EMPIRICAL CORRELATIONS FOR THE PRESSURE DEPRESSION IN EXTERNALLY PRESSURIZED GAS-BEARINGS

The pressure depression phenomenon, usually observed in the inlet regi on of externally pressurized gas bearings, is predicated by constructi ng a simple empirical model. The same sets of experimental data, used previously by other investigators, were used to obtain the empirical e quations which formulate the proposed model. Three correlations are pr oposed. These are the inlet pressure correlation, the minimum pressure correlation, and the position of the minimum pressure within the inle t region. Comparisons between the values obtained using these correlat ions and available experimental data show good agreement. Further, a c omparison between the present model and another previously proposed mo del shows that the present one gives better results. In addition, comp arison between the proposed model and available experimental data show s that the model correctly predicts pressure variations, which occur d ue to the effect of pressure depression, within the inlet region. Copy right (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd