Effect of using hybrid nano lubricant on the thermo-hydrodynamic performance of two lobe journal bearings

Abstract

Due to the wide range of journal bearings applications in the industrial machine, significant efforts have been made by tribology researchers to improve their performance in recent years. Designing new bearings geometry and using lubricants with new chemical compounds including additives are the most common solutions proposed to enhance the performance of journal bearing supports. New advancements in nanotechnology and producing the various types of nano particles have provided the chance of upgrading the properties of commercial lubricants. According to the different effect of nano fluids on the performance of mechanical systems corresponding to their composition, today they are used to achieve different goals in lubrication systems. Upgrading the steady state performance parameters including load carrying capacity, attitude angle, surface cooling and effective viscosity are among the expected results of applying nano lubricant in journal bearings. So, in this study the performance of hydrodynamic two lobe journal bearings lubricated with SiO₂-multiwall carbon nano tubes /SAE40 hybrid nano fluid is presented considering the thermal effects. For this purpose, the governing Reynolds and energy equations as well as the equation of heat transfer in bearing shell are modified based on the properties of assumed rotor-bearing system. Then the effects of solid volume fraction of nano particles on the performance of two lobe bearings are studied for different amount of bearing noncircularity. The results indicate that upgrading the solid volume fraction of added nano particle to the SAE40 base oil, enhances the lubricant pressure distribution, load carrying capacity, and lubricant effective viscosity. Further, by increasing the solid volume fraction, the attitude angle and temperature of lubricant and rotor-bearing surfaces experience a decreasing trend. Generally, it's obvious from the results that choosing the appropriate solid volume fraction of SiO₂-multiwall carbon nano tubes in hybrid nano oil composition, especially for high value of preload factor, can improve the performance of two lobe bearings.