NSK Europe, the European arm of Japanese bearing manufacturer NSK, has developed deep groove ball bearings that do not require external lubrication to be used in submersible pumps dealing with cryogenic gases such as hydrogen and LNG.
NSK has developed particular shaft bearings with a cage produced from self-lubricating fluoroplastic for submersible pumps that deal with 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 growing variety of projects promote the use of hydrogen as an energy supply. These projects typically use special submersible pumps that can reliably pump gaseous and liquid media in continuous or intermittent operation at low temperatures right down to around -200°C.
In such pumps, the double bearing of the pump shaft is a crucial design component. Corrosion resistance is essential, and no lubricant can be utilized apart from the media washing across the bearing. However, this locations powerful demands on the material pairing.
So NSK has developed a collection of deep groove ball bearings particularly for these exceptional operating conditions, and a quantity of other key design options provide differentiation from standard pump bearings. For instance, the internal and outer rings are made from a stainless-steel adapted to the particular requirements of rolling bearings.
เครื่องมือที่ใช้วัดความดันเลือด that occupies the complete inner volume of the bearing offers steerage for the rolling components (also manufactured from stainless steel), whereas the cage material, a self-lubricating fluoroplastic, ensures low friction running 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 as much as 3600 rpm. The cage has a two-piece design, with the two halves joined by chrome steel rivets.
The NSK bearings can be found in varied sizes (shaft diameter 30–100 mm) and are designed for use in each larger hydrogen pumping services and decentralised functions, similar to hydrogen filling stations.
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