Gas-Expanded Lubricant Performance and Effects on Rotor Stability in Turbomachinery

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian K. Weaver ◽  
Timothy W. Dimond ◽  
Jason A. Kaplan ◽  
Alexandrina Untaroiu ◽  
Andres F. Clarens
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Turbine Generator ◽  
Generator System ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

Gas-expanded lubricants (GELs) are tunable mixtures of synthetic oil and carbon dioxide that enable dynamic control of lubricant viscosity during bearing operation. This control can help reduce bearing power loss and operating temperatures while also providing direct control over bearing stiffness and damping, which can enhance rotordynamic performance. In this work, the bearing and rotordynamic performance of two representative high-speed machines was evaluated when different lubricants, including GELs, were supplied to the machine bearings. The machines chosen for this analysis, an eight-stage centrifugal compressor and a steam turbine-generator system, represent a wide range of speed and loading conditions encountered in modern turbomachinery. The fluids compared for machine performance were standard petroleum-based lubricants, polyol ester (POE) synthetic oils, and POE-based GELs. The performance simulations were carried out using a thermoelastohydrodynamic bearing model, which provided bearing stiffness and damping coefficients as inputs to finite element rotordynamic models. Several bearing performance metrics were evaluated including power loss, operating temperature, film thickness, eccentricity, and stiffness and damping coefficients. The rotordynamic analysis included an evaluation of rotor critical speeds, unbalance response, and stability. Bearing performance results for the compressor showed a 40% reduction in power loss at operating speed when comparing the GEL to the petroleum-based lubricant. The GEL-lubricated compressor also exhibited lower operating temperatures with minimal effects on film thickness. GELs were also predicted to produce lower bearing stiffness when compared to standard fluids in the compressor. Rotordynamic results for the compressor showed that the fluid properties had only minor effects on the unbalance response, while GELs were found to increase the stability margin by 43% when compared with standard fluids. The results from the turbine-generator system also demonstrated increases in low-speed bearing efficiency with the use of GELs, though at higher speeds the onset of turbulent flow in the GEL case offset these efficiency gains. Rotordynamic results for this system showed a contrast with the compressor results, with the GELs producing lower stability margins for a majority of the modes predicted due to increased bearing stiffness in the high-speed turbine bearings and negative stiffness in the lightly loaded, low-speed pinion bearings. These results suggest that GELs could be beneficial in providing control over a wide range of machine designs and operating conditions and that some machines are especially well suited for the tunability that these fluids impart.

Gas-Expanded Lubricant Performance and Effects on Rotor Stability in Turbomachinery

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian K. Weaver ◽  
Timothy W. Dimond ◽  
Jason A. Kaplan ◽  
Alexandrina Untaroiu ◽  
Andres F. Clarens
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Power Loss ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Turbine Generator ◽  
Generator System ◽  
Polyol Ester ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

Gas-expanded lubricants (GELs) are tunable mixtures of synthetic oil and carbon dioxide that enable dynamic control of lubricant viscosity during bearing operation. This control can help reduce bearing power loss and operating temperatures while also providing direct control over bearing stiffness and damping, which can enhance rotordynamic performance. In this work, the bearing and rotordynamic performance of two representative high-speed machines was evaluated when different lubricants, including GELs, were supplied to the machine bearings. The machines chosen for this analysis, an 8-stage centrifugal compressor and a steam turbine-generator system, represent a wide range of speed and loading conditions encountered in modern turbomachinery. The fluids compared for machine performance were standard petroleum-based lubricants, polyol ester synthetic oils, and polyol ester based-GELs. The performance simulations were carried out using a thermoelastohydrodynamic bearing model, which provided bearing stiffness and damping coefficients as inputs to finite element rotordynamic models. Several bearing performance metrics were evaluated including power loss, operating temperature, film thickness, eccentricity, and stiffness and damping coefficients. The rotordynamic analysis included an evaluation of rotor critical speeds, unbalance response, and stability. Bearing performance results for the compressor showed a 40% reduction in power loss at operating speed when comparing the GEL to the petroleum-based lubricant. The GEL-lubricated compressor also exhibited lower operating temperatures with minimal effects on film thickness. GELs were also predicted to produce lower bearing stiffness when compared to standard fluids in the compressor. Rotordynamic results for the compressor showed that the fluid properties had only minor effects on the unbalance response, while GELs were found to increase the stability margin by 43% when compared with standard fluids. The results from the turbine-generator system also demonstrated increases in low-speed bearing efficiency with the use of GELs, though at higher speeds the onset of turbulent flow in the GEL case offset these efficiency gains. Rotordynamic results for this system showed a contrast with the compressor results, with the GELs producing lower stability margins for a majority of the modes predicted due to increased bearing stiffness in the high-speed turbine bearings and negative stiffness in the lightly loaded, low-speed pinion bearings. These results suggest that GELs could be beneficial in providing control over a wide range of machine designs and operating conditions and that some machines are especially well suited for the tunability that these fluids impart.

