Generic Bearing - How to Use Page 1 of 7

Generic Bearing

How to Use

Use

The component can be used to 'model' any general bearing component. Its main characteristics
are that the mass flow rate through the bearing and the frictional loss are governed by a set of
data contained in a data file. Because the flow rate and frictional loss are dependent on
pressure, engine speed, viscosity and clearance, these values CANNOT be presented to
Flowmaster in the form of equations for the simulation to solve. Instead, they are stored in
multi-dimensional arrays.

The actual bearing flow and frictional power are interpolated/extrapolated, based on the bearing
pressure differences, the temperature/viscosity, and the bearing clearance and speed.

The component is able to model any general bearing by:

1. The use of a range of input curves.

2. The use of three controller inputs which enable the Rotational Speed, Flow Rate and Friction
to be set, and
3. The way the data items are set on the component data form.

Rotational Speed

You can set this in one of three ways:

1. By setting a fixed value

2. By setting a curve of Rotational Speed v Time, or
3. By connecting a controller to the appropriate SI controller connection.

If a controller is used, then it takes precedence over the data form value and the curve.

Bearing Clearance

Used to set the bearing clearance. It can be set in one of two ways:

1. By setting a fixed value.

2. By setting curves of Max. Clearance v Temperature, and Min. Clearance v Temperature.

1. If the fixed value and both curves are set, then preference is given to the curves.
2. If only one curve is set AND the fixed value is set, then preference is given to the fixed
value.
3. Clearance values are taken from the data file, irrespective of what data is set on the data
form.

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Clearance Tolerance Position

You can use this to set a 'non-dimensional' weighting factor (0 - 1.0). The setting is used to find
the bearing clearance when the Max. Clearance v Temperature and Min. Clearance v
Temperature curves are both set.

P Scaling Factor

Used to set a 'non-dimensional' scaling factor, which is applied to the oil flow rate at zero
bearing pressure difference. In general, it is necessary to scale the oil flow to compensate for
the systematical model deviations referred to experimental tests, or to take certain effects into
consideration. For example, oil flow through the conrod bearings and main bearings for the
same geometry is not the same. It is about 10% less.

You can set the factor in one of two ways:

1. By setting a fixed value, or

2. By setting a curve of P Scaling Factor v Eng. Speed.

P0 Scaling Factor

Used to set a 'non-dimensional' scaling factor, which is applied to the oil flow rate at zero
pressure difference. It can be set on one of two ways:

1. By setting a fixed value, or

2. By setting a curve of P0 Scaling Factor v Eng. Speed.

Bearing Flow Rate and Friction Power

The bearing flow rate and friction power are dependent on the rotational speed, the pressure
difference across the bearing, the bearing clearance and the oil viscosity. The bearing
temperature has a direct effect on the oil viscosity and the bearing clearance. As a result, the
effect of temperature on the flow rate and friction power are included in the calculations.

Flow Rate (m3/s)

The flow rate defined as follows:

Equation 1

Frictional Power (W)

The frictional power is defined as:

Equation 2

Where:

Q = Flow rate through the bearing (m3/s)

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W = Frictional power (W)

n = Rotational speed (r.p.m)
Pd = Pressure difference across the bearing (bar)
= Bearing clearance (m)
= Dynamic viscosity of the oil (Ns/m2)

Setting the Bearing Flow Rate and Friction Power

You can use the appropriate controller connections to set these inputs. The order of data entry
is as follows:

1. Controller
2. Data Files.

The Coefficient Values

The mass flow rates for the two branches are defined as:

Equation 3

The coefficients for branch 1 are evaluated as follows:

Equation 4

The B1 term is defined as:

Equation 5

Where:

P0scale = Scale factor applied to the oil flow rate at 0 pressure difference

Pscale = Scale factor applied to pressure difference acting on the bearing

Q0 = Bearing oil flow rate (m3/s) at 0 pressure difference, namely when P = P . This is
1 2
also referred to as the flow rate to rotation (movement)
Q = Bearing oil flow rate which is interpolated from Equation 1, based on the current
pressure difference, rotational speed, clearance and oil viscosity
= Density of the oil
= Mass flow rates through branches 1 and 2

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P1, P2 = Node pressures upstream and downstream of the component

P = Pscale (P1 - P2) is used to interpolate/extrapolate the bearing flow/friction power

The coefficients for branch 2 are based on the Flowmaster convention for component flow rate,
namely:

Equation 6

Applying the Bearing Data - Equations 1 and 2

The bearing flow and friction power data are read from 'user supplied' data files and are stored
in arrays for interpolation. The information that needs to stored is:

1. Independent variables for both flow and friction power data which comprises:
a. The number bearing clearances and their respective values.
b. The number of viscosities/temperatures and their respective values.
c. The number of rotational speeds and their respective values.
d. The number of pressure differences and their respective values.
2. The bearing flow and friction power data.

