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Article

Influence of Fluid Film Bearings with Different Axial Groove Shapes on Automotive Turbochargers: An Experimental Study

1
Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
2
Mobility Technology Center, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
3
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
4
Graduate Program in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Technology, Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica Celso Suckow da Fonseca, Rio de Janeiro 20271-110, Brazil
5
Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais, Campus Nepomuceno, Nepomuceno 37250-000, Brazil
6
Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Submission received: 21 April 2022 / Revised: 7 May 2022 / Accepted: 7 May 2022 / Published: 11 May 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Automotive Tribology II)

Abstract

:
Most commercial automotive turbochargers (TC) employ semi-floating ring bearings (SFRB) with axial groove shapes. In order to bring some insights into the role played by the axial groove geometry on the dynamics of TC, this work deals with an experimental study of the rotordynamic behavior of a stock automotive turbocharger operating on SFRB with two different groove shapes, which have the same volume and width, and with the same number of grooves. The rotating machine behavior has been evaluated under different operating conditions using a test bench specially designed to analyze turbochargers. Rotordynamic (RD) characteristics of automotive turbochargers are estimated to evaluate the influence of the axial groove geometry on the machine vibratory behavior. Frequency spectra and orbital plots of the rotor are obtained from accelerometers and proximity probes mounted on the turbocharger. The comparative analysis of the vibrational behavior of automotive turbochargers running on different supporting systems allows the identification of the role played by the axial grooves on the machine rotordynamic performance. The experimental results rendered in this work permit to classify the influence of the axial groove geometry on the turbocharger rotordynamic behavior for several speed and flow conditions.

1. Introduction

Several thermohydrodynamic experimental studies of turbochargers (TCs) have brought important data about their dynamic behavior that have led to the expansion of their operating characteristics, such as the operating limits of pressure, flow rate, and temperature. The design of new fluid film journal bearings is vital to increase the rotating speed of the rotors used in turbochargers (TCs), since appropriate bearing characteristics can reduce the rotor vibratory response [1] and enhance the response to imbalances and instabilities. The analysis of semi-floating ring journal bearings (SFRBs) is an important research topic in the technological development of small turbomachinery, since SFRBs are the most used bearing type for TCs. The analysis of high speed turbochargers supported on SFRBs and on other bearing types has been presented in several works. However, in the vast technical literature on the dynamics of automotive turbochargers, there are very few works on the analysis on the influence of the oil feed grooves in the behavior of supporting systems for turbomachines [2]. It can also be noticed that there are some works on the rotordynamic analysis of turbochargers supported on SFRBs that do not concern the bearing geometry [3]. Recently, experimental and numerical studies of the influence of the micro-textures [4,5,6,7,8,9,10] and herringbone [11,12,13] groove shape have been presented. However, experimental studies that associate the vibratory response of automotive turbochargers with the difference of axial groove shape of journal bearing are almost non-existent in the literature.
Axial grooves in fluid film journal bearings are of fundamental importance for the lubrication efficiency [14] and hydrodynamic pressure generation, improving the lubricant capability of carrying away the friction heat and the oil film pressure field [2], which can generate an increase in the oil film stiffness and damping for the rotating system [15,16]. Several studies have provided support for the design of axial grooves in journal bearings, such as the bearing analysis under different operating conditions [17], the analysis of variable loads [2], and the analysis of oil type on the bearing behavior [18]. The analysis of roughness [19] and nanoparticles [20] in the manufacturing of axial grooved journal bearings as different types of lubricant fluids [21,22,23,24,25,26,27] are also studied.
Experimental studies on the geometric characteristics of bearing axial grooves and their influence on the dynamic behavior of small turbomachinery are rare. On the other hand, some studies performed on the influence of axial groove parameters on the behavior of journal bearings used in several turbomachines, such as the groove location [28], the groove length and width [29], quantity of grooves [16,30,31], the bearing surface texture [32,33], the bearing surface roughness [34], bearing clearance [35], and the groove angle difference [36], can be found in the technical literature.
Brito et al. [2] described that one of the greatest difficulties during axial groove design is to obtain the adequate values for the number, geometry, and location, among other factors related to the oil feed grooves. The existence of multiple locations along the fluid film bearing surface may be desirable to provide uniform cooling and lubricant distribution, thus avoiding the starvation of the lubricant film flow. On the other hand, grooves can interfere with hydrodynamic pressure generation if the hydrodynamic pressure increase zone is too close to the lubricant feed grooves and they start to act as pressure reducers rather than pressure sources. Some associated phenomena are the mixing of hot lubricant coming from upstream of the groove with fresh lubricant [37,38] and the occurrence of reverse flow of lubricant re-entering the groove from downstream or the backflow of groove lubricant flowing upstream in the direction opposite to the journal rotation [39,40].
In order to analyze the influence of the axial groove shapes of SFRBs in the rotordynamic (RD) response of TCs, this work describes an experimental investigation performed on a hot-flow workbench using a stock automotive turbocharger, which is originally mounted on bearings with triangular groove shapes. Comparative results for the TCs orbits and frequency spectra are obtained for the turbocharger supported on bearings with two different axial groove geometries—triangular and half-ellipse groove shape. The tests performed at several operating conditions for the turbocharger supported on SFRBs with two axial groove geometries indicate that the novel half-ellipse groove shape can provide a slightly better THD performance than the original triangular groove shape.

