multi-loBE BEARinG

SUBMITTED BY KRISHANU DAS GOURAB SARKAR KOUSHIK DEBNATH MD. SAMIM AKHTAR DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING GLOBAL INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGY KRISHNAGAR, NADIA-741102 WEST BENGAL

ABSTRACT

In this project the various parameters of the oil flow in a multi lobe bearing are studied using unsteady k-epsilon turbulence model. For realizing the problem a 3 lobe bearing was selected which had the lobes placed at a distance of 120 degrees. The rotation speed of the shaft was considered to be 20000 rpm. The results show a strong affinity of the oil property to segregate to critical values at elevated rotational speeds. Thus the present study could lead towards the formulation of new bearing oil which corresponds to higher performance indices. The results show the presence of lobes highly effect the performance of the multi lobe bearing as the critical quantities developed here are comparatively lesser to the other zones in the bearing.

CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION OBJECTIVE MULTI-LOBE BEARING METHODOLOGY DEFINING THE PHYSICAL MODEL GENERATION OF COMPUTATIONAL DOMAIN ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES APPLICATIONS CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
Various parameters of the oil flow in a multi lobe bearing.

For realizing the problem a 3 lobe bearing was selected which had the lobes placed at a distance of 120 degrees.
The rotation speed of the shaft was considered to be 20000 rpm. Fixed-geometry bearings differ from tilting pad bearings in that the fixed-geometry bearing has no moving parts, making the lobes or arcs stationary around the shaft.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present work is to design 3 lobe bearing.

Analyze the various flow parameters arising due to the motion of the shaft at rpm of 20000. The design of the 3 lobe model and its subsequent analysis and simulation was carried out using CATIA.

MULTI-LOBE BEARING
A bearing is a machine element that constrains relative motion between moving parts to only the desired motion.
The design of the bearing may provide for free linear movement of the moving part or for free rotation around a fixed axis. Fluid film bearings support the shaft weight and control motions caused by unbalance forces, aerodynamic forces, and external excitations from couplings. Fixed-geometry bearings differ from tilting pad bearings in that the fixed-geometry bearing has no moving parts, making the lobes or arcs stationary around the shaft. Superior ability to absorb energy to dampen vibrations, and their longevity due to the absence of rolling contact stresses.

METHODOLOGY
The main objectives in this stage were: To find the pressure distribution across the various parts of the oil media as well as the shaft in an unsteady condition. To find the temperature distribution across the oil media and the shaft body in an unsteady condition. To find the various other quantities across the oil media and the shaft body in an unsteady condition.

DEFINING THE PHYSICAL MODEL

For purpose of defining the physical model we used the following values for the shaft and the bearing surface. The bearing of .08 m was selected and the diameter was selected to be .06 m. The 3 lobes were placed 120 degrees apart whose diameter was 0.004 m. The surface which holds the oil was assumed to be present between the shaft and the bearing surface area.

The walls were defined and the continuum was supposed to exist in the fluent state.
The rest of the model continuum was supposed to be solid walls.

GENERATION OF COMPUTATIONAL DOMAIN

It involved transforming the generated physical domain into a mesh (structured/ unstructured) with number of node points depending on the fineness of the mesh. The various flow properties were evaluated at these points. The extent of accuracy of the result depended to a great extent on the fact that how fine the physical domain was meshed.

Advantages
Virtually no metal to metal contact between shaft and bearing while the machine is operating. Dampened, low-oscillation, noise and wear-free shaft operation. If the oil supply is operating properly, virtually unlimited bearing service life. Several supportive lubrication films distributed around the shaft circumference guarantee that the shaft is generally centered, thus significantly improving concentricity. Permits high continuous loading. Shock loads of several times the level of the continuous load are acceptable. Low friction losses. Good lubricant flushing and cooling effects. Structural adaptability to every existing machine construction.

disadvantages
Some types can be expensive to make properly. Subject to whirl at high speeds. High cost. Required careful design. Complex bearing requiring detailed analysis.

Applications

Multi-lobe bearings are being successfully used in:

Turbochargers Boiler feed pumps Large electric motors Refrigeration turbines Water turbines Centrifugal test rigs Turbine test rigs Noise test rigs Precision drills and lathes Transfer machines Precision borers Grinders

CONCLUSION
We gained our practical knowledge which we can apply in future in the industries.
Preference of one bearing type over another bearing, should not be overly generalized. The values are comparatively on the higher side, it could be easily explained. The analysis were carried out at particularly very high speed.