New Life Method for Rolling Bearings in Compressors

Rolling element bearings are used extensively in air, gas, and refrigerant compressor applications because of their low friction, long life, and high reliability.Compressors having rolling bearings can have higher efficiency and reduced lubrication requirements compared to those using hydrodynamic bearings.The New Life Method for the selection and evaluation of rolling bearings has been developed and successfully applied to compressor applications.The compressor lubrication and cleanliness conditions, and the bearing fatigue load limit are considered by the New Life Method.The methodology is proposed for inclusion in an updated ISO Standard.The work of Jacobson to consider the influence of the refrigerant I lubricant mixture on bearings life is applied with the New Life Method.This paper describes the application of the New Life Method for the selection of rolling bearings in compressor applications.