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romac |
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University of Virginia Rotating Machinery and Controls Laboratory P.O. Box 400746 122 Engineer’s Way Charlottesville, VA 22904 (434)924-3292 (434)982-2246(fax) |
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Rotating Machinery and Controls Laboratory |
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Fluid Film Bearing Test Rig
Industrial fluid film bearings are now operating at surface speeds that clearly place them in the turbulent flow range for the lubricant film. Bearing computer modeling codes, such as MAXBRG, have the capability to model these properties. However, virtually no measured data on dynamic properties of industrial bearings in this range have been obtained. The purpose of the ROMAC fluid film bearing test rig is to measure load capacity, thermal effects, stiffness and damping of oil-lubricated bearings under high speed industrial application conditions. The initial design specifies a 6 inch diameter tilting pad bearing with L/D = 0.5 operating at 16,000 rpm. Magnetic bearings will be used as exciters to support the shaft and perturb it with small displacement and velocity motions. Strain gauges on the magnetic bearing poles and other method will be used to measure the forces to determine the load capacity, stiffness and damping. A parameter optimization study is underway to finalize design values for the test rig. ROMAC will be working directly with bearing manufacturers to test the tilting pad bearings of primary interest.
Current Test Rig Concept Left: Exploded View. Right: Assembled View
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