A compressor includes a housing, a shaft that is rotated relative to the housing to compress a working fluid, and a foil bearing that supports the shaft. The foil bearing includes a top foil. The foil bearing is a foil gas bearing that is backed up by a ball bearing, or a mesh foil bearing with an actuator to compress a wire mesh dampener. A heat transfer circuit includes a compressor and a working fluid. The compressor includes a shaft that is rotated to compress the working fluid, and a foil bearing for supporting the shaft as it rotates.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.

Bearing assemblies and methods of using bearings are provided in the present disclosure. In one embodiment, a bearing ring is provided having a plurality of carrier components removably coupled therewith. Each carrier component may carry one or more bearing elements. Upon wearing of the bearing elements beyond a desired amount, the carrier components may be removed from the bearing ring and installed in a different bearing ring to place the mearing elements at their original bearing surface radius. In another embodiment, individual bearing elements may be radially adjustable relative to the bearing ring to define and redefine the radius of a radial bearing surface.

A bearing assembly includes a housing, a spherical bearing located within the housing, and two outer races positioned between the spherical bearing and the housing. The outer races are configured in sliding engagement with the spherical bearing to allow the spherical bearing to rotate relative to the housing. The assembly also includes a tightening element configured to engage a first of the two outer races and tighten the outer races against the spherical bearing. The assembly is configured to provide a primary load path from the tightening element to the housing, wherein the primary load path leads from the tightening element to the housing via the outer races whilst bypassing the spherical bearing.

A method for modifying an existing single shaft combined cycle power plant having a steam turbine part and a gas turbine part which are connected to each other rigidly by an intermediate shaft. The gas turbine part is supported by two pin-ended supports allowing a certain axial displacement of the casing by rotating about corresponding axes. The old gas turbine part is replaced by a new gas turbine part having a different structure, namely a rigid support and a flexible support. Relative thermal expansion or displacement of the intermediate shaft is compensated by a hydraulic unit comprising a double-acting piston for displacing the gas turbine rotor with respect to the gas turbine stator. The hydraulic unit is controlled based on a displacement measurement in the steam turbine.

A method for modifying an existing single shaft combined cycle power plant having a steam turbine part and a gas turbine part which are connected to each other rigidly by an intermediate shaft. The gas turbine part is supported by two pin-ended supports allowing a certain axial displacement of the casing by rotating about corresponding axes. The old gas turbine part is replaced by a new gas turbine part having a different structure, namely a rigid support and a flexible support. Relative thermal expansion or displacement of the intermediate shaft is compensated by a hydraulic unit comprising a double-acting piston for displacing the gas turbine rotor with respect to the gas turbine stator. The hydraulic unit is controlled based on a displacement measurement in the steam turbine.

A plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle. The bearing includes an inner ring with an axially continuous bearing opening for slidably receiving the steering spindle. A prestressing element is configured to exert a prestressing force on the inner ring to clamp the inner ring on the steering spindle and thereby to assign a defined, uniform braking torque.

A plain bearing for a steering spindle of a steering column for a motor vehicle. The bearing includes an inner ring with an axially continuous bearing opening for slidably receiving the steering spindle. A prestressing element is configured to exert a prestressing force on the inner ring to clamp the inner ring on the steering spindle and thereby to assign a defined, uniform braking torque.

A nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle includes: a nacelle housing; a rotor hub; and a rotor bearing for bearing the rotor hub on the nacelle housing, wherein the rotor bearing has at least one inner ring element and at least one outer ring element, wherein a first sliding bearing element and a second sliding bearing element are arranged between the two ring elements. Moreover, a bearing clearance adjusting device is formed, by which a bearing clearance between the sliding bearing element and the cooperating ring element may be adjusted.

A wind turbine component includes an inner member and an outer member disposed relative to the inner member, wherein the inner and outer members move relative to each other. A plain bearing is coupled to one of the inner or outer member and configured to provide a fluid film for maintaining separation of and facilitating relative movement between the inner and outer members. A position adjustment mechanism is coupled to the one of the inner or outer member for selectively moving the plain bearing. A position controller may be operatively coupled to the position adjustment mechanism for controlling the position of the plain bearing. The wind turbine component may be a wind turbine generator with the inner member and outer member corresponding to one of the stator and rotor assemblies. Methods for controlling the generator are also disclosed.