• International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-35
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• 2015

This paper presents the rotordynamic performance measurement of oil-free turbocharger (TC) supported on gas foil bearings (GFBs) for 2 liter class diesel vehicles and comparison to floating ring bearings (FRBs). Oil-free TC was designed and developed via the rotordynamic analyses using dynamic force coefficients from GFB analyses. The rotordynamics and performance of the oil-free TC was measured up to 85 krpm while being driven by a diesel vehicle engine, and compared to a commercial oil-lubricated TC supported on FRBs. The test results showed that the GFBs increased the rotor speed by ~ 20% at engine speeds of 1,500 rpm and 1,750 rpm, yielding the reduction of turbine input energy by more than 400 W. Incidentally, an external shock test on the oil-free TC casing was conducted at the rotor speed of 60 krpm, and showed a good capability of vibration damping due to the well-known dry friction mechanism of the GFBs.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.97-108
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• 2001

This paper describes the development of performance analysis technique for a leaf-type gas lubricated fail bearing. Stiffness coefficient and frictional damping due to the slip between all contacts of leaves are evaluated for various leaf structures. The fluid film thickness and pressure distribution are computed but it is not considered the elastic deformation by film pressure. The analysis results include the effects that the curvature radius and the length of leaf and the friction coefficient have on the static and dynamic characteristics of the foil bearings.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.141-147
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• 2015

Gas foil thrust bearings (GFTBs) have attractive advantages over rolling element bearings and oil film thrust bearings, such as oil-free operation, high speed stability, and high-temperature operation. However, GFTBs have lower load carrying capacity than the other two types of bearings owing to the inherent low gas viscosity. The load carrying capacity of GFTBs depends mainly on the compliance of the foil structure and the formed hydrodynamic wedge, where the gas pressure field is generated between the top foil and the thrust runner. The load carrying capacity of the GFTBs is very important for the suitable design of oil-free turbomachinery with high performance. The aim of the present study is to identify the characteristics of the load carrying performance of GFTBs. A new test rig for the experimental measurements is designed to provide static loads up to 800 N using a pneumatic cylinder. The maximum operating speed of the driving motor is 30,000 rpm. A series of experimental tests—lift-off test, static load performance test, and maximum load capacity test—estimate the performance of a six-pad GFTB, in terms of the static load, driving torque, and temperature. The maximum load capacity is determined by increasing the static load until the driving torque rises suddenly with a sharp peak. The test results show that the torque and temperature increase linearly with the static load. The estimated maximum load capacity per unit area is approximately 80.5 kPa at a rotor speed of 25,000 rpm. The test results can be used as a design guideline for GFTBs for realizing oil-free turbomachinery.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.114-122
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• 2019

High-speed rotating machinery requires low cost and reliable bearing elements with low friction, stable rotordynamic characteristics, and a simple design. This study experimentally evaluates the effects of bearing-support elements on the vibrational characteristics of a small-sized, high-speed permanent magnetic motor. A series of coast down tests from 100 krpm characterize the vibrational behaviors, rotor displacement, and housing acceleration of motors supported by ball bearings, ball bearings with a metal mesh damper, and gas foil bearings, respectively. Two eddy-current sensors installed in the horizontal and vertical directions measure the displacement of the rotor at its front nut, and a 3-axis accelerometer attached to the motor housing measures the housing acceleration. The test results reveal that synchronous (1X) vibration components most significantly affect the rotor displacement and housing acceleration, independent of the bearing-support elements. The motor supported by the deep-groove ball bearings results in the largest rotor vibrations increasing with speed; this is due to the absence of a damping mechanism. Additionally, the metal mesh damper effectively reduces the rotor displacement, housing acceleration, and sound-pressure level in the high-speed region (i.e., above 40 krpm), thus implying its substantial damping performance when installed on the outer race of the ball bearing. Lastly, the gas foil bearing supported motor yields the smallest rotor displacement, housing acceleration, and lowest sound-pressure level because of its hydrodynamic airborne operation, which does not require rolling elements that may cause mechanical friction and vibrations.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.6 no.1 s.18
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• pp.51-56
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• 2003

