Hydrodynamic thrust bearing pad having a variable taper, and related systems and methods

A hydrodynamic thrust bearing assembly, comprising:

• a rotatable shaft;
• a thrust surface fixedly coupled to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith;
• a stationary surface spaced apart from the thrust surface;
• and
• a plurality of circumferentially-spaced hydrodynamic thrust bearing pads each including a bearing surface and a support surface, and positioned between the thrust surface and the stationary surface such that the bearing surface confronts the thrust surface and the support surface confronts the stationary surface,
• wherein each bearing pad is configured to warp from an unstressed state in which lubricant is prevented from entering between the bearing surfaces and the thrust surface, to a stressed state in which lubricant is permitted to enter between the bearing surfaces and the thrust surface, when heated from a first temperature to a second temperature.

A method of operating a hydrodynamic thrust bearing assembly including a rotatable shaft, a thrust surface fixedly coupled to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, a stationary surface spaced apart from the thrust surface, and a plurality of circumferentially-spaced hydrodynamic thrust bearing pads each including a bearing surface and a support surface and positioned between the thrust surface and the stationary surface such that the bearing surface confronts the thrust surface and the support surface confronts the stationary surface, the method comprising:

• maintaining each bearing pad in an unstressed state in which lubricant is prevented from entering between the bearing surfaces and the thrust surface;
• warping each bearing pad from the unstressed state to a stressed state in which the lubricant is permitted to enter between the bearing surfaces and the thrust surface;
• directing the lubricant between the bearing surfaces and the thrust surface;
• and
• transmitting axial thrust loads from the rotatable shaft to the stationary surface via the bearing pads and the lubricant.