Designing Hydrodynamic Bearing

Important Factors for Designing Hydrodynamic Bearing:

Most Babbitt bearings are operated as hydrodynamically lubricated bearings and the design considerations for hydrodynamic bearings are significant as well. To ensure minimized friction and bearing wear, the bearing material for hydrodynamic bearings should have moderate shaft deflection and adequate strength at operating temperature conditions. At the hydrodynamic bearing inlet, there must be continuous and adequate supply of clean and cool oil.

Additional grooves can be machined into the bearing for easy distribution of oil that covers the whole journal. The appropriate combination's of clearance and oil viscosity for any hydrodynamic operation condition should be chosen correctly by taking into consideration the load and time elapsed during start-up and shutdown process. Two other important considerations for designing hydrodynamic bearings include the heat dissipation and friction. The lubrication systems should be set up such that lowest temperatures for the bearings are achieved with minimum oil film thickness. Similarly, friction should be kept as low as possible to refrain from power loss.