This invention relates to a guide bearing lubrication system through radial baffle for vertical rotors of hydrogenerators. The lubrication system through radial baffles and pressure pipe arrangement are for vertical rotor support systems as in hydrogenerators employing fluid film bearings.
At present in combined thrust and guide, fluide film bearing arrangement for vertical rotors, as in Hydro generators, the bearing segments are normally kept submerged in oil pots to enable flooded lubrication and availability of oil film for all modes of operation of the machinery. To maintain adequate oil film to the guide bearing segments, the oil level in the housing, is normally maintained upto the central line of guide bearing segments. The oil miniscus shape gets altered during machine operation due to vortex formation assuming the shape 'alal', and this has to be taken in to account for monitoring the correct oil level, needed in oil pots.
In the present system of arrangement, a row of thrust pad segments are arranged along the outer periphery of a circle which are supported by circular ring pivots, held on by thrust bolts to withstand the axial loads of the machine. Oil is filled until these segments as well as the thrust runner and a portion of thrust collar are submerged in a bath of oil. Distinct oil

flow patterns exist with in the oil pot comprising of axial, circumferential and radial flows. These flow patterns contribute to the temperature spectrum of the bearing segments. The annular area subtended between the rotating collar diameter and the stationary outer wall of the oil pot, is subjected to vortex formation, and this has to be contained with in limits for satisfactory performance of the bearing. In combined thrust and guide bearing arrangements, methods are adapted to convert this rotational energy at the runner tip, to effectively pump the lubricant so as to lubricate the guide bearing segments. Axial and radial holes of different inclination are made in the thrust collar wall thickness, through which the lubricant is pumped radially outwards so as to reach the guide bearing segments.
These are disadvantages assocated with the present system of guide bearing lubrication.
The main disadvantage of the present system is that this method is effective and rotation dependent, and does not offer scope for lubrication of the segments for all modes of machine operation.
Thus the main object of the present invention is to propose a novel method of channelising the unwanted vortex energy in to useful lifting of the lubricant to a reservoir above the guide bearing segments.

Another object of the present invention is that the vortex is contained within the limits.
Yet another object of the present invention is that self pumping of the oil to the guide bearing segments is achieved to ensure reliable and trouble free operation. Further object of the present invention is that with self-priming features, the quantity of oil needed for the system is substantially reduced as oil needed for the system is sufficient enough to immerse the pressure pipe inlet and thrust collar assembly.
Yet a further object Of the present invention is to propose an energy efficient system with only limited oil agitation and minimum vortex compared to larger vortex with more oil upto the control line of the guide bearing segment.
Still a further object of the present invention is to propose a system with retrofitting of existing arrangements without any dismantling the thrust collar assembly and having lower churning loss.
According to this Invention there is provided a guide bearing lubrication system using radial baffles and pressure pipes for vertical rotors, comprising thrust collar with oil collector oil sleeve mounted centrally, and a runner with ring pivot and thrust bolt, characterised in that plurality of pressure pipes located in the annular space with three dimensional bends with straight convergent, oil collector-end and reduced twisted sectional area within the pressure pipe, said pressure

pipe delivery ends are located above plurality of guide bearing segments into a reservoir and the inlet ends straight sections of the said pressure pipes are located on the floor of housing at the periphery of the thrust bearing pad and plurality of radial baffles and the said pressure pipes, lifts and pressurise the oil, and the said radial baffles provide support to the oil reservoir.
According to this invention there is provided a guide bearing lubrication system using radial baffles and pressure pipes for vertical rotor's,comprising thrust collar with oil collector oil sleeve mounted centrally, and a runner with ring pivot and thrust bolt, characterised in that plurality of pressure pipes located in the annular space with three dimensional bends with straight convergent oil collector end and reduced twisted sectional area within the pressure pipe, said pressure pipe delivery ends are located above plurality of guide bearing segments into a reservoir and the inlet ends straight sections of the said pressure pipes are located on the floor of housing at the periphery of the thrust bearing pad and plurality of radial baffles and the said pressure pipes, lifts and pressurise the oil, and the said radial baffles provide support to the oil reservoir.
The nature of the invention, its objective and further advantages residing in the same will be apparent from the following description made with reference to non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the invention represented in the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 - Sectional view of the thrust and guide
bearing arrangement,showing lubrication through pressure pipe and radial baffle.

