Lightweight, High-Performance Magnetic Bearing for Gas Turbine Engines

Synchrony proposes to develop a magnetic bearing system for a gas turbine engine that features a lightweight, high performance, and inexpensive actuator. The innovation lies in a novel homopolar-type structure that offers an 85* increase in load capacity and a 33* decrease in weight relative to other homopolar configurations of similar size. The bearing also offers improvements in power consumption, controllability, manufacturability, and packaging. The Phase I objectives are to demonstrate the feasibility with proof-of-concept tests, trade studies, and preliminary design engineering. It is anticipated that the bearing will offer clear advantages for high temperature gas turbine systems. In Phase II, the bearing will be demonstrated as a full-scale prototype. The applications of interest to NASA in Phase III include high performance aircraft and spacecraft propulsion systems, vibration isolation systems, and rotordynamic test facilities.