Thrust bearings with polymer surfaces support high pump loads in water-filled motors and are lubricated by the water cooling the motor.

The Dover Precision Components Materials Technology program integrates materials research with extensive engineering resources and more than a century of practical experience to develop next-generation polymeric materials and ensure the ongoing quality of our raw materials.

Splitpillowblock bearingassembly

Polymer bearings can use process fluids as the lubricant, requiring fewer seals in a pump and eliminating the need for a separate oil lubrication system. Solid polymer bearings provide a solution for load capacities up to 10 MPa (1500 psi) in clean water and have been used successfully in reverse osmosis pumps, boiler feed pumps and mine-dewatering pumps.

The high electrical resistance of polymers is utilized in motor and generator applications to prevent damaging currents from passing through the bearing and housing to ground. This characteristic eliminates the need for a separate insulating layer.

Polymer-lined thrust and journal bearings, widely used in multi-phase booster pumps and water injection pumps, operate on very thin hydrodynamic films to meet the demand for high load capacity and long life.

Broad in-house research and development capabilities enable us to control development from material composition through the manufacturing process and product testing. We comprehensively analyze and test materials at our advanced materials lab for physical, thermal, and wear patterns. Next, materials are incorporated into bearing products and tested in real-world conditions at the state-of-the-art Dover Precision Components Innovation Lab. Finally, materials are factory and field tested by OEMs before they are qualified for an application.

Interchangeable housings are designed with height-to-centre and bolt hole configurations that match industry-standard SN, SD, and SAF pillow block units. However, the footprint, overall height, and length on the shaft may differ and should be checked against the available space.

Polymer-lined tilt pad thrust bearings are the standard for ESP operating temperatures up to 200°C (392°F) and loads up to 8 MPa (1160 psi). They are used in the motor to account for thermal expansion and in the seal/protector section to withstand the pump load. As an additional benefit in the motor, the bearings provide electrical insulation.

Angled split pillow block housings are designed for locations where there is difficult access for mounting the pillow block base. The angled joint of the split pillow block allows the housing base to be slid into position under the shaft without the need to hoist it, and is therefore suitable where:

Polymer-lined tilt pad thrust and journal bearings can replace babbitt bearings to withstand high temperatures resulting from heat soak. This high-temperature capability provides additional safety in the event the back-up lubrication system fails or can even eliminate the need for a back-up system, saving on both weight and cost.

Using polymer bearings with water lubrication in compressors eliminates oil contamination of the compressed product and simplifies the sealing components.

Advanced materials are compatible with even the most challenging lubricants and process fluids, including mineral/synthetic oils, water/seawater, water-glycol, freon, toluene, amine, crude oil, hydrocarbon condensates, liquid O2, liquid CO2, methane, propane, butane, and hexane.

Surface properties and the mechanical strength of engineered polymers allow bearings to operate with thinner films than traditional babbitt bearing materials, providing:

Incorporating the latest advances in polymer science, TruTech materials from Waukesha Bearings provide superior durability and optimum performance characteristics for fluid film bearings. Custom proprietary formulations are developed and tested fully in-house to provide lasting reliability for even the most demanding applications.

Polymers, in a similar way to babbitt, will embed dirt that enters the fluid film, preventing damage to the journal or collar.

This, combined with deep engineering expertise, allows us to select the right material for the right application based on a multitude of parameters such as temperature, load, speed, lubricants, and chemistries present within the application.

NSK PillowBlock Bearingcatalogue pdf

Split pillow block housings are the most common of the Cooper split housings. Used to mount split roller bearings in cartridges, the split pillow block can be used with either the fixed (GR) type or the expansion (EX) type split bearing and is available in several designs.

Polymer bearing materials have a lower coefficient of friction than babbitt and can be used to reduce torque and wear at start-up, eliminating the need for hydrostatic lift systems in some applications.

Engineered polymers are resistant to most chemicals, including hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. This prevents bearing damage associated with chemical attack by the working fluid.

Initially used as a high-performing substitute for metallic linings, engineered polymers now provide increased bearing capacity and reliability for a wide variety of rotating equipment.

• there is no possibility of putting the housing base under the shaft in an area of greater clearance and moving axially into position.

Polymers combine higher strength at elevated temperatures and higher fatigue strength while maintaining the embeddability and conformability of babbitt.

ORC turbines use solvents such as toluene and hexane as both the working fluid and the lubricant for the bearings. Polymer journal and thrust bearings can sustain the thin films associated with these low-viscosity fluids. The sealing and the flow path of the lubricant are key design considerations for successful operation.

With these properties, polymer-lined and solid polymer components can serve as direct replacements for babbitt components or be incorporated into new designs to extend operating limits.

Download our “Introduction to Fluid Film Bearing Materials” for an overview of material characteristics, benefits and limitations in fluid film bearing use.

The selection of the bearing materials plays a significant role in the performance of fluid film bearings. Load, speed, operating temperature, insulation requirements, and lubricant type and cleanliness may all play into the material choice.

Polymer materials have higher operating temperature capabilities – up to 250°C (482°F) – and retain their mechanical properties at higher temperatures than babbitt, allowing exceptional performance at elevated temperatures.