Graphite/Metal Bearings Solve Flashing Problem in a Pump

A natural gas plant in the Middle East had been using a multi-stage, heavy duty vertical turbine pump, type 60-WUJ-2M, in organic lean amine production.  Lean amine is an organic compound that can absorb hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from sour natural gas. The pump was continuously failing due to flashing and dry run episodes, which severely scored the shaft.  

Read how Graphite/metal bearings saved the day in this article from Fluid Handling Magazine

Bearings for Dampers

Dampers control air flow between different locations.  In industrial settings, they are essential to many operations and often come into contact with high temperatures.  Dampers are also often located in difficult to access areas.  These factors mean a maintenance-free, self-lubricating, high temperature bearing material is preferable to a traditional rolling element bearing.  

Self-lubricating graphite/metal alloy bearings offer this solution.  

Since there is no need to lubricate and re-lubricate, or replace due to bearing seizure as a result of high temperatures, these are bearings with true "install and forget" features.

Read more about a graphite-metal bearing material that works in Damper Applications here.

Wastewater Bearings

Wastewater treatment plants are essential to municipal operations, yet bearings for such equipment as flocculators and clarifiers are hard to reach.  They need bearings that can operate for years without maintenance.

Graphite/metal alloy bearings offer self-lubricating, maintenance-free service and have had success in these applications.  Read more and download an informational flyer here: https://www.graphalloy.com/html/wastewater_bearings_bushings.html

Glass Comeback Possible, According to WSJ

The Wall Street Journal recently said that there was a possibility for a glass comeback due to glass product's sustainability versus single-use plastic.  If the glass industry can improve recycling rates, glass offers a greener solution.  Read more here.

With more production demand, less downtime is the goal.  The nature of glass manufacturing requires bearings that can handle high temperatures.  Self-lubricating graphite/metal bearings offer a maintenance-free solution to glass plants experiencing lubrication problems in their bearings.

Submerged Bearing Solutions

Underwater or submerged machinery present a bearing problem:  How does one maintain lubrication that will inevitably be washed away?

The answer is in self-lubricating bearings that maintain their shape while submerged.  Metallized graphite bearings achieve this due to their unique properties.  They are highly self-lubricating due to the graphite structure- no other lubricants are required.  They do not swell.  They are uniform and non-galling, which allows for tighter running clearances. They maintain their integrity even when submerged in hostile liquids such as acids, alkalies, hydrocarbons, black liquor, and liquid gases.

Graphalloy has over 100 grades of graphite/metal bearings engineered to best meet the application's requirements and provide maintenance-free submerged service.  Learn more here.

Successful Bearings for LNG Pumps

GRAPHALLOY® bearings and bushings are used in many low viscosity pump applications to help eliminate operational problems.

Pumping fluids with low lubricity such as LNG and Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) can be difficult for metallic bearings. The hydrodynamic film provided by these low lubricity liquids is unable to provide sufficient lubrication, which can lead to metal-on-metal contact, galling or seizing.  

Graphalloy has unique properties to address these issues.  It is non-galling and does not seize, which allows tighter running clearances.  It is self-lubricating and can protect the pump during periods of flashing or extended run-dry operation.    

Read more from a Modern Pumping Today Article

Visit the Graphalloy site to learn more

What is Silver Graphalloy?

Silver Graphalloy is an alloy of silver impregnated graphite. This material is recommended for many of the most difficult self-lubricating bushing and current carrying applications. It has been widely used due to its low and constant contact drop, extremely low electrical noise, and long life.  Although it is primarily an electrical contact and brush material, it can be used as a bushing material in chemical solutions which attack other lubricants or metallic bushings.

Read more about Silver Graphalloy and its applications here:  https://graphalloy.com/html/silver_graphite.html