Lubricating Grease Flow in a Double Restriction Seal Geometry: A Computational Fluid Dynamics Approach

Abstract

In this paper, numerical simulations of lubricating grease flow in the grease pocket of a double restriction seal geometry using computational fluid dynamics are presented. The grease is treated as a single-phase Herschel–Bulkley fluid with different rheological properties corresponding to NLGI grade 00, 1 and 2. The numerical code and rheology model have been validated with a semi-analytical solution based on flow measurements using microparticle image velocimetry. The flow has been modelled for low and high rotational speeds driving the flow, and elevated temperatures. Also, the evolution of contaminant particles in the grease pocket is investigated. It was found that the flow and velocity distribution in the pocket—and consequently the contaminant particle concentration evolution, is characterized by the shear thinning rheology of the grease. With higher shear rates in the grease and higher temperatures, the grease approaches a more Newtonian type of behaviour leading to a reduced yield and shear thinning characteristics directly affecting the grease ability to transport contaminant particles.