Investigation on the Static Characteristics of a Dynamic Gas Thrust Bearing with Spiral Grooves for a Small-Scale High-Speed Application

This paper focuses on the design of a spiral groove thrust bearing for a high-speed, small-scale radial compressor rotating at 200 krpm. The analytical model from Muijderman is taken into account to estimate the load carrying capacity and the stiffness of the thrust bearing. In this preliminary study, the static analysis is carried out in order to design the geometry of the bearing, which is of spiral groove type. The outer and inner diameter of the thrust bearings are 30 mm and 17 mm respectively. After a short recall of the literature model, the geometry of the bearing is optimized in order to maximize its load capacity. Future investigations will be aimed at evaluating the bearing stability in dynamic conditions. The experimental validation of the model is also forecast.