A multiphase computational study of oil distribution inside roller bearings with under-race lubrication

• Published in: Tribology international Vol. 140; p. 105862
• Main Authors: Gao, Wenjun, Nelias, Daniel, Li, Kun, Liu, Zhenxia, Lyu, Yaguo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2019; Elsevier BV; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bearing races; Engineering Sciences; Lubrication; Multiphase flow; Oil volume fraction; Phase distribution; Roller bearing; Roller bearings; Rotation; Two phase flow; Under-race lubrication; Roller bearing; Oil volume fraction; Two-phase flow; Under-race lubrication
• ISSN: 0301-679X; 1879-2464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.triboint.2019.105862

Oil-phase distribution inside roller bearings with under-race lubrication is a key element for bearing lubricating and cooling, and it determines the bearing's hydraulic loss, which may represent up to 50% of total power dissipated. The CLSVOF method for multiphase flow is conducted to track oil/air two-phase flow inside roller bearing with under-race lubrication, and quantify the influence of various factors, particularly rotating speeds of bearing components. The result demonstrates that there is an optimal oil inlet velocity to keep more oil accumulation inside bearing cavity. Exceptionally, it's found that the relative rotating between inner ring and cage could change oil volume fraction with a convex trend. While rotating speed of inner ring and outer ring changes oil volume fraction linearly.