Bearings for High-Speed Cruise Missile Engine

ABSTRACT:The overall objective of this proposed effort is to demonstrate bearing technology to meet the requirements for a high performance 1000 lbf thrust gas turbine engine.MiTi and its engine company subcontractor will establish simulator designs of two candidate engines representative of near and longer term applications of the advanced bearings to be demonstrated under this program.The engine subcontractor will establish engine modifications needed for bearing integration.Under Phase II the full scale high temperature bearings will be tested in a relevant environment including expected loads, speeds, temperatures and pressures.Testing will also include non-operating and operating vibration environment.In assessingboth journal and thrust bearing requirements, the limitations of and/or engine modifications needed to make the technology suitable for use in engines will be identified.MiTi will use high temperature bearing alloys in the candidate bearings for operation at relevant high temperatures and will test possible alternative approaches to meeting the requirements.After testing in the test rigs with substantially different load/speed characteristics MiTi will assess the range of scalability possible with the advanced bearing designs.Finally, an updated transition plan for engine integration and testing will be provided, including engine modifications needed to integrate the bearing technology.BENEFIT:This effort will directly support the US Air Force initiative for propulsion systems and components to enhance advanced gas turbine engine performance normalized to cost specifically directed at advanced cruise missile engines.Research performed during this SBIR will result in new design capabilities and methodologies for wide ranging applications such as Integrated Power Units (IPU), gas turbine engines for use in UAVs, missiles, drones and both General and Regional Aviation aircraft.Key markets for the foreseeable future that will be served by foil bearings will include energy and environmental areas, including turbine powered generators as well as waste heat recovery systems and compressors for transportation and delivery of natural or/or hydrogen gas. This technology will also support MiTis current oil-free compressors, blowers for wastewater treatment and high speed drive motors.