2. Materials and Methods

This section describes the experimental test apparatus employed to develop the experimental investigation about turbochargers with different bearings.
The design of the turbocharger test workbench used in this work meets the requirements of the standards currently established by the international institutions [41,42,43]. The workbench operates at several different working regimes, simulating the exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine. The apparatus has interconnected instruments and devices for the measurement of independent variables in order to obtain orbits, and steady-state and transient frequency spectra throughout the working regime, as well as thermohydrodynamics performance and efficiency graphs of the TC.
The hot-flow turbocharger test workbench in this work uses the configuration established by Venson [44] and updated by Sandoval [45]. It is characterized by a hot-flow workbench with a tubular combustion chamber designed to work with gaseous fuels with several instruments for characterization of thermodynamic maps and rotordynamic analysis. Figure 1 illustrates the basic configuration that was built in the automotive turbocharger testing laboratory of the Centro de Tecnologia da Mobilidade (CTM) at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil.
The fundamental parameters to operate the system correctly are selected according to SAE J1826 [42] and SAE J1723 [41] standards, attending at the distances and angles in which the pressure transducers, temperature sensors, and flow meters are installed for the desired outputs and inputs of the turbocharger condition monitoring.

2.1. Turbochargers

The experimental tests use two stock automotive turbochargers from Biagio Turbos Brazil, the AUT1000. This turbocharger model is used due to its availability and to the interest of the MGFC Ltd., São João da Boa Vista, Brazil (manufacturer of Biagio Turbos®) in this research. Table 1 shows the main geometric characteristics of the TC used.
The selection of these TCs is performed because of the possibility of using bearings with different geometries, which permit evaluate the thermal and dynamic behaviors of the rotating machine running on different supporting systems. The difference between each TC tested in this work is only the shape of the axial grooves etched on the fluid film journal bearing. All the other components, such as thrust bearing, shaft, volutes, blades, internal lubrication system, and others, are the same part numbers. The TCs are tested and balanced at the MGFC facilities before they are assembled in the testing bench.
In the original version, the journal bearing uses a triangular shape for the internal axial grooves (the interaction area of rotor-bearing assembly). Figure 2 illustrates a journal bearing schematic drawing.

