A New Approach to Fit Bearing Performance to Advanced Gas Engine Technology

Gas engines get an increasing market share compared to four stroke engines, especially in the field of energy systems. Under these special firing conditions engine components are stressed differently than in traditional diesel engines. This particularly is the case for bearings. In order to supplement the knowledge base for bearing performance under these aggravated conditions, special test methods have been developed to find out reasons for premature bearing failure characteristics. In combination with experience from the long term behavior of different bearing types in different gas engine applications, this data allows the development of improved bearing materials as well as bearing designs. Using this knowledge in combination with advanced simulation tools, a bearing supplier can offer assistance to select adequate bearing designs, give a life time prediction and in case of unexpected phenomena, redesign recommendations. The paper presents reasons and influences for life time limitations as well as different risk factors for available bearing types and situations. Based on field experience and data from the advanced bearing test procedures, values for bearing performance are given. Data for hydrodynamic performance, tribological properties and emergency running behavior, cavitation resistance, wear resistance and last, but not least corrosion resistance against active sulfur and halogens will be given for traditional and newly developed bearing materials. A short view into the future will finish the presentation.