Designing of low-flow rate slider bearings for turbomachinery rotors

In this paper, constructions’ peculiarities and an action mechanism are described as well as a design process of low demand sliding bearings. The analysis of the existing design methodologies shows their imperfections and impossibility adequately applying for characterization of low-flow sliding bearings. These bearings is operated under low lubrication supply (no oil bath). Efficiency of the proposed design of the sliding bearing is based on availability of the elastic suspension, bushings' bore in the radius of the shaft, which minimizes the time of boundary friction and increases the bearing life. Described hydrodynamic model of the working gap allows to determine the characteristics of the oil-flow. As a result of computational research has been established a generalized designing method for new type of bearing, comprising stages: geometry choice, 3D-design, finite element models of the narrow gaps creation, the calculation of the oil-flow characteristics, calculating the characteristics of the elastic suspension, polycriterial optimization. Also shows the results of computational research of bearing's characteristics (diagram of pressure, depending the characteristics of the flow of lubricant on the angle of bushings, etc.). Recommendations are given for optimizing the design and choice of materials.