List of projects completed
Projects 2022 – with Dr. Adolfo
Delgado (Principal Investigator)
· Model Textured Dry Gas Face Seals
Objective: Produce advanced
computational models for face seals including thermo-mechanical
deformations
Sponsor: John Crane, 2022-2024 (2 years)
· Model Aerodynamic forces in axial turbine stage
Objective: Produce advanced
computational model for unshrouded turbomachinery
Sponsor: Baker-Hughes, 2022-2024 (2 years)
· Model Nonlinear dynamics of ESPs
Objective: Develop NL model for
submersible electrical pumps (multiple stages)
Sponsor: Schlumberger, 2022-2023 (1 year)
List
of completed projects (2001-2022)
· CFD models for Gas Labyrinth Seals, Pump Seals, and
Two-Phase Pocket Damper Seals
Objective: Produce CFD analysis of high
fidelity to replicate experimental results and advance knowledge on
multiple-phase seals
Sponsor: Turbomachinery
Laboratory, 2017-2018
(2 years), Turbomachinery Research
Consortium, 2018-2022 (5 years).
· Wet Seals for Sub-Sea multiple phase compressors
Objective: Measure leakage and dynamic
force coefficients in various liquid seals with gas injected.
Sponsor: Turbomachinery
Research Consortium, 2013-2018, 2020-22 (7 years)
· Test Program for Evaluation of Direct
Lubrication Methods in Tilting Pad Bearings
Objective: Evaluate effect of nozzle
feed holes on earing performance.
Sponsor:
Elliott Group (1
year)
· Test Program for Evaluation of Reduced Flow
Rate on Tilting Pad Bearing Performance
Objective: Measure applied load, flow,
torque, pad temperatures, and rotordynamic force coefficients vs flow rate
Sponsor:
Turbomachinery Research Consortium, 2019-2021 (3 years).
· Test Program for Fluid Film (Oil and Gas) Journal Bearings
Objective: Measure applied load, flow,
torque, pad temperatures, and rotordynamic force coefficients in various
Bearing Configurations
(a) Integral SFD and
computational model, (b) New Way Bearing porous hydrostatic tilting pad gas
bearing, (c) oil lubricated tilting pad journal bearing – effect of flow rate
(from flooded to starvation ).
Sponsor:
Turbomachinery Research Consortium, 2018-20 (4x1 year)
· Squeeze Film Dampers – Identification of
dynamic forced performance
Objective: Effect of End Seals on SFD performance .
Measurements and force coefficients identification
completed for Piston-Rings and O-rings sealed dampers.
Sponsor: Turbomachinery
Research Consortium, 2012-2020 (8 years)
· Bearings: herringbone grooved and porous
surface
Objective: Predictive tools for design
of gas bearings for advanced high speed HVAC
applications
Sponsor: Ingersoll-Rand, 2019-2020 (15 months).
· Oil-Free Turbochargers for Propulsion
Systems in UAVs.
Objective: Advance technology of
oil-free TCs operating at high altitudes
Sponsor: Army Research
Laboratory, Propulsion Directorate
· Computational Model for Tilting Pad
Journal Bearings (Radial & Thrust Self-Equalizing)
Objective: Develop code for prediction
of tilting pad bearings forced response accounting for thermal effects and
including pad surface and pivot radial and transverse flexibility.
Sponsor: Turbomachinery Research Consortium, 2010-2020 (10 years).
· Computational Model for Floating Ring
Bearings in Turbochargers (TCs)
Objective: Develop codes for complete
rotor-bearing system and application to TC nonlinear dynamics
Sponsor:
KeyYang Precision (South Korea), 2017-2020 (3 years)
·
Hybrid CFD-Bulk
Flow Models for Pump Seals and Gas Labyrinth Seals
Objective: Build accurate (and fast)
bulk-flow models for grooved pump seals based on CFD predictions
Axisymmetric flow calculations, extraction of
friction factors and prediction of dynamic force coefficients routinely
performed.
Sponsor: Torishima
Pumps, 2014-2016
(2 years), Turbomachinery Research
Consortium, 2015-2020 (5 years).
