High-speed, 1000 °F magnetic thrust test facility.
Large axial loads are induced on the rolling element bearings of a gas turbine. To extend bearing life, designers use pneumatic balance pistons to reduce the axial load on the bearings. A magnetic thrust bearing could replace the balance pistons to further reduce the axial load. To investigate this option, the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the NASA Glenn Research Center, and Texas A&M University designed and fabricated a 7-in.-diameter magnetic thrust bearing to operate at 1000 °F and 30,000 rpm, with a 1000-lb load capacity. This research was funded through a NASA Space Technology Transfer Act with Allison Advance Development Company under the Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) Intelligent Propulsion Systems Foundation Technology project.
The test rig was commissioned at Glenn in July 2004. Technical barriers that were addressed included designing a thrust disk design that can withstand high stresses at high speeds and temperatures, designing a disk attachment to the rotor, developing high-temperature coils, compensating for thermal expansion, developing a way to measure axial load at high speeds and temperatures, and developing cold and hot alignment procedures.
The test facility is operational, and a LabVIEW (National Instruments Corporation, Austin, TX) data-acquisition system is being used to collect test results. High-temperature and high-speed tests are in progress and are scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of 2005.
U.S. Army Research Laboratory, Vehicle Technology Directorate at Glenn contact: Gerald T. Montague, 216-433-6252, Gerald.T.Montague@grc.nasa.gov
Glenn contact: Andrew J. Provenza, 216-433-6025, Andrew.J.Provenza@nasa.gov
Author: Gerald T. Montague
Headquarters program office: OAT
Programs/Projects: UEET
Last updated: July 21, 2005 2:42 PM
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