Numerical simulations of cavitation in oil pump and bearings for automotive applications

The cavitation in hydraulic pumps and fluid bearings could cause system instability, wearing, and failure. Modern commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solvers such as Simerics Inc and GT-Suite have the capabilities of predicting cavitation. However, the fidelity and accuracy of those models require further evaluation. The aim of the thesis is to develop a methodology to improve the analysis of oil flow and cavitation in the oil circuit. The research project is conducted jointly by the University of Windsor and Politecnico di Torino. 3D CFD models of the vane pump and journal bearing are simulated using Simerics Inc to evaluate the cavitation and pump performance. The pump sensitivity tests of different eccentricity ring designs and gas fractions are conducted, and its corresponding influence on the effective flow rate is discussed. The 3D CFD model also predicts cavitation development inside the journal bearing clearance. The CFD model is validated using original equipment manufacturer (OEM) experimental data. The validated CFD results are converted into input for the 1D GT-Suite model to be integrated into the oil circuit model. This research developed the methodology to build a reliable oil circuit using a 1D approximation based on the high-fidelity 3D CFD simulations for the vane pump and bearings. It is concluded that this research demonstrates the cavitation prediction capability of the oil circuit components resulting in robust design of automotive components and systems