A loud, squealing sound coming from an air compressor may be a sign of a bearing that is failing. The noise could cause the compressor’s operation to cease.
Bearings are designed to carry the weight of machine components, and to reduce friction between the rotating component and a static housing component. There are a variety of types of bearings, such as air foil type fluid bearings as well as magnetic bearings.
Role of Bearings in Compressed Air Systems
Bearings are a crucial component of air compressor systems that serve as the intermediaries between the machine’s rotating or thrusting component and its static housing component. They prevent mechanical wear and mitigate friction between these parts through absorbing and dispersing the forces.
There are two types of bearings: Aerostatic and gas. Aerostatic bearings establish the lubricating material within the gap via internal pressure (either via an orifice or via pores). Gas bearings, on contrary, need pressured air from outside to get into the gap between the bearing orifices and the pores inside the bearing.
In spite of their complexity in design, these types of bearings are fairly insensitive to dirt and can be operated in dirty environments in which conventional ball bearings could not work. However, the lubrication mechanism must be properly maintained to ensure that these components are in good operating condition. A lack of lubrication may cause flaking, which is usually described as a scab that is not attractive that eventually peels off the bearing’s surface.
Types of Bearings for Air Compressors
Bearings are a type of machine component that restricts the movement of a machine and also reduces the friction between moving components. They come in a variety of shapes to meet a myriad of requirements, including the requirements of air compressors. The best choice depends on the application and type of air compressor you have.
A rolling bearing can replace sliding friction by rolling friction, which reduces the loss of energy and maintaining costs. It is composed of two rings with an enclosure that houses two metal balls that move through indentation in the rings’ outer and inner.
A different type of air compressor bearing is called a tilting pad journal or thrust bearing. This uses tilting pads that provide support to the shaft both radially and axially. This type of design permits the pads to float, minimizing contact between them and the shaft. A tiny space is left between the shaft and the pad is lined with pressurized oil this prevents both the shaft and pad from touching each other during rotation.
Functions of Bearings in Air Compressors
The bearings used by air compressors decrease friction between the moving parts. They help to balance part moves, maintain the operating temperature under control, and also ensure that parts are less prone to break down phu tung may nen khi truc vit due to vibration or other conditions.
In twin screw compressorstwo meshing rotors turn in opposite directions within the compressor housing for compressing gas from suction to discharge. In the process of compression when the two rotors meet, they come in contact, generating a significant heat. Bearings mitigate this excessive heat by creating cooling effects that absorb and disperses heat.
Often, the presence of excessive heat is not immediately obvious in the compressor. This is why it is important to conduct regular inspections on the equipment. Inspections need to include careful inspection of bearings in order to verify that they’re properly crushed as well as that they’re not excessively loaded. Incorrect crush and overloading could result in bearing failure. It is also recommended that bearings be examined for corrosion and damage.
Maintaining Bearings in Air Compressors
The impact of bearing-related issues can be devastating into compressor reliability. For example, the vibration and noise that are the result of misalignment or faulty lubrication could result in localized overheating and damage to important components. This can lead to cracks or alterations in dimensionality that could affect the integrity of the air-end leading to catastrophic breakdowns or shutdowns.
The rotors of screw compressors are kept in the air portion, or casing, which forms the chamber of compression. The rotors, as well as their bearings and seals are likely to degrade over time. If they fail, the machine will draw more power electrically than normal to overcome increased internal resistance.
Magnetic bearing systems are able to monitor shaft position, allowing an early detection of vibration and inadjustment. This helps reduce maintenance costs as well as non-productive maintenance. Air compressor owners may also look into using bushings from Wisconsin instead of bearings, for increased efficiency, durability, and cost savings. Bushings are less prone to corrosion and permit operators to bypass inspection periods and set intervals for change, and even air-end replacement substantially saving both time and money over the long haul.
