Water and Effluent Treatment Magazine
Issue link: https://fhpublishing.uberflip.com/i/671821
MAY 2016 WET NEWS 19 THE CONCEPT • LabTecta 66 labyrinth bearing protectors are non-contacting in operation to avoid shaft wear • The micro-gap immediately closes when the equipment stops rotating to form a perfect seal • LabTecta 66 can be retrofitted on more equipment • The range is ATEX certified for use in explosive environments NEED TO KNOW 1 Bearing oil contamination accounts for more than half of all bearing problems 2 Small amounts of particle or moisture contamination or slightly elevated temperatures can lead to bearing failure 3 The most common cause of overheating is excessive speed, inadequate heat dissipation/insufficient cooling and lubricant failure THE VERDICT "LabTecta 66 labyrinth bearing protectors are highly effective at preventing the entry of contaminants as well as the loss of lubricant. They can also increase equipment reliability" Chris Rehmann, AESSEAL Bearing protectors can defend against 'breathing' issues that contribute to more than half of all bearing failures caused by contamination. O ne of the most effective ways of preventing bearing contamination from water, particles or other process fluid, and therefore avoiding 52% of all bearing failures, is with modern LabTecta 66 labyrinth bearing protection seals. A recent research paper conducted an accelerated life test with a stop start cycle of four times a day, which determined that the average LabTecta 66 life expectancy was more than ten and a half years. LabTecta 66 labyrinth bearing protectors are non- contacting in operation to avoid sha wear, whilst incorporating patented dynamic li technology to protect against the 'breathing' issues that contribute to 52% of all bearing failures caused by contamination. The patented dynamic li technology uses the centrifugal force of rotating equipment to open a temporary micro-gap allowing expansion of the oil- air mixture in the bearing housing, which consequently A solution: Non-contact protection allows the equipment to breathe. When the equipment stops rotating the micro-gap immediately closes forming a perfect seal. This prevents particles and moisture being sucked back into the bearing housing and therefore avoids contamination. Explosive environments Rated to IP66 of the ingress protection code, LabTecta®66 bearing protectors are capable of reducing water contamination of the bearing oil from as high as 83% to just 0.0003% compared to lip- seals, even when exposed to high pressure water jets. The range is ATEX-certified for use in explosive environments and a number of special designs make it suitable for a wide and varied range of applications. It is also designed with a thinner cross section and seal length than competing devices, which means it can be retrofitted on more equipment without having to carry out modifications. Furthermore, the design enables it to be positioned differently on the sha when compared to lip-seals, which means that sha s already damaged can be retrofitted without costly replacement. Bearings are precision elements within the production process and require an ongoing supply of a very clean film of lubricant in the appropriate amount in order to ensure long life and low maintenance. One of the most effective ways of achieving this is by using LabTecta 66 labyrinth bearing protectors, which are highly effective at preventing the entry of contaminants as well as the loss of lubricant. What is more, they can be used to increase equipment reliability in pumps, electric motors, fans, pillow blocks, steam turbines and gearboxes. n Chris Rehmann is business development manager for AESSEAL. *Bloch, Heinz; "Pump Users Handbook: Life Extension" 2011 . When the shaft is not rotating, the micro-gap is closed, forming a perfect sealsewage plant When the shaft is rotating, a micro-gap opens allowing the equipment to breathe