Abstract
As the demand for higher power density and reliable mechanical gear transmissions grows, effective lubrication has become a critical design requirement. Optimizing lubricant supply not only reduces power losses and improves system efficiency but also lowers operating temperatures and enhances overall reliability. This paper presents two Finite Volume multi-phase models developed in OpenFOAM® for simulating lubrication of mechanical systems. Two examples of different flow regimes (namely high speed oil-jet gear lubrication and low speed oil-jet bearing lubrication) are considered and analyzed with different approaches (Eulerian-Eulerian dispersed model and Eulerian separated model with interface tracking). Numerical results are compared with experimental data provided by the Ohio State University’s (back-to-back test rig under varying operating conditions), highlighting the crucial role of oil droplet concentration on the “wet-windage” power loss mechanism.