Study of new aerodynamic foil thrust gas bearing with elastic support for cryogenic turbo-expander

Publisher Summary This chapter conducts an experimental study to meet requirements of the gas bearing cryogenic turbo-expanders development. A new type of aerodynamic foil gas thrust bearing with elastic support is proposed and developed. The experimental study has been conducted on the gas bearing test rig. The factors affected on the main performances of the gas bearing have been analyzed and the ranges of optimum bearing parameters have been obtained. The Cryogenic turbo-expander, using the foil gas beatings with elastic support, has better development potential and wide application foreground. In recent years, two types of new self-acting foil thrust beatings have been proposed and developed. The foil beating is supported with double layers copper wires and elastic material respectively. And the domestic experiments have been conducted on the gas beating test rig. The features of the new aerodynamic foil thrust gas beating with elastic support are given briefly in this chapter. The experimental results indicate that the new aerodynamic foil thrust gas bearing with elastic support possesses good stability and operation performance. The good damping characteristics of the elastic support material restrain the rotor's vibrations and the growth of whiting amplitudes. And the flexible surface of the bearing decreases the damage to the rotor and the beating surface effectively. The good damping characteristics of the elastic support and the good performance of the bearing are presented sufficiently.