Hydrostatic Gas Journal Bearings for Micro-Turbomachinery

2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. X. Liu ◽  
C. J. Teo ◽  
A. H. Epstein ◽  
Z. S. Spakovszky
Keyword(s):  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Fiber Optic Sensor ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Aspect Ratios

Several years ago an effort was undertaken at MIT to develop high-speed rotating MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) using computer chip fabrication technology. To enable high-power density the micro-turbomachinery must be run at tip speeds of order 500m∕s, comparable to conventional scale turbomachinery. The high rotating speeds (of order 2 million rpm), the relatively low bearing aspect ratios (L∕D<0.1) due to fabrication constraints, and the laminar flow regime in the bearing gap place the micro-bearing designs to an exotic spot in the design space for hydrostatic gas bearings. This paper presents a new analytical model for axially fed gas journal bearings and reports the experimental testing of micro gas bearings to characterize and to investigate their rotordynamic behavior. The analytical model is capable of dealing with all the elements of, (1) micro-devices, (2) dynamic response characteristics of hydrostatic gas bearings, (3) evaluation of stiffness, natural frequency and damping, (4) evaluation of instability boundaries, and (5) evaluation of effects of imbalance and bearing anisotropy. First, a newly developed analytical model for hydrostatic gas journal bearings is introduced. The model consists of two parts, a fluid dynamic model for axially fed gas journal bearings and a rotordynamic model for micro-devices. Next, the model is used to predict the natural frequency, damping ratio and the instability boundary for the test devices. Experiments are conducted using a high-resolution fiber optic sensor to measure rotor speed, and a data reduction scheme is implemented to obtain imbalance-driven whirl response curves. The model predictions are validated against experimental data and show good agreement with the measured natural frequencies and damping ratios. Last, the new model is successfully used to establish bearing operating protocols and guidelines for high-speed operation.

Hydrostatic Gas Journal Bearings for Micro-Turbomachinery

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. X. Liu ◽  
C. J. Teo ◽  
A. H. Epstein ◽  
Z. S. Spakovszky
Keyword(s):  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Experimental Testing ◽  
Fluid Dynamic ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Fiber Optic Sensor ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Aspect Ratios

Several years ago an effort was undertaken at MIT to develop high-speed rotating MEMS (Micro Electro-Mechanical Systems) using computer chip fabrication technology. To enable high-power density the micro-turbomachinery must be run at tip speeds of order 500 m/s, comparable to conventional scale turbomachinery. The high rotating speeds (of order 2 million rpm), the relatively low bearing aspect ratios (L/D &lt; 0.1) due to fabrication constraints, and the laminar flow regime in the bearing gap place the micro-bearing designs to an exotic spot in the design space for hydrostatic gas bearings. This paper presents a new analytical model for axially fed gas journal bearings and reports the experimental testing of micro gas bearings to characterize and to investigate their rotordynamic behavior. The analytical model is capable of dealing with all the elements of, (1) micro-devices, (2) dynamic response characteristics of hydrostatic gas bearings, (3) evaluation of stiffness, natural frequency and damping, (4) evaluation of instability boundaries, and (5) evaluation of effects of imbalance and bearing anisotropy. First, a newly developed analytical model for hydrostatic gas journal bearings is introduced. The model consists of two parts, a fluid dynamic model for axially fed gas journal bearings and a rotordynamic model for micro-devices. Next, the model is used to predict the natural frequency, damping ratio and the instability boundary for the test devices. Experiments are conducted using a high-resolution fiber optic sensor to measure rotor speed, and a data reduction scheme is implemented to obtain imbalance-driven whirl response curves. The model predictions are validated against experimental data and show good agreement with the measured natural frequencies and damping ratios. Last, the new model is successfully used to establish bearing operating protocols and guidelines for high-speed operation.

Scaling Laws for Ultra-Short Hydrostatic Gas Journal Bearings

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. S. Spakovszky ◽  
L. X. Liu
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Outer Periphery ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Annular Seals

