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The Woelfel Distinguished Innovation Award was presented to Kalsi
Engineering for the Kalsi Thrust Bearing™ at the 2006 Offshore
Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. This prestigious honor is
awarded by the Petroleum Division of ASME's International Petroleum
Technology Institute for a "significant contribution in the field of
petroleum and mechanical engineering". The Woelfel
Distinguished Innovation Award is named for Albert Woelfel, a
former-chair of the ASME Petroleum Division who also served on the OTC
Board of Directors.
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The Kalsi Thrust Bearing is a compact metallic ring that was developed
as an impact-resistant, low friction alternative to roller thrust
bearings and plain thrust bushings. The patented bearing hydroplanes on
a lubricant film during rotation, which reduces friction and allows
higher speeds and loads and long service life. This hydrodynamic
lubrication occurs as a result of controlled thrust load-induced
surface distortion that provides regions of gradual convergence that
serve as efficient hydrodynamic inlets.
Kalsi Engineering, Inc. was founded in 1978 to provide consulting
engineering services for mechanical equipment and structures. It is
recognized worldwide for technical excellence and innovative product
development, and has a diversified customer base that includes oilfield
service companies, petrochemical plants, nuclear power plants, equipment
manufacturers, industry research organizations, architect/engineers,
aerospace engineering companies and government agencies.
In addition to consulting engineering services and the thrust bearing
product line, Kalsi Engineering has rotary
seal and software product lines that were originally developed to
solve difficult energy production problems.
Conventional rolling element bearings are susceptible
to brinelling and fatigue damage in downhole oil well drilling
applications due to heavy impact loads. The Kalsi Bearing is able to
withstand high impact loading due to the large area of the dynamic
interface, and the interfacial lubricant film. Together, these features
provide a classic squeeze-film cushioning effect because the lubricant
cannot instantaneously escape the dynamic interface. This makes the
Kalsi Bearing superior to rolling element thrust bearings in
applications such as mud motor and turbine sealed bearing assemblies.
For a Kalsi Bearing brochure,
click here. For
additional information, e-mail
bearings@kalsi.com or call 281-240-6500.
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