Compliant Hybrid Gas Bearing Using Integral Hermetically-Sealed Squeeze Film Dampers

Author(s):  
Bugra Ertas

Abstract The following paper focuses on an integral gas-film lubricated bearing concept developed to enable the oil-free operation of super-critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) turbomachinery. The externally pressurized tilting pad bearing concept possesses a flexible bearing support with an integral hermetically sealed squeeze film damper. Unlike the initial concepts using modular hermetic squeeze film dampers presented in past research, the bearing design in this work utilizes advanced manufacturing methods to yield an integral single piece design developed to reduce space envelope, cost, and improved overall design reliability. The paper advances a detailed description of the bearing design and identification of bearing support force coefficients. Non-rotating bearing support test results show the influence of vibration amplitude, frequency, and damper cavity pressurization on force coefficients for two different viscosity fluids. Results indicate an increase in stiffness and a decrease in damping when increasing the frequency of excitation. Damper cavity pressurization was shown to eliminate squeeze film cavitation for the vibration amplitudes and frequency range in the study. Additionally, the paper advances a transient fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis aimed at gaining insight on the interaction of flexible elements bounding a hermetic fluid volume experiencing sinusoidal vibratory motion. The analysis considers an idealized damper model with and without a vibration transmission post while varying diaphragm modulus of elasticity for three excitation frequencies. Computational results were able to capture the increase in stiffness and decrease in damping and show that the flexibility of the bounding elements influence the damper cavity volume change and phase; ultimately effecting dynamic cavity pressures and force coefficients.

Author(s):  
Bugra Ertas

AbstractThis paper focuses on an integral gas-film lubricated bearing concept developed to enable the oil-free operation of super-critical carbon dioxide (sCO2) turbomachinery. The externally pressurized tilting pad bearing concept possesses a flexible bearing support with an integral hermetically sealed squeeze film damper. Unlike the past concepts using modular hermetic squeeze film dampers presented, the bearing design in this work utilizes advanced manufacturing methods to yield an integral single piece design in efforts to reduce space envelope, cost, and improve overall design reliability. The paper advances a detailed description of the bearing design and identification of bearing support force coefficients. Nonrotating benchtop tests show the influence of vibration amplitude, frequency, and damper cavity pressurization on force coefficients for two different viscosity fluids. Results indicate an increase in stiffness and a decrease in damping when increasing the frequency of excitation. Damper cavity pressurization was shown to eliminate squeeze film cavitation for the vibration amplitudes and frequency range in the study. Additionally, the paper advances a transient fluid–structure interaction (FSI) analysis aimed at gaining insight on the interaction of flexible elements bounding a hermetic fluid volume experiencing sinusoidal vibratory motion. The analysis considers an idealized damper model with and without a vibration transmission post while varying diaphragm modulus of elasticity for three excitation frequencies. Computational results were able to capture the increase in stiffness and the decrease in damping and show that the flexibility of the bounding elements influence the damper cavity volume change and phase ultimately affecting dynamic cavity pressures and force coefficients.


Author(s):  
Bugra Ertas ◽  
Adolfo Delgado

The following paper presents a new gas bearing concept that targets machine applications in the megawatt (MW) power range. The concept involves combining a compliant hybrid gas bearing (CHGB) with 2 hermetically sealed squeeze film damper (HSFD) modules installed in the bearing support damper cavities. The main aim of the research was to demonstrate gas bearing-support damping levels using HSFD that rival conventional open-flow squeeze film dampers (SFD) in industry. A detailed description of the bearing design and functionality is discussed while anchoring the concept through a brief recap of past gas bearing concepts. Proof-of-concept experimental testing is presented involving parameter identification of the bearing support force coefficients along with a demonstration of speed and load capability using recessed hydrostatic pads. Lastly, a landing test was performed on the bearing at high speed and load with porous carbon pads to show capability of sustaining rubs at high speeds. The component testing revealed robust viscous damping in the bearing support, which was shown to be comparable to existing state of the art SFD concepts. The damping and stiffness of the system portrayed moderate frequency dependency, which was simulated using a 2D Reynolds based incompressible fluid flow model. Lastly, rotating tests demonstrated the ability of the gas bearing concept to sustain journal excursions and loads indicative of critical speed transitions experienced in large turbomachinery.


