• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

This paper focuses on the thermal deformation induced preload change in the tilting pad journal bearing, using a three-dimensional (3D) thermo-hydro-dynamic (THD) approach. Preload is considered as a critical factor in designing the tilting pad journal bearing. The initial preload measured under nil external load and nil thermal gradient is influenced by two factors, namely, the thermal deformation and elastic deformation. Thermal deformation is due to a temperature distribution in the bearing pads, whereas the elastic deformation is due to fluid forces acting on the pads. This study focuses on the changes induced in preload and film clearance due to thermal deformation. The generalized Reynolds equation is used to evaluate the force of the fluid and the 3D energy equation is used to calculate the temperature of the lubricant. The abovementioned equations are combined by establishing a relationship between viscosity and temperature. The heat transfer within the bearing pads, the lubricant, and the spinning journal is calculated using the heat flux boundary condition. The 3D Finite Element Method (FEM) is used in modeling the (1) heat conduction in the spinning journal and bearing pads, (2) thermal gradient induced thermal distortion of the spinning journal and pads, and (3) viscous shearing, and heat conduction and convection in a thin film. This evaluation method has an increased fidelity, and it can prove to be a cost-effective tool that can be used by designers to predict the dynamic behavior of a bearing.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제33권2호
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• pp.37-44
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• 2017

A DE-side LBP tilting pad journal bearing of a 1-stage overhung heat-pump compressor in a propylene process exhibited abnormal high-temperature behavior. Its temperature had been relatively high at $78^{\circ}C$ from the beginning of operation. In 2014, after three years of operation, it increased suddenly and reached $103^{\circ}C$. Installing a varnish removal equipment and others managed to stabilize the temperature at $95^{\circ}C$. We undertook a troubleshooting approach for reviewing the comprehensive status and integrity of the temperature design of the bearing. We performed lubrication and heat-balance analysis, based on the design engineering data and documents supplied by the OEM. For the base design data of DE-side TPJB, evaluating the effects of key design variables on bearing metal temperature showed that firstly, increasing the bearing clearance and supply oil flow-rate, and next, changing the oil type, and finally, increasing the machined pad clearance and offset, are more effective in reducing the bearing metal temperature. Furthermore, a clarification meeting with the OEM revealed that an incorrect decision had been made to decrease the bearing clearance to eliminate the SSV harshness issue, while not maintaining a sufficient oil flow-rate. We conducted a detailed retrofit design analysis, wherein we increased the oil flow-rate and bearing clearance by decreasing the preload. We predicted that the bearing temperature would decrease to $63^{\circ}C$ from $75.7^{\circ}C$ even at the rerate condition. Finally, after installing and operating a retrofit replacement bearing in 2015, the bearing temperature stabilized at a low temperature of $65^{\circ}C$. Currently (January. 2017), two year later, the bearing metal temperature remains at $65^{\circ}C$. Therefore, we can conclude that the abnormal high-temperature behavior of the bearing has been resolved completely.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제31권6호
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• pp.294-301
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• 2015

In this paper, we predict the rotordynamic force coefficients of tilting pad journal bearings (TPJBs) with rocker-back pivots, and we compare the predictions to recently published predictions and test data. The present TPJB model considers the rocker-back pivot stiffness calculated based on the Hertzian contact-stress theory, which is nonlinear with the application of a force . For the five-pad TPJB in load-between-pad and load-on-pad configurations, the predictions show the pressure- and film-thickness distributions, the deflection and stiffness of the individual pivots, and bearing stiffness and damping coefficients. The minimum film thickness and peak pressure occur at the bottom pad on which the applied load is directed. Because of the preload, the pres- sure is positive even at the upper pad in the opposite direction to the applied load. The pivot deflection and stiff- ness are maximum at the bottom pad that receives the heaviest pressure load. The predicted stiffness coefficients increase as the static load and rotor speed increase, while the damping coefficients decrease as the rotor speed increases, but increase as the static load increases. In general, the predicted stiffness coefficients agree well with the test data. The predicted damping coefficients overestimate the test data, particularly for large static loads. In general, the current predictive model considering the pivot stiffness improves the accuracy of the rotordynamic performance compared to previously reported models.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제39권6호
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• pp.268-272
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• 2023

This study explores the characteristics of tilting pad journal bearings used in the high-speed rotating shaft systems of centrifugal compressors. A centrifugal compressor is a high-speed rotating machine that is widely used to compress gases or vapors employed in various industrial applications. It transfers the centrifugal force of a fast-spinning impeller to the fluid and compresses it under high pressure. Many high-speed rotating shaft systems, which require high stability, use tilting pad journal bearings. The characteristics of these bearings can vary depending on several properties, and identifying the appropriate characteristics is essential to optimize the design on a case-to-case basis. In this study, the authors perform a time-dependent analysis of the properties of tilting pad journal bearings and the rotordynamics of the rotating shaft system using COMSOL Multiphysics software. Specifically, the authors analyze the characteristics of the tilting pad journal bearings by performing a parametric sweep using parameters such as pad clearance, maximum tilting angle, preload, number of pads, and pad pivot offset. The authors then use the results of the bearing-characteristics analysis to evaluate the vibration of the rotating shaft and verify its operation within a desirable range. The understanding gained from this study will allow us to determine the optimal properties of these bearings and the limiting operational speed using COMSOL Multiphysics software.

