KAPL Analyzes CO2 Foil Thrust Bearing Characteristics with Simulation
Treevor Munroe
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Niskayuna, NY
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory (KAPL) is a research and development facility supporting the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. KAPL recently collaborated with Bettis Atomic Power Laboratory to test a supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) Brayton power cycle system.
The system was designed to operate at high speed and high gas pressure, which means the turbine shaft bearings must withstand a wide range of radial and axial loads. The thrust bearings used to constrain the axial forces, however, showed extensive wear at certain speeds.
Using COMSOL Multiphysics, KAPL was able to analyze the structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer of the Brayton power cycle system to better understand the operation and deterioration of the thrust bearings. This allowed them to optimize geometry and to improve bearing performance.
Suggested Stories
Boeing Simulates Thermal Expansion in Composites with Expanded Metal Foil for Lightning Protection of Aircraft Structures
Carbon fiber composites are used extensively throughout the body of modern aircraft, such as the Boeing 787 ...
Floating on Sound Waves with Acoustic Levitation
As part of an industry that saves lives on a regular basis, pharmaceutical companies are in need of systems that can ...
Développer de meilleurs résonateurs pour la technologie CMOS
Les technologies sub-GHz sont utilisées en masse pour la domotique, la surveillance des infrastructures, etc. Cette ...
Current Transformer Design That Combines Finite Element Analysis and Electric Circuit Simulation
Transformers have been around for quite a while but their fundamentals are still being investigated by ABB in ...
