Sudden venting test of an emergency bearing for the magnet bearing type compound molecular pump

The vacuum evacuation system for nuclear fusion reactors bears the role of exhausting hydrogen isotopes in large quantity together with helium continuously for long hours, and as the high vacuum pumps for this purpose, the mechanical pumps which can do continuous evacuation and decrease the quantity of staying radioactive tritium, such as turbo molecular pumps and compound molecular pumps, are promising. Because of the compatibility with tritium, oil lubrication is not desirable, accordingly, the pumps with ceramic rotating vanes and magnetic bearings are demanded. As a part of the development of a magnetic bearing type mechanical pump which can be used for nuclear fusion reactors, the compound molecular pump, in which emergency bearings were incorporated, was made for trial, and the test of sudden air intrusion was carried out, as the results, various knowledges were obtained. The constitution of the testing setup, and the test results are reported. When air was injected at the pressure rise of 3.3x104 Pa/s from exhaust port side, after about 2.5 s, the maximum lift of 4.2x103 N arose. When air was injected at the pressure rise of 2.7x105 Pa/s from the suction part side, after about 0.4s, the maximum lift of 6.9x103 N arose. In the air injection alternately from the suction port and exhaust port sides, the emergency bearings functioned normally in 10 times of the test. (K.I.)