The Analysis of the Lubrication Condition and Friction Losses of a Single Acting Cross Head Guide Shoe of a Low Speed Cross Head Diesel Engine: Part II — A Practical Model for the Determination of the Oil Film Thickness

Abstract

The cross head guide shoe plate of a large diesel engine operates under a large normal force which presses it against the rails between which it executes both axial and transverse motion. In order to ensure the safe operation of an unconventional bearing such as the guide shoe system of the cross head engine, an algorithm that can be used to predict accurately the oil film thickness that can be achieved for all the engine's operating regimes, is invaluable. A solution of the three dimensional form of Reynolds differential equation can provide the requisite oil film thickness. However, with even the availability of very fast computers and large computer storage capacity this solution for a large axial bearing such as the guide shoe becomes impractical in terms of computation time and computer core requirements. This paper describes alternative simplified algorithm for accurate prediction of the oil film thickness developed in the guide shoe bearing at different operating regimes of the engine.