评价箔片径向空气轴承载荷性能的一种经验方法

介绍一种简单的“经验法则”来评价箔片空气轴承的载荷性能,它是一种可挠面的动压气体轴承,正在研究其在无油透平机械中的应用。经验法则是基于基本原理和文献中报道的可靠实验数据得出的,通过一个经验值——载荷系数D,将轴承的载荷性能和轴承的尺寸、速度联系起来。在经验法则中,轴承承载力是轴承转速和轴承设计面积的线性函数。轴承载荷系数D和轴承弹性支承结构的设计特点和轴承运行工况(温度、速度)有关。     

Load Capacity Estimation of Foil Air Journal Bearings for Oil-Free Turbomachinery Applications

This paper introduces a simple “Rule of Thumb” (ROT) method to estimate the load capacity of foil air journal bearings, which are self-acting compliant-surface hydrodynamic bearings being considered for Oil-Free turbomachinery applications such as gas turbine engines. The ROT is based on first principles and data available in the literature and it relates bearing load capacity to the bearing size and speed through an empirically based load capacity coefficient, D. It is shown that load capacity is a linear function of bearing surface velocity and bearing projected area. Furthermore, it was found that the load capacity coefficient, D, is related to the design features of the bearing compliant members and operating conditions (speed and ambient temperature). Early bearing designs with basic or “first generation” compliant support elements have relatively low load capacity. More advanced bearings, in which the compliance of the support structure is tailored, have load capacities up to five times those of simpler designs. The ROT enables simplified load capacity estimation for foil air journal bearings and can guide development of new Oil-Free turbomachinery systems.     

弹性箔片动压径向气体轴承起飞转速和承载能力的实验研究

在建立的气体轴承性能测试实验台上对新型弹性箔片气体动压径向轴承进行了起飞转速和承载能力的实验研究,并分别通过摩擦力矩和径向位移响应频谱两种方法分析了轴承的起飞转速。结果表明:轴承起飞后摩擦力矩逐渐减小并趋于稳定,且径向位移响应频谱图上只有较大的低倍频分量出现,高倍频分量和其它频率分量要小得多;两种分析方法得到的轴承起飞转速基本吻合;载荷越大,轴承和转子中心的偏心距越大;由于箔片弹性变形使卸载过程存在能量损失,同样载荷下卸载时的偏心距比加载时大。     

Journal Design Considerations for Turbomachine Shafts Supported on Foil Air Bearings

Foil air bearings can offer substantial improvements over traditional rolling element bearings in many applications and are attractive as a replacement to enable the development of advanced oil-free turbomachinery. In the course of rigorous testing of foil journal bearings at NASA Glenn Research Center, shaft failure was repeatedly encountered at high ambient temperature and rotational speed, with moderate radial load. The cause of failure is determined to be excessive non-uniform shaft growth, which increases localized viscous heating in the gas film and eventually leads to a high-speed rub and destruction of the bearing and journal. Centrifugal loading of imbalance correction weights and axial temperature gradients within the journal due to the hydrodynamic nature of the foil bearings, determined by experiment and finite element analysis, are shown to be responsible for the non-uniform growth. Qualitative journal design guidance is given to aid in failure prevention.     

An Experimental Investigation into the Temperature Profile of a Compliant Foil Air Bearing

A series of tests was performed to determine the internal temperature profile in a compliant bump-type foil journal air bearing operating at room temperature under various speed and load conditions. The temperature profile was collected by instrumenting a foil bearing with nine type-K thermocouples arranged in the center and along the bearing's edges in order to measure local temperatures and estimate thermal gradients in the axial and circumferential directions. To facilitate the measurement of maximum temperatures from viscous shearing in the air film, the thermocouples were tack-welded to the backside of the bumps that were in direct contact with the top foil. The mating journal was coated with a high-temperature solid lubricant that, together with the bearing, underwent high-temperature start-stop cycles to produce a smooth, steady-state run-in surface. Tests were conducted at speeds from 20 to 50 krpm and loads ranged from 9 to 222 N.

