USA flag logo/image

An Official Website of the United States Government

Innovative Passive Magnetic Thrust Bearings for High-Speed Turbomachinery

Award Information

Agency:
Department of Defense 		Branch:
Navy 		Award ID:
95166 		Program Year/Program:
2010 / STTR
Agency Tracking Number:
N10A-037-0752 		Solicitation Year:
N/A 		Solicitation Topic Code:
NAVY 10T037 		Solicitation Number:
N/A
Small Business Information
Mainstream Engineering Corporation
200 Yellow Place Pines Industrial Center Rockledge, FL -
View profile »
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
 
Phase 1
Fiscal Year: 2010
Title: Innovative Passive Magnetic Thrust Bearings for High-Speed Turbomachinery
Agency / Branch: DOD / NAVY
Contract: N00014-10-M-0282
Award Amount: $69,992.00
 

Abstract:

In miniature gas turbines for UAV applications, traditional bearings exhibit a typical lifetime of only 25 hours due to excessive axial loading. Mainstream proposes to use a passive, permanent magnet thrust bearing to alleviate this problem and increase service life to over 1000 hours. Since this type of bearing is non-contacting, it can operate at very high rotational speeds with minimal heat generation and extended operating life. Mainstream has already performed a preliminary design for this thrust bearing which is small, lightweight, and requires no power or active control. The bearing geometry has already been optimized for size and weight and our simulations have shown that the bearing achieves the required 200 N bidirectional force capacity while maintaining an axial tolerance of 0.1 mm and a size that is competitive with traditional bearings. The design also provides a mechanism for passive damping to mitigate vibrations in the axial direction. In addition, this novel geometry lends itself well to mass production and is flexible enough to easily allow scaling to different sizes and capacities. In Phase I, Mainstream and Florida Institute of Technology will design, fabricate, and test a prototype thrust bearing and prepare for Phase II integration and production.

Principal Investigator:

Thomas Lasko
PI/Mechanical Engineer
3216313550
tlasko@mainstream-engr.com

Business Contact:

Michael Rizzo
Controller
3216313550
mar@mainstream-engr.com
Small Business Information at Submission:

Mainstream Engineering Corporation
200 Yellow Place Pines Industrial Center Rockledge, FL 32955

EIN/Tax ID: 592744408
DUNS: N/A
Number of Employees:
Woman-Owned: No
Minority-Owned: No
HUBZone-Owned: No
Research Institution Information:
Florida Institue of Technology
150 WEST UNIVERSITY BLVD
MELBOURNE, FL 32901
Contact: Razvan Rusovici
Contact Phone: 3216747239