Self-Lubricating Bearings for Low Viscosity Liquids

The use of GRAPHALLOY® bearings and wear rings when pumping low viscosity fluids allows tighter clearances, improving reliability, lowering vibration and increasing efficiency in vertical and horizontal pumps.

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces a range of custom GRAPHALLOY® bearings and wear rings designed for pumping low viscosity fluids such as Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs), LNG, CO2 and other light hydrocarbons.

GRAPHALLOY bearings are used in vertical and horizontal pumps for low viscosity service to help eliminate operational problems due to the poor lubricity of these liquids. The non-galling, self-lubricating features of GRAPHALLOY allow pumps to continue working even when experiencing run-dry, flashing or cavitation.

According to Graphite Metallizing Corporation, light hydrocarbons can be especially difficult for metallic bearings because the hydrodynamic film provided by these low lubricity fluids is unable to provide enough lubrication, which can lead to metal-on-metal contact, galling or seizing of the pump.

Using GRAPHALLOY bearings and wear rings allows tighter clearances, improving reliability, lowering vibration and increasing efficiency in vertical and horizontal pumps.

High Expectations in High Temperatures

Modern Pumping Today
September 2013 

Many industrial applications have experienced success with GRAPHALLOY® in high temperatures. A mill reclaiming metals such as titanium feeds metal powders into a drum heated to 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (816 degrees Celsius). The drive shaft spinning the drum is supported by two Graphalloy Pillow Blocks. In addition, GRAPHALLOY Bushings are in the twelve wheels that support the drum as well as the worm gear. This application demonstrates the ability of the bushings to perform in extreme temperatures.

Also, a Midwestern steel mill was using these bushings for the horizontal rollers in their cooling beds. The bushings were thriving under severe heat and water spray conditions. Because of the success with the horizontal rollers, the mill wanted to consider GRAPHALLOY Flange Bearings for another application: the vertical guide rollers along the sides of the cooling beds used to keep the hot steel from running off the sides. Guide rollers remain static until a piece of hot steel slams up against them, at which time they are expected to turn instantly to guide the steel back onto the cooling bed. This mill had been using conventional greased rolling element bearings in the vertical guides that were lasting only a few months. Based on the success with the vertical rollers, the mill has since retro-fitted additional lines with GRAPHALLOY.

GRAPHALLOY can be the solution to the toughest bearing, bushing, thrust washer, cam follower, or pillow block bearing design problem. It is available in over one hundred grades with specific properties that meet a wide range of engineering solutions and specifications. FDA accepted grades of GRAPHALLOY are available for food contact equipment. NSF® International has certified two grades of material for use in municipal well pumps and water treatment plant applications.

In some applications, GRAPHALLOY bearings have operated for up to twenty years without maintenance. Standard designs are available but most products are custom designed to the unique requirements of the specific application. ISO 9001:2008 certified as well as NSF/ANSI 61 certified, the company serves a broad range of industries with standard and custom quality bearings, bushings, and related products.

To read the full article, please click here.

Pumping New Life into a Failed Pump

Modern Pumping Today
August 2013
Written by Drew Robb, a freelance writer specializing in engineering and technology

A Caribbean refinery had been using a Union Pump Company (now SPX Clyde Union) 4×6 (4-inch [101.6 millimeter] discharge, 6-inch [152.4 millimeter] suction) Multi-Phase Extraction (MPE), seven-stage centrifugal charge pump. Charge pumps are used to maintain the inlet pressure on main hydraulic pumps in order to prevent cavitation.

Normally such a pump in refinery operation would have been expected to last about five years between overhauls. This one had lasted perhaps a year before being taken off line due to reduced performance. When the charge pump arrived in a shipping crate at Chalmers and Kubeck’s (C&K) main service center in Aston, Pennsylvania, it had clearly seen better days.

“It came in partially disassembled and heavily rusted,” says Helen T. Eife, C&K’s manager for engineered pumps. “It looked like it had been sitting outside for a while.”

An inspection determined that the failure was caused by using the wrong type of material for inserts on the wear rings. A complete refurbishment, including installing GRAPHALLOY® inserts, returned to pump to operational status.

Read more...

GRAPHALLOY® at Pump Symposia in Houston

GRAPHALLOY® will be attending the Turbomachinery/Pump Symposia at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston on October 1 - 3, 2013. Stop by Booth #1707 to learn more about custom wear parts for pumps. For more information about the Pump Symposia, visit convention website.