The results indicate that, over the conditions tested, both journal rotational speed and radial load are responsible for heat generation with speed playing a more significant role in the magnitude of the temperatures. The temperature distribution was nearly symmetric about the bearing center at 20 and 30 krpm but became slightly skewed toward one side at 40 and 50 krpm. Surprisingly, the maximum temperatures did not occur at the bearing edge, where the minimum film thickness is expected, but rather in the middle of the bearing, where analytical investigations have predicted the air film to be much thicker. Thermal gradients were common during testing and were strongest in the axial direction from the middle of the bearing to its edges, reaching 3.78° C/mm. The temperature profile indicated the circumferential thermal gradients were negligible.     

Air Injection as a Thermal Management Technique for Radial Foil Air Bearings

A thermal management technique for radial foil air bearings was experimentally evaluated. The technique is based on injecting air directly into the internal circulating fluid-film to reduce bulk temperatures and axial thermal gradients. The tests were performed on a single top foil, Generation III, radial foil bearing instrumented with three thermocouples to monitor internal temperatures. A through hole in the bearing shell coincident with the gap between the top foil's fixed and free ends provided entry for the injection air. The tests were conducted at room temperature with the bearing operating at speeds from 20 to 40 krpm while supporting 222 N. Two different mass flow rates of injection air were evaluated for this method, 0.017 and 0.051 kg/min. Test results suggest that the air injection approach is a viable thermal management technique capable of controlling bulk temperatures and axial thermal gradients in radial foil air bearings.     

应用于燃料电池的高速单级空气压缩机波箔轴承技术（英文）

The motivation to use air foil bearings in fuel cell compressors is driven by the demand for oil-free and high-power density system to reduce system volume and weight. The characteristics of air foil bearings that realize this demand are its independency on auxiliary system and no scheduled maintenance as well as their superb performance at high speeds. However, integration of the foil bearings to the compressor needs rigorous developmental tests for the bearing to withstand high g-load during vehicle maneuver and to remain stable in rotordynamics under external destabilizing forces. This paper presents multi-pads foil bearing technology applicable to single stage high speed fuel cell air compressors.Two different multi-pad air foil bearing designs(two-pad vs three-pad) were tested using a high-speed spin test rig to identify the differences in rotordynamics responses. The two-pad bearing is superior in rotordynamics without any sub-synchronous vibration while three-pad bearing provides more uniform load capacity in all directions with less rotordynamics stability. Frequency-domain modal analyses verify the experimental observations. Axial foil bearings with 38 mm outer diameter was designed and tested up to 140 krpm with load capacity of 90 N(1.4 bar specific load capacity).Finally, a platform design of single stage 15 k W fuel cell compressor with rated speed of 130 krpm is proposed using the multi-pad foil bearings and axial foil bearings developed through this paper.     

空气箔片轴承技术在高速单级燃料电池空压机上的应用（英文）

The motivation to use air foil bearings in fuel cell compressors is driven by the demand for oil-free and high-power density system to reduce system volume and weight. The characteristics of air foil bearings that realize this demand are its independency on auxiliary system and no scheduled maintenance as well as their superb performance at high speeds. However, integration of the foil bearings to the compressor needs rigorous developmental tests for the bearing to withstand high g-load during vehicle maneuver and to remain stable in rotordynamics under external destabilizing forces. This paper presents multi-pads foil bearing technology applicable to single stage high speed fuel cell air compressors.Two different multi-pad air foil bearing designs(two-pad vs three-pad) were tested using a high-speed spin test rig to identify the differences in rotordynamics responses. The two-pad bearing is superior in rotordynamics without any sub-synchronous vibration while three-pad bearing provides more uniform load capacity in all directions with less rotordynamics stability. Frequency-domain modal analyses verify the experimental observations. Axial foil bearings with38 mm outer diameter was designed and tested up to 140 krpm with load capacity of 90 N(1.4 bar specific load capacity).Finally, a platform design of single stage 15 k W fuel cell compressor with rated speed of 130 krpm is proposed using the multi-pad foil bearings and axial foil bearings developed through this paper.     

