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On the characteristics of gas foil conical bearings considering misalignment

Hongyang Hu (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China)
Ming Feng (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China)
Tianming Ren (School of Mechanical Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China)

Industrial Lubrication and Tribology

ISSN: 0036-8792

Article publication date: 23 September 2020

Issue publication date: 1 February 2021

110

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the characteristics of gas foil conical bearings (GFCBs) considering the misalignment, the static and dynamic performances with different misalignment cases were studied.

Design/methodology/approach

A test rig on the air compressor supported by GFCBs has been developed to measure the practicability. A nonlinear bump stiffness model and one-dimensional beam top foil stiffness model were used as a basis for the calculation of static and dynamic performance. The finite element method and finite difference method are adopted to solve the Reynolds equation and the film thickness equation coupled, in which different misalignment cases were considered by changing the film thickness.

Findings

The supporting performance of GFCB is excellent, and the film clearance plays a critical role. The misalignment effects depend on the assembled angle and the misalignment angle. The load capacity, friction torque, temperature of GFCB decrease when the misalignment assembled angle is between 120° and 240°, while the dynamic bearing stability is improved. The static and dynamic performances show the opposite law for the other assembled angles, and the misalignment effect is more dramatic when there is a larger misalignment angle. Moreover, the bearing and running parameters largely affect the bearing performance.

Originality/value

The present study focuses on the static and dynamic characteristics of GFCB and investigates the effects of misalignment on the bearing performance.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-04-2020-0117

Keywords

Citation

Hu, H., Feng, M. and Ren, T. (2021), "On the characteristics of gas foil conical bearings considering misalignment", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 73 No. 1, pp. 126-136. https://doi.org/10.1108/ILT-04-2020-0117

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

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