2.2. Modified Journal Bearings

The new journal bearings are manufactured with the same original journal bearing manufacturing process, except for the final triangular axial broaching. To produce the new bearings with different groove shapes, the wire EDM (Electrical Discharge Machining) is chosen due to the adequate finish for the groove geometry, as indicated by Smolík et al. [46]. This manufacturing process not only presents low cost but also does not need changes in the machine calibration, which can reduce the manufacturing time. Moreover, the wire EDM used in this work achieves accuracies of ±0.0025 mm, instead of CNC machining broaching with a ±0.005 mm accuracy. However, the roughness of grooves with broaching would be smaller.
The new axial groove shape is chosen considering a smooth profile across the entire width, following procedures indicated by some references [47,48,49].
To avoid geometrical variations on the axial grooves that could affect the TC bearing behavior, the same adjustments of the wire EDM are used for the five axial grooves for each journal bearing, with 72° axial distance from each other, as well as the same 1.0897 mm perimeter and 0.1714 mm2 area. The ellipse major axis is equal to the perimeter projection and the semi-minor axis equals triangle height.
After the machining, all the grooves were analyzed in the microscope in the Metrology Lab at UFMG. Figure 3 shows the drawings of the axial groove shapes for each journal bearing and photos with 150 times magnification obtained by the microscope. Due to wire diameter used (0.1 mm) during machining, the corners of each groove are rounded.

2.3. Tests Performed

The thermohydrodynamic SAE standard methodology to obtain the main parameters, as stabilization of the centrifugal compressor (i.e., the continuous rotor speed during different air flows), criteria for detection of surge threshold points, warm-up criteria, and compressor data acquisition points, is part of the experimental routine of LABTURBO-CTM [35].
The fundamental parameters to achieve the correct TC state to obtain rotordynamic responses are monitored according to SAE J1826 and SAE J1723 standards following the recommendations for the thermal insulation, and distances and angles in which the pressure transducers, temperature sensors, and flow meters are installed for each output and input of the turbocharger. The RD tests are performed after a warm-up sequence of different rotating speeds and total compression ratios of the turbocharger defined by SAE J1723. Then, a thermal stability defined by SAE J1826 is used to verify the pressure, flowrate, temperature, and rotating speeds data as presented by Romero [50], when all RD data are obtained with proximity probes and accelerometers.
Both turbochargers were tested at six operating points in each speed line in order to decrease the interpolation interval of the compressor map, where 67, 89, 105, 121, and 135 krpm speed lines are controlled by a PID algorithm developed in LabVIEW, obtaining 30 points for each TC.
The change in each speed line was done by gradually increasing the exhaust gases discharge from the combustion chamber. When the target speed line was reached, the air valve at the outlet of the centrifugal compressor was gradually closed in order to decrease the air mass flow and increase the compression ratio, obtaining the necessary point for that speed line. Compressor valve closing conditions are defined as a number of points (n) that are tested for each rotation curve, i.e., each speed line, in order to reduce the need for interpolations, where a (n + 1)th test point is characterized by instability in the compressor to present the surge condition.
For the tests developed in this work, data was collected at five speed line and, for each of them, temperature, pressure, and mass flow data were measured at five different points (combinations of corrected mass flow and compression or expansion ratio). A sixth point for each speed line (surge point) was induced by the lack of flow at the compressor inlet. Once the surge line point is reached, the valve at the compressor outlet returns to full opening and, from that point, registers the next speed line to be tested in the controller. This process must be repeated until all the intended speed lines are tested.
During the experiments, the supervisory system was used to establish the operating conditions and provide information for the control of the tested thermodynamic parameters. To identify the surge thresholds, the detection technique by sinusoidal variation of the centrifugal compressor discharge pressure [51] was applied. The data acquisition frequency for pressure, flowrate, and temperature transistors/sensors are 2 kHz during 1 s for each measurement point performed, once per turbocharger.
Figure 4 shows the compressor inlet and outlet line schematic illustrating location and position of pressure and temperature transducers.
The measurement of the rotational speed of the turbocharger is performed by an optical sensor pointed at the end of the shaft on the compressor and before the fastening nut. The end shaft and the rotor fastening nut is painted with black paint with low reflectivity (phosphatizing base paint) and a strip of reflective paint, as shown in Figure 5b. The optical sensor data acquisition frequency is 10 kHz, which is more than four times the rotation frequency of the highest speed reached in the tests, which is approximately 142,000 rpm.
Table 2 shows the characteristics and measuring points of the pressure transducers, temperature transducers, flowrate meters, and rotating speed sensor used on the workbench to monitor the steady-state operating conditions.
Figure 5 shows the photos of (a) the three uniaxial accelerometers and (b) the two proximity probes. The x- and y-axis accelerometers are installed on the compressor housing and the z-axis accelerometers on the flange nearest the TC due to the flat surface. The proximity probes are mounted on the compressor housing through a threaded hole, which also have a threaded body and a nut for fixation, positioned in perpendicular directions, ensuring an analysis of the displacement in the x- and y-axis. They are positioned in the radial direction of the turbo rotating assembly, with the end of the sensors positioned approximately 1.25 mm away from the surface near the tip of the compressor impeller.
Table 3 and Table 4 present the features of accelerometers and proximity probes used on the workbench to obtain the vibration characteristics of the turbochargers.
The data collected by accelerometers were graphically represented in frequency spectrum (amplitude versus frequency). Vance [52] indicates that if the frequency of the expected vibration is greater 1000 Hz, you must use an accelerometer, and above 250 Hz, the acceleration produces the better output levels. The amplitude chosen in this work is acceleration, as all 1xRPM used in this work (synchronous response to imbalance) are above 1000 Hz. The frequency spectra are obtained using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) directly implemented by the Matlab software for the data measured simultaneously with the collection of thermodynamic data used to build the THD maps and graphs. In other words, the acquisition of vibration data for the formation of spectra was carried out in a steady state.
This methodology allows us to identify the characteristic frequencies associated with synchronous rotor vibrations and to attenuate the influence of the variation of other parameters that cause displacements and deformations of the housing, such as temperature variation, pressure, and rotor rotational speed.
The sampling rate used for accelerometers was configured for 20 kHz, with 2000 points every 0.1 s, providing to obtain frequencies up to 10 kHz. As the higher synchronous speed (1xRPM) is 135 krpm (2.25 kHz), the sampling rate ensures reliable measurements up to 4xRPM in supersynchronous vibrations analyses. These values were sufficient for this work.

