A thrust bearing is a type of bearing which belongs to the rolling element class of bearings. They allow rotation between machine parts while supporting an axial load. These bearings bearings are used in machines, including thrust ball bearing, cylindrical thrust roller bearing, tapered roller thrust bearing, spherical roller thrust bearing, fluid bearing and magnetic bearing.

While some of these bearings are more recent innovations, the earliest type of thrust bearing has been an important part of the world of engineering ever since metallurgical methods allowed for the creation of bearings which were refined enough in terms of shape and dimensions to fulfill their purpose of supporting heavy machine pressure.  

Importance of Thrust Bearings

These types of bearings have always been an integral part of many machines, responsible for smoothening the process of their operation and avoiding breakdown due to excess weight. Lately, advancements in the field of alternative energy has seen thrust bearings play an important part in their evolution. 

Alternative energy is generated through various means. For each type of energy generation, specialized equipment is developed in order to facilitate its production. The equipment operates according to the same basic laws of physics that other machines follow. Thus, thrust bearings play a similar kind of role in service of equipment which produces clean energy as it does for the other kinds of machines. 

Let us now take a look at what some of these machines are and the role these bearing plays in their operation.

Energy Generation Through Wind Turbines

In turbines, the thrust bearing is positioned to handle axial forces exerted along the centerline of the shaft. This helps direct the force of the pressure exerted as it pushes back against the turbine blades.

This kind of use for thrust bearings is seen in turbines that run on clean energy. This means that wind energy, geothermal power and energy derived from the moving currents of dams all make used of thrust bearings. 

In all these different methods of obtaining clean energy, the use of the thrust bearing remains essentially the same, which is to control the movement of the turbine and ensure it is able to move on its axis and adjust to the wind, steam or water currents so that the turbine does not break due to the force exerted.

Energy Generation Through Solar Panels

One of the biggest sources of clean electricity is solar. In order to harvest the energy radiating from the sun, solar panels are set up in areas which receive the most sunrays. Since the amount of sunlight that is available does not stay the same throughout the whole day, the panels cannot stay pointing upwards in one direction, but must adapt to the changing light.

Within solar panel equipment, gearboxes and panel mountings make use of regular thrust bearings and multi-stage cylindrical roller thrust bearings to make the movement of the panels as smooth as possible.     

Other Types of Alternative Energy

There are several other types of renewable energy, which include biofuel, hydrogen-based energy and the energy derived from ocean currents. All these types of clean energy production routes, while being quite different in terms of execution, make use of turbines and other types of machines that make use of thrust bearings. The bearings play a similar part for these turbines that they do for wind and water turbines.

Thus we see that the thrust bearing is an integral part of the process of manufacturing renewable energy, and as their methods of production become more sophisticated, the bearings will have a more important part to play than ever.