Evaluation of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide for Use in Fluid Film Bearings for Process Fluid Lubricated Machines

Advanced closed loop power generation cycles are under consideration for a variety of terrestrial and aerospace power systems [1]. High pressure closed brayton cycles (CBC) and supercritical cycles (SCS) offer an advantage where the cycle working fluid can also be used as the lubricant for the fluid film bearings that support the high speed turbomachinery. Unfortunately the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a lubricant is not well understood. In the supercritical condition fluids that are typically thought of as ideal gases take on a significantly different characteristic. While these fluids typically maintain gas-like absolute viscosities, their densities are liquid like. The combination of these effects leads to the emergence of inertial effects in fluid film bearings. In addition to the inertial effects that are brought on by the high fluid density, the temperature of the lubricant cannot be controlled independently of the thermodynamic process. This situation leads to technical challenges in maintaining dimensional stability and clearance control between the rotating and stationary surfaces of the bearings.