3. Results and Discussion

In this section, the most relevant experimental results are discussed. Initially, the rotor whirling orbits and the vibration frequency spectra at steady-state condition for the turbochargers operating on bearings with different axial grooves are presented. Table 5 presents the values of the first and second critical speeds of each TC.

3.1. Vibration Frequency Spectra

For the frequency spectra of each TC, the vibration amplitudes are obtained at five speed lines (SL) and five compressor outlet air valve closing positions (VC). The threshold condition of surge is an additional measuring point during the tests. The frequency spectra are obtained for three orthogonal directions (for six valve closing positions) at five speed lines plus the surge condition, totaling 25 spectra per direction, 75 for each turbocharger, which is a total of 150 steady-state vibration spectra.
Table 6 indicates the relationship between each SL selected and the critical speeds indicated in Table 5.
Table 7 presents the test points based on VC position for the TCs.
Figure 6 and Figure 7 show the TCs synchronous and subsynchronous vibration amplitude responses for the x-axis, respectively. The spectra for the radial axes (x- and y-) present similar patterns, and for the axial axe (z-) there are no significant differences between each TC.
The use of THD TC compressor efficiency map to present several other results in TC is presented by [53]. THD studies were carried out to provide input in the creation of heat maps of RD results. However, these data were not presented because it is not in the scope of this work.
It is possible to observe that for the first speed line (67 krpm, below and far from the first critical speed), the turbochargers supported on bearings with triangular and half ellipse present low vibrational amplitude in the synchronous response and good subsynchronous stability.
In the second speed line (89 krpm, below the two critical speeds, but very close to the first), the turbocharger that uses journal bearings with half ellipse axial groove shape is slightly superior in synchronous response compared to triangular only in VC @ 70%. For the subsynchronous responses, the turbocharger with journal bearing with axial half ellipse groove shape shows better results in all VC positions.
When entering the third speed line (105 krpm, above but very close to the first critical velocity, and below and far from the second critical velocity), there is no change in relation to the synchronous responses of the speed line 2 of each shape. However, greater subsynchronous responses were observed in turbochargers with half-ellipse axial groove shape in the journal bearing, highlighting the first three VCs @ 0%, 31%, and 54%.
At the fourth speed line (121 krpm, above and far from the first critical velocity, but close to and below the second critical velocity), the new synchronous responses have high vibration peaks for both TCs, but the triangular presents better values in all VCs positions. Similar results are obtained for subsynchronous vibrations, where the half-ellipse shape has good results compared to the triangular shape only in VC @75%.
The fifth and last speed line (135 krpm, above and far from the first critical velocity, but very close to and below the second critical velocity) presents the same results presented at the fourth speed line in synchronous and subsynchronous response.

