Purpose

As the crucial support component of the propeller power system, the reliability of the operation of submersible pumps is influenced by the lubrication performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings. When the water-lubricated thrust bearings are under start-stop or heavy load conditions, the effect of surface morphology is crucial as the mixed lubrication regime is encountered. This paper aims to develop one mixed lubrication model for the water-lubricated thrust bearings to predict the effects of surface skewness, kurtosis and roughness orientation on the loading carrying capacity and tribological behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper developed one improved mixed lubrication model specifically for the water-lubricated thrust bearing system. In this model, the hydrodynamic model was improved by using the height of the rough surface and its probability density function, combined with the average flow model. The asperity contact model was improved by using the equation for the Pearson system of frequency curves to characterize the non-Gaussian aspect of surface roughness distribution.

Findings

According to the results, negative skewness, large kurtosis and lateral surface pattern can improve the tribological performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings. Optimizing the surface morphology is a reasonable design method that can improve the performance of water-lubricated thrust bearings.

Originality/value

In this paper, one mixed lubrication model specifically for the water-lubricated thrust bearing with the effect of surface roughness into consideration was developed. Based on the developed model, the effect of surface morphology on tribological behavior can be evaluated.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2023-0247/

中文翻译：

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表面形貌对水润滑推力轴承性能的影响

目的

潜水泵作为螺旋桨动力系统的关键支撑部件，水润滑推力轴承的润滑性能影响其运行的可靠性。当水润滑推力轴承处于启停或重载条件下时，由于遇到混合润滑状态，表面形态的影响至关重要。本文旨在开发一种水润滑推力轴承的混合润滑模型，以预测表面偏斜度、峰度和粗糙度方向对承载能力和摩擦学行为的影响。

设计/方法论/途径

本文开发了一种专门针对水润滑推力轴承系统的改进混合润滑模型。该模型利用粗糙表面的高度及其概率密度函数，结合平均流量模型对水动力模型进行了改进。通过使用皮尔逊频率曲线系统方程来改进粗糙接触模型，以表征表面粗糙度分布的非高斯方面。

发现

结果表明，负偏度、大峭度和侧面花纹可以改善水润滑推力轴承的摩擦学性能。优化表面形貌是一种合理的设计方法，可以提高水润滑推力轴承的性能。

原创性/价值

本文开发了一种专门针对水润滑推力轴承并考虑表面粗糙度影响的混合润滑模型。基于开发的模型，可以评估表面形态对摩擦学行为的影响。

同行评审

本文的同行评审历史记录位于：https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-08-2023-0247/