Study on the Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication Characteristics of the Vane-stator Pair in High Pressure Vane Pump

At present, the elastohydrodynamic lubrication characteristics between the vane-stator pair of high-pressure vane pump are not clear, and the premature wear failure of the vane-stator pair has become a bottleneck restricting the high-pressure development of vane pump. Therefore, a mathematical model of the elastohydrodynamic lubrication of the vane-stator pair is established. Combined with the bicolor light interference elastohydrodynamic lubrication test and the high-pressure vane pump bench test, the characteristics of pressure distribution, elastic deformation, oil film thickness distribution and oil film hydrodynamic bearing between the vane-stator pair were studied. And the distribution diagram of the oil film hydrodynamic bearing capacity between the vane-stator pair at different phases is provided. The results show that, the oil film in the oil absorption area is relatively thin, with a minimum oil film thickness of about 0.45 µm. The oil film thickness at both ends of the vane-stator pair in the width direction is about 0.01 µm thinner than the middle oil film thickness. Therefore, the edge areas of the inner wall of the stator in the oil absorption area show wider and more severe wear. In addition, the fluid hydrodynamic in the oil absorption zone is also strong, with the highest local pressure reaching 1.2 GPa. The load borne by the oil film hydrodynamic in the oil absorption zone accounts for approximately 14% of the total load. The elastohydrodynamic lubrication characteristics between the vane-stator pair are investigated, and the drag reduction and wear resistance mechanisms of the oil film hydrodynamic bearing on the vane-stator pair are revealed, which will provide a theoretical basis for the optimization design of drag reduction and wear resistance of high-pressure vane pump. © 2024 Chinese Mechanical Engineering Society. All rights reserved.