• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2022

In this study, we present rotor dynamic analysis and operation test of a turbo expander for a hydrogen liquefaction plant. The turbo expander consists of a turbine and compressor wheel connected to a shaft supported by two hydrostatic radial and thrust bearings. In rotor dynamic analysis, the shaft is modeled as a rigid body, and the equations of motion for the shaft are solved using the unsteady Reynolds equation. Additionally, the operating test of the turbo expander has been performed in the test rig. Pressurized helium is supplied to the bearings at 8.5 bar. Furthermore, we monitor the shaft vibration and flow rate of the helium supplied to the bearings. The rotor dynamic analysis result shows that there are two critical speeds related with the rigid body mode under 40,000 rpm. At the first critical speed of 36,000 rpm, the vibration at the compressor side is maximum, whereas that of the turbine is maximum at the second critical speed of 40,000 rpm. The predicted maximum shaft vibration is 3 ㎛, whereas sub-synchronous vibration is not presented. The operation test results show that there are two critical speeds under the rated speed, and the measured vibration value agrees well with predicted value. The measured flow rate of the helium supplied to the bearing is 2.0 g/s, which also agrees well with the predicted data.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.261-272
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• 2021

This study investigates the structural characteristics of oil-free, gas beam foil journal bearings (GBFJBs) for use in high speed motors. Mathematical modeling was carried out, and reaction force modeling for static load was performed to predict the structural characteristics of the GBFJB. Mathematical modeling and reaction force modeling for static load are performed to predict the structural characteristics of GBFJBs. The reaction force of the test bearing against static loads was measured during experiments and compared with the predicted results. The measured experimental data reveal the nonlinear stiffness characteristics of the GBFJB against varying displacement and agree well with the predictions. Dynamic load tests using an exciter allow to identify the vibration characteristics of the GBFJB. Test results show that the vibration displacement, dynamic force, and acceleration measured on the test bearing are most dominant at the applied dynamic load (synchronization) frequency. Futhermore, the test results show that the hysteresis area recorded during the dynamic tests increases with the excitation amplitude and frequency, and that the beam stick phenomena occurr at high excitation frequencies. The single degree of freedom (DOF) vibration model aids to identify the stiffness and damping coefficient of the GBFJB, which decrease as the excitation frequency increases.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.39-46
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• 2024

The Morton effect (ME) is an instability phenomenon occurring in rotating machineries supported by fluid film bearings and is induced by the thermal deformation of the overhung mass, which is a part of the rotating shaft. Herein, we describe the ME during the high-speed balancing test of a 20 MW class steam turbine. Additionally, to predict the rotating speed at which the ME occurs, we apply the sensitivity vector theory for the steam turbine. During the operation of the steam turbine, we observe a continuous increase in vibration and hysteresis near the rated speed, which is typical of the ME. Increasing the temperature of the lubricating oil supplied to the bearings from 40 to 60℃ suppresses the occurrence of the ME. The rotordynamic analysis for the steam turbine suggests the existence of a mode in which the overhung mass undergoes significant deformation near the rated speed, and we presume that such a mode will increase the occurrence of the ME. The predicted rotating speed of ME occurrence, obtained through the sensitivity vector method, correlates with the test results. Moreover, increasing the temperature of the supplied lubricating oil mitigates the occurrence of ME by reducing the sensitivity between the temperature deviation vector and unbalance mass vector.

• Journal of Domestic Journal Test
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.221-227
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• 2023

− A rotordynamic system consists of components that undergo rotational motion. These components include shafts, impellers, thrust collars, and components that support rotation, such as bearings and seals. The motion of this type of rotating system can be modeled as two-dimensional motion and, accordingly, the equa- tion of motion for the rotordynamic system can be represented using complex coordinates. The directional fre- quency response function (dFRF) can be derived from this complex coordinate system and used as an effective analytical tool for rotating machinery. However, the dFRF is not widely used in the field because most pre- vious studies and commercial software are based on real coordinate systems. The objective of the current study is to introduce the dFRF and show that it can be an effective tool in rotordynamic analysis. In this study, the normal frequency response function (nFRF) and dFRF are compared under rotordynamic analysis for isotropic and unisotropic rotors. Results show that in the nFRF, the magnitude of the response is the same for both pos- itive and negative frequencies, and the response is similar under all modes. Consequently, the severity of the mode cannot be identified. However, in the dFRF, the forward and backward modes are clearly distinguishable in the frequency domain of the isotropic rotor, and the severity of the mode can be identified for the uniso- tropic rotor.