• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.9-14
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• 2014

In this Part II study, rotordynamic stability analyses were carried out to confirm improvements to the stability of a process high-speed lightweight centrifugal compressor, depending on the effects of tilting pad journal bearing designs. The bearing design variables considered were the clearances, LBPs, LOPs, and preloads. The results showed that the rotordynamic stability of the subject compressor rotor-bearing system improves exactly in accordance with the effects of the bearing design variables, which were determined in the preceding Part I study, owing to reduced bearing stiffnesses. Specifically, it was confirmed that the stability of the rotor system can be greatly improved by increasing both the machined and assembled bearing clearances, but there were no stability improvements by simply changing from an LBP to an LOP design. In addition, it was confirmed that for given fixed machined bearing clearances, the stability can be additionally improved by decreasing the preloads, i.e., by increasing the assembled clearances. In conclusion, it may be necessary to improve the designs of the original tilting pad bearings to obtain a sufficient margin of rotordynamic stability against a possible aerodynamic cross-coupled stiffness in a process high-speed centrifugal compressor. Thus, increasing the machined and assembled bearing clearances and decreasing the preload could be effective solutions.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.47-53
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• 2009

A rotordynamic and detailed stability analysis in accordance with API 617 standard were performed with a turbo-compressor, which is one of key rotating machinery in refinery, petroleum, and power plants. The system is composed of rotor shaft, impeller, sleeve hub, balance drum, and coupling hub. The rotor system is supported by tilting pad bearings, which has 5 pads and pad on loading condition. The rotordynamic analysis specified by API 617 includes the critical speed map, mode shape analysis, Campbell diagram, unbalance response analysis, and stability analysis. In particular, the specifications of stability analysis consist of a Level 1 analysis that approximates the destabilizing effects of the labyrinth seals and aerodynamic excitations, and Level 2 analysis that includes a detailed labyrinth seal aerodynamic analysis. The results of a rotordynamic analysis and stability analysis can evaluate the operating compressor health and can be utilized as a guide of its maintenance, repair and trouble solution.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.349-356
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• 2003

A damper floating ring seal with round hole pattern surfaces is suggested for better leakage control. The flat plate test of the round hole pattern surfaces has been performed to yield an empirical friction factor model. The exact predictions of the lock­up position of the damper floating ring, the leakage performance, and the rotordynamic coefficients of the seal are necessary to evaluate the rotordynamic performance of the turbo pump unit. The governing equations including the empirical friction factor model for round hole pattern surfaces are solved by the Fast Fourier Transform method. The lock­up position, leakage flow rate, and rotordynamic coefficients are evaluated according to the geometric parameters of the damper floating ring seal. Theoretical results show that the damper floating ring seals yield less leakage and better rotordynamic stability than the floating ring seal with a smooth surface.

• KSTLE International Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2003

A turbo pump unit provides high pressure oxygen and fuel in a space shuttle main engine (SSME). This paper focused on rotordynamics, investigating its characteristics based on a numerical simulation of turbo pump finite element model. Speeds up to 50,000 rpm are considered, as well as the special problems related to elastic-ring, seal hydrodynamic force, shroud force and clearance-excitation farce. The rotordynamic prediction shows that the elastic-ring which is inserted between the casing and the outer race of ball bearing allows far an acceptable separate margin of first critical speed. Additionally, the results show that the floating ring seal, which have a peculiar ring, adds substantial stiffness and damping to the system as well as exhibits superior performance in terms of rotordynamic stability of system compared to the plain seal.

