mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

Ok, spare an excessive amount of flames. I'd kind of like serious anwers. I know I'm not a genius or anything and there's no way I actually had a good idea, so there must be some reason why no one has made magnetic turbo bearings that float the shaft in the center section. It'd be zero friction, zero drag (except air drag), zero wear, wouldn't need oil, it would isolate the shaft from vibration, so wtf... where are they at?

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

Neat idea but would be tough to pull off. Gotta deal with the heat too.

Only practical issue is the amount of energy it takes to support the shaft. There might be so much energy draw that the efficiency of the entire engine will be shot. Not to mention the huge alternator draw at idle and off boost would make the engine a gas hog and unresponsive.


I think foil bearings would be a better alternative. They are already being researched for use in turbines.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

if it aint broke why fix it? Journal bearings FTW!

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

It's called innovation.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

My guess would be the heat factor. You would obviously be using electromagnets which are spools of thin copper wire. As the heat increases, the electrical resistance also increases, thus weakening the magnetic field and risking bearing failure. It seems like an overly complicated system for the minimal gains it would net.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

why reinvent the wheel?

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

To make it better, duh.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

Power and clearance would be an issue I would imagine. I think you would need some serious juice to keep the shaft clearance in check. But, yes Tyler, if you can make it work it would sell. Get on that ----.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

If you used something like this http://www.matchrockets.com/ether/halbach.html you wouldn't need to use an electromagnet.

Re: mag/lev turbo bearings, why hasn't it been done
 

Keeping the compressor and turbine wheels 30 mils away from the housings would be very difficult with mag lev. You would just have to hit a bump with your car and "screeeeeeeech".