The bearing flow rate and the bearing friction power can also be set by using controllers (see
later), with the Output Quantity set to the right value.

Data File Format

In order to read the data, the data files MUST be ASCII files. They must contain the data shown
below, which is NOT in S.I. units. This is for interpolation accuracy only:

l Clearance values - m x 106

l Dynamic Viscosity values - N s/m2 x 103
l Rotational Speed values - r.p.m
l Pressure values - bar
l Flow Rate values - L/min
l Frictional Power values - W.

An example file is shown below:

Show Example File?

Importing and using Data Files

If you are upgrading existing networks containing these components, then you will have import
their associated data files into Flowmaster before you can use them. To see how you do this,
click-on the link below:

Importing Data Files into Flowmaster V7

If you are using these components for the first time, then you will need to create the required
data files as scripts. To see how you create scripts, click-on the link below:

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Creating Scripts

Data Interpolation

Given the independent variables of n, pd, and , both the bearing flow rate and friction power
need to be interpolated/extrapolated which is achieved by linear Interpolation.

Evaluating the Bearing Temperature

The bearing temperature is determined by:

l The Bearing Friction Heating option which is set on the component data form
l Selecting a Heat Transfer Steady State simulation on the 'General Data and Simulation
Control' form

Bearing Friction Heating Option

This option determines how the bearing outlet temperature is calculated. With the option set to:
1 = Frictional Heating Modelled, then the energy equation is solved for the bearing outlet
temperature, i.e. bearing friction heating effects are considered. With the option set to: 2 =
Frictional Heating Not Modelled, then the bearing outlet temperature is set equal to the inlet
temperature and bearing friction heating effects are not considered.

Heat Transfer Steady State Simulation Option

This option determines (i) the way that the bearing inlet temperature is determined and (ii) the
propagation of bearing outlet temperature to the downstream node. When the heat transfer
option is SET, then the bearing inlet temperature takes the value of the upstream node
temperature and the bearing outlet temperature is propagated downstream.

When the heat transfer option is NOTSET, the bearing inlet temperature is set to the value
defined on the component data form. If this value is NOTSET, then the bearing inlet
temperature is set to the ambient temperature which is defined on the 'Ambient Conditions'
sub-form. As such, the bearing outlet temperature is NOT propagated downstream.

The energy conservation equation for a bearing is solved as follows when the Bearing Friction
Heating option is set to 1 = Frictional Heating Modelled:

Equation 7

Where:

cp = specific heat of oil (J/kg K)

Q = Flow rate through the bearing (m3/s)
W = Friction power (W), which is interpolated from Equation 2, based on the current
pressure difference, bearing rotational speed, clearance and oil temperature
q = Heat loss from the bearing
TInlet = Oil temperature at the bearing inlet
TBearing = Bearing temperature

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From Equation 7, the bearing temperature can be solved approximately as:

Equation 8

Heat Loss

The heat loss from the bearing is evaluated using the Heat Transfer Coefficient which is set on
the component data form:

Equation 9

Where:

A = Bearing area exposed to external heat transfer (m2), A = pDB

B = Bearing width (m)
D1 = Bearing diameter (m)
HTC = Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2/K)

Using the MO Controller Connection

By connecting a gauge component to this output, you can measure any one of the features
shown below:

Figure 2: Available Features

The above dialog is displayed when you make the connection to the input of the gauge
component.

When you connect a gauge template to the component to measure or display one of the above

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outputs, you need to set the following features for the component:

l Algorithm Type - This is set to 1: Output = Input

l Output Quantity - this is automatically set when you select the required feature from the
dialog shown above and then click OK. For example, if you selected Bearing Temperature,
then the Output Quantity is set to: 'Temperature'. If you selected Flow Rate due to
Movement, then it would be set to: 'Volumetric Flow Rate'.
l Output Initial Value - this is set to the required value
l Output Clipping Min/Max Limits - these should be set as required

In addition to the above, if you wanted to display one of the above outputs in a plot window,
then you would need to set the following feature:

l Plot Window No. - this is set to: 1: 1'st Window.

Error Messages

Table 1 shows the error messages and their meanings:

Table 1: Error Messages

Error Message Cause/Cure

Rotational speed not set

Clearance not set Make sure you have set the data using one of
P0 scale factor not set the prescribed methods shown above.

P scale factor not set

Incorrect rotational speed Rotational speed MUST be set to value > 0.

Neither friction power or flow rate is 1. Connect the required controller(s) to the
controlled and there is no external data file Flow Rate and Friction Power SI inputsand,
2. Set the required data file

Neither friction power or flow rate is 1. Connect the required controller(s) to the
controlled and the data file format is not Flow Rate and Friction Power SI inputsand,
specified 2. Set the Bearing Data File Format.

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