NSK Europe, the European arm of Japanese bearing manufacturer NSK, has developed deep groove ball bearings that don’t require external lubrication to be used in submersible pumps dealing with cryogenic gases such as hydrogen and LNG.
pressure gauge 10 bar has developed special shaft bearings with a cage created from self-lubricating fluoroplastic for submersible pumps that handle cryogenic gases and liquids.
The stainless-steel bearings with a cage made from self-lubricating fluoroplastic are seeing increasing adoption in submersible pumps as a rising number of projects promote the use of hydrogen as an power source. These tasks usually use special submersible pumps that may reliably pump gaseous and liquid media in continuous or intermittent operation at low temperatures right down to round -200°C.
In such pumps, the double bearing of the pump shaft is a important design element. Corrosion resistance is essential, and no lubricant can be utilized apart from the media washing around the bearing. However, this locations tough demands on the fabric pairing.
So NSK has developed a collection of deep groove ball bearings particularly for these exceptional working conditions, and several key design features provide differentiation from conventional pump bearings. For instance, the inner and outer rings are made from a stainless-steel adapted to the particular requirements of rolling bearings.
A steady cage that occupies the complete inner volume of the bearing supplies steerage for the rolling components (also made from stainless steel), whereas the cage material, a self-lubricating fluoroplastic, ensures low friction operating of the bearing with out exterior lubrication. In addition, the high-performance fluoroplastic is extraordinarily wear-resistant and provides good low-temperature properties at speeds up to 3600 rpm. The cage has a two-piece design, with the two halves joined by stainless-steel rivets.
The NSK bearings are available in varied sizes (shaft diameter 30–100 mm) and are designed for use in each larger hydrogen pumping services and decentralised functions, such as hydrogen filling stations.
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