A molten metal pump assembly and method to fill complex molds with molten metal, such as aluminum. The pump assembly includes an elongated shaft connecting a motor to an impeller. The impeller is housed within a chamber of a base member such that rotation of the impeller draws molten metal into the chamber at an inlet and forces molten aluminum through an outlet. A first bearing is adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a first radial edge and a second bearing adapted to support the rotation of the impeller at a second radial edge. A bypass gap is interposed between the second bearing and the second radial edge. Molten metal leaks through the bypass gap at a predetermined rate to manipulate a flow rate and a head pressure of the molten metal such that precise control of the flow rate is achieved.

A system includes a monitoring system to monitor an operational parameter of a bearing assembly within a hydraulic turbocharger. The bearing monitoring system includes at least one sensor to monitor a relative position or operational parameter of one or more rotating components of the bearing assembly.

A micro pumping mechanism is proposed to generate flow in micro channels of micro fluidic devices and three dimensional microprocessors cooled by the flow of coolant fluids. The proposed micro pump comprises a rotating disk inside a chamber, which overlaps with the fluidic micro channel. The rotating disk induces a shear flow across the micro channel, transporting fluid elements in the direction of the rotation of the disk. The disk can be rotated by external magnetic or electric fields as in direct drive, induction, or electrostatic motors.

Aspects of the invention disclosed herein generally provide a heat engine system, a turbopump system, and methods for lubricating a turbopump while generating energy. The systems and methods provide proper lubrication and cooling to turbomachinery components by controlling pressures applied to a thrust bearing in the turbopump. The applied pressure on the thrust bearing may be controlled by a turbopump back-pressure regulator valve adjusted to maintain proper pressures within bearing pockets disposed on two opposing surfaces of the thrust bearing. Pocket pressure ratios, such as a turbine-side pocket pressure ratio (P1) and a pump-side pocket pressure ratio (P2), may be monitored and adjusted by a process control system. In order to prevent damage to the thrust bearing, the systems and methods may utilize advanced control theory of sliding mode, the multi-variables of the pocket pressure ratios P1 and P2, and regulating the bearing fluid to maintain a supercritical state.

A bearing structure S includes: a bearing hole formed in a housing; a main body portion of a bearing provided in the bearing hole and inserted with a shaft therethrough; damper surface and provided on an outer circumferential surface of the main body portion, the damper surface facing an inner circumferential surface of the bearing hole; thrust surface provided at end portions of the main body portion in an axial direction of the shaft; and thrust back surface portions provided in the main body portion and having an outer diameter larger than those of the damper surface, the thrust back surface portions spaced apart from the damper surface by a distance farther than a distance between each of the damper surface and the inner circumferential surface of the bearing hole and positioned on back sides of the thrust surface.

A turbo machine of the present disclosure includes a rotation shaft, a first bearing, a casing, an impeller, a first space, a second space, a storage tank, a first outlet passage, a supply passage, a pump, a main passage, and a sub-passage. The second space is in communication with a space formed between a bearing surface of the first bearing and an outer surface of the rotation shaft. The main passage is in communication with the second space and extends in the rotation shaft from an end of the rotation shaft in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. The sub-passage is formed in the rotation shaft and allows communication between the space between the bearing surface of the first bearing and the outer surface of the rotation shaft and the main passage.

A turbo machine of the present disclosure includes a rotation shaft, a first bearing, a casing, an impeller, a first space, a second space, a storage tank, a first outlet passage, a supply passage, a pump, a main passage, and a sub-passage. The second space is in communication with a space formed between a bearing surface of the first bearing and an outer surface of the rotation shaft. The main passage is in communication with the second space and extends in the rotation shaft from an end of the rotation shaft in an axial direction of the rotation shaft. The sub-passage is formed in the rotation shaft and allows communication between the space between the bearing surface of the first bearing and the outer surface of the rotation shaft and the main passage.

A pump device (10) includes a housing (30) including a blood inflow port (38) through which blood flows in, and having a fixed-side repulsive magnet (44) disposed in an annular manner; and an impeller (14) that is rotatably housed inside the housing (30), and having a movable-side repulsive magnet (56) disposed in an annular manner. The fixed-side repulsive magnet (44) is disposed in a position offset toward the blood inflow port (38) side relative to the movable-side repulsive magnet (56). In the fixed-side repulsive magnet (44) and the movable-side repulsive magnet (56), a fixed-side repulsive surface (44a) and a movable-side repulsive surface (56a) adjacent to each other have the same polarity.

An integrated bearing assembly includes a thrust bearing disposed along a face of a turbocharger casing in a turbocharger and extending circumferentially around an axis of rotation of a rotor of the turbocharger, and a dual film journal bearing radially disposed between the rotor and the turbocharger casing which can be semi-floating or fully floating. The journal bearing includes a shoulder step radially extending away from the rotor. The shoulder step of the journal bearing engages one or more of the thrust bearing or the turbocharger casing to prevent axial movement of the dual film journal bearing relative to the turbocharger casing.

A boundary layer turbine having a housing with an inlet that receives pressurized fluid, a rotatable shaft extending through the housing, nested cylindrical tubes of progressively wider diameter connected coaxially about the shaft wherein adjacent tubes define a cylindrical fluid passageway there-between that is in fluid communication with the inlet and an outlet, and at least one nozzle coupled to the inlet configured to direct the flow of fluid from the inlet into the plurality of passageways and against the plurality of tubes at an angle to a normal plane to the curvature of the plurality of tubes and at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein the angled flow of fluid imparts rotation to the plurality of tubes and the shaft and flows towards the outlet where the fluid is discharged, and wherein the rotating shaft may be used to provide kinetic energy.