Vapor phase lubrication (VPL) is an emerging technology that is currently targeted for application in limited life, expendable engines. It has the potential to cut 90 percent of the cost and weight of the lubrication system, when compared to a conventional liquid lubricated system. VPL, is effective at much higher temperatures than conventional liquid lubrication (600°C versus 200°C), so considerably less cooling for the bearing is required, to the extent that the bearing materials often dictate the maximum upper temperature for its use. The hot no. 8 bearing and the cold no. 1 bearing of the T63 engine were used to evaluate the applicability of this technology to the expendable engine environment. The no. 8 bearing was a custom made hybrid with T15 steel races, silicon nitride balls, and a carbon–carbon composite cage; it was run for 10.7 h at a race temperature of 450°C at full power, without incident. Prior to engine tests, a bearing rig test of the no. 8 bearing demonstrated an 18.6 h life at a race temperature of 500°C at engine full power speed of 50,000 rpm. Cold bearing performance was tested with the standard no. 1 bearing, which consisted of 52100 steel races and balls, and a bronze cage; it was run for 7.5 h at a race temperature of 34°C at flight idle power, without incident. A self-contained lubricant misting system, running off compressor bleed air, provided lubricant at flow rates of 7–25 ml/h, depending on engine operating conditions. These tests have demonstrated for the first time that a single self-contained VPL system can provide adequate lubrication to both the hot and cold bearings for the required life of an expendable cruise missile engine. [S0742-4795(00)01302-2]
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April 2000
Technical Papers
Vapor Phase Lubrication for Expendable Gas Turbine Engines
Matthew J. Wagner,
Matthew J. Wagner
Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL/PRSL Building 490, 1790 Loop Road North, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7103
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Nelson H. Forster,
Nelson H. Forster
Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL/PRSL Building 490, 1790 Loop Road North, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7103
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Kenneth W. Van Treuren,
Kenneth W. Van Treuren
Baylor University, Department of Engineering, P. O. Box 97356, Waco, TX 76798
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David T. Gerardi
David T. Gerardi
UES, Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, OH 45432
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Matthew J. Wagner
Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL/PRSL Building 490, 1790 Loop Road North, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7103
Nelson H. Forster
Air Force Research Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate, AFRL/PRSL Building 490, 1790 Loop Road North, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7103
Kenneth W. Van Treuren
Baylor University, Department of Engineering, P. O. Box 97356, Waco, TX 76798
David T. Gerardi
UES, Inc., 4401 Dayton-Xenia Road, Dayton, OH 45432
Contributed by the International Gas Turbine Institute (IGTI) of THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS for publication in the ASME JOURNAL OF ENGINEERING FOR GAS TURBINES AND POWER. Paper presented at the International Gas Turbine and Aeroengine Congress and Exhibition, Indianapolis, IN, June 7–10, 1999; ASME Paper 99-GT-28. Manuscript received by IGTI March 9, 1999; final revision received by the ASME Headquarters January 3, 2000. Associate Technical Editor: D. Wisler.
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Apr 2000, 122(2): 185-190 (6 pages)
Published Online: January 3, 2000
Article history
Received:
March 9, 1999
Revised:
January 3, 2000
Citation
Wagner, M. J., Forster, N. H., Van Treuren, K., and Gerardi, D. T. (January 3, 2000). "Vapor Phase Lubrication for Expendable Gas Turbine Engines ." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. April 2000; 122(2): 185–190. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.483193
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