Gas Turbine Engines

BEARING, SEALS, & APU

Bearings

Function:
Acts as the critical support to the rotor
shaft which makes up the main engine
power
Number of bearings is determined by
the length and the weight of the
rotor shaft.
Example: a nine-stage axial compressor
requires more bearings than a two stage
centrifugal compressor.
Bearings used

In a Gas Turbine Engine, BALL and

ROLLER Bearings are used to
support the engines main rotor
shaft.
Bearings used

Both are assemblies provide support and

hold lubricating oils. These two are
preferable because they:
offer little rotational resistance.
enable precision alignment of rotating elements.
tolerate high momentary overloads.
are easily replaced.
are relatively inexpensive.
are simple to cool, lubricate, and maintain.
accommodate both radial and axial loads.
are relatively resistant to elevated temperatures.
Ball Bearing Roller Bearing
Oil Dampened Bearing

A special type of bearing used in

turbine engines.
Oil is routed into a cavity formed by
the bearing housing and race. Once
pressurized by the lubrication
system, oil film is produced that
effectively dampens vibration and
compesates misalignment.
Disadvantages

Roller and ball bearings are

vulnerable to damage by foreign
elements and could fail without
warning.
Therefore, proper lubrication and
sealing is essential.
Seals

Seals are used in bearings to prevent

foreign matter from damaging the
bearings.
The following seals are used:
Labyrinth seals
Helical Seals
Carbon Seals
Labyrinth Seal

Different from other seals in that the seal does

not touch nor rub to outer surface to create a
seal.
Instead, it uses rotating fins that come very
close, but do not touch a fixable abatable race.
With this type of seal, air pressure on one side
of the seal leaks past each fin, decreasing the
air pressure at each fin. By the time the air
reaches the opposite side of the seal, its
pressure is near zero. Therefore, the positive
pressure prevents oil from leaking past the seal.
Labyrinth Seal
Labyrinth Seal
Labyrinth Seal
Helical and Carbon Seals

Helical Seals are similar to labyrinth

seals except the helical seals depend
on reverse threading to stop oil
leakage
Carbon Seals are completely
different in that they are spring-
loaded to hold the carbon ring
against the rotating shaft, much like
carbon brushes in an electric motor.
Helical Seal
Auxiliary Power Units (APU)

Are turbine power plants driving an

electric generator.
They are used to help meet the
demands and requirements for
ground power when aircraft engines
are not running.
As any turbine engines, bleed air
loads generally places the greatest
demand on an APU.
Auxiliary Power Units (APU)

In addition,
APUs
compressor
supplies bleed
air to a load
compressor for
heating,
cooling, anti-ice,
and engine
starting.
How does it work?

An APU is typically started using its

own electric starter motor and
aircraft battery power.
With fuel supplied from an aircrafts
fuel tank an APU can start, provide
electric power, heat or cool the
cabin, and start the main engines
without aid from an outside source.
How does it work?

An APU runs at its rated speed,

regardless of the electric and
pneumatic loads imposed. To do this,
however, an APUs fuel control unit
must automatically adjust the fuel flow.
Example:
If APU bleed air is used to start one of the
aircrafts engine, it would automatically
meters enough extra fuel to satisfy the
load increase, keeping the APU on-speed.
How does it work?

An APU is protected by load control

the modulates the Pneumatic Load to
maintain safe load temperature in
case of operation near its maximum
exhaust gas temperature.
Cool Down Period

To keep from damaging an APU, specified

APU cool-down period is needed before
shutting it down.
This cool-down period requires the bleed
valve closed, and exhaust gas
temperature (EGT) stabilized. Typical
duration is 3 minutes.
This cool down period minimizes the
possibility of Thermal Shock when a heavy
loaded, Hot APU is abruptly Shut down.