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Dirusso, E.

Publications and source records attributed to Dirusso, E..

An active homopolar magnetic bearing with high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils and ferromagnetic cores

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high temperature superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in liquid nitrogen. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 200 lb (890 N) radial load capacity (measured non-rotating) and supported a shaft to 14000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that in Cu in liquid nitrogen. Design compromises permitted use of circular coils with rectangular cross section. Conductor improvements will eventually permit coil shape optimization, higher current density and higher bearing load capacity. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, required negligible power to carry its direct current. The control coils were wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag. These dissipated negligible power for direct current (i.e. for steady radial load components). When an alternating current (AC) was added, the AC component dissipated power which increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. In fact at frequencies above about 2 hz, the effective resistance of the control coil conductor actually exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. This is at least qualitatively understandable in the context of a Bean-type model of flux and current penetration into a Type II superconductor. Fortunately the dynamic currents required for bearing stability are of small amplitude. These results show that while twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation, twisted multifilaments will be required to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads, such as those due to unbalance.

Brown, G. V.

An active magnetic bearing with high T(sub c) superconducting coils and ferromagnetic cores

A proof-of-feasibility demonstration showed that high-T(sub c) superconductor (HTS) coils can be used in a high-load, active magnetic bearing in LN2. A homopolar radial bearing with commercially wound HTS (Bi 2223) bias and control coils produced over 890 N (200 lb) radial load capacity (measured non-rotatings) and supported a shaft to 14,000 rpm. The goal was to show that HTS coils can operate stably with ferromagnetic cores in a feedback controlled system at a current density similar to that for Cu in LN2. The bias coil, wound with non-twisted, multifilament HTS conductor, dissipated negligible power for its direct current. The control coils, wound with monofilament HTS sheathed in Ag, dissipated negligible power for direct current. AC losses increased rapidly with frequency and quadratically with AC amplitude. Above about 2 Hz, the effective resistance of the control coils exceeds that of the silver which is in electrical parallel with the oxide superconductor. These results show that twisted multifilament conductor is not needed for stable levitation but may be desired to reduce control power for sizable dynamic loads.

Brown, G. V.

Active vibration control for flexible rotor by optimal direct-output feedback control

Experimental research tests were performed to actively control the rotor vibrations of a flexible rotor mounted on flexible bearing supports. The active control method used in the tests is called optimal direct-output feedback control. This method uses four electrodynamic actuators to apply control forces directly to the bearing housings in order to achieve effective vibration control of the rotor. The force actuators are controlled by an analog controller that accepts rotor displacement as input. The controller is programmed with experimentally determined feedback coefficients; the output is a control signal to the force actuators. The tests showed that this active control method reduced the rotor resonance peaks due to unbalance from approximately 250 microns down to approximately 25 microns (essentially runout level). The tests were conducted over a speed range from 0 to 10,000 rpm; the rotor system had nine critical speeds within this speed range. The method was effective in significantly reducing the rotor vibration for all of the vibration modes and critical speeds.

Nonami, K.

Variable-Friction Secondary Face Seals

Feedback-controlled friction or damping suppresses vibrations. Variable-friction secondary seal conceived to control vibration and stability of primary seal ring over wide range of conditions. By varying friction force or damping applied to primary seal ring, vibration controlled to provide stable operation. Advantages of "variablefriction secondary seal": face-seal stability controlled as function of primary-ring vibration amplitudes, and also friction remotely changed to achieve acceptable vibration amplitudes for large range of seal-operating conditions without compromising secondary-seal performance. Concept also useful in seal testing in which dynamic stability of face seals is under evaluation.

Dirusso, E.

Spiral-Groove Ring Seal for Counterrotating Shafts

Self-lubricating seal tolerates high sliding speeds. Application of self-acting geometry in form of spiral grooves to faces of ring-seal housing maintains thin air film of relatively high stiffness between seal ring and housing, enabling seal to operate in noncontacting mode over entire engine-operating range. Potential application in sealing fan-bleed air between two counter-rotating shafts in advanced gas-turbine engines.

