Liquid hydrogen turbopump foil bearing

Space transfer vehicles and other power and propulsion systems require long-life turbopumps. Rolling element bearings used in current turbopumps do not have sufficient life for these applications. Process fluid foil bearings have established long life, with exceptional reliability, over a wide range of temperatures and fluids in many high-speed turbomachinery applications. However, liquid hydrogen turbopumps require high-load capacity bearings. An experimental study was conducted to measure foil journal bearing load capacity in liquid hydrogen, using a bearing designed specifically for cryogenic hydrogen turbopump applications. Additional performance parameters such as power loss, stability, cooling flow requirements, and bearing life were measured. These tests showed a load capacity safety factor of approximately 10 for liquid hydrogen turbopump applictions. These tests also demonstrated good rotor stability, low power loss and cooling flow, and long life.