Thermohydrodynamic Analysis of High-Speed Water-Lubricated Spiral Groove Thrust Bearing Using Cavitating Flow Model

A thermohydrodynamic lubrication model of turbulent cavitating flow for high-speed spiral groove thrust bearing was developed considering the effects of cavitation, turbulence, inertia, breakage, and coalescence of bubbles. Comparing with the classical thermohydrodynamic model, this model can predict not only the distributions of pressure and temperature rise but also the distribution of bubble volume and bubble number density. Static characteristics of the water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing in the state of turbulent cavitating flow were analyzed, and the influences of multiple effects on the static characteristics of the bearing were researched. The numerical calculation result shows that the bubbles are mainly distributed in inlet and outlet of the spiral groove, the distribution of bubble volume is skewed under the equilibrium state, and small bubbles account for a large proportion of the cavitating flow under high-speed condition. Furthermore, the load carrying capacity and the leakage flow of the bearing decrease due to the effect of cavitation under high-speed. The maximum temperature rise of the bearing decreases due to the effect of cavitation effect.