Low Cost Foil Bearing Supported Helium Circulation Fan Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2009.1 Topic No.: N091-054 Topic Title: Low Cost Foil Bearing Supported Helium Circulation Fan Proposal No.: N091-054-0537 Firm: R&D Dynamics Corporation 15 Barber Pond Road Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002 Contact: Giri Agrawal Phone: (860) 726-1204 Web Site: www.rddynamics.com Abstract: A low-cost helium circulator will be designed and demonstrated for use in High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) systems. The circulator design will feature an oil-free high-speed rotor supported on foil gas bearings. The basis for this design has been extensively used and demonstrated by R&D Dynamics in other applications e.g. fuel cells, at very high temperatures, up to 700 deg. C. In Phase I the feasibility will be demonstrated. In Phase II a working prototype will be designed, built and laboratory tested. In Phase III a full scale prototype will be installed onboard a Navy ship for extended testing. Benefits: The improved helium circulator will provide cost savings when used in cryogenic refrigeration skids for HTS motors and generators. Reducing the overall cryogenic refrigeration costs makes smaller HTS machines feasible from a cost view. This product is a step toward having low power, 100s of kWs, HTS machines which may see use in industrial environments. Return