Oil-Free shaft support system rotordynamics: Past, present and future challenges and opportunities

Recent breakthroughs in Oil-Free technologies have enabled new high-speed rotor systems and turbomachinery. Such technologies can include compliant-surface gas bearings, magnetic bearings and advanced solid lubricants and tribo-materials. This presentation briefly reviews critical technology developments and the current state-of-the-art, emerging Oil-Free rotor systems and discusses obstacles preventing more widespread use. Key examples of “best practices” for deploying Oil-Free technologies will be presented and remaining major technical questions surrounding Oil-Free technologies will be brought forward.

► Advanced foil-gas and electromagnetic bearings, solid lubricants and modeling enable Oil-Free rotating machinery.
► Emerging products benefit from the elimination of the oil system and its inherent speed and temperature limitations.
► New empirically based models for gas bearing rotordynamic coefficients allow simple feasibility assessments.
► Rational four-step development process outlines risk minimized system development.
► Oil-Free rotating machine systems continue to mature into larger, more complex and capable machinery.