Drop Testing Campaign and Simulation Results for a Magnetic Bearing Supported Blower for Space Applications

NASA developed and has deployed aboard the International Space Station (ISS) a next-generation CO2 removal system, the Four Bed Carbon Dioxide Scrubber (4BCO2) for use as a testbed. A key component of both the existing and the new system is the blower that provides the airflow through the CO2 sorbent beds. To improve performance and reliability, magnetic bearings are used instead of more conventional bearings (e.g. ball bearings or air bearings). The new blower, described in [1], features a high-efficiency permanent magnet motor, a five-axis, active magnetic bearing system, backup bearing system, and a compact controller containing both a variable speed drive and magnetic bearing controller. The blower, commissioned aboard the ISS in February 2023, recently passed two years of operation. Due to the remoteness of the ISS and potential for use of the new blower in future missions, NASA recently funded a drop testing program to validate life of the backup bearings out to 100 drops and spin downs from operating speed. The test program is described here, trend data and high-fidelity position sensor data are presented and described, and post-test hardware photos are discussed. Simulation results are also presented and compared to the measured data.