• 유체기계공업학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2004.12a
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• pp.109-115
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• 2004

The micro turbo generator is new portable power source based on the Brayton cycle, which consists of a compressor, a turbine, a generator, and a combustion chamber. In this paper, the thermodynamic analysis was performed to find the required condition for hundreds watts power in the micro turbo generator, and also the rotordynamic stability was predicted using the numerical analysis of air foil bearings which support the micro turbo generator. By experimental works, the rotordynamic stability of the micro turbo generator with foil bearings was verified. While various transient dynamic situation, the micro turbo generator had stable performances. From the result, it was demonstrated that air foil bearings could be adapted to the micro turbo generator as a excellent lubrication element.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.35-42
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• 2010

This paper deals with the development of analytical model of a turbocharger and its detail rotordynamic analysis. Two analytical models, which are verified by experimental modal testing, are proposed and the analytical model including rotor shaft extended to compressor and turbine wheel end side is chosen. A rotordynamic analysis includes the critical map, Campbell diagram, stability, and unbalance response, especially nonlinear transient response considering nonlinear fluid film force at bearings. Although the linearized analysis accurately predicts the critical speeds, stability limit, and stability threshold speed, the predicted vibration results are not valid for speeds above the stability threshold speed since the rotor vibrates with a subsynchronous component much larger than the one synchronous with rotor speed. Hence, for operating speed above the stability threshold, a nonlinear transient analysis considering nonlinear fluid film force must be performed in order to accurately predict vibration responses of rotor and guarantee results of analysis.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2010

Precise prediction of rotordynamic coefficients for annular type seal of turbomachinery is necessary for enhancing their vibrational stability and various prediction methods have been developed. As the seal passage is designed complicatedly, the analysis based on Bulk-flow concept which has been mainly used in predicting seal dynamics is limited. In order to improve the seal rotordynamic prediction, full Navier-Stokes Equations with turbulent model derived in the seal flow passage have to be solved. In this study, 3D CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis has been performed for predicting rotordynamic coefficients of non-contact type annular plain seal using FLUENT. Comparing with the results of Bulk-flow model analysis, the result of 3D CFD analysis shows good agreement.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.386-391
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• 2013

Part I of this study analyzed the effects of tilting pad bearing designs to reduce the stiffness of the bearings used in a process high-speed lightweight centrifugal compressor intended for a domestic refinery use. This was done in an attempt to enhance the robustness of its rotordynamic stability against possible aerodynamic cross-coupled stiffness. The bearing design variables reviewed were the clearances, LBPs, LOPs, and preloads. The results showed that there was practically no difference between the LBP and LOP designs in terms of the bearing stiffness, because the compressor rotor was lightweight and the bearings had relatively high preloads. Increasing both the machined and assembled clearances in bearing designs has resulted in the bearing stiffness being greatly reduced. In addition, it has been confirmed that an additional reduction in the bearing stiffness can be obtained for given fixed machined clearances by decreasing the preloads, i.e., by increasing the assembled clearances.

• Journal of KSNVE
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.1042-1049
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• 1999

In the Part I has been reported a rotordynamic analysis of the driving motor-bull gear rotor-bearing system of a turbo-chiller. In this study, Part II, a rotordynamic analysis is performed with the turbo-chiller compressor pinion-impeller rotor system supported on two fluid film bearings. The pinion-impeller rotor system is driven to a rated speed of 14,600 rpm through a speed-increasing pinion-bull gear. It is modeled utilizing the finite element method for analysis. As loadings on the bearings due to the gear action are significant in the system considered, each resultant bearing load is calculated statically by considering the generalized forces of the gear action as well as the rotor itself. The two support bearings, the generalized forces of the gear action as well as the rotor itself. The two support bearings, partial and 3-axial groove bearings, are designed to take their varying loads along with their varying load angles, and they are also analyzed to give their rotordynamic coefficients. Then, a complex rotordynamic analysis of the compressor pinion-impeller rotor-bearing system is carried out to evaluate its stability, whirl natural frequencies and mode shapes, and unbalance responses under various loading conditions. Results show that the bearings and entire rotor system are well designed regardless of operating conditions, i.e., loads and operating speeds.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.459-464
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• 2003

The Roordynamic feasibility of Micro Power System supported by air foil bearings is investigated. The Micro Power System is new portable power source based on brayton cycle, which consists of compressor, turbine, generator, and combustion chamber. In this paper, the analysis of Rotordynamic characteristics of Micro Power System is performed based upon the bearing equilibrium position, Campbell diagram and stability. As a result, it is demonstrated that the air foil bearings could be adopted well to the Micro Power System. However, for more stable operation at target running speed, the damping characteristics of air foil bearing should be enhanced.