Compressor Damper Bearing with Squeeze Film Vibration Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Positive displacement compressors, such as screw compressors, face challenges with vibration reduction, particularly at resonant frequencies, which can lead to structural resonance and imbalance, making it difficult to modify the rotor-bearing-support system without undesirable geometric changes or bearing configurations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a squeeze film damper system in the damper bearing system, which provides viscous damping and isolates structural vibrations, reducing rotor lateral or radial vibration amplitudes and suppressing dynamic instability by using a squeeze film compression surface and an outer race with a damping cavity filled with lubricating oil, generating a compression wavefront to dampen vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a squeeze film damper system is implemented to reduce vibration, then vibration levels and bearing forces are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A squeeze film damper is introduced as an intermediary element between the rotor and bearing support structure. The damper comprises a damper surface spaced from the bearing support structure, forming a damping cavity that fills with lubricating oil to create a squeeze film. This intermediary layer absorbs vibrational energy through viscous damping of the lubricant, reducing transmission of harmful vibrations to the bearing support structure while maintaining operational stability across wide frequency ranges.
Solution Approach 2:
The squeeze film damper utilizes hydraulic principles by employing lubricating oil as the damping medium. The lubricant is contained within the damping cavity formed between the damper surface and bearing support structure. During rotor operation, radial movements of the rotor squeeze the lubricant film, generating hydrodynamic pressure that provides viscous damping forces. This hydraulic approach effectively dissipates vibrational energy without requiring complex mechanical damping components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If rotor-bearing-support system geometry is modified to address resonance, then vibration reduction may be achieved, but undesirable geometric changes or bearing configurations are required
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than modifying the fundamental geometry of the rotor or bearing support structure, a squeeze film damper is introduced as a non-intrusive intermediary component. The damper maintains the existing rotor-bearing-support geometry while providing vibration reduction through the damping cavity filled with lubricating oil. This approach avoids undesirable geometric changes to critical components while effectively addressing resonant vibrations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The squeeze film damper effectively reduces vibration levels on the compressor housing and bearing forces, potentially increasing the operational life of the compressor by isolating structural vibrations and maintaining stability across a wide range of frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
a squeeze film damper operative to provide squeeze film damping of vibrations passing through the rolling element bearing upon an orbital motion of the outer race relative to the bearing support structure
Implementation Method 2
the first structure and the second structure being constructed to jointly form a squeeze film damper using the first squeeze film compression surface and the second squeeze film compression surface
Data Source
AI summary
A positive displacement compressor includes a positive displacement compressor rotor; a shaft operative to support the positive displacement compressor rotor; a bearing operative to support the shaft; a first structure having a first squeeze film compression surface; and a second structure having a second squeeze film compression surface spaced apart radially from the first squeeze film compression surface. The first and second structures are constructed to jointly form a squeeze film damper using the first and second squeeze film compression surfaces. The squeeze film damper is operative to provide squeeze film damping of vibrations. An annular oil discharge groove is disposed adjacent to a first end of the squeeze film damper. A first o-ring gland houses a circumferential-sealing o-ring disposed proximate to the first end of the squeeze film damper. A second o-ring gland houses a second circumferential-sealing o-ring disposed proximate to a second end of the squeeze film damper.