The journal bearings of the MIT micro-devices are located at the outer periphery of the rotor and are designed to operate at rotational speeds of order 2 million rpm in order to enable high-power densities with turbomachinery tip speeds near 500 m/s. These journal bearings are very short compared to their relatively large bearing diameters such that the bearing L/D is typically less than 0.1, that is at least one order of magnitude smaller than in conventional gas bearings. Thus, the ultra-short micro gas journal bearings essentially act as short annular seals and operate at Reynolds numbers of order 300, two orders of magnitude lower than conventional annular seals. The concepts that hold for turbulent flow, large scale annular seals do not apply to micro bearings and the laminar flow regime sets new challenges in the design, implementation and operation of ultra-short, high-speed gas bearings. In order to reach the goal of operating the MIT micro devices at full design speed, the micro-bearing design must be improved and engineering solutions need to be found to overcome the challenges of high-speed bearing operation. This paper is the first to derive the scaling laws for the dynamics of ultrashort hydrostatic gas journal bearings. The theory is established from first principles and enables a physics based characterization of the dynamic behavior of ultra-short hydrostatic gas bearings. The derived scaling laws for natural frequency and damping ratio show good agreement with experimental data. A simple criterion for whirl instability is found that only depends on bearing geometry. The scaling laws together with this criterion are used to delineate engineering solutions critical for stable high-speed bearing operation. Design charts are developed which provide the link between fabrication tolerances, bearing performance, and the tolerable level of rotor unbalance for a minimum required whirl ratio.

Scaling Laws for Ultra-Short Hydrostatic Gas Journal Bearings

2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. S. Spakovszky ◽  
L. X. Liu
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Scaling Laws ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Outer Periphery ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
Design Speed ◽  
Annular Seals

The journal bearings of the MIT micro-devices are located at the outer periphery of the rotor and are designed to operate at rotational speeds of order two million rpm in order to enable high-power densities with turbomachinery tip speeds near 500m/s. These journal bearings are very short compared to their relatively large bearing diameters such that the bearing L/D is typically less than 0.1, that is at least one order of magnitude smaller than in conventional gas bearings. Thus, the ultra-short micro gas journal bearings essentially act as short annular seals and operate at Reynolds numbers of order 300, two orders of magnitude lower than conventional annular seals. The concepts that hold for turbulent flow, large scale annular seals do not apply to micro bearings and the laminar flow regime sets new challenges in the design, implementation and operation of ultra-short, high-speed gas bearings. In order to reach the goal of operating the MIT micro devices at full design speed, the micro-bearing design must be improved and engineering solutions need to be found to overcome the challenges of high-speed bearing operation. This paper is the first to derive the scaling laws for the dynamics of ultra-short hydrostatic gas journal bearings. The theory is established from first principles and enables a physics based characterization of the dynamic behavior of ultra-short hydrostatic gas bearings. The derived scaling laws for natural frequency and damping ratio show good agreement with experimental data. A simple criterion for whirl instability is found that only depends on bearing geometry. The scaling laws together with this criterion are used to delineate engineering solutions critical for stable high-speed bearing operation. Design charts are developed which provide the link between fabrication tolerances, bearing performance, and the tolerable level of rotor unbalance for a minimum required whirl ratio.

Rotordynamic Performance of Flexure Pivot Hydrostatic Gas Bearings for Oil-Free Turbomachinery

2007 ◽  
Vol 129 (4) ◽  
pp. 1020-1027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuehua Zhu ◽  
Luis San Andrés
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Speed Increase ◽  
Feed Pressure ◽  
Motor Test ◽  
Direct Stiffness ◽  
Commercial Applications

Micro-turbomachinery demands gas bearings to ensure compactness, light weight, and extreme temperature operation. Gas bearings with large stiffness and damping, and preferably of low cost, will enable successful commercial applications. Presently, tests conducted on a small rotor supported on flexure pivot hydrostatic pad gas bearings (FPTPBs) demonstrate stable rotordynamic responses up to 100,000rpm (limit of the drive motor). Test rotor responses show the feed pressure raises the system critical speed (increase in bearing direct stiffness) while the viscous damping ratio decreases. Predictions correlate favorably with experimentally identified (synchronous) direct stiffness bearing force coefficients. Identified experimental gas bearing synchronous damping coefficients are 50% or less of the predicted magnitudes, though remaining relatively constant as the rotor speed increases. Tests without feed pressure show the rotor becomes unstable at ∼81krpm with a whirl frequency ratio of 20%. FPTPBs are mechanically complex and more expensive than cylindrical plain bearings. However, their enhanced stability characteristics and predictable rotordynamic performance makes them desirable for the envisioned oil-free applications in high speed micro-turbomachinery.

