Project Title:
Magnetic Suspension Bearings for Space Shuttle Main-Engine Turbopumps
11.09-0250
911453
Magnetic Suspension Bearings for Space Shuttle Main-Engine Turbopumps
Avcon-Advanced Controls Technology, Inc.
19151 Parthenia Street, Unit G
Northridge
CA
91324
Crawford R.
Meeks
818-886-0250
MSFC
NAS8-39307
230
11.09-0250
911453
Abstract:
Magnetic Suspension Bearings for Space Shuttle Main-Engine Turbopumps
The reliability and performance of Space Shuttle main engines (SSME) are critical
to mission launch success and safety. Currently, SSME reliability and performance
are limited by turbopump bearing failure, both in the high-pressure liquid-oxygen
and high-pressure fuel turbopumps (HPOTP and HPFTP). Current bearing limitations
are related to high stresses and wear as well as to harsh (temperature and corrosion)
environments. Magnetic bearing (MB) suspension technology can alleviate these problems
because the MB actuator, sensor, and control system can compensate for uneven loading,
suffer no wear, tolerate or seal-off corrosive agents. The applicability of MB to
SSME has been limited by the MB size, weight, and power draw, as well as eddy current
and hysteresis losses (which drastically limit practical RPMs). The company has a
new class of MB designs that concurrently reduces size, weight, power draw, plus
eddy current and hysteresis losses. The methodology of this new class of MB design
is applied to SSME turbopumps designs. Near-term designs are based on state-of-the-art
permanent magnets and high-efficiency magnetic materials. Far-term designs are based
on high-temperature superconducting materials.
This innovative technology would apply to radial and thrust bearings for military
and commercial turbine engines; spindle and linear translator bearings of optical
data storage disks; ultraprecision bearings for scanning spectrometers; replacement
for air bearings in long-term, unattended applications; and bearings for heavy duty,
low-maintenance compressors, and turbopumps.
Space Shuttle main engine, magnetic suspension bearing, homopolar, turbopumps, permanent
magnet bias, eddy current/hysteresis losses