8. General aspects

8.1 Intermittent operation

Discontinuous operation can be beneficial to bearing performance when heat build-up due to the need for heat dissipation is the limiting factor.

The limits set for pv in the non-fluid regime are based on this aspect.

It follows that operation for a time t followed by a shutdown period Kt can accept a pv (1 + K ) times greater than continuous operation, provided that the surface temperature does not reach unacceptable values during the time t of operation.

If t is very short, there will be no problem, and the equilibrium temperature assumed by the bearing will be the same as that which would correspond to continuous operation at pv / (1 + K ). On the other hand, for a longer period t,...