Theoretical Analysis on the Impact of Spiral Groove Structural Parameters on Static Characteristics of Novel Hybrid Gas Foil Thrust Bearing with Spiral Grooves

doi:10.3901/JME.2025.09.358

Abstract

Abstract: Currently, the insufficient bearing load capacity of gas foil thrust bearings limits their application in the field of high-power and high-load turbomachinery. In order to improve the bearing capacity, a new type of hybrid gas foil thrust bearing with spiral groove on the top foil surface is proposed, which retains the advantages of simple structure of gas foil thrust bearing and uses the spiral groove on the top foil surface as an auxiliary pressurization mechanism of the bearing, so that the bearing load capacity of gas foil thrust bearing can be further improved by using the pumping effect and circumferential ladder effect of the spiral groove on the basis of taper dynamic pressure effect. The physical models of non-groove gas foil thrust bearings and gas foil spiral groove thrust bearings are established. The Reynolds equation, gas film thickness equation considering spiral grooves and foil deformation equation are coupling solved by finite difference method to obtain the static characteristics of the non-groove gas foil thrust bearing and gas foil spiral groove thrust bearing. In addition, the effect of the spiral groove structural parameters: groove position, number of grooves, groove depth, groove width ratio, groove length ratio and spiral angle as well as the taper inlet height on the friction torque, bearing load capacity and ultimate load capacity of the gas foil spiral groove thrust bearing to obtain the optimal spiral groove structural parameters are researched. Simulation results indicate that the load capacity and bearing stiffness of the GFSFTB are significantly superior to those of traditional non-groove gas foil thrust bearings. Therefore, this study proposes a feasible method for performance optimization of gas foil thrust bearings and extends the application prospects of foil bearings.

Key words: gas foil spiral groove thrust bearing, simulation, load capacity, friction torque, groove structural parameters

CLC Number:

V229
TH133

LUAN Wenlin, WANG Yuanding, WANG Haoming, LIU Yan, LI Xianglong, XU Fangcheng. Theoretical Analysis on the Impact of Spiral Groove Structural Parameters on Static Characteristics of Novel Hybrid Gas Foil Thrust Bearing with Spiral Grooves[J]. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2025, 61(9): 358-371.

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