Research on the Applicability of the Double Reciprocating Slit Throttling Bearing in a Lead Coolant Environment

The article presents the results of experimental studies on the effect of circulation pump operating modes on the wear of a double reciprocating slit throttling hydrostatic bearing operating in a lead coolant environment. The experiments were conducted on a high-temperature circulation test bench at a lead coolant temperature of 420–450°C. Results were obtained for operation modes with a high number of start-stop cycles (approximately 100 cycles per 100 h of operation), sustained operation with a low number of start–stop cycles and nominal speeds of 1000–1100 rpm (not exceeding 8 cycles per 100 h of operation), with 25 start–stop cycles per 100 h, and at low pump speeds below nominal values of 600–700 rpm with a maximum of 8 start–stop cycles per 100 h of operation. Data on the wear of the bearing bush and shaft are presented in the article. Processing and analysis of the research results led to the conclusion that this type of bearing can be used in low-pressure axial pump systems only under conditions where the pump creates a head exceeding 1.1 m of liquid lead.