| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 561454 | Mechanical Systems and Signal Processing | 2012 | 10 Pages |
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.