Transient Analysis of Gas-Expanded Lubrication and Rotordynamic Performance in a Centrifugal Compressor

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian K. Weaver ◽  
Jason A. Kaplan ◽  
Andres F. Clarens ◽  
Alexandrina Untaroiu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Rotating Machine ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Stiffness And Damping ◽  
Bearing Dynamics

Gas-expanded lubricants (GELs) have the potential to increase bearing energy efficiency, long-term reliability, and provide for a degree of control over the rotordynamics of high-speed rotating machines. Previous work has shown that these tunable mixtures of synthetic oil and dissolved carbon dioxide could be used to maximize the stability margin of a machine during startup by controlling bearing stiffness and damping. This allows the user to then modify the fluid properties after reaching a steady operating speed to minimize bearing power loss and reduce operating temperatures. However, it is unknown how a typical machine would respond to rapid changes in bearing stiffness and damping due to changes in the fluid properties once the machine has completed startup. In this work, the time-transient behavior of a high-speed compressor was evaluated numerically to examine the effects of rapidly changing bearing dynamics on rotordynamic performance. Two cases were evaluated for an eight-stage centrifugal compressor: an assessment under stable operating conditions as well as a study of the instability threshold. These case studies presented two contrasting sets of transient operating conditions to evaluate, the first being critical to the viability of using GELs in high-speed rotating machinery. The fluid transitions studied for machine performance were between that of a polyol ester (POE) synthetic lubricant and a GEL with a 20% carbon dioxide content. The performance simulations were carried out using a steady-state thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) bearing model, which provided bearing stiffness and damping coefficients as inputs to a time-transient rotordynamic model using Timoshenko beam finite elements. The displacements and velocities of each node were solved for using a fourth-order Runge–Kutta method and provided information on the response of the rotating machine due to rapid changes in bearing stiffness and damping coefficients. These changes were assumed to be rapid due to (1) the short lubricant residence times calculated for the bearings and (2) rapid mixing due to high shear rates in the machine bearings causing sudden changes in the fluid properties. This operating condition was also considered to be a worst-case scenario as an abrupt change in the bearing dynamics would likely solicit a more extreme rotordynamic response than a more gradual change, making this analysis quite important. The results of this study provide critical insight into the nature of operating a rotating machine and controlling its behavior using GELs, which will be vital to the implementation of this technology.

Transient Analysis of Gas-Expanded Lubrication and Rotordynamic Performance in a Centrifugal Compressor

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian K. Weaver ◽  
Jason A. Kaplan ◽  
Andres F. Clarens ◽  
Alexandrina Untaroiu
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Rotating Machine ◽  
Rapid Changes ◽  
Fluid Properties ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Stiffness And Damping ◽  
Bearing Dynamics