To learn more about GRAPHALLOY, please visit www.graphalloy.com.
 

The Advantages of Nickel GRAPHALLOY®

Nickel GRAPHALLOY^® is a premium grade that provides superior corrosion resistance. It offers excellent long duration run-dry capability and high temperature ratings. Nickel GRAPHALLOY is the best choice for demanding pump applications, especially when yellow metals are not a viable option.

Nickel GRAPHALLOY® Bushings

 Nickel GRAPHALLOY is also:
• self-lubricating
• non-galling
• dimensionally stable

Typical Nickel GRAPHALLOY Grades:

GM 111.3
GM 119.3
GM 616.3

Oil Field Flares Operate Successfully with GRAPHALLOY® High Temperature Bearings

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces GRAPHALLOY® high temperature bearings for use in gas burn-off flares. These bearings are uniquely suited to help control the volatility of flares at oil and natural gas production sites.

This innovative development resulted from a customer requirement to overcome design problems in a control linkage. The high heat of these flares was causing bushing lubrication failures and this, in turn, caused the flare control systems to fail. These repeated failures resulted in unacceptable maintenance and replacement costs.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations require that oil field flares destroy the volatile organic compounds emitted into the atmosphere in an environmentally friendly manner. To meet these requirements, oil field operators must use flares at their production sites that provide a "clean" burn. These flares must operate reliably at remote sites under all conditions.
Given the loss of lubrication within the faulty linkage, it became obvious that flare controls and gas burn-offs were not meeting EPA regulations nor providing clean burns
.
The flare manufacturer tested other bearing materials. None met the challenge until GRAPHALLOY®, the high temperature self-lubricating graphite/metal alloy material was tested, approved and put to work.

Result? Custom produced GRAPHALLOY® Bearings were retrofitted to 1,000s of existing flares and are now standard on the new systems. Today, the bearings operate successfully - no stoppages!

Similar gas burn-off flares are also commonly found at refineries, chemical plants and natural gas processors.

A Proven Upgrade in Vertical Pumps

GRAPHALLOY^® Solves Run Dry Problems

Run dry problems with a high pressure 24 stage vertical pump - pumping ethylene oxide, anhydrous ammonia MEA and DEA -  were causing repairs costing between $55,000 and $110,000.

These failures were happening several times a year, often due to pressure reversals. GRAPHALLOY inserts were installed in the series case bushings. The cost savings provided by the GRAPHALLOY upgrade convinced the customer to convert several other pumps.

GRAPHALLOY has provided proven cost savings in upgrades in vertical and horizontal pumps for years. If you are experiencing these or other pump problems, contact our engineers for assistance.

Hot, Cold, Wet, Dry...GRAPHALLOY® Bearings Work When Others Fail

GRAPHALLOY^® bearings handle harsh environments, corrosive liquids and temperature extremes with ease.









Hot:  works at high temperatures where oil-based lubricants burn off or oxidize and plastics fail. Operating temperatures to 750ºF (400ºC). Special grades provide reliable service op to 1000°F (535°C) in non-oxidizing atmospheres. Will not gum or seize.

Cold: does not congeal or solidify at low temperatures or cryogenic conditions. Maintains self-lubrication.

Wet:  operates submerged. Will not swell or wash out. Withstands a wide variety of hostile fluids.

Dry: works without lubrication. Survives run dry applications. Eliminates galling or seizing in hot and dry conditions. Will not attract dust.

These bearings, bushings and components are self-lubricating, corrosion-resistant and non-galling. They operate for long periods under a wide variety of conditions, reduce maintenance and provide increased reliability.

GRAPHALLOY delivers simple solutions to troublesome design and maintenance problems.

GRAPHALLOY Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks Operate When Submerged

Graphite Metallizing Corporation announces a series of GRAPHALLOY^® self-lubricating bushings mounted in stainless steel pillow blocks. This series combines the corrosion-resistant and self-lubricating properties of GRAPHALLOY with the application and installation versatility of pillow blocks.

GRAPHALLOY® Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks

GRAPHALLOY Stainless Steel Pillow Blocks work exceptionally well when submerged in water, water-soluble chemicals and other corrosive or hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black liquor, and liquid gases. In these environments, plastic bearings may fail because of their tendency to soften or swell when submerged.

These pillow blocks are available in industry standard two-bolt configurations, come in a range of base dimensions, and can accommodate shaft diameters from .5" (12.7 mm) to 3.75" (95.2 mm). Like all GRAPHALLOY products, this series of stainless steel pillow blocks provides increased reliability and years of trouble-free operation.

