Study on the Influence of Rotational Speed and Pad Temperature of Pumped-Storage Set on Oil Mist Leakage of Thrust Bearing

Jie Sun, Yuquan Zhang (), Xinfeng Ge, Yuan Zheng, Xuyi Peng, Yunlai Hong and Emmanuel Fernandez-Rodriguez
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Jie Sun: College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yuquan Zhang: College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Xinfeng Ge: College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Yuan Zheng: College of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
Xuyi Peng: Jiangxi Hongping Pumped Storage Co., Ltd., Jingan, Yichun 330600, China
Yunlai Hong: Jiangxi Hongping Pumped Storage Co., Ltd., Jingan, Yichun 330600, China
Emmanuel Fernandez-Rodriguez: Technological Institute of Merida, Technological Avenue, Merida 97118, Mexico

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: The accumulation of oil mist in the thrust bearings poses a threat to the safety of the unit, leading to financial and environmental losses. To investigate the generation and influencing factors of oil mist in the oil tank of the thrust bearing in a pumped-storage power station, a novel numerical simulation method is proposed for calculating the oil–oil mist–air multi-phase flow based on the VOF model, RNG k − ε turbulence model, and Lee model. The proposed numerical method’s reliability is verified using field operation data. The effects of rotational speed and pad temperature on the formation of oil mist inside the oil tank were examined from two perspectives of internal and external oil leaks. The research revealed two accumulation areas where oil mist is generated and accumulated: between the thrust head and the oil-retaining ring and near the oil slinger. The former causes external oil leaks due to pressure differences, while the latter causes internal oil leaks due to the rotor blast effect. An increase in temperature and rotational speed exacerbates the formation of oil mist. Furthermore, an increase in speed decreases the pressure change rate at the wall of the inner tank (external oil leaks) by 5.95% and at the oil slinger (internal leaks) by 44.64%. Consequently, compared to external oil leaks, internal oil leaks are more likely to occur.

Keywords: pumped-storage set; thrust bearings; internal oil throwing; external oil throwing; air–oil–oil mist three-phase flow; evaporation and mass transfer process (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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