Abstract
In the present work, the performance of oil-air two-phase flow under different lubricant oils was investigated. The simulation method was applied to study the influence of the oil viscosity on the flow pattern, velocity distribution and Re number in oil-air lubrication by FLUENT software with VOF model to acquire the working performance of oil-air lubrication for high-speed ball bearing. This method was used to obtain the optimum lubrication conditions of high-speed ball bearing. The optimum operating conditions that produce the optimum flow pattern were provided. The optimum annular flow was obtained by PAO6 oil with the low viscosity. Reynolds number influences the fluid shape and distribution of oil and air in pipe. The annular flow can be formed when Reynolds number is an appropriate value. The velocity distribution of oil-air two-phase flow at outlet was also discussed by different oil viscosities. The simulating results show that due to the effect of the oil viscosity and flow pattern the velocity decreased and expanded gradually close to the pipe wall, and the velocity increased close to the central pipe. The simulation results provide the proposal for the design and operation of oil-air two-phase flow lubrication experiments in the present work. This work provides a useful method in designing oil-air lubrication with the optimum flow pattern and the optimum operating conditions.
Highlights
The influence of the oil viscosity on flow pattern of oil-air two-phase flow is investigated by six kinds of PAO oil with different viscosities
The oil film thickness is dependent on fluid viscosity, surface velocity and load according to the theory of elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication (EHL)
The influence of the oil viscosity and Reynolds number on flow pattern of air-oil two-phase flow for high-speed rolling bearing is investigated with FLUENT software and the simulation results are presented
Summary
High speed machine tool has become the mainstream of metal cutting in machining aerospace parts, dies and moulds for finishing aluminum alloys, titanium. Numerical simulation has been developed widely in an attempt to rationalize lubrication optimization, design evaluation and prediction of oil-air lubrication It is an effective and economical method for analysis of oil-air two-phase flow. The emphasis is placed on investigating the influences of the physical properties of oil-air two-phase flow on flow pattern in this work The flow characteristics such as the oil viscosity and Reynolds number affect flow patterns of oil-air two-phase flow, it is necessary to know how to realize the flow pattern in the pipe under the given flow conditions. The main objective is to obtain and clarify the influences of the oil viscosity and Reynolds number on the characteristics of flow pattern in oil-air two-phase flow and achieve the optimum oil-air lubrication parameter with volume of fluid (VOF) model in FLUENT software. The influence of the oil viscosity on the velocity distribution of oil-air two-phase flow at outlet was studied
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