The application of oil-free technologies (foil gas bearings, solid lubricants, and advanced analysis and predictive modeling tools) to advanced turbomachinery has been underway for several decades. During that time, full commercialization has occurred in aircraft air cycle machines, turbocompressors, cryocoolers, and ever-larger microturbines. Emerging products in the automotive sector (turbochargers and superchargers) indicate that a high volume serial production of foil bearings is imminent. The demonstration of foil bearings in auxiliary power units and select locations in propulsion gas turbines illustrates that such technology also has a place in these future systems. Foil bearing designs, predictive tools, and advanced solid lubricants that can satisfy anticipated requirements have been reported, but a major question remains regarding the scalability of foil bearings to ever-larger sizes to support heavier rotors. In this paper, the technological history, primary physics, engineering practicalities, and existing experimental and experiential database for scaling foil bearings are reviewed, and the major remaining technical challenges are identified.
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e-mail: christopher.dellacorte@nasa.gov
e-mail: robert.j.bruckner@nasa.gov
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April 2011
Research Papers
Remaining Technical Challenges and Future Plans for Oil-Free Turbomachinery
Christopher DellaCorte,
Christopher DellaCorte
Glenn Research Center,
e-mail: christopher.dellacorte@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, Cleveland, OH 44135
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Robert J. Bruckner
Robert J. Bruckner
Glenn Research Center,
e-mail: robert.j.bruckner@nasa.gov
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, Cleveland, OH 44135
Search for other works by this author on:
Christopher DellaCorte
Glenn Research Center,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, Cleveland, OH 44135e-mail: christopher.dellacorte@nasa.gov
Robert J. Bruckner
Glenn Research Center,
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
, Cleveland, OH 44135e-mail: robert.j.bruckner@nasa.gov
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Apr 2011, 133(4): 042502 (7 pages)
Published Online: November 18, 2010
Article history
Received:
May 26, 2010
Revised:
June 22, 2010
Online:
November 18, 2010
Published:
November 18, 2010
Citation
DellaCorte, C., and Bruckner, R. J. (November 18, 2010). "Remaining Technical Challenges and Future Plans for Oil-Free Turbomachinery." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. April 2011; 133(4): 042502. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4002271
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