Labyrinth seals can alleviate bearing failure in special applications

Jun 13, 2023

Bearings are precision components that require the right amount of lubrication to ensure long-term, trouble-free use. Rolling bearings are used in various environments, and a small amount of pollution or a slightly elevated temperature may also cause bearing failure, so it is necessary to carefully select the appropriate bearing and select the appropriate bearing seal. 40% of rotating equipment failures are attributed to bearing failure, and bearing oil contamination accounts for half of bearing problems. Labyrinth seals help prevent these problems, especially in the following applications.

1. Particle pollution

Dust in the production environment is one of the main problems causing bearing failure. The heavier dust is made up of particles as small as 50 microns. Falling at a rate of 200 mm per second, these particles are unlikely to move outside the production area. Dust smaller than 50 microns may remain in the air for more than 30 minutes. This dust can travel great distances and acts like a thin coating when it deposits on machinery, bearing housings and other surfaces. Even fine dust can get into the bearings. Although the enclosure provides some protection, intrusion can still occur. Over time, dust can build up inside the bearing, which can lead to contamination of the bearing lubricating oil, which in turn can cause bearing problems over time.

2. Moisture pollution

As the equipment rotates, the bearing housing heats up, and the heat-expanding oil and air mixture inside forces air out of the seal; as the equipment cools, the oil and air mixture condenses and it draws in air from the atmosphere. Even though the air on the production floor looks dry, moisture is always present. Warmer air can hold more water vapor because the hot air around the machine will have a higher relative humidity. As the machine cools, moisture-laden air is drawn into the bearing housing. As the equipment continues to cool, tiny water droplets form inside the bearings. This moisture builds up, causing bearing corrosion and eventual failure. Moisture on its own can cause damage inside mechanical components, but when combined with harmful elements in the air during production, it can have more corrosive consequences for bearings. The best way to reduce the risk is to use modern labyrinth bearing protection. When the shaft stops rotating, the bearing protector creates a perfect vapor seal, preventing the ingress of moisture and dust. These labyrinth designs also protect against other sources of moisture contamination, such as high pressure water jets.

How to avoid the above problems and prolong the bearing life? Currently, labyrinth bearing seals prevent all types of contamination. The protection level can reach IP66, and compared with lip seals, it can reduce the water pollution of bearing oil from 83% to 0.0003% even if it is exposed to high-pressure water flow. The seals in this series are ATEX certified for use in explosive atmospheres. The special design makes it suitable for a wide range of applications.

Luoyang FV Bearing has professional knowledge in the design and manufacture of bearings, and we can provide you with perfect solutions.