Abstract
In this paper, a new kind of gas foil journal bearing using multi-decked protuberant foils as elastic support structure has been developed. Experimental test on the multi-decked protuberant foil journal bearing has been conducted on the high speed turboexpander. The maximum speed of 25 mm diameter rotor reached as high as 100 krpm. Meanwhile, at the same gas supply pressure, the rotor speed is higher in speed-down process than that in speed-up process due to the coulomb friction between the foils. In the whole test, the subsynchronous whirl can be suppressed effectively using the new structure. This all metal hydrodynamic gas foil bearing may be a promising candidate in cryogenic systems.
