Thermo-hybrid lubrication FSI-CFD model for the static characteristics of hybrid porous tilting pad bearings

Abstract

Hybrid porous tilting pad bearing (HPTPB) is a new hybrid lubrication bearing showing potential for oil-free high-speed turbomachinery with reliable stability. This study presents a thermo-hybrid lubrication FSI-CFD model for HPTPB static characteristics. The interaction between the gas lubrication and the adaptive pad motion is solved with dynamic mesh iterative algorithm. The influences of rotor speed, supply pressure, radial stiffness, tilting stiffness, and nominal clearance on the load capacity, mass leakage, friction torque, and temperature rise are investigated. The adaptive pad motions significantly influence the hybrid lubrication of the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic effects in the HPTPB. With the complex bearing configuration, the static performances of HPTPB depend on the combined effect of the design parameters.