Disclosed is an air compressing apparatus with a bearing wear-causing thrust reducing/compensating unit, and more specifically, to an air compressing apparatus with a bearing wear-causing thrust reducing/compensating unit that reduces or compensates thrust generated due to high-speed rotation of an air-compression impeller formed in the air compressing apparatus, thereby maximizing a service life and durability of the air compressing apparatus.

Disclosed is an air compressing apparatus with a bearing wear-causing thrust reducing/compensating unit, and more specifically, to an air compressing apparatus with a bearing wear-causing thrust reducing/compensating unit that reduces or compensates thrust generated due to high-speed rotation of an air-compression impeller formed in the air compressing apparatus, thereby maximizing a service life and durability of the air compressing apparatus.

A rocket engine propulsion system having improved engine performance is described herein. The rocket engine propulsion system includes an axial counterbalance to reduce or eliminate axial thrust exerted on components of a turbopump. The axial counterbalance can allow for a larger range of axial thrust forces while coupling this ability to a rotational speed (e.g., rotations per minute, or RPM) of a shaft. The axial counterbalance includes a rack and pinion system in which the rack can be teeth extending circumferentially around a shaft and the pinon can be teeth extending outwardly from a swing arm perpendicular to the shaft. The swing arm is rotatably attached to a bracket which is constrained by a static support. The swing arm can also include a weight on an end of the swing arm opposite the end of the swing arm including the pinion.

A cryogenic oil-free direct drive turbogenerator for gas liquefaction plant applications is described. The pressure energy from cryogenic gas is expanded through a turbine and the power generated is converted into electricity through a directly driven generator and a power electronics arrangement. The machinery can withstand very cold temperature operation (e.g., <−425° F.) by isolating the cold turbine side from the warmer side of the machine turbine end and has a hermetically sealed design wherein the process gas is fully contained from leaking at operating pressures. A unique gas injection scheme uses seal gas segregation, thrust bearing cooling and pressure balance for thrust control which is accomplished through a pressure regulator arrangement. Also described is an algorithm for speed control and overspeed protection through the power electronics system. The rotating components of the turbogenerator are supported on foil gas bearings for oil-free operation eliminating extraneous lubrication.

A cryogenic oil-free direct drive turbogenerator for gas liquefaction plant applications is described. The pressure energy from cryogenic gas is expanded through a turbine and the power generated is converted into electricity through a directly driven generator and a power electronics arrangement. The machinery can withstand very cold temperature operation (e.g., <−425° F.) by isolating the cold turbine side from the warmer side of the machine turbine end and has a hermetically sealed design wherein the process gas is fully contained from leaking at operating pressures. A unique gas injection scheme uses seal gas segregation, thrust bearing cooling and pressure balance for thrust control which is accomplished through a pressure regulator arrangement. Also described is an algorithm for speed control and overspeed protection through the power electronics system. The rotating components of the turbogenerator are supported on foil gas bearings for oil-free operation eliminating extraneous lubrication.

A steam turbine having a steam supplementing structure and an operating method therefor. The steam turbine includes an outer casing and an inner casing, a rotor having a thrust balancing piston, the rotor being rotatably mounted inside the inner casing; and a steam flow channel formed between the inner casing and the rotor. Impeller blades fitted with the rotor and a plurality of guide blades fitted with the inner casing are alternately arranged to form multiple stages of blade groups. Steam is fed from the steam throughflow downstream of a first designated blade staging in multiple stages of blade groups to a thrust balancing piston chamber disposed between the inner casing and the thrust balancing piston of the rotor. An interlayer for the steam to circulate is formed between the inner casing and the outer casing, the interlayer including a supplemental steam chamber which can receive the steam from a sealed chamber between the rotor and the inner casing. The steam is mixed with supplemental steam fed into the steam supplementing chamber via steam supplementing pipelines. The mixed steam then returns, via the communicating pipe in the inner casing, to the steam throughflow downstream of the second designated blade staging in the flow channel.

A gas turbine engine defining a longitudinal direction and a radial direction is provided. The gas turbine engine includes a turbine section comprising a stationary outer portion, a first rotating component, and a second rotating component, wherein the first rotating component includes an aft airfoil defining a hollow passageway and coupled to a radially extended first rotor portion, wherein the hollow passageway is in fluid communication with the stationary outer portion, wherein the second rotating component is coupled to a radially extended second rotor portion; and a seal assembly between a portion of the first rotating component and the second rotating component, the seal assembly defining a balance piston cavity therebetween, wherein the balance piston cavity is in fluid communication with the hollow passageway, wherein a flow of air is routed through the stationary outer portion and the hollow passageway to the balance piston cavity, and wherein a pressure of the flow of air within the balance piston cavity is controlled to provide an axial thrust that counteracts a thrust load on the second rotor portion.

The turbomachine comprises a casing (26), there being arranged in the casing an impeller (23) arranged on a driven shaft. The turbomachine has an inflow region (21) and an outflow region (22) and, in operation, is flowed through by a working medium. The working medium flows into the inflow region, along a front side (23a) formed on the impeller and subsequently out of the outflow region, there being a pressure drop at the front side between the inflow region and the outflow region. A pressure divider (9) is arranged on the rear side of the impeller, opposite the front side.

The turbomachine comprises a casing (26), there being arranged in the casing an impeller (23) arranged on a driven shaft. The turbomachine has an inflow region (21) and an outflow region (22) and, in operation, is flowed through by a working medium. The working medium flows into the inflow region, along a front side (23a) formed on the impeller and subsequently out of the outflow region, there being a pressure drop at the front side between the inflow region and the outflow region. A pressure divider (9) is arranged on the rear side of the impeller, opposite the front side.

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.