Prediction on flow and thermal characteristics of ultrathin lubricant film of hydrodynamic journal bearing

Abstract

This paper focuses on the flow and thermal characteristics of the lubricant film in the micro clearance of a hydrodynamic journal bearing (HJB) at high rotating speed. A thermohydrodynamic (THD) method consists of the Reynolds equation coupled with energy and viscosity-temperature equation with considering the cavitation is put forward. The 3D surface diagrams of the lubricant film thickness, pressure, temperature, liquid mass fraction, flow rate and heat dissipation distributions under different geometric, operating, slip and no-slip boundary conditions are systemically exhibited and analyzed. The results show that with the rise of eccentricity or length diameter ratio, the maximum peaks of pressure, temperature and heat dissipation are rapidly increased, the cavitation is aggravated, and the flow rate is accelerated in different extent. As the bearing speed accelerating, the maximum peak of temperature is strongly increased, whereas, the distinction between peaks of flow rate and heat dissipation is magnified and reduced, respectively. It provides a fruitful inside view of the inner flow and thermal characterizations of HJB for further understanding its flow-thermal interaction mechanisms and offers theoretical support for improving its working performance.