Studies on thermal effects in aerodynamic foil journal bearings

Abstract

With extensive application of foil gas journal bearings in high temperature conditions, the effect of increasing temperature on performance in the bearings have attracted more attention. High temperature can result in significant effects on static and dynamic characteristics and stability in foil gas journal bearings. In-depth understanding about thermal performance of foil bearings is in favor of structural optimization and developing more advanced foil bearings. This paper presents a short introduction about operational mechanisms and advantages of foil gas journal bearings firstly. Then, many works concerning thermal effects in foil gas journal bearings are detailedly reviewed. The problems that need to be improved or developed in the study of thermal effects of foil bearings are also presented, that is, accuracy and reliability of thermal predicting model, cooling methods and details of bearings and solid lubricant coatings which can be applied to a more wide temperature range.