Measurements of Rotordynamic Response and Temperatures in a Rotor Supported on Metal Mesh Foil Bearings Available to Purchase

Gas bearings in power generation microturbomachinery (MTM) and for automotive turbocharger applications must demonstrate adequate thermal management without performance degradation while operating in a harsh environment. The paper presents rotor surface temperatures and rotordynamic measurements of a rigid rotor supported on a pair of metal mesh foil bearings (MMFBs) (L = 38.1 mm, D = 36.6 mm). In the tests, to a maximum rotor speed of 50 krpm, an electric cartridge heats the hollow rotor over several hours while a steady inlet air flow rate at ∼ 160 L/min cools the bearings. In the tests with the heater set to a high temperature (max. 200 °C), the rotor and bearing OD temperatures increase by 70°C and 25°C, respectively. Most rotor dynamic responses do not show a marked difference for operation under cold (ambient temperature) or hot rotor conditions. A linear rotordynamics structural model with predicted MMFB force coefficients delivers rotor response amplitudes in agreement with the measured ones for operation with the rotor at ambient temperature. There are marked differences in the peak amplitudes when the rotor crosses its (rigid body) critical speeds. The test bearings provide lesser damping than predictions otherwise indicate. Waterfalls of rotor motion show no sub synchronous whirl frequency motions; the rotor-bearing system being stable for all operating conditions. The measurements demonstrate that MMFBs can survive operation with severe thermal gradients, radial and axial, and with little rotordynamic performance changes when the rotor is either cold or hot. The experimental results, accompanied by acceptable predictions of the bearings dynamic forced performance, promote further MMFBs as an inexpensive reliable technology for MTM.