A Study of Transient Response of Flexible Rotors in High Speed Turbomachinery

1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Pavelic ◽  
R. S. Amano
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
Computer Program ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Angular Speed ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Hydrodynamic Characteristics ◽  
Flexible Assembly ◽  
Lagrange’S Equation ◽  
Equations Of Motions

In many applications the design operating range of the turbomachinery may be well above the rotor first critical speed which leads to the problem of insuring that the turbomachinery performs with a stable, low-level amplitude of vibration. Under certain conditions of high speed and loading the rotor system can start orbiting in its bearing at a rate which is less than the rotor angular speed, and this phenomena is commonly known as whirling or whipping action. This whipping action may produce additional undesirable dynamic loads on the overall flexible assembly and eventually destroy the rotor. Some of this action is also transient in nature. Whirling is a self-exited vibration caused mainly by the fluid bearings and by the internal friction damping of the rotor. To understand this occurrence, a general dynamic mathematical model was derived considering also the complete viscous characteristic of hydrodynamic journal bearings. The general equations of motions of the system are obtained from Lagrange’s equation of motion. The system kinetic, potential, and dissipation functions are determined based on the generalized coordinates of the system. The journal displacements are related to the overall dynamics of the rotor using deformable bearings. The loads acting at the journals of the shaft are integrated from the fluid film pressure distribution in the journal bearings using mobility method. A unique mathematical model is formulated and solved. This model includes the elastic and inertial properties of the flexible rotor, the elastic, damping and inertial properties of supports and the hydrodynamic characteristics of the journal bearings. The equations of motions result in a system of nonlinear second order differential equations which are solved by using finite difference method. The solution of the equations of motions is used to plot maps of motion of journal centers. A computer program was implemented to aid in the solution of the system of equations and to verify analytical model. The computer program used test data available in literature and the results were compared to be very good. The analytical model and results obtained in this study can be of great help to designers of high speed turbomachinery.

Dynamic stability of micropolar lubricated hydrodynamic offset-halves journal bearings

2020 ◽  
pp. 135065012093685
Author(s):  
Sanyam Sharma ◽  
Chimata M Krishna
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Reynolds Equation ◽  
Journal Bearing ◽  
Critical Mass ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Aspect Ratios ◽  
Input Parameters ◽  
Output Characteristics ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Offset Factor

The plain circular journal bearings are not found to be stable by researchers when used in high speed rotating machineries. Hence, extensive research in the study of stability characteristics of non-circular bearings or lobed bearings assumed importance, of late. Present article deals with the stability analysis of non-circular offset bearing by taking selected set of input and output parameters. Modified Reynolds equation for micropolar lubricated rigid journal bearing system is solved using finite element method. Two kinds of input parameters namely, offset factors (0.2, 0.4) and aspect ratios (1.6, 2.0) have been selected for the study. The important output characteristics such as load, critical mass, whirl frequency ratio, and threshold speed are computed and plotted for various set of values of input parameters. The results obtained indicate that micropolar lubricated circular offset bearing is highly stable for higher offset factor and higher aspect ratio.

Comparison of Rotordynamic Analysis Predictions With the Test Response of Simple Gas Hybrid Bearings for Oil Free Turbomachinery

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah A. Wilde ◽  
Luis San Andre´s
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Natural Frequencies ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Rotor Speed ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Rotor Bearing ◽  
Frequency Ratios ◽  
Bearing System ◽  
Good Agreement

Current applications of gas film bearings in high-speed oil-free micro-turbomachinery (&lt;0.4 MW) require calibrated predictive tools to successfully deploy their application to mass-produced systems, for example oil-free turbochargers. The present investigation details the linear rotordynamic analysis of a test rotor supported on externally pressurized gas bearings. Model predictions are compared with the test rotordynamic response determined through comprehensive experiments conducted on a small rotor supported on three lobed hybrid (hydrostatic/hydrodynamic) rigid gas bearings. Predictions for the rotor-bearing system synchronous response to imbalance show good agreement with measurements during rotor coast downs, and manifest a decrease in damping ratio as the level of external pressurization increases. The rotor-bearing eigenvalue analysis forwards natural frequencies in accordance with the measurements, and null damping ratios evidence the threshold speeds of rotordynamic instability. Estimated whirl frequency ratios are typically 50% of rotor speed, thus predicting sub synchronous instabilities at lower rotor speeds than found experimentally when increasing the magnitude of feed pressurization. Rationale asserting the nature of the discrepancies calls for further analysis.

