A study of palm oil and engine oil viscosity effect by using CFD

Abstract

Viscosity is the most important lubricant parameter as lubricant requires suitable values to ensure its performance in industrial applications under a high pressure and temperature. In this study, the effects of viscosity on temperature for engine oil (SAE 20W40) and palm oil were studied in journal bearing application using the ANSYS FLUENT CFD (computational fluid dynamic) method. In addition, this study also compared the effects of constant viscosity and viscosities that dependent on temperature for engine oil (SAE 20W40) for an application of journal bearing at a different rotational speed of journal bearing start from 200 rpm, 400 rpm, 600 rpm, 800 rpm, and 1000 rpm. The results show that the pressure distribution in journal bearing is in agreement with the experiment by using the correct method in ANSYS FLUENT. Finally, under the hydrodynamic lubrication regime, the lubricant viscosity has a significant impact on the improvement of a journal bearing’s most essential aspects (maximum pressure and load carrying capacity). Hence decision to consider constant viscosity conditions or viscosities that dependent on temperature cases will give a different result that will affect the overall performance of journal bearing. The numerical validation study was done to validate data from simulation and experimental studies.