Thermohydrodynamic Analyses of Bump Air Foil Bearings With Detailed Thermal Model of Foil Structures and Rotor

Abstract

A new thermohydrodynamic analysis model for bump air foil bearings with a detailed thermal model of bump foil structures and rotor is presented. In the developed model, temperatures of lubricating air film, top foil, bump foils, bearing sleeve, and rotor are calculated simultaneously through an iterative process. Reynolds equation and 3D energy equation were applied to the air film, and energy equations were applied to all the other structures around the bearing. Energy and momentum equations were applied to cooling channels to predict spatial temperature distribution along the cooling channels. The thermal growth of the rotor, foil structure, bearing sleeve, and centrifugal growth of the rotor are also considered. For the accuracy of the model, effective heat transfer resistance between the top foil and bearing sleeve was measured for various conditions and implemented into the thermal analysis around the cooling channels. The model was also bench marked with published experimental results for verifications. Using a developed model, parametric studies were performed with different bearing nominal clearances, applied loads, rotating speeds, and cooling conditions through channels.