Simulation and Experiment of Windage Power Loss of A Shrouded Spiral Bevel Gears under Oil Injection Lubrication

Abstract During high-speed rotation, the surface of aeronautic spiral bevel gears will generate significant pressure and viscous forces, which will cause a certain amount of windage power loss and reduce the efficiency of the transmission system. Based on the computational fluid dynamics, this paper analyzes the windage power loss of a single spiral bevel gear and a spiral bevel gear pair under oil injection lubrication. In addition, the shroud is used to suppress gear windage loss, and the clearance size and opening angle of the designed shroud are optimized. Finally, by comparing and analyzing the experimental results, the following conclusions were obtained: (1) For a single gear, the speed is the most important factor affecting windage loss, followed by the hand of spiral, and rotation direction; (2) For gear pairs, under oil injection lubrication, the input speed has the greatest impact on windage power loss, followed by the influence of oil injection port speed, temperature and oil injection port pressure; (3) Installing a shroud is an effective method to reduce windage power loss; (4) In the pure air phase, the smaller the clearance between the shroud and the gear surface, and the smaller the radial direction between the shroud and the shaft, the better the effect of reducing windage; (5) In the two-phase flow of oil and gas, it is necessary to design oil drainage holes on the shroud to ensure the smooth discharge of lubricating oil and improve the drag reduction effect.