This is the first (Part I) of two papers describing recent results of the research program directed at developing a vibration damper suitable for high-temperature turbomachinery applications. It is expected that such dampers will replace squeeze-film dampers, which use oil as the working fluid and have limitations at higher temperatures. A novel gas-operated bearing damper has been evaluated analytically and experimentally for its damping characteristics. A theory based on the isentropic assumptions predicts the damper performance characteristics reasonably well. A maximum damping level of 2311 N-m/s (13.2 lb-s/in.) at a frequency of 100 Hz was measured with a single actuator of the gas damper. Since many such actuators could be placed circumferentially around the squirrel cage, considerable damping levels can be realized. The study also shows that significantly higher damping levels can be achieved by modifying the current design. Part I describes the theoretical model that has been developed based on isentropic assumptions. This model is an improved version of the previous theory (Vance et al., 1991) and includes the supply groove effects, dynamic area changes of the inlet feeding holes, and the effects of flow choking on damper behavior. The governing equations are derived and theoretical predictions using these equations have been made for two hardware designs that were experimentally investigated (see Part II for experimental results).
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October 1995
Research Papers
A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of a Gas-Operated Bearing Damper for Turbomachinery: Part I—Theoretical Model and Predictions
P. Sundararajan,
P. Sundararajan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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J. M. Vance
J. M. Vance
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
Search for other works by this author on:
P. Sundararajan
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
J. M. Vance
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. Oct 1995, 117(4): 742-749 (8 pages)
Published Online: October 1, 1995
Article history
Received:
July 15, 1994
Online:
November 19, 2007
Citation
Sundararajan, P., and Vance, J. M. (October 1, 1995). "A Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of a Gas-Operated Bearing Damper for Turbomachinery: Part I—Theoretical Model and Predictions." ASME. J. Eng. Gas Turbines Power. October 1995; 117(4): 742–749. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2815460
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