Publications Repository - Gdańsk University of Technology

The main purpose of the research was to determine the possibilities and experimentally test the benefits of replacing conventional oil lubrication with ecological water lubrication. Tests were carried out on a test rig for hydrodynamic radial bearings under conditions representative of the expected applications for the bearing in water turbines. Bearings made from the polymer material PEEK (polyether ether ketone) were tested under static loads. The tests were carried out for two types of lubrication: pure water and oil, with a viscosity of ISO VG 46. A comparison of friction coefficients and load-carrying capacity for both lubricants was made. During the tests, an interesting phenomenon of polymer material running in was observed for relatively high pressures when lubricated with a very low-viscosity lubricating medium, i.e., water (pressures in the bearing over 2 MPa).

Authors

• mgr inż. Tomasz Żochowski link open in new tab ,
• dr hab. inż. Artur Olszewski link open in new tab ,
• prof. dr hab. inż. Michał Wasilczuk link open in new tab