Fig. 2 - shows the detail of the plan view of the system as in Fig. 1
Fig. 3 - Details of the pressure pipe duct.
Fig. 4 - Another view of the pressure pipe arrangement duct exposing the straight section.
Fig. 5 - Plan view of the arrangement showing details of the pressure pipe location with reference to thrust and guide bearing assembly.
Fig. 6 - View of pressure pipe and oil collector assembly in relation to the bearing arrangement*
Fig. 7 - Enlarged view of the self pumping arrangement .
To utilise the self pumping features of the rotating thrust collar assembly (6), radial inclined holes are made before hand before the assembly of the thrust collar (6), to the vertical shaft. Whereas in the proposed arrangement, thrust collar assembly is not disturbed, and the annular space between the rotating collar and the outer wall of the oil pot, is used incorporate the self-pumping features. Axial section1 of the proposal is in Fig. 1 and 2 shows the plan view showing the details of the pressure pipe (1), and radial baffle (4), together with details of arrangement in part plan view.

Plurality of pressure pipes (1), are located in the annular space as shown in Fig. 1 , depending up on the annular space available. The orientation of these pipes (1) as detailed in Fig. 3 and 4 are such that they undergo three dimensional bends to enable accommodation with in the available space, at the same time offering enough scope for lifting and pressuri-zation of the oil, when it reaches the oil collector (7), above the guide bearing segments (2). These guided convergent passages with in pressure pipe (1 ), force and orient the flow in the upward direction. Because of convergent and reduced sectional area, they get pressurized in the process, thus helping in lifting and pumping. The forced oil jets are captured in the oil collector (7) as shown in Fig. 7. The reservoir ( 14) is located above the guide bearing segments (2). The strainer (11), located in the oil collector (7) breaks the air bubbles and foam present in the delivered oil, and also filters out. any suspended impurities within the system. The sloping of the oil collector bottom floor helps in the oil to descend along the rotating shaft line, and thus lubricate the guide bearings segments (2). The different type of flow paths in and around the thrust bearing segments (3) and guide bearing seqments (2), are shown by arrows in Fig. 1. Four members radial baffles (4) are located as shown, which provide support to the oil reservoir (14) at the guide bearing assembly (2). The shape of

the baffle (4) is such that it does not interfere with essential flows with in the housing, at the same time help in orienting the undesirable vortex.
The thrust bolt (5) is shown in Figure 1. The thrust bearing pads (3) are being supported by ring pivot ( 10). The oil collector oil sleeve (8) is a tube and is centrally located. The runners (9) are placed on top of each thrust bearing pad (3). The pressure pipe is divided into three sections like oil collector - end (12), straight section ( 13) and twisted section (14) as shown in figures 3 and 4.
The invention described hereinabove is in relation to non - limiting embodiments and as defined by the accompanying claims.

WE CLAIM:
1 . A guide bearing lubrication system using radial baffles (4) and pressure pipes (1) for vertical rotors, comprising thrust collar (6 ) with oil collector oil sleeve (8) mounted centrally, and a runner (9) with ring pivot (10) and thrust bolt (5), characterized in that plurality of pressure pipes (1) located in the annular space with three dimensional bends with straight (13) convergent,, oil connector end (12) and reduced twisted sectional (14) area within the pressure pipe, said pressure pipe delivery ends are located above plurality of guide bearing segments (2) into a reservoir (14) and the inlet ends straight sections ( 13) of the said pressure pipes are located on the floor of housing at the periphery of the thrust bearing pad (3) and plurality of radial baffles (4) and the said pressure pipes (1), lifts and pressurise the oil, and the said radial baffles (4) provide support to the oil reservoir (14).
2. A guide bearing lubrication system as claimed in claim 1 wherein radial inclined holes are provided in the rotating thrust collar assembly (6).
3. A guide bearing lubrication system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pressure pipes (1) are located in the annular space and have three dimensional bends and convergent and reduced sectional area.
4. A guide bearing lubrication system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pressure pipes (1) are classified into three sections such as oil collector end (12), twisted section (14) at the middle and straight section (13).

5. A guide bearing lwbrication system as claimed in
claim 1 wherein four radial baffles (4) provides support
to oil reservoir ( 14) at the guide bearing assembly
(2).
6. A guide bearing lubrication system through radial
baffles as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.