The present study was carried with an aim of checking the feasibility of usage of bio-lubricants as a lubricant in hydrodynamic full journal bearing. Three bio-lubricants Castor oil, Neem oil, Jatropha oil and mineral oil SAE 20W50 is used alternatively to check the output of the journal bearing operating parameters.

1. Comparative Study of Full Journal Bearing with Bio Lubricants – Jatropha Oil, Castor Oil, Neem Oil
and Mineral Oil (SAE 20W50), Anand Kalani and Rita Jani, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.com)
127
1
Mechanical Engineering Department, Government Engineering College Palanpur, India
2
Mechanical Engineering Department, Shantilal Shah Engineering College, Bhavnagar, India
ABSTRACT
The present study was carried with an aim of checking the feasibility of usage of bio-lubricants as a
lubricant in hydrodynamic full journal bearing. Three bio-lubricants Castor oil, Neem oil, Jatropha
oil and mineral oil SAE 20W50 is used alternatively to check the output of the journal bearing
operating parameters. The results so generated put castor oil on first priority on the base of low
operating temperature with comparison to other three lubricants. The performance of jatropha oil and
neem oil are more or less equivalent to mineral oil SAE 20W50. The main intention was substitution
of mineral oil for bio-lubricants.
Key words: Bio-lubricants, Castor oil, Journal Bearing, Jatropha oil, Neem oil, Raimondi and Boyd.
1. HYDRODYNAMIC JOURNAL BEARING
Journal bearings are essential machine components for compressors, pumps, turbines,
internal-combustion engines, motors, generators, etc. In a journal bearing a shaft or journal rotates or
oscillates within a close-fitting cylindrical sleeve (the bearing) and the relative motion is sliding
(Figure – 1). The journal and bearing surfaces are separated by a film of lubricant (liquid or gas) that
is supplied to the clearance space between the surfaces. The clearance space permits assembly of the
journal and bearing, provides space for the lubricant, accommodates unavoidable thermal expansions
and tolerates any shaft misalignment or deflection. The basic purpose of a journal bearing is to
provide radial support to a rotating shaft (1, 2, 3,)
.
Figure 1 Full Journal Bearing
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF FULL JOURNAL BEARING
WITH BIO LUBRICANTS – JATROPHA OIL, CASTOR OIL,
NEEM OIL AND MINERAL OIL (SAE 20W50)
Mr. Anand Kalani1
, Mrs. Rita Jani2
Volume 6, Issue 6, June (2015), pp. 127-131
Article ID: 30120150606012
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology
© IAEME: http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET.asp
ISSN 0976 – 6340 (Print)
ISSN 0976 – 6359 (Online)
IJMET
© I A E M E

2. Comparative Study of Full Journal Bearing with Bio Lubricants – Jatropha Oil, Castor Oil, Neem Oil
and Mineral Oil (SAE 20W50), Anand Kalani and Rita Jani, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.com)
128
2. BIO LUBRICANTS
Journal bearing uses massive amount of lubricant as it is operated on lift of shaft by oil film
under pressure. The lubricant is subject to change at regular interval of time, which results in high
amount of disposal of oil. This oil being non-degradable results in environmental pollution. Need of
biodegradable oil in such type of application becomes eminent. Many bio lubricants are developed in
recent years seeing the environmental effect of mineral lubricants. Bio lubricants are prepared from
jatropha, castor seeds, groundnut seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds etc. These oils have proved to
be equivalent or having better performance than many mineral oils (4)
.
The present study compares the effect on operating parameters of full journal bearing by use
of bio-lubricants – jatropha oil, castor oil and neem oil and finally compared with mineral SAE
20W50. The properties of the lubricants used for this study are listed in table – 1. The data of full
journal bearing required to calculate the output parameters are
C; Application of journal bearing is taken Main bearing of four
stroke oil engine (5,6)
.
Table -1 Properties of Bio-lubricant (4)
Lubricants
Dynamic
viscosity (Pas)
@400
Dynamic
viscosity (Pas)
@1000
Density
Kg/m3
sp. Heat
J/Kg 0
C
SAE 20W50 0.123 0.015 886 1900
Jatropha Oil 0.23 0.14 910 2000
Neem Oil 0.19 0.07 919 2053
Castor Oil 0.831 0.07 960 4720
Raimondi and Boyd suggested the equation – 1, where y = desired performance variable and the
subscript of y is the L/D ratio at which the performance variable is being evaluated (78,)
.
Equation-1
The desired performance variables are-
i. Sommerfield number (bearing characteristics number) S
ii. Minimum film thickness ratio h0/C
iii. Attitude Angle i.e. angle at which minimum film thickness is attained Φ
iv. Friction coefficient variable f(r/C)
v. Total bearing flow rate variable Q/rCNL
vi. The ratio of side flow rate (in z-direction) to the total flow rate QS/Q
vii. Average to maximum pressure ratio P/Pmax
viii. Position of maximum pressure(in degree) θpmax
ix. Termination of pressure wave angle (in degree) θp0