Thrust Bump Air Foil Bearings with Variable Axial Load: Theoretical Predictions and Experiments

Thrust air foil bearings are critical components in high-efficiency turbomachinery, such as two-stage compressors subjected to large and irregular axial forces. In this article, a model of thrust bump foil bearings that predicts deflection with variable axial load is developed assuming no tilting effect of the thrust collar. To predict the air clearance, deflection of the elastic foundation was used in the air film height equation. Combined Dirichlet and Neumann-type boundary conditions were used for static load performance predictions.

To verify the theoretical model, tests were performed with three different thrust air foil bearings with outer radii of 45, 50, and 55 mm. The rotating speed ranged from 10,000 to 25,000 rpm. From the test results, the model using nonlinear stiffness was in better agreement with the experimental results than the model using linear stiffness.     

Rotordynamic Analysis of an Oil-Free Turbocharger Supported on Lobed Gas Foil Bearings—Predictions versus Test Data

This article presents the predictions of the rotordynamic performance of oil-free turbochargers (TCs) for various lobed gas foil bearings (GFBs) with the first-generation bump-type configuration and compares these predictions to the measured test data reported earlier. The three-lobed GFBs used for the simulations have increased bearing clearances and mechanical preloads with a fixed minimum bearing clearance, thus yielding larger average bearing clearances and higher wedge effects at the same time. The engine-induced TC housing excitation is found to have no influence on the critical speeds and damping ratios of the rotor rigid modes. The synchronous and asynchronous GFB analyses imply decreases in destabilizing forces for the highly lobed GFBs. The predicted critical speed and damping ratio of the TC rotor supported on the lobed GFBs demonstrate increasing system natural frequency and enhanced rotordynamic stability with increasing mechanical preload. The rotordynamic and bearing analyses of the lobed GFBs validate the beneficial effects of the mechanical preload on the rotordynamic stability of GFBs even with an increased average bearing clearance, which leads to a decreased bearing friction torque as well.     

Thermal Management Techniques for Oil-Free Turbomachinery Systems

Tests were performed to evaluate three different methods of utilizing air to provide thermal management control for compliant journal foil air bearings. The effectiveness of the methods was based on bearing bulk temperature and axial thermal gradient reductions during air delivery. The first method utilized direct impingement of air on the inner surface of a hollow test journal during operation. The second, less indirect method achieved heat removal by blowing air inside the test journal parallel to the shaft axis to simulate air flowing axially through a hollow shaft. The third method emulated the most common approach to removing heat by forcing air axially through the bearing's support structure. Internal bearing temperatures were measured with three type K thermocouples embedded in the bearing that measured general internal temperatures and axial thermal gradients. Testing was performed in a 1 atm, 260°C ambient environment with the bearing operating at 60 krpm, and supporting a load of 222 N. Air volumetric flows of 0.06, 0.11, and 0.17 m³/min at approximately 150 to 200°C were used.

The tests indicate that all three methods provide thermal management but at different levels of effectiveness. Axial cooling of the bearing support structure had a greater effect on the bulk temperature for each air flow and demonstrated that the thermal gradients could be influenced by the directionality of the air flow. Direct air impingement on the journal's inside surface provided uniform reductions in both bulk temperature and thermal gradients. Similar to the direct method, indirect journal cooling had a uniform cooling effect on both bulk temperatures and thermal gradients but was the least effective of the three methods.     