A Preliminary Study of Whirl Instability for Pressurized Gas Bearings

1962 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. H. Larson ◽  
H. H. Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Natural Frequency ◽  
Stability Criterion ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Rigid Rotor ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Bearing System

Experimental data are presented for the threshold of whirl instability for a short, rigid rotor supported in externally pressurized compensated gas journal bearings. The effects of supply pressures from zero to 200 psig and of radial clearances from 0.0006 to 0.0032 in. are discussed for one type of bearing configuration. A simple stability criterion is presented which explains qualitatively the observed trends. Whirl instability was observed when the frequency of rotation of the shaft exceeded from two to six times the lowest natural frequency of the shaft-bearing system.

Rotordynamic Performance of Flexure Pivot Hydrostatic Gas Bearings for Oil-Free Turbomachinery

2004 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuehua Zhu ◽  
Luis San Andre´s
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Damping Ratio ◽  
Extreme Temperature ◽  
Gas Bearings ◽  
Speed Increase ◽  
Feed Pressure ◽  
Motor Test ◽  
Direct Stiffness ◽  
Commercial Applications

Micro-turbomachinery demands gas bearings to ensure compactness, lightweight and extreme temperature operation. Gas bearings with large stiffness and damping, and preferably of low cost, will enable successful commercial applications. Presently, tests conducted on a small rotor supported on flexure pivot–hydrostatic pad gas bearings (FPTPBs) demonstrate stable rotordynamic responses up to 100,000 rpm (limit of the drive motor). Test rotor responses show the feed pressure raises the system critical speed (increase in bearing direct stiffness) while the viscous damping ratio decreases. Predictions correlate favorably with experimentally identified (synchronous) direct stiffness bearing force coefficients. Identified experimental gas bearing synchronous damping coefficients are 50% or less of the predicted magnitudes, though remaining relatively constant as the rotor speed increases. Tests without feed pressure show the rotor becomes unstable at ∼ 81 krpm with a whirl frequency ratio of 20%. FPTPBs are mechanically complex and more expensive than cylindrical plain bearings. However, their enhanced stability characteristics and predictable rotordynamic performance makes them desirable for the envisioned oil-free applications in high speed micro turbomachinery.

Experimental and Numerical Rotordynamic Analysis of a 1500 KW Turbocharger

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Behzad Zamanian Yazdi ◽  
Dung L. Tran ◽  
Chinmay Deshpande
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Analytical Model ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Journal Bearings ◽  
Acid Gas ◽  
Test Loop ◽  
Gas Removal ◽  
Rotor Bearing ◽  
Simulation Results ◽  
Bearing System

Abstract Hydraulic turbochargers are used in sea water reverse osmosis or acid gas removal cycles to recover wasted pressure energy, decrease operating cost, and increase the overall process efficiency. This paper presents rotordynamic analysis of a large hydraulic turbocharger developed for the acid gas removal process (1500 KW output power, shaft diameter of 101 mm, and operating speed of 8,000 rpm). The hydraulic turbocharger has significant advantages when compared to a reverse running pump such as high speed, compact hydraulics, seal-less design and process lubricated bearings. Utilizing a hydraulic turbocharger in acid gas removal cycles results in a much smaller footprint and no external lubrication oil skid and support system for mechanical seals. The turbocharger rotor consists of a hydraulic turbine runner directly coupled to a pump impeller in a back-to-back arrangement. The shaft is supported in the middle by a set of rigid-walled process-lubricated journal bearings resulting in an overhung configuration (bearing span = 180 mm, rotor mass = 50 kg). For a large high-speed rotor-bearing system, the bearing load-carrying capacity and rotordynamic stability are crucial to ensure a stable performance and to avoid catastrophic failure. In the presented study, rotordynamic performance of a rotor-bearing system is evaluated analytically and experimentally. An analytical model is developed to simulate the rotordynamic performance of a shaft supported by a set of journal bearings. The analytical model simulates the rotor’s orbit in the time domain by solving the rotor’s equation of motion, and solving the transient Reynold equation for each bearing simultaneously. In addition, the model considers the effect of turbulence. An in-house test loop is developed and used to evaluate the turbocharger’s hydraulic and mechanical performance. The test loop runs on a LabView-based control system. The rotor vibration is measured by a set of eddy-current probes, oriented perpendicular to each other. The simulation results from the analytical model are compared against measured experimental data. Comparison of the simulated waterfall and bode plots with experimental data shows that the simulation results agree with the measured data for the frequency and amplitude of vibration. Moreover, the effect of turbulence on the rotordynamic performance of the hydraulic turbocharger is investigated, and it is shown that the turbulence significantly changes the rotordynamic behavior of the system.

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