MINIATURE GAS BEARING TURBOEXPANDER FOR AIRCRAFT ON-BOARD OXYGEN GENERATING SYSTEMS

THIS PROJECT ADDRESSES THE NEED FOR EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE SUPPLY OF OXYGEN ON BOARD COMBAT AND TRANSPORT AIRCRAFT. THE PROPOSED EFFORT SPECIFICALLY INVOLVES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MINIATURE HIGH SPEED TURBOEXPANDER FOR A HYBRID OXYGEN SYSTEM FOR ON-BOARD OXYGEN GENERATION AND STORAGE. THE TURBOEXPANDER IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT IN AN OPEN CYCLE REFRIGERATION STAGE WHICH USES ENGINE BLEED AIR TO LIQUEFY OXYGEN SUPPLIED FROM AN OXYGEN CONVERTER. IN PHASE I, THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE TURBOEXPANDER WILL BE ESTABLISHED. THE KEY ISSUES TO BE ADDRESSED INCLUDE THE TURBOEXPANDER'S PERFORMANCE AND THE ROBUSTNESS OF THE GAS BEARING SYSTEM OVER THE RANGE OF ANTICIPATED OPERATION IN THE OPEN CYCLE ENVIRONMENT.