Function and Lubrication of Bearing in Centrifugal Pump
Due to their structure, centrifugal pumps are exposed to radial and axial loads during their operation. These loads create constant stress on the parts that make up the pump and damage the materials. At this point, bearings are used to balance these loads on the pump and to support the rotating equipment. Therefore, bearings are one of the most important parts of the pump, and incorrect bearing maintenance or incorrect lubrication shortens the life of the pump.
In all rotating equipment where bearings are used, eventually friction will prevail, the bearing will be damaged and will need to be replaced. However, it is possible to extend the life of both the bearing and the pump by minimizing friction with proper maintenance and lubricant.
Things to Consider When Checking and Lubricating Bearings
- First of all, we need to know the lubrication type of the bearing in your pump. The bearings used in the pump are generally grease lubricated closed type (Disposable), grease lubricated open type (with replaceable grease) and external lubricated.
- If the bearing has external lubrication, non-detergent (oil that does not carry sediment and particles to the points of oil, friction and contact by adhering the particles in the oil to the immovable surfaces of the material) and non-foaming type oils should be used.
- The types of oils that can be used in the pump published by the pump manufacturer should be checked, and if the environment and operating conditions of the pump are very different from the standards, support should be sought from the manufacturer in this regard.
- Excessive lubrication should be avoided. Excessive lubrication will increase the power drawn by the pump, causing unnecessary energy consumption and creating extra heat in the bearing.
- Yağ kontrol edildiğinde aşırı bulanıklık veya tortu gözlemleniyorsa yağ en kısa sürede değiştirilmelidir.
- If the bearing has replaceable grease lubrication, a single type and brand of grease should be used in the bearing, and greases of different brands and types should not be mixed.
- Again, excessive use of oil in Grease lubricated bearings will cause an increase in heat and power consumption, and will cause damage to the bearing due to heating.
- In both external oil and grease lubrication, during oil changes, any residue and dirt remaining from the previous oil should be cleaned regularly and the oil change should be made after this cleaning.
- If a closed type bearing is used in the pump, the bearing should be replaced with a new one as soon as the first signals of bearing replacement appear, the covers of the old bearing should be opened, lubricated again and not used again.
