Oil-Free TurboCharger for AAAV

Extending the life, increasing reliability and reducing maintenance costs of existing Military Vehicle Propulsion Systems as well as developing higher performing systems technologies is essential. The objective of this Phase I effort is to establish the preliminary design and feasibility of developing an oil-free high-speed turbo charger for the Advanced Amphibious Assault Vehicle (AAAV). MiTi high temperature journal and thrust compliant foil air bearings combined with NASA high temperature solid film lubricants provide the fundamental technology elements that make oil free turbochargers viable. Design tradeoff studies will be conducted to establish the revised shaft and nominal bearing configurations needed to establish the oil-free turbocharger. Solid film lubricant coating manufacturing processes will also be identified and evaluated that will improve quality and reduce manufacturing costs associated with the required high temperature coatings. An optional task has also been proposed that will establish the preliminary design of the dynamic simulator needed in Phase II to successfully transition the technology to the AAAV main propulsion system.