·
Squeeze Film
Dampers – Identification of dynamic forced performance & operating with air
ingestion
Objective: To assess novel SFD designs
for aircraft applications.
Sponsor: Pratt & Whitney
Engines, January
1, 2012-October 31, 2018 (8 years).
· Test Program on Static and Dynamic Forced Response
of Tilting Pad Journal Bearings
Objective: Measure applied load, flow,
torque, pad temperatures, and rotordynamic force coefficients in a number of
(sponsor) tilting pad journal bearings. 16 bearing
configurations tested
Sponsor:
Elliott Co., 2016-2018 (2 years + 2 months).
· Test Program on Interlocking Labyrinth
Seals (ILS) for Steam Turbines
Objective: Measure flow rate, inlet
swirl and cavity pressures in ILS as function of clearance, supply inlet and
outlet pressures, and rotor speed. Dynamic motions exerted by a magnetic
bearing system.
Sponsor:
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), 2017-2018 (1 year)
· Wet Seals for Sub-Sea multiple phase compressors
Objective: Build gas in oil mixtures
and measure leakage and force coefficients in various seals.
Sponsor: Turbomachinery
Research Consortium, 2013-2018 (5 years).
· Porous-Carbon gas bearings (PCGB) for high
speed turbomachinery
Objective: test commercial porous
carbon bushings and seals to determine rotordynamic performance
Sponsor: Turbomachinery Research Consortium & New-Way
Bearings, 2016-17(2 years).
· Metal mesh foil bearings (MMFB) for high
speed turbomachinery
Objective: Continue to advance gas
bearing technology for high temperature, high speed microturbomachinery
applications (power < 400 kW).
Sponsor: Turbomachinery Research Consortium, 2011-12, 2015-17 (3 year).
· Computational Model for Gas Seal
Cartridges
Objective: Develop integral code for
labyrinth seals and gas face seals
Sponsor:
Hyundai RC, 2014-2015 (1 year)
· SSV-Free Tilting Pad Bearings
Objective: Model Tilting Pad Bearing
Dynamics and Prediction of pad natural frequencies and onset of sub-synchronous
vibrations.
Sponsor : Hitachi
RC, 2013-2015 (3 years) – Proprietary
· Computational Model for Lubricated Thrust
Collars
Objective: Develop code for leakage and
forced response of lubricated thrust collars for integrally geared compressors.
Sponsor
: Samsung Techwin,
2012-2014 ( 2 year),
· Thermal Energy Transport Analysis for
(Semi) Floating Ring Bearings in Turbochargers
Objective: Integrate thermal energy
transport for prediction of forced response in turbocharger bearings
Sponsor
: Honeywell Turbocharging
technologies, 2010-2013
(2 year).
· Measurement of leakage in a novel
all-metal non-contacting annular seal at high temperature
Objective: revamp high temperature gas
seal test rig for high speed operation and to measure
leakage for a labyrinth seal and a HALOTM seal
Sponsor
: Turbomachinery Research
Consortium, Project started September 1,
2010 (2 years).
· Automated Analysis of XLTRC2 Time
Transient Responses in Nonlinear Rotor Bearing Systems
Objective: Modeling of NL rotor-bearing
systems and GUIs for data handling of XLTRC2 nonlinear transient rotor response output data.
Sponsor: Turbomachinery Research Consortium, Project start May 1, 2011 (2
year).
· Computational Model for Textured Surface
Gas Face Seals
Objective: Develop code for leakage and
forced response in textured gas face seals for steam turbines.
Sponsor
: Ciateq A.C.
(Mx).
·
Gas Bearings for
Oil-Free Turbomachinery
Objective: To advance the technology of inexpensive reliable gas
bearings for micro gas turbines and micro power systems
Sponsors: TRC (Turbomachinery
Research Consortium)
1.
Metal Mesh Foil
Bearings for Microturbomachinery
Objective: Further development of predictive models anchored to
test data for prediction of mechanical parameters of metal mesh foil bearings.
high
speed ( 60 krpm) test rig completed. Measurements of bearing lift off and drag
torque during start up and shut down obtained. In 2010, measurements of metal
mesh bearing force coefficients completed.
