Regarding the load-bearing performance of high-speed circular pad thrust bearings used in the shaft system of vertical dry gas sealed helium compressors,a lubrication performance calculation model and a stirring power consumption calculation formula for disc spring supported thrust bearings were established.Based on the model,the performance variation of circular pad thrust bearings with rotational speed and load were analyzed,and the influence of elevation error on bearing lubrication performance and support disc spring performance were also analyzed.The results show that the ratio of stirring power consumption to friction power consumption in bearings increases and decreases with the increase of speed and load,respectively.At the highest speed,stirring power consumption is more than twice that of friction power consumption.The elastic adaptive adjustment technology can effectively improve the impact of elevation error on the flatness of bearing pads.However,the larger the elevation error,the greater the difference in lubrication performance of each pad and the accumulated deformation energy of the disc springs.Therefore,for high-speed vertical rotor systems,the design of thrust bearings must consider the impact of stirring power consumption on bearing temperature rise,and further research is needed on the impact of elevation error on the stability of high-speed rotor systems.