GRAPHALLOY, a graphite/metal alloy, is formed from molten metal, graphite and carbon. It is a uniform, solid, self-lubricating bushing and bearing material that offers superior performance in hundreds of applications. GRAPHALLOY is well-suited for submerged or high temperature applications where grease, oil and plastics fail.

For more information about GRAPHALLOY products, visit the website at www.graphalloy.com, call us at 914-968-8400 or e-mail us at sales@graphalloy.com.

Horizontal Multistage Pumping System Provides Natural Gas Liquids Solution

Pumps & Systems 
April 2013
Written by: Matt Cray & Jim Rector, Schlumberger

GRAPHALLOY^® Pump Bearings Combat Low NGL Viscosity

Shale natural gas activity throughout North America has created many opportunities and challenges for natural gas liquid (NGL) plant operators who need cost-effective pumping solutions to treat, fractionate and move natural gas liquids from remote processing sites to pipelines bound for end markets.

Horizontal multistage centrifugal pumps can be a cost-effective, operationally efficient and safe alternative to reciprocating, vertical turbine can pumps and axial split case pumps that have historically been used in these high-pressure applications.

Although first developed in the 1940s, the horizontal multistage pump did not truly evolve until the oil boom of the early 1980s. During that period, water injection had become a pervasive need, which was difficult to maintain with traditional reciprocating pumps. The quick delivery and increased reliability of the horizontal multistage pump made it a suitable replacement for the older, more conventionally-used pumps.

Read more... 

For more information on GRAPHALLOY^®, please visit www.graphalloy.com

GRAPHALLOY® Pillow Blocks - The Problem Solvers

Cost-Saving Solutions for Harsh Environments

• GRAPHALLOY^® 845 series flange units have reduced maintenance costs in Chicken Roasters by more than 50% after replacing standard ball bearing units.
• 400°F temperatures caused failure in pillow blocks on a Hot Strip Mill Run Out Table.  GRAPHALLOY 448 pillow blocks were able to withstand the temperature as well as the quench spray.
• Conveyor running above a 1020°F zinc bath presented a problem for traditional bearings. GRAPHALLOY 318 flange units provided years of trouble free operation.
• A vacuum at 1500°F is an environment that most bearings cannot handle. GRAPHALLOY 963 pillow blocks have been running for more than a year without problems.
• Six years of maintenance free operation was the result of the GRAPHALLOY replacements of spherical roller bearing pillow blocks on a salt cake conveyor.
• Fish screens in the Columbia River is a great application for submersible GRAPHALLOY pillow blocks.
• Harsh chemical wash down required replacing 24 of 96 ball bearing pillow blocks on a weekly basis.  GRAPHALLOY 845 pillow blocks have run for more than six years with an annual savings exceeding $20,000.
  
  

GRAPHALLOY^® Pillow Blocks and Flange Units

• Come in FDA accepted grades 
• Impervious to temperature extremes from -400°F to +750°F 
• Withstand wash down and harsh chemical environments 
• Available in split and solid bushings and housings

Bearings that Excel in Pumping Anhydrous Ammonia

Keeping ammonia pumps running was a problem for fertilizer companies until they installed GRAPHALLOY^® self-lubricating bearings.

A major pump manufacturer was repairing a large number of vertical pumps in Anhydrous Ammonia (NH₃) service. Their customer serves the fertilizer industry and needs the pumps back quickly, especially during the short growing season. The pumps, with bronze bushings installed, were failing due to running dry.

Anhydrous Ammonia is an efficient and widely used nitrogen fertilizer. When used as an agricultural fertilizer, it is compressed into a liquid. When injected into the soil, the liquid ammonia expands into a gas and is readily absorbed in the soil moisture. With a boiling point of -28.01° F at a pressure of one atmosphere, Anhydrous Ammonia requires special equipment and technology to transport, store and apply.

The refrigeration or pressurization system can fail and the pumps can flash, run dry and ultimately fail. The pump manufacturer knew from experience that GRAPHALLOY is one of the most recommended bearing materials found in Anhydrous Ammonia service and typically includes the stuffing box bushing, line shaft bearing and bearings in the bowl assembly.

The manufacturer, working with GRAPHALLOY engineers, replaced the bronze bushings with GRAPHALLOY Babbitt Bearings. GRAPHALLOY has kept the pumps from seizing during dry-run, low-flow, start up and shutdown.

