Search results

The purpose of this study is to investigate the hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of ferrofluid film for spiral groove mechanical seal in external electromagnetic field and to analyze the effects of the volume fraction of ferrofluid, parameters of the electromagnetic field, operating parameters and geometrical parameters of mechanical seal on the characteristics of ferrofluid film.

The relationship between the ferrofluid viscosity and the intensity of external electromagnetic field was established. Based on the Muijderman narrow groove theory, the pressure distribution was calculated with the trial method by trapezoid formula.

It was found that pressure, average viscosity, average density and opening force of ferrofluid between end faces increase with the increase in intensity of current, volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, pressure differential and spiral angle; decrease with the increase in temperature; and increase at first and then decrease with the increase in the ratio of groove width to weir and the groove length. All of them reach the maximum value when the ratio of width of groove to weir is 0.7 and the ratio of groove length is 0.6. Leakage of ferrofluid increases with an increase in intensity of current, volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, pressure differential, spiral angle and ratio of groove length; decreases with an increase in temperature; and increases at first and then decreases with the increase in the ratio of groove width to weir. The tendencies of characteristics of silicone oil are consistent with those of ferrofluid, and the characteristics of silicone oil are smaller than those of ferrofluid under the same condition.

The volume fraction of ferrofluid, rotating speed, spiral angle, ratio of groove width to weir, groove length and temperature have a significant influence on the characteristics of ferrofluid film; however, intensity of current and the pressure differential have slight influence on the characteristics of ferrofluid film. An analytical method for analyzing hydrodynamic lubrication characteristics of ferrofluid film in a spiral groove mechanical seal was proposed based on the Muijderman narrow groove theory.

Our work on spiral groove bearings in the Research Laboratories began in 1960, when we were consulted on the following problem. Would it be possible to make a wear‐resistant thrust bearing able to take up to about 1 kg thrust from a shaft rotating at at least 50,000 r.p.m., without incurring a power consumption much in excess of 1.5 watts ? The bearing was to support the end of the shaft, and it had to be suitable for operation in a vacuum.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effects of surface topography, including surface roughness, circumferential waviness and radial taper, on hydrodynamic performance of liquid film seals considering cavitation.

A mathematical model of liquid film seals with surface topography was established based on the mass-conservative algorithm. Liquid film governing equation was discretized by the finite control volume method and solved by the Gauss–Seidel relaxation iterative algorithm, and the hydrodynamic performance parameters of liquid film seals were obtained considering surface roughness, circumferential waviness and radial taper separately.

The results indicate that the values of load-carrying capacity and frication torque are affected by the surface topography in varying degrees, but the effect is limited.

The results presented in the study are expected to aid in determining the optimum value of structural parameters for the optimum seal performance because of the realistic model which considers both surface topography and cavitation.

THE SPIRAL GROOVE BEARING is a new and very promising form of “self‐acting bearing”, i.e. one in which the running surfaces are completely separated from each other by a thin layer of lubricant and in which the rotation itself forces the lubricant between the running surfaces. This latter action is achieved in the present case by the pumping action of the spiral grooves. Oil may be used as a lubricant, but grease is also suitable, especially for small bearings (shaft diameters of a few millimetres). The great advantage of grease is that it does not leak away from the bearing so readily when the shaft is stationary.

The present paper aims to analyse the synergistic effect of pocket orientation and piezo-viscous-polar (PVP) lubrication on the performance of multi-recessed hybrid journal bearing (MHJB) system.

To simulate the behaviour of PVP lubricant in clearance space of the MHJB system, the modified form of Reynolds equation is numerically solved by using finite element method. Galerkin’s method is used to obtain the weak form of the governing equation. The system equation is solved by Gauss–Seidal iterative method to compute the unknown values of nodal oil film pressure. Subsequently, performance characteristics of bearing system are computed.

The simulated results reveal that the location of pressurised lubricant inlets significantly affects the oil film pressure distribution and may cause a significant effect on the characteristics of bearing system. Further, the use of PVP lubricant may significantly enhances the performance of the bearing system, namely.

