Influence of nanoparticle additives on vibration characteristics in fluid film lubricated journal bearing using real time analysis

Abstract

The rotating machineries in the power plant undergo through the vibrations during the working and create the severe effects such as whirl instability. In this work, vibration phenomenon is taken into consideration in the plain journal bearing used in the steam power plant. Three grades of Mobil lubricants (DTE 24, DTE 25, and DTE 26) are considered during the study. TiO2 nanoparticle additives are considered during the study as a lubricant additive to examine the vibration induced in the journal bearings. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2, 0.5 wt%) of size 40 nm are considered as a lubricant additive to enhance the properties of the lubricants. An experimental approach is presented in this work by opting Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) analyzer. The signals captured by FFT analyzer are then processed on data acquisition software. Comparative analysis is carried out for three different lubricants with and without adding titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle additives to examine the vibration characteristics of journal bearings. Vibration characteristics such as accelerometer and acoustic pressure in the bearing are measured at speeds ranging from 500 rpm. to 1000 rpm at constant load of 1000 N on the hydrodynamic journal bearing. The purpose of this study is to find out the influence of titanium dioxide as an additive on the vibration characteristics of the journal bearing such as variation in vibration and noise generated in the hydrodynamic journal bearing.