Low-Cost Ball/Air/Magnetic Hybrid Bearing System for Extended-Life Micro Gas Turbine Engines Navy STTR FY2010.A Sol No.: Navy STTR FY2010.A Topic No.: N10A-T037 Topic Title: Low-Cost Ball/Air/Magnetic Hybrid Bearing System for Extended-Life Micro Gas Turbine Engines Proposal No.: N10A-037-0168 Firm: Xdot Engineering and Analysis, PLLC 124 Commonwealth Cir Charlottesville, Virginia 22901 Contact: Erik Swanson Phone: (434) 296-6094 Web Site: www.XdotEA.com Abstract: Micro gas turbine engines with state-of-the-art ultra-compact recuperators could be a real game-changer for small unmanned air vehicles and portable power generation. A key enabling technology for these engines is a low-cost, high speed bearing system that has long life, while operating without either a separate lubrication system, or oil in the fuel. For this Phase I STTR effort, Xdot Engineering and Analysis will evaluate the feasibility of a novel non-contact oil-free thrust bearing. This thrust bearing is particularly well suited for a hybrid arrangement where grease-lubricated rolling element bearings provide the radial support for a small, very high speed shaft. This thrust bearing is expected to have load capacity, stiffness and life suitable for these gas turbine applications. The bearing combines high levels of performance with very low production costs, even for small production volumes. The Phase I evaluation effort will include high speed testing of a prototype bearing, as well as an analytical evaluation of a self-contained thermal management strategy. The Phase I Option focuses on analysis/design tool development, and a potential way to further decrease the production cost. Benefits: The expected high levels of performance for this novel thrust bearing, coupled with the low production cost, provide a realistic commercial answer to a significant unmet need for small, high speed machinery. This new bearing will enable the the hybrid bearing configuration proposed by the Navy to be commercially viable, even in non-aerospace/DoD applications. Xdot has identified solid interest from a motivated machinery developer as the first commercial customer. This developer has a machine with a pressing need for a high performance, low cost bearing, and has projected production volumes large enough to generate a substantial revenue stream. If the Phase I/II effort is successful, this revenue stream will support continued refinement of the technology and development of manufacturing capacity to ensure that a proven, commercial-off-the-shelf bearing system will be available as these new micro gas turbine engines are developed. Return