The feasibility study on the oil-free turbocharger supported by air foil bearings is investigated. Using the perturbation method, dynamic characteristics of air foil bearings are calculated based on the static equilibrium position of a turbocharger rotor is predicted. With collaboration of calculated stiffness and damping of foil bearing, rotordynamic analysis is performed using the finite element method. The effects of bump compliance and bearing clearance on rotordynamic characteristics of the oil-free turbocharger such as the critical speeds, eccentricity ratio, vibration amplitude and stability are investigated.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.131-138
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• 2014

This study investigates the effects of the slopes of the rotational axis and bearing preloads on the natural frequencies and onset speeds of the instability of a rotor supported on gas foil bearings (GFBs). The predictive model for the rotating system consists of a rigid rotor supported on two gas foil journal bearings (GFJBs) and a pair of gas foil thrust bearings (GFTBs). Each GFJB supports approximately half the rotor weight. As the slope of the rotational axis increases from $0^{\circ}$(horizontal rotor operation) to $90^{\circ}$(vertical rotor operation), the applied load on the GFJB owing to the rotor weight decreases. The predictions show that the natural frequency and onset speed of instability decrease significantly with an increase in the slope of the rotational axis. In a parametric study, the nominal radial clearance and preload for the GFJB were changed. In general, a decrease in the nominal radial clearance lead to an increase in the natural frequency and onset speed of instability. For constant assembly clearance, the decrease in the preload changed the natural frequency and onset speed of instability with insignificant improvements in the rotordynamic stability. The present predictions can be used as design guidelines for GFBs for oil-free high-speed rotating machinery with improved rotordynamic performance.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers Conference
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• 2004.11a
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• pp.186-194
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• 2004

Experiments were conducted to determine the structural static and dynamic characteristics of air foil bearings. The housing of the bearing on the journal was driven by an impact hammer which was used to simulate dynamic forces acting on the bump loll with various leading condition. Two different bump foils (Cu-coated bump and viscoelastic bump) were tested and the static and dynamic coefficients of two bump foils compared, based on the experimental measurements for a wide range of operating conditions. The static and dynamic characteristics of air foil bearings were extracted 0rpm the frequency response function by least square method and IV(Instrumental Variable) method. The experiment was tested at 0rpm and $10,000\~16,000rpm$, and loaded on $50\~150N$. From the test results, the possibility of the application of high load and high speed condition is suggested.

• The KSFM Journal of Fluid Machinery
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• v.9 no.6 s.39
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• pp.45-53
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• 2006

Turbo-blower as an air supply system is one of the most important BOP (Balance of Plant) systems for FCV(Fuel Cell Vehicle). For generating and blowing compressed air, the motor of air blower consumes maximum 25% of net power, and fuel cell demands a clean air. In this study, turbo-blower supported by air foil bearings is introduced as the air supply system used by 80kW proton exchange membrane fuel systems. The turbo-blower is a turbo machine which operates at high speed, so air foil bearings suit their purpose as bearing elements. Analysis for confirming the stability and endurance is conducted. The rotordynamic stability was predicted using the numerical analysis of air foil bearings and it is verified through experimental works. In spite of various transient dynamic situation, the turbo-blower had stable performances. After the performance test, results are presented. The normal power of driving motor has about 1.6 kW with the 30,000 rpm operating range and the flow rate of air has maximum 160 SCFM. The test results show that the aerodymic performance and stability of turbo-blower are satisfied to the primary goals.

• 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.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.114-121
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• 2005

As fuel cell system is environmental friendly generator, its performance depends on its air supply system. Because, fuel cell stack generates electrical energy by electron and the electron is generated by reacting between air and hydrogen. So, more and more compressed air is supplied, more and more the energy can be obtained. In this study, turbo-expander supported by air foil bearing is introduced as the air supply system used by fuel cell systems. The turbo-expander is a turbo machine which operates at high speed, so air foil bearings suit its purpose for the bearing elements. Analysis for confirming the stability and endurance is conducted. Based on FDM and Newton-Raphson method, characteristics of air foil bearing, dynamic coefficients, pressure field and load capacity, are obtained. Using the characteristics of air foil bearing, the rotordynamic analysis is performed by finite element method. The analysis (stability analysis and critical speed map) shows that turbo-expander is stability at running speed. After the analysis, the test process and results are presented. The goals of test are running up to 90,000 RPM, flow rate of 150 $m^3/h$ and pressure ratio of 1.15. The test results show that the aerodynamic performance and stability of turbo-expander are satisfied to the primary goals.