Thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication study of misaligned journal bearing in wind turbine gearbox.

Owing to the simple structure, large load-carrying capacity and long life, journal bearings supporting planet gears (JBSP) are increasingly used in the wind turbine gearbox. The moment caused by the asymmetric meshing leads to the misalignment of the JBSP and further deteriorates its lubrication behaviors. A thermal-elastohydrodynamic (TEHD) model is developed for the misaligned JBSP, where the finite element method (FEM) and influence coefficient method are used to compute the temperature and deformation of this bearing, respectively. Besides, the above model is also experimentally verified. It is found that the misalignment of the JBSP can be suppressed through reducing its modification amount, helix angle and radial clearance, which have the optimal values to improve the TEHD behavior of the JBSP. • The thermal-elastohydrodynamic model of the misaligned journal bearing in the wind turbine gearbox is proposed. • Selecting an appropriate elastic modulus can suppress the misalignment and improve the lubrication behavior of the bearing. • Reasonably reducing the radial clearance, modification amount and helix angle can suppress the planet misalignment. • The radial clearance, modification amount or helix angle has an optimal value to improve the bearing lubrication behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]