3.2. Rotor Whirling Orbits

The vibratory displacements captured by the proximity probes allow us to visualize the rotor motion at several operating conditions. The rotor whirling orbits are obtained at constant speed, i.e., at steady-state conditions with various air mass flow rates. The orbital geometry is affected by several sources, such as unbalance, inner and outer oil ring whirls, oil whip, aerodynamics effects (Alford’s effect), and rub between shaft and bearing.
The whirling orbits for the TC rotors supported on semi-floating ring journal bearings with two different axial groove shapes are rendered for several speed lines and valve conditions.
In order to depict the rotor orbits at several operating conditions, the reference axes of Figure 8 and Figure 9 have lengths of 0.1 mm. The journal bearing radial clearance by design is 0.0225 mm. Figure 8 shows the orbits for the five valve opening conditions at each speed line for the TC rotor supported on bearings with axial grooves of triangular shape.
On speed line 1, the orbits (#1 to #5) remain with a large orbit and without reaching a stationary trajectory, probably caused by the low hydrodynamic load generated by the fluid, as there is no recorded subsynchronous vibrations. Orbit #1, with the valve wide open, has the smallest amplitude. It is known that turbomachines have high work load dependence [43], especially in high speed turbomachines, such as the TCs used in this work. Low speeds, as shown in speed line 1, make the rotor work more off-center than at high speeds, providing larger orbits, as observed.
The speed line 2 with orbits #6 to #10 have generally smaller amplitudes than those compared to the speed line 1, showing a greater stability of the system response. It is noteworthy that with the closing of the valve from 31% to 55%, a phase change of approximately 90° of the orbit is observed, which continues with the decrease in mass flow, but decreases the mean amplitude, that is, without presenting relevant instability. This phase change in machines with variation in the air mass flow in compressors is presented in several works, such as Alford [54], and suggests that, if it occurs, the machine operation should be close to its work load, due to the sensitivity of the set in presenting high levels of instability. It can be seen in the five orbits that there is no stationary trajectory, corroborating what was presented in subsynchronous vibration and with the orbit shape presented by Nguyen-Schäfer [55] for inner and outer oil whirls.
On speed line 3, very close to the first critical speed, non-stationary circular orbits are observed for the wide open valve (#11) and orbit phase shift from #13 to #14 and from #14 to #15. Orbits, in general, presented smaller amplitude than speed line 2.
Smaller amplitude orbits without phase shift occur on speed line 4 when the rotor is between the first and second critical speeds. Great variations are not observed between the different valve closures.
The speed line 5 again presents a non-stationary orbit with the valve wide open (0% closing), but with stability starting at 28% valve closing (#22) and phase change with stability between #23 and #24. With the last closing step of 70%, a non-stationary orbit is observed again, characteristic of inner and outer oil whirls.
As presented in the figure above, Figure 9 presents the orbits for the five valve opening conditions at each speed line for the TC rotor supported on bearings with axial grooves of half-ellipse shape.
Speed line 1 shows different characteristics. The orbit #1 (valve wide open) presents a large orbit without reaching a stationary trajectory. As explained in the TC1, as no instability was presented, it probably happened due to the low hydrodynamic load generated by the fluid. Orbits #2 to #5 have similar orbits to each other, with an elliptical orbit with maximum deflection in x (horizontal axis). Nguyen-Schäfer [55] describes elliptical orbits as normal cases in turbochargers, due to stiffness in the y (vertical) direction being greater than in the x (horizontal) direction, caused by the cross-couple stiffness effect known in turbomachines [53].
On speed line 2, it is possible to observe orbits that are also ellipse, but with smaller deflections, except for valve closing of 55% (#8), which has a large deflection in the horizontal direction. Another interesting feature is the valve closing of 31% (#7) which presents a variation around 45° in this maximum deflection. As it is just a mass flow change, it is another sample of Alford’s forces in turbochargers already discussed in the literature [56,57].
On speed line 3, it is possible to see a non-stationary orbit at half aperture (#13, VC @ 54%), and with #11 (VC @ 0%), #14, and #15 being the same elliptical orbits, but of smaller amplitudes than the previous speed lines. The #12 has a small ellipse with greater deflection that is not horizontal like the others, but vertical (same previous discussion on speed line 2).
When moving away from the first critical speed and approaching the second critical speed, the speed line 4 presents a tendency to normalize the orbits as the valve closes (see #16 to #19), with a reduction in the maximum amplitude, but all of them show non-stationary orbits. In the last case (#20 @ V.C. 75%, before the surge), the orbit returns to show the previously observed elliptical behavior.
Finally, speed line 5 shows the best overall situation of all, with elliptical orbits of small deflection in all directions, except #24 (@V.C. 63%), which has amplitudes as seen in other speed lines.

