Two multileaf gas foil journal bearings with backing bump foils and one set of gas foil thrust bearings were designed, fabricated, and used in a 100 kW class microturbine simulated rotor system to ensure stability of the system. Meanwhile, a preliminary test rig had been built to verify the simulated system stability. The rotor synchronous and subsynchronous responses were well controlled by using of the gas foil bearings. It is on the multileaf gas foil bearings with backing bump foils that the test was conducted and verified for the first time in open literatures. The success in the experiments shows that the design and fabrication of the rotor and the gas foil bearings can provide a useful guide to the development of the advanced high speed rotating machinery.
SalehiMHeshmatHWaltonJFet al.Operation of a mesoscopic gas turbine simulator at speeds in excess of 700,00 rpm on foil bearings. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2007; 129: 170–176.
2.
LeeYBParkDJKimCHet al.Rotordynamic characteristics of a micro turbo generator supported by air foil bearings. J Mircromech Microeng2007; 17: 297–303.
3.
KimDLeeASChoiBS. Evaluation of foil bearing performance and nonlinear rotordynamics of 120kW oil-free gas turbine generator. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2014; 136: 032501–1-8.
4.
Heshmat H, Walton JF II and Hunsberger A. Oil-free 8 kW high-speed and high specific power turbogenerator. In: Proceedings of ASME turbo expo 2014: Turbine technical conference and exposition, GT2014, Düsseldorf, Germany, 16–20 June 2014.
5.
ChoeBSKimTHKimCHet al.Rotordynamic behavior of 225 kW (300 HP) class PMS motor-generator system supported by gas foil bearings. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2015; 137: 092505-1-8–092505-1-8.
6.
KuCRHeshmatH. Compliant foil bearing structural stiffness analysis: part I –theoretical model including strip and variable bump foil geometry. J Tribol1992; 114: 394–400.
7.
KuCRHeshmatH. Structural stiffness and Coulomb damping in compliant foil journal bearings: theoretical considerations. Tribol Trans1994; 37: 525–533.
KimD. Parametric studies on static and dynamic performance of air foil bearings with different top foil geometries and bump stiffness distributions. J Tribol2007; 129: 354–364.
10.
PengJPCarpinoM. Calculation of stiffness and damping coefficients for elastically supported gas foil bearings. J Tribol1993; 115: 20–27.
11.
CarpinoMTalmageG. Prediction of rotor dynamic coefficients in gas lubricated foil journal bearings with corrugated bub-foils. Tribol Trans2006; 49: 400–409.
12.
Andrés LS and Kim TH. Improvements to the analysis of gas foil bearings: integration of top foil 1D and 2D structural models. In: Proceedings of ASME turbo expo 2007: Turbine technical conference and exposition, GT2007, Montreal, Canada, 14–17 May 2007.
13.
DellaCorteCRadilKCBrucknerRJet al.Design, fabrication, and performance of open source generation I and II compliant hydrodynamic gas foil bearings. Tribol Trans2008; 51: 254–264.
14.
HeshmatH. Advancements in the performance of aerodynamic foil journal bearings: High speed and load capability. J Tribol1994; 116: 287–295.
15.
WaltonJFHeshmatHTomaszewsklMJ. Testing of a small turbocharger/turbojet sized simulator rotor supported on foil bearings. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2008; 130: 025001–1-7.
16.
AndrésLSKimTH. Forced nonlinear response of gas foil bearing supported rotors. Tribol Int2008; 41: 704–715.
17.
DellaCorteCLukaszewiczVValcoMJet al.Performance and durability of high temperature foil air bearings for oil-free turbomachinery. Tribol Trans2000; 43: 774–780.
18.
Agrawal GL. Foil air/gas bearing technology—An overview. In: ASME international gas turbine and aeroengine congress and exhibition, Florida, USA, 2–5 June 1997.
19.
Lee YB, Kim CH, Lee NS, et al. Hybrid air foil journal bearing and manufacturing method thereof. Patent 2002/0097927 A1, USA, 2002.
20.
HeuerDE. Dynamic and environmental evaluation of compliant foil gas-lubricated bearing, Alexandria: Air Force Aero Propulsion Laboratory, Air Force Systems Command, United State Air Force, 1973.
HeshmatCAHeshmatH. An analysis of gas-lubricated, multileaf foil journal bearings with backing springs. J Tribol1995; 117: 437–443.
25.
ArakereNK. Analysis of foil journal bearings with backing springs. Tribol Trans1996; 39: 208–214.
26.
TianYSunYHYuL. Structural stiffness and damping coefficients of a multi-leaf foil bearing with bump foils underneath. J Eng Gas Turbines Power2014; 136: 044501–8.
27.
DuJJZhuJJLiBet al.Hydrodynamic analysis of multileaf gas foil bearing with backing springs. Proc IMechE Part J: J Engineering Tribology2013; 228: 529–547.
