Tribo-design of lubricants for power loss reduction in the oil-film bearings of a process industry machine: Modelling and experimental tests

Abstract

This paper addresses the optimization of the tribological characteristics of lubricating oils used in the process industry. In many cases, the machines are organized in several “stands” to form “lines” and are equipped by spindles supported by oil-film journal bearings that are fed by the same oil. The modelling of a steel roll forming line is presented by using a thermo-elasto-hydro-dynamic model for the calculation of the power dissipated in each journal bearing. The optimal lubricating oil characteristics are defined by means of a multivariate optimization on the parameters of viscosity, temperature and thickness of the oil-film. The results of the experimental tests are shown for the oil used in the real plant and the new oil formulated by simulations. • We investigated the behaviour of all the oil-film bearings of a steel roll forming machine. • We developed a detailed TEHD model for the evaluation of the bearing power loss. • We performed a parametric analysis on the viscosity parameter of the lubricant. • We selected the viscosity properties of a new oil for the reduction of the power loss. • We performed experimental tests on the new oil defined by simulations.