An eco-impact design metric for water lubricated bearings based on anticipatory Life Cycle Assessment

J.P.A Nijssen,J Faludi,R.A.J Van Ostayen

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.128874

Abstract

Water lubricated bearings have been named in literature as a sustainable alternative to their oil-based counterparts. In order to clarify when water lubricated bearings are or are not a sustainable alternative, and inform design decisions, an analytical design tool is introduced based on anticipatory Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). This model is based on data from the bearing geometries, materials, and material combinations that have been the subject of research attention in the past 20 years in water lubricated bearing design. The model provides simple equations, fed with data from literature on materials, production and their tribological combination to provide initial insight on the sustainability of these types of bearings and future designs. A case study illustrates that quantifying environmental impacts can help determine when lubricant loss is more important than material choice, or vice-versa. The method aids bearing designers towards more sustainable designs.

Highlights

Tribology is one of the key components when it comes to the continuous search for sustainability improvements within engineering
The review resulted in 53 articles with a focus on design or performance, and 74 with a focus on material combinations
The analysis showed that a wide variety of material combinations has been used for water lubricated bearing applications, but only a few have been reported in high numbers

Summary

Introduction

Tribology is one of the key components when it comes to the continuous search for sustainability improvements within engineering. It covers the studies on friction, wear, lubrication and adhesion (Nosonosky and Bhushan, 2010). Because of the separation of the solid elements between the liquid, these types of bearings possess superior friction and wear characteristics in comparison to their roller and sliding counterparts. When it comes to the lubricant used, the most common solution to date continues to be some form of oil-based lubricant

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Discussion

Conclusion