The new-generation aeration blower, which uses a high-speed permanent-magnet synchronous motor supported by elastic-foil thrust bearings, represents the future development trend of high-end sewage treatment turbomachinery. An axial load tester was designed for the elastic-foil thrust bearings in this study. Firstly, the relationship between the axial load and the elastic-foil thrust bearing parameters was first established. An axial load tester was designed. Secondly, finite-element simulation and strain calibration of the axial load tester were performed to estimate the linear relationship between the strain and the axial load. Then, the time histories of axial load for the high-speed permanent-magnet synchronous motor were further obtained at a rotational speed of 15,000 rpm during the operation tests. Finally, the load spectrum was compiled by fitting the test data to a function. The results showed that the amplitude and frequency of the load spectrum obeyed an exponential decay function. It can be used for the life test of elastic-foil thrust bearings in the future. The method for obtaining the axial load in the direct-driven turbomachinery was proposed. The axial load tester proposed in the present study, based on operation tests, proves valuable for improving the performance of the high-speed permanent magnetic synchronous motor and the elastic-foil thrust bearing.
Lin et al. (Sun,) studied this question.