Dirusso, E.

Variable friction secondary seal for face seals

Vibration and stability of a primary seal ring is controlled by a secondary seal system. An inflatable bladder which forms a portion of the secondary seal varies the damping applied to this seal ring. The amplitude of vibration of the primary seal ring is sensed with a proximity probe that is connected to a microprocessor in a control system. The bladder pressure is changed by the control system to mitigate any sensed instability or vibration.

Dirusso, E.

Dynamic response of film thickness in spiral-groove face seals

Tests were performed on an inward- and an outward-pumping spiral-groove face seal to experimentally determine the film thickness response to seal seat motions and to gain insight into the effect of secondary seal friction on film thickness behavior. Film thickness, seal seat axial motion, seal frictional torque, and film axial load were recorded as functions of time. The experiments revealed that for sinusoidal axial oscillations of the seal seat, the primary ring followed the seal seat motion very well. For a skewed seal seat, however, the primary ring did not follow the seal seat motion, and load-carrying capacity was degraded. Secondary seal friction was varied over a wide range to determine its effect on film thickness dynamics. The seals were tested with ambient air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure as the fluid medium. The test speed ranged from 7000 to 20,000 rpm. Seal tangential velocity ranged from 34 to 98 m/sec (113 to 323 ft/sec).

Dirusso, E.

Design analysis of a self-acting spiral-groove ring seal for counter-rotating shafts

A self-acting spiral groove inter-shaft ring seal of nominal 16.33 cm (6.43 in.) diameter for sealing fan bleed air between counter-rotating hafts in advanced turbofan engines was analyzed. The analysis focused on the lift force characteristics of the spiral grooves. A NASA Lewis developed computer program for predicting the performance of gas lubricated face seals was used to optimize the spiral groove geometry to produce maximum lift force. Load capacity curves (lift force as function of film thickness) were generated for four advanced turbofan engine operating conditions at relative seal speeds ranging from 17,850 to 29,800 rpm, sealed air pressures from 6 to 42 N/sq cm (9 to 60 psi) absolute and temperatures from 95 deg to 327 C (203 deg to 620 F). The relative seal sliding speed range was 152 to 255 m/sec (500 to 836 ft/sec). The analysis showed that the spiral grooves are capable of producing sufficient lift force such that the ring seal will operate in a noncontacting mode over the operating range of typical advanced turbofan engines.

Dirusso, E.

Design analysis of a self-acting spiral-groove ring seal for counter-rotating shafts

A self-acting spiral groove inter-shaft ring seal of nominal 16.33 cm (6.43 in.) diameter for sealing fan bleed air between counter rotating shafts in advanced turbofan engines was analyzed. The analysis focused on the lift force characteristics of the spiral grooves. A NASA Lewis developed computer program for predicting the performance of gas lubricated face seals was used to optimize the spiral groove geometry to produce maximum lift force. Load capacity curves (lift force as function of film thickness) were generated for four advanced turbofan engine operating conditions at relative seal speeds ranging from 17,850 to 29,800 rpm, sealed air pressures from 6 to 42 N/sq cm (9 to 60 psi) absolute and temperatures from 95 to 327 C (203 to 620 F). The relative seal sliding speed range was 152 to 255 m/sec (500 to 836 ft/sec). The analysis showed that the spiral grooves are capable of producing sufficient lift force such that the ring seal will operate in a noncontacting mode over the operating range of typical advanced turbofan engines.

Dirusso, E.

Film thickness measurement for spiral groove and Rayleigh step lift pad self-acting face seals

One Rayleigh step lift pad and three spiral groove self-acting face seal configurations were tested to measure film thickness and frictional torque as a function of shaft speed. The seals were tested at a constant face load of 73 N (16.4 lb) with ambient air at room temperature and atmospheric pressure as the fluid medium. The test speed range was from 7000 to 17,000 rpm. The measured film thickness was compared with theoretical data from mathematical models. The mathematical models overpredicted the measured film thickness at the lower speeds of the test speed range and underpredicted the measured film thickness at the higher speeds of the test speed range.

Dirusso, E.