Dynamic characteristics of the gear-rotor system in compressed air energy storage considering friction effects

Abstract

Abstract. The tooth surface friction effects and the resulting tooth surface contact temperature are important factors for the dynamic characteristics of a gear-rotor system in compressed air energy storage (CAES). Therefore, a 3∘ of freedom finite-element model of the system is set up in which the lubrication state of the gear pair, tooth surface friction, contact temperature of the tooth surface, backlash and unbalanced excitation are considered. The friction coefficient is calculated according to the variation of the lubrication state, and the tooth surface contact temperature is derived based on the friction coefficient. The tooth profile deformation caused by the change in the contact temperature is calculated, and the resulting effects on backlash and comprehensive meshing stiffness are considered. The influence of rotating speed, torque load and viscosity of lubricating oil on the system response is studied, and the variation of the friction coefficient, flash temperature of the tooth surface, pressure of the tooth surface and so on are discussed in detail. The results indicate that when the friction coefficient is derived according to the variation of the lubrication state, the variation of the contact temperature of the tooth surface with rotating speed is quite different from that calculated based on a friction coefficient which is set artificially. This leads to a new variation of the dynamic response of the gear-rotor system, and the method of stabilizing the operation of the system is put forward based on the optimization curve for the operation of the system. The results obtained in this paper will provide a reference for the study and design of a gear-rotor system in CAES.