Abstract:

ESDU 86008 discusses the advantages and explains the essential additional considerations in using a process fluid as a lubricant. Appropriate bearing materials are particularly important and tables of data allow suitable choices for a range of process fluids, with particular emphasis on water. Tables (and graphs) also give those physical properties that are important in bearing design for a number of fluids, including the usable temperature range. A preliminary design procedure allows an initial choice of bearing dimensions to be made and then, using ESDU 85028, it can be decided whether the flow is superlaminar or not. In the latter case, ESDU 84031 is used to calculate the performance and, if necessary, optimise the design, while in the former case ESDU 85028 is used for the purpose. See ESDU 93006 for a Fortran program of this calculation method.