The performance and application of high speed long life LH2 hybrid bearings for reusable rocket engine turbomachinery

Hannum, N. P.; Nielson, C. E.

doi:10.2514/6.1983-1389

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 1 publication

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“…As early as at the beginning of the 1980s, NASA already attempted to introduce fluid-film bearings into the rocket turbopump. In 1983, Hannum et al [37] proposed a bearing combining rolling and hydrostatic fluid-film bearings, as shown in Figure 5. The combination bearing contains two angular contact ball bearings installed in a rotating journal.…”

Section: Fluid-film Bearingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Bearing Candidates for the Next Generation of Reusable Liquid Rocket Turbopumps

Miao

et al. 2020

Chin. J. Mech. Eng.

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There is a consensus in the aerospace field that the development of reusable liquid rockets can effectively reduce the launch expense. The pursuit of a long service life and reutilization highly depends on the bearing components. However, the rolling element bearings (REBs) used in the existing rocket turbopumps present obvious and increasing limitations due to their mechanical contacting mode. For REBs, high rotational speed and long service life are two performance indexes that mutually restrict each other. To go beyond the DN value (the product of the bearing bore and rotational speed) limit of REBs, the major space powers have conducted substantial explorations on the use of new types of bearings to replace the REB. This review discusses, first, the crucial role of bearings in rocket turbopumps and the related structural improvements of REBs. Then, with the prospect of application to the next generation of reusable liquid rocket turbopumps, the bearing candidates investigated by major space powers are summarized comprehensively. These promising alternatives to REBs include fluid-film, foil, and magnetic bearings, together with the novel superconducting compound bearings recently proposed by our team. Our more than ten years of relevant research on fluid-film and magnetic bearings are also introduced. This review is meaningful for the development of long-life and highly reliable bearings to be used in future reusable rocket turbopumps.

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Section: Fluid-film Bearingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of Bearing Candidates for the Next Generation of Reusable Liquid Rocket Turbopumps

Miao

et al. 2020

Chin. J. Mech. Eng.

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“…In 1980s, NASA launched several projects on long life bearing units for rocket engine turbopumps. This was resulted in more detailed studies on both PS and PL bearings (see for example [3], [10]- [11]). A LH2 turbopump was retrofitted with PSEX bearing to improve life time and dynamic characteristics (Fig.…”

Section: Application Of Hybrid Bearingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reliability Improvement of Rotor Supports by Combining Rolling-Element Bearings and Fluid-Film Bearings

Polyakov¹,

Савин²,

Shutin³

2014

AMM

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Reliability of rotating machinery is determined to a considerable degree by the bearing units. For several applications the requirements in rotation speed, bearing load and maximal vibration level are so extreme that neither rolling-element bearings nor fluid-film bearings could provide necessary performance characteristics during all regimes of operation. Hybrid bearings, which are a combination of rolling-element and fluid-film bearings, can improve performance characteristics and reliability of the rotor-bearing systems. The aim of this work is to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of the hybrid bearings. Known real applications of hybrid bearings are discussed. Analysis shows that depending on the application different hybrid bearing types could improve dynamic characteristics and life time of the bearing unit, increase load capacity and DN limit of the rolling-element bearing.

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“…Hybrid bearings mentioned earlier, including [11], can also be called a certain type of combination, as they allow the ability to combine the hydrostatic bearings operating at low speeds and hydrodynamic, operating at high speeds without the need for forced lubrication system, as well as active control functions. Additionally, other combinations are possible such as a combination of rolling and fluid film bearing [22].…”

Section: Types and Main Features Of Active Bearingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Review on Active Bearings and Perspectives of Using Them in Rotating Machinery

Shutin¹,

Савин²,

Babin³

2014

AMM

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The paper examines the issues of improving the rotor units by means of using support units with actively changeable characteristics. An overview of the known solutions related to the use of active bearings in various types of turbomachinery is provided. A closer look is given at the design and features of active radial bearings, the main elements of which are fluid film bearings. The results of mathematical modeling of active hybrid bearings are presented. The prospects of the use of this type of supports to improve the dynamic characteristics of rotating machinery, including reducing vibrations caused by various factors, are analyzed. Promising directions of development of active bearings are considered, which primarily involves the modification of system components and rotor motion control system algorithms, including intelligent technologies and artificial intelligence methods.

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The performance and application of high speed long life LH2 hybrid bearings for reusable rocket engine turbomachinery

Cited by 12 publications

References 1 publication

An Overview of Bearing Candidates for the Next Generation of Reusable Liquid Rocket Turbopumps

An Overview of Bearing Candidates for the Next Generation of Reusable Liquid Rocket Turbopumps

Reliability Improvement of Rotor Supports by Combining Rolling-Element Bearings and Fluid-Film Bearings

A Review on Active Bearings and Perspectives of Using Them in Rotating Machinery

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