserve.

A bearing system including a frequency independent damper assembly and a bearing pad assembly. The damper assembly includes a housing, a plunger, a moving central post and a support spring. The plunger is movable within a housing to define a first primary damper cavity and a second primary damper cavity. The moving central post has defined therein a fluid channel for a pressurized working fluid flow. The support spring includes a plurality of flexible elements coupled to the housing and disposed radially outward of the first and second primary damper cavities. The support spring defines first and second accumulator cavity. A flow-through channel couples the first accumulator cavity to the second accumulator cavity. In an embodiment, the flow-through channel may be disposed within the moving central post. The bearing pad assembly includes a bearing pad including a plurality of bearing pad orifices coupled to the fluid channel in the moving central post.

A bearing system including a frequency independent damper assembly and a bearing pad assembly. The damper assembly includes a housing, a plunger, a moving central post and a support spring. The plunger is movable within a housing to define a first primary damper cavity and a second primary damper cavity. The moving central post has defined therein a fluid channel for a pressurized working fluid flow. The support spring includes a plurality of flexible elements coupled to the housing and disposed radially outward of the first and second primary damper cavities. The support spring defines first and second accumulator cavity. A flow-through channel couples the first accumulator cavity to the second accumulator cavity. In an embodiment, the flow-through channel may be disposed within the moving central post. The bearing pad assembly includes a bearing pad including a plurality of bearing pad orifices coupled to the fluid channel in the moving central post.

An expansion turbine configured such that even when pressure of process gas steeply changes, the amount of process gas leaking from a gap between an impeller and a cover is made small. The expansion turbine includes a gas supply passage which is connected to any one of a gas supply passage and a gas discharge passage and through which gas is supplied to a region located between a rotor member and a casing member.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a turbomachine (100) is provided. The turbomachine includes: a rotor extending in an axial direction and comprising a driven side configured to be connected to a driving unit and a second side opposite the driven side; a housing extending around at least a portion of the rotor, wherein a main flow path for a process fluid extends between the rotor and the housing; a sealing arrangement, particularly a dry gas seal, configured for sealing a gap between the rotor and the housing at the driven side of the rotor; and a first magnetic bearing supporting the second side of the rotor. A fluid passage for a portion of the process fluid extends from the main flow path through a bearing gap of the first magnetic bearing. According to a further aspect, a method of operating a turbomachine is described.

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a turbomachine (100) is provided. The turbomachine includes: a rotor extending in an axial direction and comprising a driven side configured to be connected to a driving unit and a second side opposite the driven side; a housing extending around at least a portion of the rotor, wherein a main flow path for a process fluid extends between the rotor and the housing; a sealing arrangement, particularly a dry gas seal, configured for sealing a gap between the rotor and the housing at the driven side of the rotor; and a first magnetic bearing supporting the second side of the rotor. A fluid passage for a portion of the process fluid extends from the main flow path through a bearing gap of the first magnetic bearing. According to a further aspect, a method of operating a turbomachine is described.

A power module includes a turbine arranged along a rotation axis, an interconnect shaft fixed in rotation relative to the turbine, and a compressor with a regenerative compressor wheel. The regenerative compressor wheel is fixed in rotation relative to the interconnect shaft supported for rotation with the turbine about the rotation axis. Generator arrangements, unmanned aerial vehicles, and methods of generating electrical power are also described.

A tilting pad journal bearing manufacturing method includes a first process and a second process. In the first process, a pivot fitting hole is formed on a convex curved outer circumferential surface of the tilting pad. The pivot fitting hole is recessed from the outer circumferential surface toward an inner circumferential surface and has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the distal end portion of the pivot. In the second process, a concave portion is formed on the concave curved inner circumferential surface of the tilting pad by attaching the distal end portion of the pivot to the pivot fitting hole by interference-fitting.

A tilting pad journal bearing manufacturing method includes a first process and a second process. In the first process, a pivot fitting hole is formed on a convex curved outer circumferential surface of the tilting pad. The pivot fitting hole is recessed from the outer circumferential surface toward an inner circumferential surface and has an inner diameter smaller than an outer diameter of the distal end portion of the pivot. In the second process, a concave portion is formed on the concave curved inner circumferential surface of the tilting pad by attaching the distal end portion of the pivot to the pivot fitting hole by interference-fitting.

An axial load management system for a turbomachine including a rotating drivetrain, a thrust bearing assembly, a sensor, and a valve supply line. The rotating drivetrain includes a compressor section and an expander section fluidly coupled together by a closed flowpath. The thrust bearing assembly includes a thrust runner, a thrust bearing housing, and a gas thrust bearing extending between the thrust runner and the thrust bearing housing. Further, the gas thrust bearing supports the rotating drivetrain. The sensor is attached to at least one of the thrust bearing housing or the gas thrust bearing. The valve supply line is fluidly coupled to the closed flowpath. A valve positioned within the valve supply line selectively allows a working fluid to flow between the closed flowpath and a thrust chamber defined by a rotating surface and a fixed surface to modify an axial load on the rotating drivetrain.