Power conversion systems based upon the Closed Brayton Cycle (CBC) turbine are under consideration for space power generation applications. Using this approach, inert gas, heated with a nuclear reactor or other means, is used to drive a turbine‐generator in a recirculating flow path. As a closed system, contamination of the working fluid, for instance with bearing lubricating oil, cannot be tolerated. To prevent this possibility, compliant surface gas film bearings are employed that use the working fluid as their lubricant. Foil gas bearings are in widespread use in turbocompressors and microturbines in aeronatuics and terrestrial applications. To successfully implement them for space power CBC systems, research is underway at NASA’s Glenn Research Center to assess foil bearing start‐up torque requirements, bearing thermal management and the effects of high ambient pressures in inert gases on performance. This paper introduces foil gas bearing rotor support technologies and provides an update on bearing performance testing and evaluations being conducted to integrate foil bearings in future CBC turbine systems.


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    Title :

    Rotor Support Technology Developments for Long Life Closed Brayton Cycle Turbines



    Conference:

    SPACE TECH.& APPLIC.INT.FORUM-STAIF 2006: 10th Conf Thermophys Applic Microgravity; 23rd Symp Space Nucl Pwr & Propulsion; 4th Conf Human/Robotic Tech & Nat'l Vision for Space Explor.; 4th Symp Space Coloniz.; 3rd Symp on New Frontiers & Future Concepts ; 2006 ; Albuquerque, New Mexico (USA)


    Published in:

    AIP Conference Proceedings ; 813 , 1 ; 653-661


    Publication date :

    2006-01-20


    Size :

    9 pages





    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



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