Influence of an applied electric field on the torque of rotary lip seals on metal shafts. Part II: Effects of oil type

Abstract

The experimental results are presented of research on the tribocharging of selected engine oils and on the effect of an auxiliary external DC electric field on the work of rotary machinery. There exists an effect of the type of oil, its temperature, and the electric field on the braking torque of rotating parts such as shafts, crankshafts, etc. sealed with lip seals. The research was especially aimed at the possibility of reduction in the torque under external electric fields for different engine oils. To obtain the auxiliary electric field the DC voltage was applied between the stiffening ring of a fluorocarbon lip seal and the rotating, earthed shaft in the metal shaft–oil film–lip seal system. The measurements of the torque were performed under steady state conditions for given different oil temperatures, angular shaft velocities, and voltages; also three different oils were used. It was found that for the lip seal under test the negative voltage applied produced a beneficial effect on the torque depending on the type of oils.