Multi-phase gas-enhanced lubricants for performance control in rotating machinery bearings and related method thereof

Abstract

A method and system for lubricating at least one moving part with a lubricating medium includes a chamber configured to house at least one moving part, a lubricant reservoir configured to house a liquid lubricant, a gas reservoir configured to house a gas, and a controller configured to supply a first amount of the gas in the form of bubbles to a second amount of the liquid lubricant to entrain the bubbles of gas in the liquid lubricant. The controller is also configured to regulate proportions of the liquid lubricant and the gas as a function of at least one operating condition, including at least one of pressure, temperature, and flow rate, a solubility relationship between the liquid lubricant and the gas, and a size of the bubbles of gas, and supply the liquid lubricant with entrained bubbles of gas to at least one moving part.

1 . A medium for lubricating at least one moving part, said medium comprising a liquid lubricant and a discrete gas phase in the form of bubbles of a gas entrained in the liquid lubricant. 
     
     
         2 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid lubricant has a viscosity that is below approximately 32 mPa·s. 
     
     
         3 . The medium of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises at least one of a machine process fluid and a fluid in which a machine is submerged. 
     
     
         4 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises water. 
     
     
         5 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises seawater. 
     
     
         6 . The medium of  claim 3 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises a refrigerant. 
     
     
         7 . The medium of  claim 2 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         8 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the gas comprises one or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, and air. 
     
     
         9 . The medium of  claim 1 , wherein the medium with the discrete gas phase has a viscosity that is at least 10% greater than a viscosity of the liquid lubricant alone. 
     
     
         10 . A method of lubricating at least one moving part with a lubricating medium; the method comprising:
 supplying a first quantity of a liquid lubricant and a second quantity of a gas;   introducing the gas in the form of bubbles into the liquid lubricant in an amount sufficient to increase a viscosity of the liquid lubricant by at least 10%; and   providing the liquid lubricant with entrained bubbles of the gas to the at least one moving part as the lubricating medium.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid lubricant has a viscosity that is below approximately 32 mPa·s. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises at least one of a machine process fluid and a fluid in which a machine is submerged. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises water. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises seawater. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises a refrigerant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises an ionic liquid. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the gas comprises one or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, and air. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 10 , further including controlling proportions of the liquid lubricant and the gas as a function of at least one operating condition for the at least one moving part, including at least one of pressure, temperature, and flow rate; a solubility relationship between the liquid lubricant and the gas; and a size of the bubbles of gas. 
     
     
         19 . A system for lubricating at least one moving part with a lubricating medium, the system comprising:
 a chamber configured to house at least one moving part;   a lubricant reservoir configured to house a liquid lubricant;   a gas reservoir configured to house a gas; and   a controller configured to:
 supply a first amount of the gas in the form of bubbles to a second amount of the liquid lubricant to entrain the bubbles of gas in the liquid lubricant; 
 regulate proportions of the liquid lubricant and the gas as a function of at least one operating condition, including at least one of pressure, temperature, and flow rate; a solubility relationship between the liquid lubricant and the gas; and a size of the bubbles of gas; and 
 supply the liquid lubricant with entrained bubbles of gas to the at least one moving part. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the liquid lubricant comprises at least one of a machine process fluid and a fluid in which a machine is submerged, the liquid lubricant having a viscosity of less than approximately 32 mPa·s, and the liquid lubricant being selected from the group consisting of water, seawater, a refrigerant, and an ionic liquid; wherein the gas is one or more gases selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, helium, and air; and wherein entrainment of bubbles of the gas in the liquid lubricant results in an increase in the viscosity of the liquid lubricant by at least 10% over the viscosity of the liquid lubricant alone.