Abstract
The problem of early wear diagnostics of the combined journal-and-thrust bearing of the turbo-pump unit (TPU) of the liquid-propellant rocket engine NK-33 is considered. A feature of the problem is the significant restriction on modifications of the power plant’s design. The original solution based on replacing the standard induction sensors of the turbo-pump rotational speed currently used in TPU by single-coil eddy current sensors (SCECS) with sensitive elements in the form of a segment of a linear conductor is proposed. The SCECS provide the monitoring of the axial displacement of the shaft in the thrust bearing, which characterizes the state of the unit and increases with the bearing wear. The function of the TPU shaft’s rotational speed measuring also remains. The article describes the proposed approach as well as a laboratory prototype of the system for early detection of the TPU thrust bearing’s wear. The results of the prototype research that confirm the feasibility of the proposed approach are analyzed.
Highlights
Sensors 2021, 21, 3463. https://The liquid-propellant rocket engine (LPRE) NK-33 was developed by academicianN.D
The sections consistently provide the explanation of the proposed approach for the early diagnostics of the combined journal-and-thrust bearing (CJTB) wear of the turbo-pump unit (TPU) of NK-33, the description of the design and functional features of the single-coil eddy current sensors (SCECS) with sensitive elements (SE) in the form of a segment of a linear conductor and its modification intended for installation on a TPU’s body as well as the description of the principles of converting the SCECS’s output parameter in the measuring circuit (MC) and further processing of the SCECS’ information signals to determine the TPU
The main purpose of the CJTB in TPU is to ensure the position of the turbo pump rotor relative to the stator, to take the axial pressure of the rotor and to prevent it from the moving in the direction of its own axis
Summary
The sections consistently provide the explanation of the proposed approach for the early diagnostics of the CJTB wear of the TPU of NK-33, the description of the design and functional features of the SCECS with SE in the form of a segment of a linear conductor and its modification intended for installation on a TPU’s body as well as the description of the principles of converting the SCECS’s output parameter (inductance) in the measuring circuit (MC) and further processing of the SCECS’ information signals to determine the TPU shaft’s rotational speed and the axial displacement of the shaft in the thrust bearing, which characterizes the state of the monitored unit.
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