3.3. Overall TC Performance and Efficiency

In this work, only the bearing axial groove shape is expected to affect the overall TC rotordynamic responses. The frequency spectra and orbit plots at steady-state conditions are important tools for the RD analysis. Therefore, the evaluation of TC vibration by measurement on rotating parts (proximity probes) and on non-rotating parts (accelerometers) are considered to have the same importance in the analysis.
The results indicate that half ellipse groove shape can lead to better rotordynamic performance in speed lines below and close to the first critical speed, i.e., at SLs 67 and 89 krpm comparison with the triangular groove shape for synchronous and subsynchronous responses.
Conversely, the triangular groove shape presents better rotordynamic performance for imbalance and instabilities below and close to the second critical speed at SL 121 and 135 krpm. Although the 121 krpm SL is below second critical speed, it is much closer to second critical speed than the first critical speed. It is observed that the influence of the second critical speed in this SL is clear.
The SL 105 krpm, above and closer to the first critical speed, presents the better synchronous results for the half-ellipse shape. However, the better subsynchronous responses at this SL are obtained by the triangular shape in general.
These results show how the shape of the groove affects the destabilizing forces in the bearing in an experimental way. Experimental studies on the influence of the profile are not currently presented in academia. These effects are already observed in numerical works, showing that the axial groove shape of the bearing has a direct influence on the dynamic response of rotor-bearing systems [58].

