Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries

Gas turbine engines depend on bearing chambers to support and lubricate moving parts, facilitating movement and heat dissipation. However, achieving a uniform oil coating on bearings remains a challenge, often leading to excessive oil consumption and in-flight oil loss. This research aims to establi...

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Main Authors: Ahmad H. Attia, Budi Chandra, C.A. Toomer
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Thermofluids
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266620272500045X
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author Ahmad H. Attia
Budi Chandra
C.A. Toomer
author_facet Ahmad H. Attia
Budi Chandra
C.A. Toomer
author_sort Ahmad H. Attia
collection DOAJ
description Gas turbine engines depend on bearing chambers to support and lubricate moving parts, facilitating movement and heat dissipation. However, achieving a uniform oil coating on bearings remains a challenge, often leading to excessive oil consumption and in-flight oil loss. This research aims to establish accurate experimental and CFD methods to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) in a simplified linear geometry, progressing towards investigations in a cylindrical bearing chamber rig.The first test case uses an inclined rectangular acrylic channel (140 cm length, 3 cm height, 5 cm width) with a 39° slope and flow rates ranging from 0.9 l/min to 2.7 l/min. This simplified geometry allows the study of fundamental oil film dynamics. The experimental setup is complemented by CFD modelling using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach with Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to model turbulence.Validation demonstrates high level of accuracy, with film thickness measurements showing an error margin of 0.22 % at lower flow rates and up to 1.7 % at higher velocities. These results confirm the experimental setup and CFD model's reliability, offering a solid foundation for studying multiphase flows in bearing chambers. Future phases will incorporate oil for further validation and refinement.The research question we are asking is: Can the proposed method accurately measure the residence time in an experimental setup?
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spelling doaj-art-5f793923b0954240873c3a528596c78b2025-01-31T05:12:27ZengElsevierInternational Journal of Thermofluids2666-20272025-03-0126101097Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometriesAhmad H. Attia0Budi Chandra1C.A. Toomer2Corresponding author.; University of the West of England, United KingdomUniversity of the West of England, United KingdomUniversity of the West of England, United KingdomGas turbine engines depend on bearing chambers to support and lubricate moving parts, facilitating movement and heat dissipation. However, achieving a uniform oil coating on bearings remains a challenge, often leading to excessive oil consumption and in-flight oil loss. This research aims to establish accurate experimental and CFD methods to measure the residence time distribution (RTD) in a simplified linear geometry, progressing towards investigations in a cylindrical bearing chamber rig.The first test case uses an inclined rectangular acrylic channel (140 cm length, 3 cm height, 5 cm width) with a 39° slope and flow rates ranging from 0.9 l/min to 2.7 l/min. This simplified geometry allows the study of fundamental oil film dynamics. The experimental setup is complemented by CFD modelling using the Volume of Fluid (VOF) approach with Large Eddy Simulations (LES) to model turbulence.Validation demonstrates high level of accuracy, with film thickness measurements showing an error margin of 0.22 % at lower flow rates and up to 1.7 % at higher velocities. These results confirm the experimental setup and CFD model's reliability, offering a solid foundation for studying multiphase flows in bearing chambers. Future phases will incorporate oil for further validation and refinement.The research question we are asking is: Can the proposed method accurately measure the residence time in an experimental setup?http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266620272500045XComputational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)Residence Time Distribution (RTD)Volume of fluid (VOF)Multiphase flowBearing chambersAero-engine lubrication
spellingShingle Ahmad H. Attia
Budi Chandra
C.A. Toomer
Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
International Journal of Thermofluids
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Residence Time Distribution (RTD)
Volume of fluid (VOF)
Multiphase flow
Bearing chambers
Aero-engine lubrication
title Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
title_full Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
title_fullStr Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
title_full_unstemmed Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
title_short Computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
title_sort computational and experimental representation of simplified gas turbine bearing chamber geometries
topic Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
Residence Time Distribution (RTD)
Volume of fluid (VOF)
Multiphase flow
Bearing chambers
Aero-engine lubrication
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266620272500045X
work_keys_str_mv AT ahmadhattia computationalandexperimentalrepresentationofsimplifiedgasturbinebearingchambergeometries
AT budichandra computationalandexperimentalrepresentationofsimplifiedgasturbinebearingchambergeometries
AT catoomer computationalandexperimentalrepresentationofsimplifiedgasturbinebearingchambergeometries