Application of a Hard Alloy in Thrust Bearings of High-Speed Vane Pumps

The issues related to the application of a hard alloy in thrust bearings of pump sections of high-speed vane pumps, based on experimental studies conducted on a modernized test rig with a multiplier, are addressed. The tests showed that within the rotational speed range of 60–7300 rpm and a load of 1000–9000 N, a hydrodynamic lubrication regime is realized. When the bearing is stopped under load at low rotational speeds, surface damage occurs in the form of radial cracks and circumferential scratches on the inner side. The influence of high rotational speed results in the formation of vortices and hydraulic resistance in the entrance area of the oil discharge grooves, leading to oil starvation. For the use of a hard alloy bearing as part of the pump section of a high-speed vane pump containing abrasive particles in the formation fluid, it is necessary to assess experimentally the permissible magnitude of the axial force that prevents catastrophic destruction of the friction surface.