According to the pump manufacturer, the usual service life of Anhydrous Ammonia pumps fitted with GRAPHALLOY bearings is 5 - 7 years. In one instance, the pump manufacturer said the GRAPHALLOY bearings showed no wear after running dry for over 24 hours.

GRAPHALLOY provides reliable, problem-free solutions for the most difficult applications. Contact us to find out what GRAPHALLOY can do for you.

GRAPHALLOY® at Middle East Turbomachinery Show

GRAPHALLOY® will exhibit at the Middle East Turbomachinery Symposium in Doha, Qatar on March 17 - 20, 2013. Visit Booth 317. Click here for more information about GRAPHALLOY.

Graphite Metallizing Celebrates 100 Years of Quality and Service

Graphite Metallizing Corporation of Yonkers, NY celebrates its 100th anniversary of solving tough bearing problems.

The company began in 1913 when two engineers developed a method for putting molten metal into carbon to create a new material called GRAPHALLOY®, a graphite/metal alloy. Over the years, Graphite Metallizing developed additional grades of GRAPHALLOY to address new applications. Today, GRAPHALLOY customers are comprised of major industrial companies around the world who demand the highest level of quality and service.

GRAPHALLOY is a proprietary material that has exceptional mechanical, chemical, and tribological properties. As a result, GRAPHALLOY works where traditional bearing materials often fail. In addition to being self-lubricating, GRAPHALLOY withstands high-temperatures, performs well under cryogenic conditions, can survive dry running pumps and maintains its integrity even when submerged in hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black liquor and liquid gases.

GRAPHALLOY can be custom-designed for specific application dimensions and tolerances. GRAPHALLOY standard and custom designed products provide lifetime cost savings and significant operating advantages over conventional bushings and bearings.

Eben Walker, General Manager of Graphite Metallizing said: “It’s amazing that even after 100 years and producing over 150 grades of GRAPHALLOY, our customers and our engineers continue to find new applications for this versatile material.”

Pillow Block Assemblies Designed for Long-Life

Pillow Block and Flange Block Assemblies from Graphite Metallizing are equipped with a GRAPHALLOY ^® bushing and are designed for long-life operation. They are easy to install and will operate successfully under a variety of conditions.

Depending on the application, our Pillow Blocks and Flange Blocks are available as in split, solid, solid, self-aligning, cast iron, stainless steel and in a two-bolt or four-blot arrangement.

GRAPHALLOY Pillow Block and Flange Block Assemblies eliminate maintenance and frequent replacements while providing increased reliability.

Visit our website to learn more about GRAPHALLOY Pillow Blocks and Flange Blocks.

Switch to Rubber-Based Bearings Saves Money and Maintenance Time

Bearings from Graphite Metallizing result in six-figure savings:

Trigen-Kansas City Energy Corporation, a Veolia company, provides centrally produced steam and chilled water to customers in the Kansas City, Missouri, central business district and cogenerates electricity. A Floway VU vertical turbine pump captures up to 24,000 gallons per minute of water from the silt-laden Missouri River to feed chillers and steam generators. In the past, particulate in the water caused the bronze-backed rubber bushings to fail after approximately thirty months, requiring the company to spend $60,000 to replace them along with shafts.

Read more in Modern Pumping Today

For more information about Graphite Metallizing, visit http://www.graphalloy.com

GRAPHALLOY at SEPEM Industries

GRAPHALLOY will exhibit at SEPEM (Salon Services, Equipment, Process and Maintenance) Industries on January 29 - 31, 2013 in Douai, France at Gayant Expo Park. Stop by Stand B3.

 Click here for more information.

GRAPHALLOY Provides Advantages in Pump Bushings and Wear Rings

GRAPHALLOY^®, a graphite/metal alloy, is used extensively for pump bushings and wear rings.  It offers two key advantages for pumping applications:

1. GRAPHALLOY enables pumps that run dry, flash, or handle extremely low viscosity fluids to survive without damage.  Numerous case histories and pump manufacturer test results confirm that GRAPHALLOY performs where plastics are unable to stand up and metal parts seize disastrously.

2. GRAPHALLOY enables rings and bushings to be designed with tighter clearances which can improve efficiency, increase output, reduce vibration, throttle seal cavities, or act as a seal backup.  GRAPHALLOY is non galling and dimensionally stable and enables pumps to operate at tight fits without the risk of metal-on-metal rubs or seizure.

Click here to learn more about the use of GRAPHALLOY in pumping applications.