Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Gerotor Lubricating Pumps at High-Speed: Geometric Features Influencing the Filling Capability

Abstract

The paper presents an extensive analysis of the influence on the suction capacity of the main geometric parameters of gerotor lubricating pumps. The study was carried out using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model developed with the commercial software PumpLinx®. The model of a reference gerotor unit was validated experimentally in terms of delivered flow rate in different operating conditions, in open and closed circuit configuration. In the former case, different geometries of the inlet pipe were tested. In the latter, the influence of the suction pressure at constant speed was analyzed. After the model validation, several geometric features were changed to assess their influence on the volumetric efficiency in conditions of incomplete filling, such as the thickness and the diameter of the gears, the position of the inlet pipe with respect to the rotors (radial, axial, and tangential), and the shape of the port plate.