Effect of internal friction in the dynamic behavior of aerodynamic foil bearings

The development of aerodynamic foil bearings in the past decade is due, for a major part to environmental reasons because: first, air is a clean lubricant and second foil bearings can be used in very critical thermal environment: air has a poor sensitivity to high temperature changes. Foil bearings are often used for very high velocity turbines. Experimental studies have shown the capability of foil bearing to work under rather high load capacity with good dynamic behavior. Numerical simulations are now able to predict with a good accuracy foil bearing load capacity. They take into account foil deformation and dry friction between foils. For dynamic simulation, dry friction has been taken into account only through damping coefficient. As damping is not completely similar to dry friction, this paper is a first attempt in taking account its effect in the foil bearing dynamic behavior. A non-linear model, coupling a simplified equation for the rotor motion to both Reynolds equation and foil assembly model is described. Then the dynamic behavior, for a given unbalance is studied. For different values of friction coefficient, the rotor trajectory is studied when velocity increased. For low and high friction coefficient, the dynamic behavior shows critical speeds. For medium values (between 0.2 and 0.4), these critical speeds disappear. This work outlines that it is possible to optimize the friction between the foils in order to greatly improve the dynamic behavior of foil bearings. With a detailed analysis of these first results we propose primary physical explanation of this phenomena.     

A Three-Dimensional Foil Bearing Performance Map Applied to Oil-Free Turbomachinery

To effectively apply compliant foil gas bearings to increasingly larger and more challenging turbomachinery, a comprehensive method that compares a foil bearing's capabilities with the application's operating requirements is needed. Extensive laboratory and field experience suggests that foil bearing failure is generally due to thermal stress brought on by excessive viscous power loss; therefore, a map that graphically relates component- and system-level parameters (bearing size, applied loads, and shaft rotational speeds) directly to bearing power loss is more elucidating than a map based on a lumped speed/load parameter like the Sommerfeld number. In this article we describe a performance map featuring a three-dimensional contour plot that illustrates the expected power loss in a foil bearing as a function of applied load and shaft speed. Using this performance map, bearing capabilities can be examined at the anticipated system operating conditions and safety margins between an operating point and incipient bearing failure can be ascertained. To demonstrate the concept's features and usefulness, we present a performance map generated from foil bearing power loss test data. We expect that these maps, combined with other predictive tools, will help evaluate a foil bearing's general suitability for a candidate rotor system and will lead to more robust and successful oil-free turbomachinery designs.     

Measured Performance of Tilting-Pad Journal Bearings over a Range of Preloads—Part II: Dynamic Operating Conditions

This article presents a comparison of the measured dynamic coefficients of five tilting-pad journal bearings with a range of preload factors. Each bearing had five shoes machined to a journal diameter of 70 mm, length-to-diameter ratio of 0.75, pivot offset ratios of 0.50, and a nominal assembled radial clearance of 81.3 μm. The rocker-backed tilt pads have nominal radial machined clearances of 176.8, 114.3, 91.4, 73.7, and 61.0 μm. These clearances constitute a range of preloads from ?0.333 to 0.540. Tested were both on-pad and between-pad orientations, with respect to applied forces. Dynamic coefficients are extracted from the test rig by applying sinusoidal synchronous forces and measuring the resulting relative journal-to-bearing motion. A range of speed-load conditions was used, resulting in a Sommerfeld number range of 0.1 to 4.5. Measured dynamic coefficients (nondimensional principal and cross-coupled stiffness and damping coefficients) show the influence of preload. For the speed and load conditions included herein, the dynamic coefficients were not strongly dependent on the preload factor. But very importantly the measured results demonstrate the reduced ability of tilting-pad journal bearings to satisfactorily operate in the negative preload regime for the bearings tested.     

考虑游隙的滚动轴承刚度模型及其时变特性分析

为了研究滚动轴承时变刚度对精密机床主轴回转精度的影响规律,在考虑游隙的条件下,建立滚动轴承的时变刚度模型,并提出采用平均刚度和刚度幅值变化率来表征刚度的时变特性.以深沟球轴承为例,分析了不同径向游隙、载荷、滚动体数对滚动轴承时变刚度的影响规律.结果表明,轴承的平均刚度与径向游隙负相关,与载荷和滚动体数正相关;刚度幅值变...     

