Oil Free Rotor Support for Small Turbine Engines

Advanced high-speed gas turbine engines continually subject the bearings to extreme environments making bearings the life limiting component in the engine. Oil free foil bearings will improve weapon system range, reduce weight and costs, and increaseoverall system reliability. Foil bearings are successfully used in aircraft environmental control systems. However, there is need for further research and development to support increased radial and axial loads in gas turbine engines. Several uniqueinnovations are being proposed which will make foil air bearings high load capacity, light weight and compact suitable for high temperature gas turbine engines. Critical technology barriers and a reasonable basis approach and timeline for success have beenoutlined. In Phase I feasibility of the approach will be shown by analysis, modeling and limited testing. In Phase II a prototype foil air bearing system will be tested in a laboratory and engine test facility simulating operating environments of a gasturbine engine e.g. speeds, temperatures, and thrust loads. High temperature foil bearings will provide more efficient, quieter, less costly and environmentally acceptable propulsion (gas turbines) , power generating systems (microturbines), high speedcompressors, UAVs and UCAVs.