Abstract
The rotordynamic stability of journal gas foil–polymer bearings (GFPBs) applied to a dual-rotor bearing system was investigated. The GFPB has a high damping structure, i.e., it has an additional polymer layer, and top/bump/bottom foil structures. Test GFPBs were fabricated with nitrile butadiene rubber polymer layers with a thickness of 2 mm. Static-load-deflection tests of test gas foil bearings (GFBs) and GFPBs were performed to estimate the geometric bearing clearance (200 µm). The dual-rotor rotordynamic test rig consisted of a motor rotor, test rotor, and beam-type coupling. Two journal test bearings were installed on both the drive-end and non-drive-end sides of the test rotor. Predicting and testing the natural mode characteristics of the dual rotors revealed that the relative error between them was less than 7%, indicating that the first and second natural frequencies were 15 Hz and 160 Hz, respectively, and the third natural frequency was 1835 Hz in the tests. Based on the API 612 standard, the upper limit of the rotating speed for the test rig was limited to be approximately 92 krpm with a separation margin of 26%. Rotordynamic tests were conducted to examine the stability performance of GFBs and GFPBs, where the adjusted bearing clearance was 150 µm. The test results indicate that GFPBs have better stability performance in terms of delaying and suppressing unstable vibrations than GFBs. Specifically, GFPBs showed stable synchronous and subsynchronous responses up to a maximum rotating speed of 80 krpm. As a result, GFPB is a reliable lubricating element that can be used for vibration dampening in machines operating at relatively low temperatures.
Highlights
Gas bearings have been used as a key lubrication technology in high-speed rotating machines because of the advantages of low friction, high speed, and high-precision operation owing to gas lubrication properties [1]
Sim and Park [9] determined that the gas foil–polymer bearings (GFPBs) structure has 200% to 400% higher dampFurthermore, rotordynamic experiments with a single rotor system were conducted by ing properties compared to the gas foil bearings (GFBs) structure through structural excitation experiments
The stability of GFPB and GFB was investigated with a dual rotor system under the same conditions, and the bearing stability aspect was comparatively analyzed in the high-speed operation area
Summary
Gas bearings have been used as a key lubrication technology in high-speed rotating machines because of the advantages of low friction, high speed, and high-precision operation owing to gas lubrication properties [1]. They found that the GFPB could delay the occurrence of rotordynamic experiments with a single rotor system were conducted by instability at the same bearing clearance by 35%. They established a simple applying model the GFPB and GFB. Found that the GFPB could delay the occurrence of structural for GFPBs andThey demonstrated bearing stability performance with respect instability at the same bearing clearance by They established a simple to the polymer layer thickness in [8]. The stability of GFPB and GFB was investigated with a dual rotor system under the same conditions, and the bearing stability aspect was comparatively analyzed in the high-speed operation area
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