Sponsor: TRC (2007-2009), test rig
donated by Honeywell Turbocharging Technologies
· Foil Gas Bearings for Oil-Free
Turbomachinery
Objective: To quantify the structural and dynamic forced
performance of bump type foil gas bearings for high
temperature micro turbine applications
Computational
analysis complete to model thermal management of foil bearings. High temperature test rig (max 400 C) in
operation: MiTi Korolon®
bearings and Foster-Miller bearings. Cooperation with KIST Korean Institute of
Science and Technology).
Sponsors: NSF (2004-2006), NaSA GRC (2007-2009), TRC (2004-2008)
· Hybrid Brush Seals to Improve Gas Turbine
Efficiency
Objective: Measurements of leakage, power loss and structural
parameters in labyrinth seal, brush seal and hybrid brush seals for gas turbine
applications
High
temperature (300 C) test rig operational. Comparisons of leakage measurements
in labyrinth seal, brush seal, hybrid brush seal completed. Tests with novel
HALO® seal in progress. Hybrid brush
seals have 1/15 less leakage than labyrinth seal and 1/3 less than conventional
brush seal.
Sponsor: Siemens Power Generation
(2006-2009), Seals
from Advanced Turbomachinery Group (ATG)
· Dynamic Force Performance of Squeeze Film
Dampers
Objective: To assess effect of mechanical end seal on dynamic forced performance
of a test SFD.
Test rig accommodates a SFD with a (non rotating) mechanical seal that
adds dry friction to system while containing lubricant for extended periods of
time and without side leakage. Seal design most successful to avoid air
ingestion and entrapment. Structural, dry-friction parameter of mechanical seal
and squeeze film damper damping and inertia
coefficients identified from single frequency load tests forcing unidirectional
and circular centered orbits. Predicted SFD force coefficients agree well with
measured ones.
Sponsor: TRC 2004-2009
· Nonlinear Rotordynamics of Automotive
Turbochargers: Computational Analysis of Floating Ring
Journal Bearings (FRBs) and Experimental Validation in a Turbocharger Test Rig
Objective: To advance (experimentally validated) computational tools for
prediction of the dynamic forced response of turbocharger rotors supported on
FRBs. Virtual Laboratory (computational software) is a production tool at
Honeywell. Research continues to model compressor and turbine aerodynamic
forces and more complex bearing geometries. Advice on foundation model to
Shanghai Jiatong University (China).
Sponsor: Honeywell Turbo Technologies 2001-2008
· CLIN 004 - Tool/Method Development of the
AFRL Upper Stage Technology Program (USET) Turbopump
USET Development
Objective: Experimental validation and enhancements of computational models for
prediction of dynamic forced performance of cryogenic liquid hydrostatic
bearings - USAF Upper Stage Engine Technology Program.
(a): To develop hydrostatic
bearing tool with capability for modeling the non-linear forced response of
fluid film bearing, i.e. bearing reaction forces (impedance models) as a
function of instantaneous journal position, velocity and acceleration
(b): Create capability for modeling
speed dependent non-linear operation in mixed flow regime (fluid and solid
contact), including prediction of lift-off speed
(c): Experimental
Study of Hydrostatic / Hydrodynamic Thrust Bearings: 25 krpm, 250 psi, 600 lbf, water bearings.
Sponsor: Northrop Grumman
2005-2008
· On
Site Identification of Bearing Parameters in Flexible Rotor Systems
To develop procedures for practical on site reliable bearing parameter identification techniques
· Research Experiences for Undergraduates:
Development of Microturbomachinery
Sponsor: National Science Foundation
(4 years) 2006-2010, REU#0552885
P.I: Dr. Wayne Hung (ENTC),
co-pi: Dr. Luis San Andrés
Objective: The
REU Summer Program funds 30 junior-level
students to conduct hand-on training and research in mechanical, manufacturing,
industrial, or materials engineering topics related to technological advances
in microturbomachinery. This program is part of a
larger scale multidisciplinary research project at TAMU to develop microturbines to enhance defense, homeland security,
transportation, and aerospace applications. Activities include a series of informative seminars, field trips
and social events to complement the research activities while enhancing the
group cohesiveness. Students will also sharpen their communication skills
through the writing of a research report and presenting their research work to
industry (TRC).