The present work examines the influence of pocket orientation with respect to loading direction on the characteristics of PVP fluid lubricated MHJB system and provides vital information regarding the design of journal bearing system.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2023-0241/

To provide an up‐to‐date review and design guide for industry users and designers of hydrostatic fluid film journal bearings.

Detailed study and review of published works dating from 1965 to 2004. Comments and comparisons made on findings and ease of use for each. Design guide study summarised in outline form showing relationships and interdependencies of dimensions and parameters.

Some previous design recommendations difficult to use owing to errors, ambiguous use of symbols and undefined terms. Terms are frequently interchanged without definition, sometimes in the same paper. Many works difficult and time‐consuming to retrieve and study without access to comprehensive technical library archives.

Work indicated that more evaluation and practical study may be needed for full study. Guideline approach useful for busy designers to help lead understanding through more detailed works available.

A very useful outline summarising the key features of hydrostatic bearings and the relationships between performance and key design parameters and dimensions. A good introduction for designers embarking on a new bearing design or needing to specify an application.

Encapsulates a widely varied and published field with appropriate cautionary commentary on uses and abuses of current design guides.

Magnetic fluid has excellent function used as lubricants in bearings and mechanical seals, and the purpose of this study is to investigate the sealing performance in a spiral groove mechanical seal lubricated by magnetic fluid.

The sealing characteristic parameters of the lubricating film between the end faces of two sealing rings were calculated based on the Muijderman narrow groove theory for a spiral groove mechanical seal lubricated by magnetic fluid. The film thickness was determined according to the balanced forces on the rotating ring, and the effects of operating conditions, intensity of the magnetic field and diameter of nanoparticles on the sealing characteristics were investigated.

It has been found that the intensity of magnetic field has a great effect on the viscosity of magnetic fluid, film thickness and friction torque while has a little effect on the mass flux of magnetic fluid. The film thickness, mass flux of magnetic fluid and friction torque increase with the increasing volume fraction, rotating speed and diameter of magnetic nanoparticles in magnetic fluid. The mass flux of magnetic fluid decrease with the increasing closing force, and the friction torque decreases with the increase of media pressure.

The change of intensity of magnetic field can affect the viscosity of magnetic fluid and then changes the sealing performance in a mechanical seal lubricated by magnetic fluid. To reduce the mass flux of magnetic fluid and friction torque, the volume fraction, diameter of solid magnetic particles and film thickness should be 5%–7%, 8–10 nm and 2–9.3 µm, respectively.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-02-2023-0032/

The purpose of this paper is to improve static/dynamic characteristics of active-controlled hydrostatic journal bearing by using fractional order control techniques and optimizing algorithms.

Active lubrication has ability to overcome the unpredictable harsh environmental conditions which often lead to failure of capillary controlled traditional hydrostatic journal bearing. The research develops a mathematical model for a servo feedback-controlled hydrostatic journal bearing and dynamics of model is analyzed with different control techniques. The fractional-order PID control system is tuned by using particle swarm optimization and Nelder mead optimization techniques with the help of using multi-objective performance criteria.

The results of the current research are compared with previously published theoretical and experimental results. The proposed servo-controlled active bearing system is studied under a number of different dynamic situations and constraints of variable spindle speed, external load, temperature changes (viscosity) and variable bearing clearance (oil film thickness). The simulation results show that the proposed system has better performance in terms of controllability, faster response, stability, high stiffness and strong resistance.

This paper develops an accurate mathematical model for servo-controlled hydrostatic bearing with fractional order controller. The results are in excellent agreement with previously published literature.

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-07-2020-0272

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of groove shape on the hydrodynamic characteristics of a journal bearing.

The computational fluid dynamics model also takes into account the cavitation phenomena and thermal effect, which can illustrate the lubrication performance of a journal bearing.

The hydrodynamic simulations of the journal bearing with the different groove shapes are conducted under different operation conditions.

Based on the numerical analysis, the suggestions are presented for groove shape selection and can be used to the design of a journal bearing under the extreme operation condition.