HIGH TEMPERATURE MAGNETIC BEARINGS FOR TURBINE ENGINES

A SIGNIFICANT GAIN IN PERFORMANCE AND REDUCTION IN WEIGHT IS AFFORDED BY INCREASING THE OPERATING TEMPERATURES OF TURBINE ENGINES. PRESENT LIQUID-LUBRICATED BEARINGS ARE A MAJOR OBSTACLE IN ACHIEVING THIS GOAL DUE TO TEMPERATURE LIMITATIONS OF THE OIL LUBRICANT. MAGNETIC BEARINGS OFFER AN ATTRACTIVE ALTERNATIVE IN THAT THEIR CONTACT-FREE OPERATION ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR BEARING LUBRICATION. CREARE PROPOSES TO DEVELOP AN ACTIVE MAGNETIC BEARING CAPABLE OF HIGH TEMPERATURE OPERATION. THE INNOVATION LIES IN A HIGH TEMPERATURE OPTICAL POSITION SENSOR FOR THE SHAFT, AS WELL AS A BEARING CONFIGURATION THAT SUPPORTS BOTH AXIAL AND RADIAL LOADS. THE FEASIBILITY OF THE CONCEPT WILL BE ASSESSED DURING PHASE I OF THE PROJECT. PRELIMINARY ANALYSES WILL BE PERFORMED, AND CANDIDATE HIGH TEMPERATURE MATERIALS ASSESSED. THE RESULT OF PHASE I WILL BE A PRELIMINARY DESIGN FOR THE BEARING AND ITS ASSOCIATED CONTROL CIRCUITRY. IF SHOWN FEASIBLE, THE PROTOTYPE BEARING WILL BE BUILT AND TESTED AT PROTOTYPICAL OPERATING TEMPERATURES IN PHASE II.