Turbomachinery Bearings: Key Components for High-Performance Rotating Equipment

Turbomachinery, such as turbines, compressors and centrifugal pumps, rely on the precise and reliable operation of their internal components. At the heart of this functionality lies a seemingly small but essential part: the bearings.

Turbomachinery bearings are engineered for the most demanding turbomachinery applications in terms of speed, load and rotor dynamics. Their performance directly impacts the efficiency, reliability and longevity of the entire machine.

In this article, we explore how advanced bearing solutions, such as tilting pad and combination bearings, enable optimal performance in turbomachinery applications. We also take a look at how Miba’s engineering expertise supports OEMs and plant operators worldwide.

What Are Turbomachinery Bearings?

Turbomachinery bearings are components designed to support rotating shafts in machines.

Their primary functions include:

Supporting high-speed rotors with minimal vibration
Reducing friction between moving components
Ensuring precise shaft alignment under dynamic load conditions

Operating Conditions and Design Requirements

Due to their application in e.g. turbines, compressors and pumps, turbomachinery bearings must meet stringent performance and durability standards:

Hydrodynamic operation: A thin film of lubricant creates a pressure field that supports the shaft without metal-to-metal contact. This reduces wear and heat generation.

Thermal stability: Bearings must maintain dimensional stability under high temperatures, particularly in steam or gas turbine environments.

Load capacity: Depending on the application, bearings must support not only radial loads but also significant axial forces, often requiring tailored geometries or combined bearing designs.

Rotordynamic stability: Stiffness and damping capabilities during high-speed operation is essential to prevent rotor-dynamic instabilities.

These requirements are addressed through advanced bearing designs, such as tilting pad radial and thrust bearings and combination bearings, which offer the flexibility, damping and load adaptability demanded in turbomachinery environments.

Tailored Bearing Solutions for Turbomachinery

Miba develops and manufactures a broad range of hydrodynamic plain bearings tailored for use in turbomachinery. These include:

Tilting Pad Radial Bearings
Designed for high-speed rotors, these bearings provide excellent damping characteristics and self-aligning capabilities, ensuring stable rotor dynamics even under variable load conditions.

Tilting Pad Thrust Bearings
Ideal for absorbing axial forces in e.g. compressors and turbines. Their segmented design allows precise load distribution and thermal expansion compensation.

Combination Bearings
Miba’s combination bearings integrate both radial and axial support into a single unit, reducing system complexity and installation space. This is ideal for compact high-performance machines.

Fixed Geometry Bearings

Housing Bearings

Key Advantages of Miba Turbomachinery Bearings

Optimized load distribution: segmented design enables precise force management

Stable rotor dynamics: high damping and self-aligning capabilities

Hydrodynamic lubrication: for low wear and extended service life

Adaptability to custom geometries and operational profiles

Space- and system-efficient: combination of radial and axial support in one unit

Eddy Grooves for thermal optimization: radial flow components improve heat dissipation in high-load areas

Hydrostatic jacking for critical operating modes: high-pressure oil system supports safe low-speed operation

These advantages make Miba bearings a robust solution for critical rotating equipment across industries.

Our bearing solution is supported by Miba’s application engineering, simulation expertise and in-house testing to ensure optimal functionality in real-world conditions.

Application Examples

Turbomachinery bearings are used in a wide range of industries and applications where reliability, efficiency and operational safety are paramount. Miba supports OEMs and operators with bearing technologies that are precisely tailored to the unique demands of each machine type and operating environment.

Steam and Gas Turbines:
Bearings must withstand high speeds, thermal loads and axial forces. Miba’s tilting pad designs offer reliable stability and a long service life.

Turbocompressors:
Continuous high operation requirements need robust, customized bearings. Miba ensures safety and uptime with integrated cooling and lubrication.

Centrifugal Pumps and Expanders:
Precision and reliability are key in fluid handling and energy recovery. Miba’s combination bearings offer compact, high-performance solutions for demanding conditions.

Miba Bearing Solutions: From Design to Service

At Miba, we deliver customized bearing solutions for turbomachinery. From concept to commissioning, our engineers support you with

dynamic coefficients (stiffness and damping coefficients) for rotordynamic calculations
optimized bearing design and
material selection tailored to your application.

We manufacture using state-of-the-art equipment to ensure performance, reliability and compliance with international standards.

Our services go beyond production: we offer bearing diagnostics, failure analysis and reconditioning to extend service life and reduce downtime.

Benefit from complete lifecycle support and proven expertise in demanding industries with Miba.

Ready to optimize your turbomachinery performance with Miba bearings?

Get in touch with Miba’s bearing experts to find the right solution for your application.