The reliability and performance of Space Shuttle main engines (SSME) are critical to mission launch success and safety. Currently, SSME reliability and performance are limited by turbopump bearing failure, both in the high-pressure liquid-oxygen and high-pressure fuel turbopumps (HPOTP and HPFTP). Current bearing limitations are related to high stresses and wear as well as to harsh (temperature and corrosion) environments. Magnetic bearing (MB) suspension technology can alleviate these problems because the MB actuator, sensor, and control system can compensate for uneven loading, suffer no wear, tolerate or seal-off corrosive agents. The applicability of MB to SSME has been limited by the MB size, weight, and power draw, as well as eddy current and hysteresis losses (which drastically limit practical RPMs). The company has a new class of MB designs that concurrently reduces size, weight, power draw, plus eddy current and hysteresis losses. The methodology of this new class of MB design is applied to SSME turbopumps designs. Near-term designs are based on state-of-the-art permanent magnets and high-efficiency magnetic materials. Far-term designs are based on high-temperature superconducting materials.This innovative technology would apply to radial and thrust bearings for military and commercial turbine engines; spindle and linear translator bearings of optical data storage disks; ultraprecision bearings for scanning spectrometers; replacement for air bearings in long-term, unattended applications; and bearings for heavy duty, low-maintenance compressors, and turbopumps. Space Shuttle main engine, magnetic suspension bearing, homopolar, turbopumps, permanent magnet bias, eddy current/hysteresis lossesSTATUS: Phase I Only
