Numerical Simulation on Internal Flow Field of Rolling Bearing under Oil-Air Lubrication

Heat dissipation and working efficiency of transport air in rolling bearing under oil-air lubrication are closely related to the flowing state of oil-air in bearing chamber. For cylindrical roller bearing NF211, numerical simulation model of oil-air flow field in bearing chamber was established combining with the practical structure features of rolling bearing and ignoring the effect caused by roller rotation. Combining with flow field numerical simulation functions of Fluent software, simulation analysis of the flow state in bearing chamber were carried out. Based on k-ε turbulent model, three-dimensional flow field in the bearing chamber and main feature parameters of inner flow were got analyzed carefully considering the effect of twirling. Comparing with the numerical simulation of simplified flow field, it showed that energy dissipation and axial velocity of the air were influenced by the effect of twirling distinctly. Simulation results were expected to give useful references for the optimization design of the oil-air lubrication system in rolling bearing.