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Foaming and Aeration of Oils in Aviation Powerplant

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 July 2016

R. Tourret
R. Tourret*
Affiliation:
Thornton Research Centre
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Extract

The presence of foam or unduly aerated oil in the lubricating-oil systems of aircraft power plant can be very troublesome—more so in reciprocating engines than in gas turbines, since the rates of circulation are greater and the viscosity grade of the oil is higher. Consequently in this paper, which surveys present knowledge about oil foaming, reciprocating engines are the main consideration.

In the conventional aircraft “dry-sump” oil system, a simplified diagram of which is shown in Fig. 1, oil is pumped from a supply tank to the bearings, and so on, by a so-called “pressure” pump. This oil then drains down into the sump and is picked up by “scavenge” pumps which return it to the supply tank. There are usually at least two scavenge pumps so that the oil is cleared away irrespective of the attitude of the aircraft.

Type
Research Article
Information
The Aeronautical Journal , Volume 58 , Issue 517 , January 1954 , pp. 53 - 60
Copyright
Copyright © Royal Aeronautical Society 1954

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