Gas-expanded lubricants (GELs) have the potential to increase bearing energy efficiency, long-term reliability, and provide for a degree of control over the rotordynamics of high-speed rotating machines. Previous work has shown that these tunable mixtures of synthetic oil and dissolved carbon dioxide could be used to maximize the stability margin of a machine during startup by controlling bearing stiffness and damping. This allows the user to then modify the fluid properties after reaching a steady operating speed to minimize bearing power loss and reduce operating temperatures. However, it is unknown how a typical machine would respond to rapid changes in bearing stiffness and damping due to changes in the fluid properties once the machine has completed startup. In this work, the time-transient behavior of a high-speed compressor was evaluated numerically to examine the effects of rapidly changing bearing dynamics on rotordynamic performance. Two cases were evaluated for an 8-stage centrifugal compressor: an assessment under stable operating conditions as well as a study of the instability threshold. These case studies presented two contrasting sets of transient operating conditions to evaluate, the first being critical to the viability of using GELs in high-speed rotating machinery. The fluid transitions studied for machine performance were between that of a polyol ester synthetic lubricant and a GEL with a 20% carbon dioxide content. The performance simulations were carried out using a steady-state thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) bearing model, which provided bearing stiffness and damping coefficients as inputs to a time-transient rotordynamic model using Timoshenko beam finite elements. The displacements and velocities of each node were solved for using a fourth order Runge-Kutta method and provided information on the response of the rotating machine due to rapid changes in bearing stiffness and damping coefficients. These changes were assumed to be rapid due to 1) the short lubricant residence times calculated for the bearings, and 2) rapid mixing due to high shear rates in the machine bearings causing sudden changes in the fluid properties. This operating condition was also considered to be a worst-case scenario as an abrupt change in the bearing dynamics would likely solicit a more extreme rotordynamic response than a more gradual change, making this analysis quite important. The results of this study provide critical insight into the nature of operating a rotating machine and controlling its behavior using gas-expanded lubricants, which will be vital to the implementation of this technology.

Ball bearing turbocharger vibration management: application on high speed balancer

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 619
Author(s):  
Kostandin Gjika ◽  
Antoine Costeux ◽  
Gerry LaRue ◽  
John Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Behavior ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Ball Bearing ◽  
Squeeze Film ◽  
Design And Technology ◽  
Squeeze Film Damper ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Bearing Loads ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

Today's modern internal combustion engines are increasingly focused on downsizing, high fuel efficiency and low emissions, which requires appropriate design and technology of turbocharger bearing systems. Automotive turbochargers operate faster and with strong engine excitation; vibration management is becoming a challenge and manufacturers are increasingly focusing on the design of low vibration and high-performance balancing technology. This paper discusses the synchronous vibration management of the ball bearing cartridge turbocharger on high-speed balancer and it is a continuation of papers [1–3]. In a first step, the synchronous rotordynamics behavior is identified. A prediction code is developed to calculate the static and dynamic performance of “ball bearing cartridge-squeeze film damper”. The dynamic behavior of balls is modeled by a spring with stiffness calculated from Tedric Harris formulas and the damping is considered null. The squeeze film damper model is derived from the Osborne Reynolds equation for incompressible and synchronous fluid loading; the stiffness and damping coefficients are calculated assuming that the bearing is infinitely short, and the oil film pressure is modeled as a cavitated π film model. The stiffness and damping coefficients are integrated on a rotordynamics code and the bearing loads are calculated by converging with the bearing eccentricity ratio. In a second step, a finite element structural dynamics model is built for the system “turbocharger housing-high speed balancer fixture” and validated by experimental frequency response functions. In the last step, the rotating dynamic bearing loads on the squeeze film damper are coupled with transfer functions and the vibration on the housings is predicted. The vibration response under single and multi-plane unbalances correlates very well with test data from turbocharger unbalance masters. The prediction model allows a thorough understanding of ball bearing turbocharger vibration on a high speed balancer, thus optimizing the dynamic behavior of the “turbocharger-high speed balancer” structural system for better rotordynamics performance identification and selection of the appropriate balancing process at the development stage of the turbocharger.

