Bearing assemblies, apparatuses, devices, systems, and methods including bearings

A bearing assembly, comprising:

• a bearing housing defining a fluid pathway for a first volume of fluid to pass through the bearing housing from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet;
• a shaft extending into the bearing housing, the shaft configured to be driven by a motor;
• one or more bearings comprising a superhard material, the one or more bearings configured to support the shaft in at least one of an axial direction or a radial direction when the shaft is being operated by the motor;
• a recirculation line extending into the bearing housing, the recirculation line for delivering a second volume of fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from the fluid inlet, the recirculation line positioned to direct the second volume of fluid toward the one or more bearings;
• and
• a bearing isolation cartridge positioned within the bearing housing and extending around the one or more bearings, the bearing isolation cartridge providing a secondary fluid pathway in contact with the one or more bearings where the second volume of fluid is enabled to contact the one or more bearings while the first volume of fluid is separated from the one or more bearings by the bearing isolation cartridge.

A fluid-handling system, comprising:

• a downstream component;
• and
• a bearing assembly coupled to the downstream component, the bearing assembly comprising:
• a bearing housing defining a fluid pathway for fluid to pass through the bearing housing from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet;
• a shaft extending into the bearing housing, the shaft configured to be driven by a motor;
• one or more bearings configured to support the shaft in at least one of an axial direction or a radial direction when the shaft is being operated by the motor;
• and
• a recirculation line extending into the bearing housing, the recirculation line for delivering a recirculated portion of the fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from the fluid inlet after the fluid has passed through and exited the bearing housing through the fluid outlet and is returned by the recirculation line, the recirculation line positioned to direct the recirculated portion of the fluid toward the one or more bearings.

A method of isolating a bearing assembly in a fluid stream, the method comprising:

• separating a source fluid traveling through a bearing housing along a fluid pathway extending between a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet of the bearing housing with a cartridge, the cartridge positioned in the bearing housing at least partially surrounding bearings comprising a superhard material;
• delivering a recirculated portion of the source fluid into the bearing housing at a location separate from the fluid inlet after the source fluid has passed through the bearing housing;
• passing the recirculated portion of the source fluid through the bearings;
• and
• combining the recirculated portion of the source fluid and the source fluid after supplying the recirculated portion of the source fluid along the bearings.