Research into Configuration and Flow of Wall Oil Film in Bearing Chamber Based on Droplet Size Distribution

Abstract

The lubrication design and heat transfer determination of bearing chambers in aeroengine require a sufficient understanding of the oil droplet-film interaction and physical characteristic in an oil/air two-phase flow state. The analyses of oil droplet movement, mass and momentum transfer during the impingement of droplet/wall, as well as wall oil film thickness and flow velocity are very important for the bearing chamber lubrication and heat transfer calculation. An integrated model in combination with droplet movement, droplet/wall impact and film flow analysis is put forward initially based on the consideration of droplet size distribution. The model makes a contribution to provide more practical and feasible technical approach, which is not only for the study of droplet-film interaction and physical behavior in bearing chambers with oil/air two-phase flow phenomena, but also useful for an insight into the essence of physical course through droplet movement and deposition, film formation and flow. The influences of chamber geometries and operating conditions on droplet deposition mass and momentum transfer, and wall film thickness and velocity distribution are discussed. The feasibility of the method by theoretical analysis is also verified by the existing experimental data. The current work is conducive to expose the physical behavior of wall oil film configuration and flow in bearing chamber, and also significant for bearing chamber lubrication and heat transfer study under oil/air two-phase flow conditions.