Author(s):  
Bugra Ertas ◽  
Adolfo Delgado

This paper presents a new gas bearing concept that targets machine applications in the megawatt (MW) power range. The concept involves combining a compliant hybrid gas bearing (CHGB) with two hermetically sealed squeeze film damper (HSFD) modules installed in the bearing support damper cavities. The main aim of the research was to demonstrate gas bearing-support damping levels using HSFD that rival conventional open-flow squeeze film dampers (SFD) in industry. A detailed description of the bearing design and functionality is discussed while anchoring the concept through a brief recap of past gas bearing concepts. Proof-of-concept experimental testing is presented involving parameter identification of the bearing support force coefficients along with a demonstration of speed and load capability using recessed hydrostatic pads. Finally, a landing test was performed on the bearing at high speed and load with porous carbon pads to show capability of sustaining rubs at high speeds. The component testing revealed robust viscous damping in the bearing support, which was shown to be comparable to existing state of the art SFD concepts. The damping and stiffness of the system-portrayed moderate frequency dependency, which was simulated using a 2D Reynolds-based incompressible fluid flow model. Finally, rotating tests demonstrated the ability of the gas bearing concept to sustain journal excursions and loads indicative of critical speed transitions experienced in large turbomachinery.


Author(s):  
Keith Gary ◽  
Bugra Ertas

Abstract Dynamic force coefficients are presented from experimental results of a radial gas bearing with hermetically sealed squeeze film dampers (HSFDs) in the bearing support. HSFDs are a relatively new technology aimed to increase damping levels in gas bearings while sustaining an oil-free bearing sump. Past HSFD designs proved bulky and contained many components making it difficult to employ in size-limited environments such as jet engines, while the diffusion bonded bearing discussed in this paper provides a compact integral design. Details of the design are found in a companion paper by Ertas (Ertas, B. H., 2019, “Compliant Hybrid Gas Bearing Using Integral Hermetically-Sealed Squeeze Film Dampers,” ASME Paper No. GT2018-76312). Test results for a 3 in. (76.2 mm) diameter bearing using a test rig providing static loads up to 80 lbs (356 N), controlled-dynamic orbital motion, and speeds up to 27 krpm are shown. Results include frequency- and speed-dependent direct and cross-coupled rotordynamic force coefficients. Dynamic testing showed little dependence on rotor speed or static load and exhibited frequency dependency at lower excitation frequencies. Cross-coupled terms are generally an order of magnitude lower than direct terms. Results show the direct stiffness coefficients increasing with frequency, while direct damping decays radically with frequency. Comparison of the overall gas bearing coefficients with the companion paper (Ertas, B. H., 2019, “Compliant Hybrid Gas Bearing Using Integral Hermetically-Sealed Squeeze Film Dampers,” ASME Paper No. GT2018-76312), showing bearing support coefficients, reveals a drastic reduction in damping when engaging the gas film. The results also indicate that the bearing can withstand vibration levels representative of a large rotor system critical speed at lower excitation frequencies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 254 ◽  
pp. 08005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Petr Ferfecki ◽  
Jaroslav Zapoměl ◽  
Marek Gebauer ◽  
Václav Polreich ◽  
Jiří Křenek

Rotor vibration attenuation is achieved with damping devices which work on different, often mutually coupled, physical principles. Squeeze film dampers are damping devices that have been widely used in rotordynamic applications. A new concept of a 5-segmented integral squeeze film damper, in which a flexure pivot tilting pad journal bearing is integrated, was investigated. The damper is studied for the eccentric position between the outer and inner ring of the squeeze film land. The ANSYS CFX software was used for solving the pressure and velocity distribution. The development of the complex three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of the squeeze film damper, learning more about the effect of the forces in the damper, and the knowledge about the behaviour of the flow are the principal contributions of this article.


Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés

Aircraft engine rotors are particularly sensitive to rotor imbalance and sudden maneuver loads, since they are always supported on rolling element bearings with little damping. Most engines incorporate squeeze film dampers (SFDs) as means to dissipate mechanical energy from rotor vibrations and to ensure system stability. The paper quantifies experimentally the forced performance of a SFD comprising two parallel film lands separated by a deep central groove. Tests are conducted on two open ends SFDs, both with diameter D = 127 mm and nominal radial clearance c = 0.127 mm. One damper has film lands with length L = 12.7 mm (short length), while the other has 25.4 mm land lengths. The central groove has width L and depth 3/4 L. A light viscosity lubricant flows into the central groove via three orifices, 120 deg apart and then through the film lands to finally exit to ambient. In operation, a static loader pulls the bearing to various eccentric positions and electromagnetic shakers excite the test system with periodic loads to generate whirl orbits of specific amplitudes. A frequency domain method identifies the SFD damping and inertia force coefficients. The long damper generates six times more damping and about three times more added mass than the short length damper. The damping coefficients are sensitive to the static eccentricity (up to ∼ 0.5 c), while showing lesser dependency on the amplitude of whirl motion (up to 0.2 c). On the other hand, inertia coefficients increase mildly with static eccentricity and decrease as the amplitude of whirl motion increases. Cross-coupled force coefficients are insignificant for all imposed operating conditions on either damper. Large dynamic pressures recorded in the central groove demonstrate the groove does not isolate the adjacent squeeze film lands, but contributes to the amplification of the film lands’ reaction forces. Predictions from a novel SFD model that includes flow interactions in the central groove and feed orifices agree well with the test force coefficients for both dampers. The test data and predictions advance current knowledge and demonstrate that SFD-forced performance is tied to the lubricant feed arrangement.


1986 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 332-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. San Andre´s ◽  
J. M. Vance

The effects of fluid inertia and turbulence on the force coefficients of squeeze film dampers are investigated analytically. Both the convective and the temporal terms are included in the analysis of inertia effects. The analysis of turbulence is based on friction coefficients currently found in the literature for Poiseuille flow. The effect of fluid inertia on the magnitude of the radial direct inertia coefficient (i.e., to produce an apparent “added mass” at small eccentricity ratios, due to the temporal terms) is found to be completely reversed at large eccentricity ratios. The reversal is due entirely to the inclusion of the convective inertia terms in the analysis. Turbulence is found to produce a large effect on the direct damping coefficient at high eccentricity ratios. For the long or sealed squeeze film damper at high eccentricity ratios, the damping prediction with turbulence included is an order of magnitude higher than the laminar solution.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luis San Andrés ◽  
Rachel Bolen ◽  
Jing Yang ◽  
Ryan McGowan

Abstract Aerostatic journal bearings with porous tilting pads enable shaft support with minute drag power losses. To date archival information on the static and dynamic load performance of this bearing type is scant. Thus, the paper presents measurements conducted with an air lubricated bearing with diameter d = 102 mm and comprising four tilting pads made of porous carbon-graphite, each with length L = 76 mm. Two nested Belleville washers resting on spherical pivots support each pad. At ambient temperature of ∼ 21°C, as the air supply pressure into the bearing pads increases, so does the bearing aerostatic specific load (F/(L·d)) that reaches 58% of the pressure difference, supply minus ambient. With an air supply pressure of 7.8 bar(a), the test bearing static stiffness KS = 13.1 MN/m, is independent of both shaft speed and static load. KS is just 63% of the washers’ stiffness KP = 20.6 MN/m (during loading). While operating with shaft speeds equal to 6 krpm and 9 krpm (150 Hz) and under specific loads to 115 kPa and 101 kPa respectively, dynamic load experiments with excitation frequencies up to 342 Hz show the test bearing supplied with air at 7.8 bar(a) has frequency independent stiffness (K) and damping (C) coefficients. For rotor speeds equaling 0, 6 and 9 krpm, the bearing direct stiffnesses KXX ∼ KYY range from 13.6 MN/m to 32.7 MN/m as the specific load increases from 0 kPa to 115 kPa. The direct damping coefficients CXX ∼ CYY are as large as 5.8 kN·s/m, though having a large experimental uncertainty. Bearing cross-coupled force coefficients are insignificant. The test porous gas bearing reached its intended load capacity, demonstrated a dynamically stable operation and produced force coefficients mainly affected by the pads’ pivot supports and the magnitude of air supply pressurization.


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