复合材料水润滑艉轴承结构设计研究

基于ANSYS CFX流固耦合数值计算方法,对水润滑复合材料艉轴承的润滑性能及结构设计开展研究,阐述了不同水槽结构、间隙比、长径比、直径等对轴承承载力以及水膜压力、轴承变形量、最小水膜厚度、轴承摩擦因数的影响规律。并利用水润滑轴承试验台研究了不同水槽结构对轴承启动摩擦转矩、转变速度以及摩擦因数的影响。研究表明,轴承摩擦因数、水膜最大压强、轴承最大变形随水槽数增多而增大;轴承承载力、最小水膜厚度随间隙比增大而减小,随长径比增大而增大。总结了直径为100~500 mm、长径比为2~3、间隙比为0.1%~0.2%的水润滑艉轴承承载力的变化规律,为水润滑艉轴承设计提供一定的理论依据。     

Hydrostatic air foil bearings: Analytical and experimental investigation

Air foil bearings have been used in various micro-turbomachinery applications. One of the critical technical challenges in extending the operating envelope of the air foil bearing to larger systems than current applications is the issue of coating wear on the top foil and rotor during starts/stops.This paper reports the design, construction, and testing of the first hydrostatic air foil bearing (HAFB). The HAFB showed higher load capacity with much less air consumption than the hydrodynamic counterpart, which is a noticeable advantage of HAFB in efficiency and cooling capacity. In addition, start torque was very small and comparable to the friction torque of steady-state hydrodynamic operation. The small start torque clearly indicates that the HAFB can help to eliminate the wear problem that has been a chronic failure mode in heavily loaded air foil bearings.A simple analytical model for prediction of top foil deflection and sagging effects under hybrid (both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic) mode was developed. The new top foil deflection model showed very good agreement with published experimental data. The top-foil deflection model and associated bump dynamics were integrated into time-domain orbit simulations to predict imbalance responses of a rigid rotor supported by HAFBs.     

Dynamic stability experiments of compliant foil thrust bearing with viscoelastic support

In order to reduce the complexity of machine construction and improve the mechanical efficiency, high speed rotation machineries usually implement self-acting gas bearings to substitute the traditional oil-lubricated bearings. This paper presents test results of a gas thrust bearing with viscoelastic support which is designed for high speed turbo-machinery. The gas bearing, which belongs to compliant foil bearings, consists of a top thin metal foil and a bottom thin rubber foil. Static and stability experiments are conducted on a high speed gas turbine test rig. The static results indicate that the structural stiffness of test bearing generally increases with the increase in axial load and the decrease in thickness of bottom foil. In the rotation tests, rotor runs stably with small vibration amplitude, which is dominant in waterfall plot during whole speed up procedure. It shows that test bearing has preferable stability characteristics for high speed gas turbines.     

平箔动压止推气体轴承的试验研究

本文提出了一种新型结构的箔片止推动压气体轴承，搭建了多功能止推轴承试验台，并主要针对其承载力性能进行了初步的试验研究，试验轴承的外径为φ38mm，内径为φ16mm，在11000r/min的转速下获得的最大轴向承载力为44.1N。     

径向游隙对圆柱滚子轴承疲劳寿命的影响

应用经典的滚动轴承理论和“切片法”的基本思想,以某大兆瓦风电机组齿轮箱输出轴轴承为例,采用Romax Designer工程分析软件,计算了圆柱滚子轴承不同径向游隙时的轴承内部载荷分布、接触应力、套圈滚道当量动载荷和寿命,分析径向游隙对轴承ISO/TS 16281寿命的影响。研究结果表明：径向游隙不仅通过对轴承内部载荷分布、接触应力和套圈滚道当量动载荷的影响而对寿命产生影响,还通过对寿命修正系数等因素的影响而对寿命产生影响。研究结果可为滚子类轴承的优化设计提供参考。