1. What Is Gas Lubrication?

It is a system of lubrication in which the relative motion

between two contacting surfaces is separated by a gas-
Film or air-film.

It is also called as AIR Lubrication.

Examples of gas lubricant: Air, Oxygen, Carbon dioxide,

Carbon Monoxide, Ammonia etc.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 2. EXAMPLES OF GASLUBRICANT

SR GAS Lubricant Formula

No.

1. Acetylene C2H2

2. Air O2+N

3. Steam H2O

4. Chlorine Cl2

5. Helium He

6. Hydrogen H2

7. Hydrogen sulfide H2S

8. Sulfur Dioxide SO2

9. Xenon Xe

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 3. TYPES

1. HYDRODYNAMIC:-

The principle of operation of the hydrodynamic bearings is same

as that of the hydrodynamic oil-lubricated bearings.

2. HYDROSTSTIC:-

The principle of operation of hydrostatic gas-lubricated

bearing is basically same as that of the hydrostatic oil
lubricated bearings.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 4. HYDRODYNAMIC GAS
LUBRICATION

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 5. HYDROSTATIC GAS-LUBRICATION

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 6. COMPARISON OF OIL & GAS
LUBRICATED BEARINGS

Sr. Parameter Oil- Gas-

No. Lubrication Lubrication

1. Lubricant Oil. Gas.

2. Compressibility Incompressible. Compressible.

3. Viscosity High. Extremely

Low.

4. Film Thickness Reasonably Very Thin.

Thick.

5. Surface Finish Perform With Require

Moderate Extremely
Surface Finish. Fine Surface
Finish.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 7. ADVANTAGES

Due to low viscosity, the viscous resistance is low.

Low heat generation Due to low frictional power

loss.

The gas-lubricated bearings do not require cooling.

The gas lubricants do not contaminate the bearing

surface.

Used over the wide range of temperature (-250 C

to 2000 C).

The gas lubricants are clean and available easily.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 8. LIMITATIONS

Require extremely fine surface finish.

Required perfect alignment between the bearing
surfaces.
Load carrying capacity is very low.
Required accurate bearing dimensions and
clearances.

9. APPLICATIONS

High speed dental drills;

High speed blowers and compressors;
High- speed grinding spindles;
Air cycle turbo machines on air craft;
Inertial guidance instruments, such as gyroscope
and accelerometer.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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 10. REFERENCES

[1]. Tribology; by R. B. Patil; 3rd edition; Tech- Max

publications.

[2]. Gas Film Lubrication; Notes 15 ; by Luis San

Andrs.

[3]. Gas Lubricated bearings, by Tata McGraw-Hill

Publishing Company Limited.

G. H. RAISONI COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT, Wagholi Pune

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