Implementation of gas foil bearings (GFBs) into micro gas turbines requires careful thermal management with accurate measurements verifying model predictions. This two-part paper presents test data and analytical results for a test rotor and GFB system operating hot ( maximum rotor outer diameter (OD) temperature). Part I details the test rig and measurements of bearing temperatures and rotor dynamic motions obtained in a hollow rotor supported on a pair of second generation GFBs, each consisting of a single top foil (38.14 mm inner diameter) uncoated for high temperature operation and five bump strip support layers. An electric cartridge (maximum of ) loosely installed inside the rotor (1.065 kg, 38.07 mm OD, and 4.8 mm thick) is a heat source warming the rotor-bearing system. While coasting down from 30 krpm to rest, large elapsed times (50–70 s) demonstrate rotor airborne operation, near friction free, and while traversing the system critical speed at , the rotor peak motion amplitude decreases as the system temperature increases. In tests conducted at a fixed rotor speed of 30 krpm, while the shaft heats, a cooling gas stream of increasing strength is set to manage the temperatures in the bearings and rotor. The effect of the cooling flow, if turbulent in character, is most distinctive at the highest heater temperature. For operation at a lower heater temperature condition, however, the cooling flow stream demonstrates a very limited effectiveness. The measurements demonstrate the reliable performance of the rotor-GFB system when operating hot. The test results, along with full disclosure on the materials and geometry of the test bearings and rotor, serve to benchmark a predictive tool. A companion paper (Part II) compares the measured bearing temperatures and the rotor response amplitudes to predictions.
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June 2011
Research Papers
Thermal Management and Rotordynamic Performance of a Hot Rotor-Gas Foil Bearings System—Part I: Measurements
Luis San Andrés,
Luis San Andrés
Mast-Childs Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas A&M University
, College Station, TX 77843
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Keun Ryu,
Keun Ryu
Research Assistant
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas A&M University
, College Station, TX 77843
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Tae Ho Kim
Tae Ho Kim
Senior Research Scientist
Energy Mechanics Research Center,
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Songbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, Korea
Search for other works by this author on:
Luis San Andrés
Mast-Childs Professor
Fellow ASME
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas A&M University
, College Station, TX 77843
Keun Ryu
Research Assistant
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Texas A&M University
, College Station, TX 77843
Tae Ho Kim
Senior Research Scientist
Energy Mechanics Research Center,
Korea Institute of Science and Technology
, 39-1 Hawolgok-dong, Songbuk-gu, Seoul 136-791, KoreaJ. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Jun 2011, 133(6): 062501 (10 pages)
Published Online: February 17, 2011
Article history
Received:
April 9, 2010
Revised:
April 15, 2010
Online:
February 17, 2011
Published:
February 17, 2011
Connected Content
A companion article has been published:
Thermal Management and Rotordynamic Performance of a Hot Rotor-Gas Foil Bearings System—Part II: Predictions Versus Test Data
Citation
San Andrés, L., Ryu, K., and Kim, T. H. (February 17, 2011). "Thermal Management and Rotordynamic Performance of a Hot Rotor-Gas Foil Bearings System—Part I: Measurements." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. June 2011; 133(6): 062501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4001826
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