Derivation and Application of Energy Equation for the Lubrication with Micropolar Fluids

To investigate the characteristics of thermo-hydrodynamic lubrication with micropolar fluids, the energy equation for micropolar fluids is derived, based on the theory of micropolar fluids and the laws of conservation and conversion of energy. Then the simplified energy equation is obtained under the hypothesis of lubrication conditions. A typical example is taken for a finite journal bearing, and the derived energy equation is solved numerically together with the Reynolds equation for micropolar fluids and the heat transfer equation in the bushing. The temperature field distribution of oil film and bushing are then calculated. It is shown, when compared with the Newtonian fluids, that micropolar fluids produce higher temperatures both in the oil film and in the bushing, and that the more micropolarity in the fluids, the higher will be the temperature.