An approximate one-dimensional hydrodynamic analysis of the air-lubricant pumping between gear teeth is presented. Assuming an isentropic compression and considering the air-lubricant mixture as a perfect gas, the continuity equation is applied to the control volume limited by the surfaces of the teeth. Once critical conditions are reached, the exit flows are bounded and the gas in the control volume is compressed and heated. The temperature variations along the tooth face delivered by the model compare favorably with those measured on two industrial turbo-gear sets. It is therefore concluded that the proposed approach can provide useful indications at the design stage on the air-lubricant compression between the teeth and on related heating problems.
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