Measurement And Calculation Of A Self-Equalized Tilting-Pad Thrust Bearing Under Static Misalignment

LectureTilting-pad thrust bearings which include a self-equalizing feature, ensure reliable and safe operation especially under conditions on which misalignment between bearing and collar occurs. One common method to incorporate such a self-equalizing feature to a thrust tilting-pad bearing is the usage of leveling links. Radii and spherical contacts ensure a free rolling surface between the links, thrust pads and bearing housing. However, the verification whether a design works properly can be relatively challenging. For example, the friction forces between all the radii contacts always lead to different residual misalignments between the pads. This leads to a periodic rotational distribution of the hydrodynamic pressure and thus to different temperatures of each pad. This paper shows detailed measurements of a self-equalizing thrust tilting-pad bearing using leveling links. The test campaign includes a wide range of bearing to collar misalignment and operating conditions. The measurements show, that such a mechanical equalizing-mechanism may sufficiently balance very large deflections, despite the fact, that the residual pad misalignment of each pad due to friction lead to a relative high temperature difference between the pads. Furthermore, the paper presents a methodology of calculating the bearing behavior of self-equalizing thrust bearings to generate a better understanding and assessment of the proper function of such a bearing design. It presents the development of a mechanical model, which can iteratively solve a FEA software and a thermo-elastic-hydrodynamic (TEHD) software for fluid-film bearings

ARIA-EAACI statement on asthma and COVID-19 (June 2, 2020)

Non peer reviewe

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Measured and predicted operating characteristics of a tilting-pad journal bearing with jacking-oil device at hydrostatic, hybrid, and hydrodynamic operation

Jacking-oil pockets are applied in many journals and thrust bearing applications in order to provide a hydrostatic oil film force that ensures a wear free run-up following a successful lift-off procedure. However, all components of the jacking-oil system have to be carefully designed in order to limit costs and prevent significant disturbance of hydrodynamic operation after deactivation of lift-oil. Experimental data and predictions for a four-pad tilting-pad journal bearing in load between pivot configuration are presented. Dynamic processes of the lift-off procedure as well as characteristic parameters of stationary conditions are studied. Moreover, hydrodynamic operation and hybrid lubrication providing a combined hydrodynamic and hydrostatic pressure distribution are investigated for sliding speeds up to 20 m/s. Analyzes of lift-off procedure prove that characteristic parameters such as lift-off pressures and vertical lift displacements are considerably influenced by manufacturing tolerances and misalignments. The comparison of hydrodynamic and hybrid lubrication provides a significant increase of load carrying capacity by additional jacking-oil supply at the maximum journal speed. In summary, results of measurements and predictions correlate well for all three investigated lubrication conditions

The impact of convective fluid inertia forces on operation of tilting-pad journal bearings

This paper presents a combination of experimental data, CFD analyses, and bearing code predictions on emergence of convective inertia fluid forces within the lube oil flow of tilting-pad journal bearings. Concordantly, experimental data and CFD analyses show a significant rise of local pressure at the transition between inlet and leading edge of tilting-pad, especially for high-speed applications with surface speeds up to 100 m/s. This effect can be related to convective inertia forces within fluid flow as cross-sections and flow character rapidly change at the pad entrance. An energy-based approach is implemented in the bearing code in order to provide enhanced boundary conditions for Reynolds equation considering this effect. As a result, predictions of bearing code achieved significant improved correlation with measured pressure distributions and CFD-data. Further, beside the local influence, a nonnegligible impact on characteristic parameters of bearing operation such as maximum temperature and stiffness and damping coefficients is observed. Finally, the results are critically analyzed and requirements to gain more distinct and reliable data are specified

Advances in Lubricated Bearings

Advances in the design and development of lubricated bearings have been a goal of tribology engineers over decades, as the requirements on efficiency, power density, and robustness continuously increase in the history of rotating machinery [...

Theoretical and experimental investigations on transient run-up procedures of journal bearings including mixed friction conditions

This paper focuses on the operating behavior of journal bearings for industrial machinery application during run-ups. For this purpose, a numerical simulation code that is based on a two-dimensional extended and generalized Reynolds equation and a full three-dimensional energy equation, was advanced by a theoretical model considering the effects of mixed friction and warming of journal components during start-up. The mixed friction routine contained the elastic half-spaces model proposed by Boussinesq, which considers the influence of rough surfaces by implementing flow factors and calculates additional stiffness and dissipation in areas with solid interactions. Furthermore, a transient term was added in the energy equation to consider the thermal inertia of journal, and bearing to ensure a realistic heating during run-ups. Results of the prediction were compared to experimental data taken from a special test rig built up for validation procedures. Besides the conventional sensors for temperature, oil flow, and relative motion between shaft and stator, a contact voltage measurement was installed to determine the intensity of mixed friction. The evaluation of experimental data by Stribeck curves, based on a shaft torsion measurement, indicated a significant influence of run-up time on frictional moment. The friction coefficient of the rotor bearing system was strongly influenced by the run-up time. A short run-up time reduced the frictional coefficient in the mixed lubrication regime while the opposite behavior was observed in the hydrodynamic lubrication regime. The numerical code predicted these tendencies in good agreement with experimental data, however, only if the transient energy model was applied