Comparison of the feedback source between shaft displacement and load variation in controlled bearings

Abstract There has been much research into improving the characteristics of an externally pressurized thrust bearing and this has used two methods: a flow control device and sensing mechanisms. This report uses the latter method and deals with an externally pressurized thrust gas bearing which has a variable flow control device controlled by two signals. One source of signal is shaft displacement and the other is load variation. The results predict that a bearing controlled by load variation has a much higher performance than that controlled by shaft displacement. In the experiment a bearing which feeds back load variation showed a high performance for shaft displacement over a wide range of frequencies.