3. Comparative Study of Full Journal Bearing with Bio Lubricants – Jatropha Oil, Castor Oil, Neem Oil
and Mineral Oil (SAE 20W50), Anand Kalani and Rita Jani, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.com)
129
3. RESULT
The graphs represented shows the comparison of mineral oil SAE 20W50 with bio-degradable
lubricants – castor oil, neem oil and jatropha oil. All the graphs are constructed with respect to ratio
of length to diameter (L/D). The parameters taken under consideration are mostly affected by change
of lubricants in journal bearing. The parameters so considered are:
(i) Maximum operating Temperature 0
C [Figure – 2 ]
(ii) A A g g wh ch f h c Φ [Figure – 3 ]
(iii) Maximum torque required N.m [Figure – 4 ]
(iv) Power loss during operation kw [Figure – 5 ]
(v) Quantity of oil supplied mm3
/sec [Figure – 6 ]
(vi) Side leakage mm3
/sec [Figure – 7 ]
(vii) Position of maximum oil film thickness 0
degree [Figure – 8 ]
(viii) Termination position of oil film 0
degree [Figure – 9 ]
Figure 2 L/D Vs Operating Temperature Figure 3 L/D Vs Attitude Angle
Figure 4 L/D Vs Torque Figure 5 L/D Vs Power Loss

4. Comparative Study of Full Journal Bearing with Bio Lubricants – Jatropha Oil, Castor Oil, Neem Oil
and Mineral Oil (SAE 20W50), Anand Kalani and Rita Jani, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.com)
130
Figure 6 L/D Vs Oil Supplied Figure 7 L/D Vs Side Leakage
Figure 8 L/D Vs Position of Max. Film Thickness Figure 9 L/D Vs Position of Film Termination
4. DISCUSSION
The graphs data states the parameters of the journal bearing operated with different
lubricants. Comparing the operating temperature of the bearing with different lubricants shows that
castor oil lubricant gives optimum operating environment with low operating temperature (71.531
0
C) on all range of L/D ratios. Castor oil has highest power loss than other three with generation of
highest torque (4.312 N-m). Other two bio- lubricants neem oil and jatropha oil are equivalent to
mineral oil SAE 20W50 on maximum parameters.
5. CONCLUSION
Studying the results obtained all three Bio-lubricants castor oil, Jatropha oil and neem oil can
replace mineral oil SAE20W50 on maximum fronts. The main point where bio lubricants are ahead
is their biodegradability with acts as non pollutant for environment. Castor oil works on low
operating temperature generates high torque but power loss is high, this is because of high viscosity.
The viscosity of the castor oil reduces very rapidly as L/D ratio increases, so castor oil can be used
for high L/D ratio journal bearings.

5. Comparative Study of Full Journal Bearing with Bio Lubricants – Jatropha Oil, Castor Oil, Neem Oil
and Mineral Oil (SAE 20W50), Anand Kalani and Rita Jani, Journal Impact Factor (2015): 8.8293
Calculated by GISI (www.jifactor.com)
131
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