4. Conclusions

This work presents an experimental study on the rotordynamic behavior of automotive turbochargers (TCs) supported on semi-floating journal bearings (SFRBs) with two different axial groove geometries. Comparative orbit plots and frequency spectra for TCs running on bearings with triangular and half ellipse groove shapes are obtained at several operating conditions, allowing the evaluation of the feasibility of introducing different groove configuration on the supporting systems of TCs.
The TCs indicate small differences in the performance characteristics. However, the half ellipse groove shape shows overall better rotordynamic behavior below and next to the first critical speed, and similar results compared to triangular groove shape are presented below and next to the second critical speed. The rotor orbits obtained by the proximity probes corroborate to the frequency spectra data obtained by the accelerometers.
Some important complementary studies can be done with new experimental analyzes of other axial groove shapes and a joint evaluation involving important areas for TC design, such as thermohydrodynamics, presenting better choices of axial groove shapes in TC fluid film journal bearings for different operating speeds.
Numerical simulations of rotordynamic responses of TCs could be better analyzed with the novel results presented in this work.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, L.H.J.M.; methodology, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., M.T.C.d.F.; software, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., V.M.H.; validation, L.H.J.M., O.R.S.; formal analysis, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., J.V.M.C.P., F.J.P.P., M.T.C.d.F.; investigation, L.H.J.M.; resources, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., B.C.C.; data curation, O.R.S., V.M.H.; writing—original draft preparation, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., J.P.B.d.S., M.T.C.d.F.; writing—review and editing, L.H.J.M., J.V.M.C.P., J.P.B.d.S., B.C.C., F.J.P.P., M.T.C.d.F.; visualization, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., J.V.M.C.P.; supervision, L.H.J.M., O.R.S., M.T.C.d.F.; project administration, L.H.J.M.; funding acquisition, L.H.J.M., O.R.S. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES)—Finance Code 001 and by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—Brasil (CNPq)—great number 141316/2015-2. The APC was funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—Brasil (CNPq)—great number 142080/2019-5.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to Centro de Tecnologia da Mobilidade-CTM UFMG for providing the laboratory structure for this research. They also thank to the Brazilian federal agencies CAPES (Finance Code 001) and CNPq (141316/2015-2 and 1420280/2019-5) for the financial aid to this research.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Configuration of the LABTURBO-CTM (UFMG) hot-flow workbench used in this work (Updated from [45]).
Figure 1. Configuration of the LABTURBO-CTM (UFMG) hot-flow workbench used in this work (Updated from [45]).
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Figure 2. Journal bearing front view: (a) bearing; (b) original triangular axial groove detail.
Figure 2. Journal bearing front view: (a) bearing; (b) original triangular axial groove detail.
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Figure 3. Drawings of the bearings with axial grooves and magnified photos of the grooves.
Figure 3. Drawings of the bearings with axial grooves and magnified photos of the grooves.
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Figure 4. Compressor inlet and outlet line schematic illustrating location and position of pressure and temperature transducers.
Figure 4. Compressor inlet and outlet line schematic illustrating location and position of pressure and temperature transducers.
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Figure 5. Vibration transducers mounted on the turbocompressor: (a) three uniaxial accelerometers; (b) two proximity probes.
Figure 5. Vibration transducers mounted on the turbocompressor: (a) three uniaxial accelerometers; (b) two proximity probes.
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Figure 6. Synchronous response map for each TC with: (a) Triangular axial groove shape; (b) Half-ellipse axial groove shape.
Figure 6. Synchronous response map for each TC with: (a) Triangular axial groove shape; (b) Half-ellipse axial groove shape.
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Figure 7. Subsynchronous response map for each TC with: (a) Triangular axial groove shape; (b) Half-ellipse axial groove shape.
Figure 7. Subsynchronous response map for each TC with: (a) Triangular axial groove shape; (b) Half-ellipse axial groove shape.
