Long Life Bearings for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion

Florida Turbine Technologies, Inc. will investigate novel hybrid bearing concepts to provide near infinite life, providing a significant leap forward in bearing technology for future high-speed long life rocket engine turbopumps. Development of long life bearing technology for turbomachinery for Nuclear Thermal Propulsion engine turbopumps will be critical for mission success. For a typical Mars mission, the turbopump may be required to operate for 100 minutes or longer. FTT's hybrid bearing approach addresses a key concern associated with the slow transient condition of the nuclear reactor, which requires pump operation while the reactor heats up and cools down. During this period, the pumps will be required to operate at low speed for a significant period. In addition to solving the low-speed transient condition of the main pumps, the NTP boost pump will be required to operate with significant damping with the capability of ingesting and pumping up to 55% vapor and will require an innovative damped bearing solution to ensure long life of the rotor and bearing assembly.

NASA applications for the bearing technology developed under this SBIR include low heat leak cryogenic circulators and transfer pumps for propellant depot, upper stage engine recirculation pumps, cryogenic stage turbopumps and boost pumps, including the NTP application. Additional applications for this bearing technology include small, light-weight, cryogenic; Hydrogen, Methane, Oxygen propellant boost pumps for chemical rocket engine applications as well as propellant loading ground support equipment.

Potential Non-NASA commercial applications of the technology developed under this SBIR include any long life cryogenic pump application including ground based refueling station applications used to transfer liquid natural gas from the storage tank to the vehicle tank.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 3) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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