• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.101-108
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• 2011

In this paper, a study on the frictional losses and dynamic behaviors of a reciprocating compression mechanism used in small refrigeration compressor is performed. In the problem formulation of the compressor dynamics, the viscous frictional force between piston and cylinder wall is considered in order to determine the coupled dynamic behaviors of piston and crankshaft supported on a thrust ball bearing. The solutions of the equations of motion of the reciprocating mechanism along with the time dependent Reynolds equations for the lubricating film between piston and cylinder wall and lubricant films of the journal bearings are obtained simultaneously. The hydrodynamic forces of journal bearings are calculated using finite bearing model and G$\hat{u}$m-bel boundary condition. And, a Newton-Raphson procedure was employed in solving the nonlinear equations of piston and crankshaft with a thrust ball bearing. The results explored the effects of design parameters on the frictional losses and dynamic stability of the compression mechanism.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.332-341
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• 2020

High-speed turbomachinery implements gas foil bearings (GFBs) due to their distinctive advantages, such as high efficiency, lesser part count, and lower weight. This paper provides the test results of the static structural stiffnesses and loss factors of bump-type foil thrust bearings with increasing preload and bearing deflection. The focus of the current work is to experimentally quantify variability in structural stiffnesses and loss factors among the four test thrust bearings with identical design values and material of the bump and top foil geometries using the same (open-source) fabrication method. A simple test setup, using a rigidly mounted non-rotating shaft and thrust disk, measures the bearing bump deflections with increasing static loads on the test bearing. The inner and outer diameters of the test bearings are 41 mm and 81 mm, respectively. The loss factor, best-representing energy dissipation in the test bearings, is estimated from the area inside the local hysteresis loop of the load versus the bearing deflection curve. The measurements show that structural stiffnesses and loss factors of the test bearings significantly rely on applied preloads and bearing deflections. Local structural stiffnesses of the test bearings increase with applied preloads but decrease with bearing deflections. Changes of loss factors are less sensitive to applied preloads and bearing deflections compared to those of structural stiffnesses. Up to 35% variability in static load structural stiffnesses is found between bearings, while up to 30% variability in loss factors is found between bearings.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers A
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.241-248
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• 2013

In this study, bearings were developed for a high-power propulsion motor operating in inclined operation conditions through a simulation and similitude-experimental methods using commercial rotating machinery dynamics analysis software. The developed journal bearing is electrically insulated and has low thermal conductivity because each part is connected with 2-4 -mm-thick epoxy plates. To realize an appropriate oil thickness, an oil lift system is adopted, and a half separated structure is applied to ensure the feasibility of maintaining very heavy components. This study discusses some of the key design aspects of sleeve bearing design for high-torque and low-speed propulsion motor applications. Furthermore, the conditions of variable slope tests are examined to prevent oil leakage from the bearing lip seal on the test rig.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2008

Potential application of the scroll type machine to air compressor for fuel cell has been studied. Among the seven configuration factors which determine scroll wrap profile, the wrap thickness and the orbiting radius were chosen as two independent variables to generate various scroll wrap profiles. A conceptual design practice was conducted for scroll air compressor for SOFC with power output of 2 kW. With larger wrap thickness and orbiting radius, base plate area of the orbiting scroll becomes smaller, so is the axial gas force acting on the base plate, resulting in reduced thrust loss in spite of larger friction velocity. Performance analysis on the designed model showed that its total efficiency was 64.4% with the mass flow rate per unit compressor input of 0.00905 kg/(s kW) for the wrap thickness of 3.5 mm and the orbiting radius of 3.0 mm.