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Figure 8. TC rotor orbits supported on bearings with triangular axial grooves.
Figure 8. TC rotor orbits supported on bearings with triangular axial grooves.
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Figure 9. TC rotor orbits supported on bearings with half-ellipse axial grooves.
Figure 9. TC rotor orbits supported on bearings with half-ellipse axial grooves.
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Table 1. Technical data of the Biagio® AUT1000 Turbocharger.
Table 1. Technical data of the Biagio® AUT1000 Turbocharger.
DataTurbocharger
ManufacturerMGFC Ltd. (Biagio Turbos®)
ModelAUT1000
Type of ICE 1 used1000 cc four-stroke ICE 1
Part number5827109101
Compressor Area/Radius0.48
Compressor Impeller Diameter49 [mm]
Compressor Inducer Diameter32.5 [mm]
Compressor Blades6 full + 6 splitter
Compressor Housing BladesN/A
Turbine Area/Radius0.35
Turbine Impeller Diameter45.5 [mm]
Turbine Inducer Diameter35.5 [mm]
Turbine Blades10 full
Turbine Housing BladesN/A
Shaft diameter at bearing assembly8 ± 0.002 [mm]
Weight9 [kg]
1 ICE: Internal Combustion Engine.
Table 2. Technical data for the instrumentation used to control the workbench.
Table 2. Technical data for the instrumentation used to control the workbench.
DataPressure Transducers
Measuring pointTurbine inlet/outletOil inletCompressor inletCompressor outlet
Measuring range0 to 1000 kPa0 to 600 kPa−50 to 50 kPa0 to 1000 kPa
Type of measurementGaugeGaugeGaugeGauge
Precision≤0.5%≤2%≤0.25%≤0.5%
DataThermocouples
Measuring pointCompressor inlet;
Compressor output;
Environment;
Oil inlet;
Oil reservoir.
Oil outlet;
Gas inlet.
Measuring range0–1200 °C0–1080 °C
Type/ElementCromel–Alumel (K)/Simple, 1 thermocouple measurement
Precision0.75% of the final scale0.75% of the final scale
DataFlowrate Transducer
Measuring pointCompressor outlet
Measuring range51 to 1869 m3/h
TypeTurbine flow with amplifier
Precision0.2%
DataRotating speed sensorRotating speed signal converter
ApplicationRotating speed of turbocharger rotorModulation for the computer
Measuring range6000 to 200,000 rpm-
Exit signal-0…10 V
2.5 V ± 10% pulses
Table 3. Accelerometer technical data.
Table 3. Accelerometer technical data.
DataAccelerometer
Sensitivity1000 [mV/g]
Measuring range±5 [g pk]
Sampling rate used20 [kHz]
Mass0.007 [kg] (0.8% of TC mass)
Table 4. Proximity probe technical data.
Table 4. Proximity probe technical data.
DataProximity Probe
Sensitivity7.87 [V/mm]
Linear range0.25 to 2.25 [mm]
Sampling rate used24 [kHz]
Probe diameter5 [mm]
Table 5. First and second critical speeds for each TC.
Table 5. First and second critical speeds for each TC.
Turbocharger (Groove Shape)First Critical SpeedSecond Critical Speed
TC (triangular)94.5 krpm138.5 krpm
TC (half ellipse)97 krpm138.5 krpm
Table 6. Relationship between Speed Lines and Critical Speeds.
Table 6. Relationship between Speed Lines and Critical Speeds.
Speed LinesFirst Critical SpeedSecond Critical Speed
SL 1 (67 krpm)FarVery far
SL 2 (89 krpm)Very close/CloseVery far
SL 3 (105 krpm)Close/Very closeFar
SL 4 (121 krpm)FarClose
SL 5 (135 krpm)Very farVery close
Table 7. Test points based on VC position for the TCs.
Table 7. Test points based on VC position for the TCs.
SpeedCompressor Valve Closing Percentage
Point 1Point 2Point 3Point 4Point 5
67 krpm0% (fully open)36%63%81%90%
89 krpm0% (fully open)31%55%70%78%
105 krpm0% (fully open)31%54%69%77%
121 krpm0% (fully open)30%53%68%75%
135 krpm0% (fully open)28%49%63%75%
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Machado, L.H.J.; Sandoval, O.R.; Pereira, J.V.M.C.; de Souza, J.P.B.; Caetano, B.C.; Hanriot, V.M.; Pujatti, F.J.P.; de Faria, M.T.C. Influence of Fluid Film Bearings with Different Axial Groove Shapes on Automotive Turbochargers: An Experimental Study. Lubricants 2022, 10, 92. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/lubricants10050092

AMA Style

Machado LHJ, Sandoval OR, Pereira JVMC, de Souza JPB, Caetano BC, Hanriot VM, Pujatti FJP, de Faria MTC. Influence of Fluid Film Bearings with Different Axial Groove Shapes on Automotive Turbochargers: An Experimental Study. Lubricants. 2022; 10(5):92. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/lubricants10050092

Chicago/Turabian Style

Machado, Luiz Henrique Jorge, Oscar Ricardo Sandoval, José Victor Matos Carvalho Pereira, Juliana Primo Basílio de Souza, Bryan Castro Caetano, Vítor Mourão Hanriot, Fabrício José Pacheco Pujatti, and Marco Tulio Correa de Faria. 2022. "Influence of Fluid Film Bearings with Different Axial Groove Shapes on Automotive Turbochargers: An Experimental Study" Lubricants 10, no. 5: 92. https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/lubricants10050092

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