The paper deals with the bearing design based on the heat balance, i.e., heat generated inside the bearing should be nearly equal to the heat dissipated from the bearing housing to the surroundings. The analysis is based on computer-aided bearing design process. As it is an iterative process of bearing design, the use of computer provides more accurate, optimum, easy and fast calculations. The paper presents the effect of various parameters such as oil grade, lubrication system, bearing housing geometry, R/C and L/D on the operating temperature of the bearing.

Hydrodynamic journal bearing is used in many industrial applications. As it plays a very significant role in many applications, its design needs much accuracy. The conventional method includes the use of various charts and tables in journal bearing design. But this is time-consuming and not an appropriate method of design. That is why a CAD tool is needed to develop a fast and accurate design of journal bearing. Two types of parameters are used in design of journal bearing, viz., operating parameters and performance parameters. Operating parameters are under the control of the designer, but performance parameters are not directly under the control of the designer. Performance parameter shows how well the bearing is performing. Certain limitations on their values are imposed according to the designer guidelines, to assure satisfactory performance.

The operating temperature is one of the significant performance parameters which is needed to be found out for safe operation of the bearing. To measure the operating temperature of fluid film bearing, Glavatskih et al. (2001) gave eddy current sensor technique. The test was conducted for various operating conditions like rotational speed, bearing load and oil flow rate to check the performance of the sensor used. The results showed that the sensor can effectively monitor the condition of bearing as compared with the thermocouple installed in the pads and collar. Further, Glavatskih et al. (2004) developed a new method for monitoring temperature in fluid film bearing. In this method, the lubricating oil comes in direct contact with thermocouple through a special arrangement. The temperature obtained is compared with those measured by thermocouple in the pad backing and in the collar. This method provides high sensitivity for temperature monitoring.

Mechanical Engineering Journal, Bearing design, Heat balance, Operating temperature, Bearing, Design, Parameters, Operating Temperature, Hydrodynamic, Journal Bearing, Thermo Elasto Hydrodynamic (TEHD).