Sinusoidal Three-Lobe Bearings—Optimization and Stability Charts

1980 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 416-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. ten Napel ◽  
R. Bosma
Keyword(s):  
Film Thickness ◽  
Stability Parameters ◽  
Stability Regions ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Optimum Position ◽  
Minimum Film Thickness ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

In contradistinction to the commonly used segmented three-lobe bearing, another type of bearing, i.e., the sinusoidal three-lobe bearing has been investigated in this paper. The main advantage of this bearing is that it can very easily be manufactured. Special attention has been paid to problems of optimization with regard to minimum film thickness and friction, respectively. Stiffness and damping coefficients have been calculated as well as stability regions and stability parameters. Additionally, the optimum position of the oil grooves has been investigated.

Performance Analysis of a Nonrecessed Hybrid Conical Journal Bearing Compensated With Capillary Restrictors

2015 ◽  
Vol 138 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prashant G. Khakse ◽  
Vikas M. Phalle ◽  
S. S. Mantha
Keyword(s):  
Performance Analysis ◽  
Film Thickness ◽  
Journal Bearing ◽  
Fluid Film ◽  
Load Parameter ◽  
Radial Load ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Fluid Film Thickness ◽  
Film Stiffness

The present paper deals with the performance analysis of a nonrecessed hole-entry hydrostatic/hybrid conical journal bearing with capillary restrictors. Finite element method has been used for solving the modified Reynolds equation governing the flow of lubricant in the clearance space of journal and bearing. The hole-entry hybrid conical journal bearing performance characteristics have been depicted for a wide range of radial load parameter (W¯r  = 0.25–1.5) with uniform distribution of holes at an angle of 30 deg in the circumferential direction. The numerically simulated results have been presented in terms of maximum fluid film pressure, minimum fluid film thickness, lubricant flow rate, direct fluid film stiffness coefficients, direct fluid film damping coefficients, and stability threshold speed. However, the proposed investigation of nonrecess hole-entry hybrid conical journal bearing shows important performance for bearing stiffness and minimum fluid film thickness at variable radial load and at given operating speed.

Modal Frequency Response of a Four-Pad Tilting Pad Bearing With Spherical Pivots, Finite Pivot Stiffness and Different Pad Preloads

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy W. Dimond ◽  
Amir A. Younan ◽  
Paul E. Allaire ◽  
John C. Nicholas
Keyword(s):  
Frequency Response ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Degrees Of Freedom ◽  
Natural Frequencies ◽  
Theoretical Calculations ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Tilting Pad ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

Tilting pad journal bearings (TPJBs) provide radial support for rotors in high-speed machinery. Since the tilting pads cannot support a moment about the pivot, self-excited cross-coupled forces due to fluid-structure interactions are greatly reduced or eliminated. However, the rotation of the tilting pads about the pivots introduces additional degrees of freedom into the system. When the flexibility of the pivot results in pivot stiffness that is comparable to the equivalent stiffness of the oil film, then pad translations as well as pad rotations have to be considered in the overall bearing frequency response. There is significant disagreement in the literature over the nature of the frequency response of TPJBs due to non-synchronous rotor perturbations. In this paper, a bearing model that explicitly considers pad translations and pad rotations is presented. This model is transformed to modal coordinates using state-space analysis to determine the natural frequencies and damping ratios for a four-pad tilting pad bearing. Experimental static and dynamic results were previously reported in the literature for the subject bearing. The bearing characteristics as tested are considered using a thermoelastohydrodynamic (TEHD) model. The subject bearing was reported as having an elliptical bearing bore and varying pad clearances for loaded and unloaded pads during the test. The TEHD analysis assumes a circular bearing bore, so the average bearing clearance was considered. Because of the ellipticity of the bearing bore, each pad has its own effective preload, which was considered in the analysis. The unloaded top pads have a leading edge taper. The loaded bottom pads have finned backs and secondary cooling oil flow. The bearing pad cooling features are considered by modeling equivalent convective coefficients for each pad back. The calculated bearing full stiffness and damping coefficients are also reduced non-synchronously to the eight stiffness and damping coefficients typically used in rotordynamic analyses and are expressed as bearing complex impedances referenced to shaft motion. Results of the modal analysis are compared to a two degree-of-freedom second-order model obtained via a frequency-domain system identification procedure. Theoretical calculations are compared to previously published experimental results for a four-pad tilting pad bearing. Comparisons to the previously published static and dynamic bearing characteristics are considered for model validation. Differences in natural frequencies and damping ratios resulting from the various models are compared, and the implications for rotordynamic analyses are considered.

