Commercial Spool Pump Bearing Performance Testing

Canned motor pumps have been used for decades in nuclear power systems to eliminate seal leakage by using water coolant lubricated hydrodynamic bearings. Other process fluids like pressurized hazardous propylene also need such pumps. Hydrodynamic propylene bearings run with high-loss turbulent flow, which requires high cooling flow that is not available. Therefore, an alternative, almost frictionless, bearing system has been tested successfully for propylene and similar process fluid canned motor Spool Pumps™. This innovative double-row hybrid-ceramic ball bearing uses patented AEROFLOAT® design cages to reduce ball/raceway lubricant film shear stresses and patented solid-lubricant supply components called RINGLUBE®, thus eliminating the need for any external lubrication. After accelerated life testing for the equivalent of almost two months of continuous pump service, there was so little wear on the ball tracks and the RINGLUBE® that the projected continuous pump service life is likely 10 to 20 years.