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Gas Foil Bearings for Space Propulsion Nuclear Electric Power GenerationThe choice of power conversion technology is critical in directing the design of a space vehicle for the future NASA mission to Mars. One candidate design consists of a foil bearing supported turbo alternator driven by a helium-xenon gas mixture heated by a nuclear reactor. The system is a closed-loop, meaning there is a constant volume of process fluid that is sealed from the environment. Therefore, foil bearings are proposed due to their ability to use the process gas as a lubricant. As such, the rotor dynamics of a foil bearing supported rotor is an important factor in the eventual design. The current work describes a rotor dynamic analysis to assess the viability of such a system. A brief technology background, assumptions, analyses, and conclusions are discussed in this report. The results indicate that a foil bearing supported turbo alternator is possible, although more work will be needed to gain knowledge about foil bearing behavior in helium-xenon gas.
Document ID
20060008714
Acquisition Source
Glenn Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Howard, Samuel A.
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
DellaCorte, Christopher
(NASA Glenn Research Center Cleveland, OH, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 2006
Subject Category
Spacecraft Propulsion And Power
Report/Patent Number
NASA/TM-2006-214115
E-15448
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.
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