• 한국유체기계학회 논문집
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.32-38
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• 1999

An experimental study is performed to investigate the frequency effects of the excitation force on the linear stiffness and damping coefficients of a LOP (load on pad) type five-pad tilting pad journal bearing with the diameter of 300.91 mm and the length of 149.80 mm. The main parameter of interest in the present work is excitation frequency to shake the test bearing. The excitation frequency is controlled independently, using orthogonally mounted hydraulic exciters. The relative movement between the bearing and shaft, and the acceleration of the bearing casing are measured as a function of excitation frequency using the different values of bearing load and shaft speed. Measurements show that the variation of excitation frequency has quite a little effect on both stiffness and damping coefficients. Both direct stiffness and damping coefficients in the direction of bearing load decrease by the increase of shaft speed, but increase with the bearing load.

• 한국소음진동공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국소음진동공학회 2014년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.408-414
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• 2014

After drilling operations at the offshore plant to production to crude oil to high pressure. After that time the low pressured of pipe inside when the secondary produce so oil recovery is reduced. At that time injection sea water at the pipe inside through water injection pump that the device Increase recovery so to be research and development at many industry. So developing 3-stage water injection pump at the domestic company. A variety of mathematical analysis during the detailed design analysis was not made through the dynamics characteristic. In this paper, a 2D finite element analysis is performed through the dynamics of the present study was the validation of the model.

• 한국소음진동공학회논문집
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• 제24권6호
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• pp.462-469
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• 2014

After drilling operations at the offshore plant, crude oil is producted under high pressure. After that time, oil recovery is reduced, because the pressure of the pipe inside is low during the secondary produce. At that time injection sea water at the pipe inside through water injection pump that the device increase to recovery. A variety of mathematical analysis during the detailed design analysis was not made through the dynamics characteristic at the domestic company. 2D model has reliability of analysis results for the uncomplicated model. Also element and the node the number of significantly less than in the 3D model. So, the temporal part is very effective. In addition, depending on the quality of mesh 3D is a real model and FEM model occurs error. So, user needs a lot of skill. In this paper, a 2D finite element analysis was performed through the dynamics analysis and the study model was validated.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.134-140
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• 2017

With the increase in adoption of tilting pad journal bearings (TPJBs), various failure mechanisms related to TPJBs have been reported, of which pad wear is a frequently reported one. Pad wear causes change in geometry of the bearing, which can sometimes result in the failure of the entire system. The objective of this research is to investigate the influence of pad wear on the pad temperature, which is one of the widely used condition monitoring methods for TPJBs. For the theoretical investigation, thermohydrodynamic (THD) analysis was conducted by solving the generalized Reynolds equation and the 3D energy equation. The results of the analysis show that the temperature of the loaded pad increases while that of the unloaded pad decreases, when there is wear on the loaded pads. In addition, the minimum film thickness decreases with an increase in the wear depth. A validation test was conducted with a test rig, which mimics the axial turbine when a test rotor is supported by two TPJBs. The test bearing consists of five pads with a diameter of 60 mm, and a resistance temperature detector (RTD) is installed in the pad for temperature monitoring. The test was performed by replacing the two loaded pads with the worn pad. The test result for the TPJB with wear depth of $30{\mu}m$ show that the temperatures of the loaded pads are $8^{\circ}C$ higher and that of the unloaded pad is $2.5^{\circ}C$ lower than that of the normal TPJB. In addition, the predicted pad temperature shows good agreement with the measured pad temperatures.

• Tribology and Lubricants
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.77-86
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• 2019

The present study focuses on the effect of staggered integration factor (SIF) on Morton effect simulation results. The Morton effect is a synchronous rotordynamic instability problem caused by the temperature differential across the journal in fluid film bearings. Convection and conduction of heat in the thin film displaces the hot spot, which is the hottest circumferential position in the thin film, from -20 to 40 degrees ahead of the high spot, where the minimum film clearance is experienced. The temperature differential across the journal causes a bending moment and the corresponding thermal bow in the rotating frame acts like a distributed synchronous excitation in the fixed frame. This thermal bow may cause increased vibrations and continued growth of the synchronous orbit into a limit cycle. The SIF is developed assuming that the response of the rotor-lubricant-bearing dynamic system is much quicker than that of the bearing-journal thermal system, and it is defined as the ratio between the simulation time of the thermal system and the rotor-spinning period. The use of the SIF is unavoidable for efficient computing. The value of the SIF is chosen empirically by the software users as a value between 100 and 400. However, the effect of the SIF on Morton effect simulation results has not been investigated. This research produces simulation results with different values of SIF.