THERMALLY ISOLATING, MAGNETICALLY PRELOADED AND COUPLED THRUST BEARING AND RADIAL SUPPORT AND SHAFT ASSEMBLY

An electrical power generation system including a micro-turbine alternator. The micro-turbine alternator including: a combustion chamber (162), at least one turbine (152, 154) driven by combustion gases from the combustion chamber (162), a first stage compressor (142), and a second stage compressor (144). The first stage compressor (142) and the second stage compressor (144) being operably connected to the combustion chamber (162) to provide a compressed airflow thereto. The micro-turbine alternator including one or more shafts connecting the at least one turbine to the first stage compressor (142) and the second stage compressor (144) such that rotation of the at least one turbine (152, 154) drives rotation of the first stage compressor (142) and second stage compressor (144). The one or more shafts include a turbine shaft (158) attached to the at least one turbine, a compressor shaft (148) attached to the first stage compressor, and a coupling assembly (170) configured to operably connect the turbine shaft to the compressor shaft via a magnetic coupling force.