Influence of Wear on the Performance of Multirecess Hydrostatic Journal Bearing Operating With Micropolar Lubricant

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rajasekhar Nicodemus ◽  
Satish C. Sharma
Keyword(s):  
Journal Bearing ◽  
Dynamic Performance ◽  
Flow Equation ◽  
Performance Characteristics ◽  
Wear Depth ◽  
Damping Coefficients ◽  
Load Line ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Load Arrangement ◽  
Stiffness And Damping

The objective of the present work is to study theoretically the influence of wear on the performance of four-pocket capillary-compensated hydrostatic journal bearing operating with micropolar lubricant. In the present study, the lubricant containing additives and contaminants is modeled as micropolar fluid. The modified Reynolds equation for micropolar lubricant is solved using finite element method along with capillary restrictor flow equation as a constraint together with appropriate boundary conditions. The performance characteristics of a capillary-compensated four-pocket worn hydrostatic journal bearing operating with micropolar lubricant have been presented for a wide range of values of nondimensional external load, wear depth parameter, and micropolar parameters. The simulated results have also been presented for two different loading arrangements. In arrangement I, the load line acts through centers of the pockets, whereas in arrangement II, the load line bisects the land between two pockets. The simulated results suggest that a bearing lubricated with lubricant having higher micropolar effect has better static and dynamic performance characteristics as compared with Newtonian lubricant but the bearing lubricated with lubricant having higher micropolar effect is predominantly affected by the wear vis a vis static characteristics parameters as compared with Newtonian lubricant for both loading arrangements. However, in the case of stiffness and damping coefficients, loading arrangement II shows a significant higher enhancement in the value of direct stiffness and damping coefficients in z-direction due to micropolar effect as compared with load arrangement I. And also, the effect of wear on stiffness and damping coefficients in z-direction for bearing operating with micropolar lubricant is of same order as Newtonian lubricant for the loading arrangement II. A similar behavior is observed for the case of stiffness and damping coefficients in x-direction for loading arrangement I.

Bending Hysteresis Losses in Cord—Rubber Composites

1974 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 376-383
Author(s):  
John Skelton
Keyword(s):  
Direct Measurement ◽  
Experimental Technique ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Cyclic Strain ◽  
Current Version ◽  
Rubber Composites ◽  
Low Speed ◽  
Hysteresis Losses ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Hostile Environments

Abstract An experimental technique is described which permits the direct measurement of the bending hysteresis loss in cord—rubber composites under carefully controlled conditions of cyclic strain. The equipment can readily detect differences between composites made with different cords. The current version of the equipment is intended only for low-speed cycling, but the extension to high speed capability is contemplated. The robust nature of equipment should make it possible to carry out tests in a wide range of hostile environments.

Integrated Dynamic Thermo-Mechanical Modeling of High Speed Spindles, Part 2: Solution Procedure and Validations

2004 ◽  
Vol 126 (1) ◽  
pp. 159-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hongqi Li ◽  
Yung C. Shin
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Solution Procedure ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Mechanical Modeling ◽  
Spindle Bearing ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Bearing Stiffness ◽  
Models Validation ◽  
Validation Tests

This paper presents a new solution procedure for an integrated thermo-dynamic spindle model and validation results. Based on the model presented in Part 1 of this paper, a computer program has been developed to generate comprehensive solutions for high speed spindle-bearing systems, such as bearing stiffness, contact load and temperature, spindle dynamic characteristics and response, temperature distributions, and thermal expansions. The model and the solution procedure are modular such that solutions for different spindle set-ups can be easily generated by combining a given spindle model with different toolholder models. Validation test results for thermal and dynamic predictions are presented for four different spindle systems, including the thermal and dynamic validation tests on a specially constructed spindle testbed. The validation results show the model has accurate predictive capabilities for a wide range of operating conditions and various spindle designs.

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