Effect of current discharges across MTM and MPR tribological contacts with negatively charged MTM ball and MPR roller
Effect of current discharges across MTM and MPR tribological contacts with negatively charged MTM ball and MPR roller
Stray currents in wind turbines have been associated with the premature failure of bearings through lubricant degradation and wear mechanisms. Tribological contacts under electrical current flow can be described as electrolytic cells, where the interacting bodies act as cathode and anode. This study investigated how cathodic polarity and current densities in tribological contacts impact tribofilm formation and wear mechanisms. Applied voltages higher than the dielectric strength of the oil enabled current flow across the tribological contact. The tribofilm predominately formed on the anode which attracted dissociated anions from additives and increased with current density, while the cathode remained unprotected. The damage on the cathode took the form of micro-pitting, wavelets and at low current densities, sub-surface WECs surrounded by WEAs.
Cathodic polarity, Current density, Electrical discharges, RCF
Cernalevschi, G.
ca2caf51-7476-420a-a266-2aaeda2e85de
Ratoi, M.
cfeffe10-31ca-4630-8399-232c4bc2beff
Mellor, B.G.
2b13b80f-880b-49ac-82fe-827a15dde2fe
Cai, Y.
039a7309-886d-43d8-bce1-f0d2ce6524f9
10 May 2025
Cernalevschi, G.
ca2caf51-7476-420a-a266-2aaeda2e85de
Ratoi, M.
cfeffe10-31ca-4630-8399-232c4bc2beff
Mellor, B.G.
2b13b80f-880b-49ac-82fe-827a15dde2fe
Cai, Y.
039a7309-886d-43d8-bce1-f0d2ce6524f9
Cernalevschi, G., Ratoi, M., Mellor, B.G. and Cai, Y.
(2025)
Effect of current discharges across MTM and MPR tribological contacts with negatively charged MTM ball and MPR roller.
Tribology International, 210, [110776].
(doi:10.1016/j.triboint.2025.110776).
Abstract
Stray currents in wind turbines have been associated with the premature failure of bearings through lubricant degradation and wear mechanisms. Tribological contacts under electrical current flow can be described as electrolytic cells, where the interacting bodies act as cathode and anode. This study investigated how cathodic polarity and current densities in tribological contacts impact tribofilm formation and wear mechanisms. Applied voltages higher than the dielectric strength of the oil enabled current flow across the tribological contact. The tribofilm predominately formed on the anode which attracted dissociated anions from additives and increased with current density, while the cathode remained unprotected. The damage on the cathode took the form of micro-pitting, wavelets and at low current densities, sub-surface WECs surrounded by WEAs.
Text
1-s2.0-S0301679X25002713-main
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 5 May 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 8 May 2025
Published date: 10 May 2025
Keywords:
Cathodic polarity, Current density, Electrical discharges, RCF
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 500909
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/500909
ISSN: 0301-679X
PURE UUID: 3e551d84-9458-4f10-bfbb-3d002a6fcdfe
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 15 May 2025 17:08
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:02
Export record
Altmetrics
Contributors
Author:
G. Cernalevschi
Author:
B.G. Mellor
Author:
Y. Cai
Download statistics
Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.
View more statistics
