Performance Analysis and Algorithm Optimization of Herringbone-Grooved Journal Bearing for Circulating Pumps with Mass Conservation Cavitation

Spacecraft circulating pumps are critical for thermal management and propulsion systems, enabling precise cryogenic propellant control under extreme conditions. To enhance reliability, herringbone-grooved sliding bearings are employed, offering superior longevity through fluid-film lubrication that mitigates friction in microgravity environments. Cavitation modeling is crucial to account for multiphysics interactions, such as the use of high-viscosity perfluorotriethylamine lubricants, operation at 7500 rpm, and a wide operating temperature range (-40 °C to +50 °C). These factors collectively promote vapor bubble formation and destabilize the lubrication regime. This paper addresses computational inefficiencies in existing cavitation model by integrating Anderson acceleration with adaptive successive over-relaxation (SOR), achieving a 40% reduction in convergence time. Based on the model, several numerical analyses are conducted to reveal cavitation zone dynamics across operational conditions and optimize groove parameters to maximize load capacity while minimizing friction torque. The numerical results indicate that considering the cavitation effect will change the variation law of bearing performances with the groove parameters. Subsequently, the bearing take-off tests are carried out with the optimized groove parameters. The test results of frictional torque under various loading conditions were compared with the theoretical calculations to validate the accuracy of the procedure. The theoretical results considering cavitation effects are more closely aligned with experimental results. Moreover, the grooved bearing optimized based on the cavitation model has been operating stably in the system-level test of the circulating pump for more than 220 days.