AS9120B, ISO 9001:2015, AND FAA AC 0056B ACCREDITED

How a Lubrication System Design Affects an Aircraft Engine Oil Supply System

In order to keep these bearings working without interruption in the harsh environment of an aircraft, the engines include a lubrication oil system. The lube oil system not only ensures fluid motion between the bearings and associated parts, but also dissipates heat throughout the assembly. To find out more about this vital system, read on as we discuss the various interworking of the lubrication oil network and its associated parts.

Typical engine oil supply systems consist of an oil tank and supply pump, alongside several pressure-reducing valves, filters, oil lines, scavenge pumps, de-oilers, and heat exchangers. In this process, oil is first pumped out of the oil tank through the supply pump and oil pipes. Then, it is precleaned as it passes through the filters and distributed to the bearing assembly utilizing special channels or nozzles. As the oil moves through this system and interacts with the bearings, air is sucked into the oil which helps dissipate heat, but could cause issues in excess. As such, the lube oil will regularly pass through a de-oiler that separates the air from the oil and then passes it through scavenge filters for purification. As the last step in the cycle, the purified oil enters the heat exchanger where the oil can be cooled by air or fuel.

There are various different layouts of circulating oil systems. The most common is a single-circuit scheme with a heat exchanger in the scavenge line or a heat exchanger in the supply line. Single-circuit systems such as this are often used when oil tank capacity is low. Aside from single-circuit schemes, there are two-circuit types and short circuit types. Single-circuit systems become difficult in engines with a long operation time, and in high power turbojet and turboprop engines. In such situations, two-circuit schemes are used because they allow oil to move through the different processes more quickly, as some actions happen simultaneously. As such, only a small portion of the oil returns to the tank, so much more fuel is needed. Short-circuit systems are similar to two-circuit systems, with layered processes that shorten the overall cycle, and have become widespread in turboprop engines as a result.

There are certain design challenges that exist with lube oil systems along with several steps you can take to manage them. The first of these steps is selecting an oil type that has a suitable viscosity for the system. It is also vital to determine the required oil supply for effective cooling and lubrication, in addition to choosing a suitable engine layout arrangement. Managing each of these components in coordination with each other will ensure that the system is working at its best. Another important factor is the selection and verification of bearing assembly seals which should minimize the risk of oil leakage into the engine’s secondary air-cooling system. A key part in determining all of the above is to calculate the heat generation of the assembly, as the oil supply will depend on how much heat needs to be removed. Though each of these steps can be taken separately, there are certain models that exist which can combine them into several accurate calculations.

In conclusion, lubrication system design and analysis are very important tasks that involve several complex steps and factors to consider. The organization of the system depends on the engine type, its purpose, size, the influence of radial and axial loads on the system, bearing selection, lubricant, thermal management, analysis of fluid dynamics and heat transfer processes in the system, and more. On Aircraft Hardware for Sale we supply our customers with a wide inventory of aircraft engine parts, and more, that have all been sourced from reputable manufacturers on our Approved Vendor List (AVL). If you are in need of high-quality products for your next project, we invite you to browse our online catalog of available parts and submit an RFQ to receive a quote for your comparisons on any of our featured items. To learn more about the products or services we offer on Aircraft Hardware for Sale, you may contact us directly by phone or email, we are available 24/7x365!


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