What to do if the bearing overheats
Excessive bearing temperature is a critical malfunction in rotating equipment. It not only shortens bearing lifespan and increases maintenance costs, but may also cause unplanned shutdowns or forced load reduction when temperatures rise rapidly or exceed limits, significantly impacting economic efficiency. Therefore, rapid fault diagnosis and effective countermeasures are essential for ensuring continuous equipment operation.
Common causes of bearing overheating:
Lubrication abnormalities: Including insufficient/over lubrication, substandard lubricant quality, deterioration or contamination;
Inadequate cooling: Such as pipeline blockage, improper cooler selection or low efficiency;
Bearing failures: Including bearing damage, assembly defects or improper clearance adjustment;
Excessive vibration: May be caused by coupling misalignment, rotor imbalance, insufficient foundation rigidity, loose anchor points, or rotational stall/surge.
Bearing Maintenance Guidelines
Troubleshooting procedure:
- Lubricant volume inspection
- Periodic replenishment per standards is required. Note that over-lubrication can also cause temperature rise, manifested as continuous temperature increase to a threshold (typically 10-15°C above normal) before stabilization and gradual decline.
- Lubricant quality control
- Improper lubricant selection hinders effective oil film formation, increasing friction. Mixing different lubricants may cause chemical reactions leading to deterioration. Contamination (e.g., dust during replenishment) also compromises lubrication. Countermeasures include:
Selecting appropriate lubricant grade
- Thorough bearing housing cleaning during maintenance
- Clearing oil passages and prohibiting lubricant mixing
- Proper storage (moisture/dust proof)
- Implementing scheduled lubrication
Cooling system inspection
- Check pipeline patency and inlet/outlet water temperature difference. For equipment with insufficient cooling capacity, consider adding or replacing coolers. For axial flow fans, additionally inspect core tube insulation integrity.
- Alignment and bearing inspection
- After eliminating above issues, examine:
Coupling alignment accuracy (accounting for thermal expansion compensation)
Bearing condition checks:
a) Physical inspection:
• Analyze lubricant condition (fault root cause)
• Examine wear patterns
• Check raceways, rolling elements, cage integrity
• Measure clearance compliance
• Inspect shaft sleeve wear
b) Fit precision control:
Excessive clearance causes creep wear, while tight fits reduce internal clearance. Scientific tolerance selection based on load characteristics, speed, temperature etc. is required.
c) Clearance adjustment:
Insufficient clearance increases friction heat, while excessive clearance affects operational stability. Optimal clearance should be selected according to equipment specifications.
We understand that bearing overheating leads to reduced lifespan, unexpected downtime, and costly failures. Ramshin Bearings feature advanced cooling technology, precision lubrication, and military-grade materials to reduce operating temperatures by over 30%, significantly extending service life. Whether for traditional industrial equipment or high-precision machinery, Ramshin Bearings deliver reliable low-temperature performance-keeping your production running smoother and longer!
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