Improvement of lubrication characteristics in the reciprocating fuel pump of marine diesel engines

In this study, we apply circumferential grooves and taper shape to the plunger in order to improve the lubrication characteristics of reciprocating fuel pumps for marine diesel engines. We use the two-dimensional Reynolds equation to evaluate lubrication characteristics with variation of viscosity, clearance, groove and taper for an incompressible, unsteady state flow. Moreover, we use the equilibrium equation of moment and forces in the vertical and horizontal directions to determine the motion of the plunger. The validity of numerical model is verified through the fact that the position of wear is similar to that of minimum film thickness. We investigate the lubrication characteristics of the pump by comparing the dimensionless minimum film thickness, or film parameter. Through numerical analysis, we find that to improve the lubrication characteristics of the pump, applying both circumferential groove and taper shape to the plunger is more effective than applying just either one of them.