Maximize the life of the centrifugal pump bearing

Theoretically centrifugal pump bearing life is 20,000 ~ 80,000 hours, but the actual life depends on many factors - premature bearing failure will lead to the high cost of equipment downtime, and sometimes even lead to more serious consequences . NKE (Austria), bearing the company's experts provide some simple but practical tips to optimize bearing performance.
Satisfactory bearing life begins with the right bearing choice. From the beginning, for different applications through the bearing designer to select the correct bearings to extend bearing life and equipment performance. This process should take into account many factors, such as load, hardness, bearing life prediction, operating environment, and so on.
non metallic gasket, octagonal gasket, OEM Spiral Wound Gasket
Correct storage
In principle, all the bearings before installation should be kept in their original packaging. They need to stay in a clean, moisture free, relatively constant temperature environment. Rolling should stay away from dust, water and corrosive chemicals. Shaking and vibration may never destroy the mechanical properties of the bearing, so the handling and storage process must avoid vibration.
Basically, all bearings must be the level of preservation, because some of the heavier bearing long vertically, it may be deformed due to their own weight.
Pre-coated with oil (or sealed) bearings need to be careful because the oil after a long period of storage after the density change. So that when the bearing for the first time use, there will be some degree of rotational noise. Therefore, this bearing should set aside time to control by the FIFO principle.
Clean
Clean the bearing is very important. Bearing rings and rolling elements rotating surface roughness is usually 1/10μm, so a smooth surface damage of pollutants is very sensitive. Lubrication between the rotating surface layer is usually 0.2 ~ 1μm, the particle size is greater than the lubricant type impurities will be rolling over rolling element bearing steel produced in the partial pressure will eventually lead to permanent fatigue. In addition to this, the external environment in the dust particle size up to 10μm, will damage the bearing. Therefore, clean dust-free environment for storage and installation of the bearing is critical.
Fully prepared to install
Bearing the appropriate tools should be used cautiously installation and removal. Industry experts have estimated that premature bearing failure 16% of cases is due to improper installation. A large number of installation (for example in the production of the device) is concerned, usually strictly controlled conditions, installation, bearings can be installed using appropriate equipment.
However, in the maintenance or replacement work, the environment is varied. Therefore, to ensure maximum bearing life and overall preparation of the bearing installation is necessary.
First, the relevant documents such as drawings, maintenance manuals, product brochures, etc. require careful study. Next, all bearing components, such as axes, set away from the ring, covers, gaskets, etc. must be kept absolutely clean and free from contamination. Adjacent parts of the state should double-check.
Careful installation and removal
According to different applications as well as the bearing size and type, select the appropriate installation method (mechanical or hydraulic) and tools. Here are some of the basic principles of the bearing installation:
1. Do not install the force applied on the rolling elements, which can easily lead to rolling contact surface components and seat of local overload, resulting in premature bearing failure.
2 Do not use any hard tool (eg hammer, screwdriver, etc.) directly to knock the bearing surface, which causes the bearing ring breakage or fragmentation.
3. Respected by others to comply with the installation of equipment suppliers guide.
About 90% of the bearing from which they are never removed the device before, usually only the larger bearing only because the scheduled preventive maintenance program and removed. Like with the installation of a bearing, the bearing must also be carefully prepared demolition, the demolition process, to ensure that the adjacent components such as shaft and sleeve is not damaged. According to the bearing type, size, and select the appropriate application of methods and tools.
Designers should be noted that well-designed bearing position can greatly simplify the installation and removal of the bearing, thus reducing maintenance costs.
Correct and appropriate lubrication
Lubricants can isolate the metal bearing surface (such as rolling element bearing ring and bearing cover), thereby reducing friction and protect metal parts and the fight against pollution and impurities. There are a variety of lubricant (including grease, oil and solid) for different operating conditions selected. Correct choice of lubricant for extended service life of bearings and equipment is very important.
As the rolling elements roll over the bearing lubricant experiencing long-term mechanical stress, in addition, over time, especially at high temperatures, wet or contaminated environment, the chemical properties of the lubricant will be changed. All these have led to a gradual decline in the quality of lubrication. Therefore, to ensure the longest life, we should re-lubricated bearings regularly. Lubrication interval depends on operating conditions such as temperature, speed, and environment. Only in the pre-lubricated bearings or seals (also known as "lubricated for life" bearings), bearing life depends on lubricant life.
Lubricant must be correct according to the manufacturer's instructions to save, with particular attention to the lubricant clean, free from contamination. Before each use, carefully check the quality of the lubricant, the use of old or contaminated lubricant may cause premature bearing failure.
Condition Monitoring / Maintenance
In general, bearing very reliable, although their limited lifespan. With the machine, like all other important components, they should carry out regular inspection and maintenance. Inspection and maintenance frequency depends on the individual application of the importance of the various devices and operating conditions.
As the role of bearing the key to the design stage to join in its proposed condition monitoring functions. Important parameters of the machine running, such as vibration and noise can be continuously monitored in the unpredictable and costly equipment downtime before the preventive measures.
Training - the basis of good practice
Practice makes perfect, but proper training is the basis of practice. Chamber of well-known bearing production for commercial, technical or workshop offers a variety of staff training. If the technical staff in the process of dealing with bearings possess basic knowledge, you can avoid major mistakes. Design and product development engineers can optimize the bearing design to maximize equipment performance and minimize life cycle costs.
Bearing pumps and other equipment is usually an important component, although very reliable top quality bearings, but to ensure they have the longest life, still more attention. Proper preservation, care of the installation and removal, adequate lubrication and re-lubrication, the correct condition monitoring and timely maintenance and, finally, improved staff training, to improve bearing life and equipment performance are very important.