Success Story
Industry: Power Generation
Application: Industrial Fan Units
Cost Savings: € 134 040
Introduction
An energy producer in the UK was experiencing frequent breakdowns due to bearing failure within two industrial fan units. The critical assets were operating 24/7. On average the bearings on each fan unit failed every 3 months. NSK performed an application review. The route cause of failure was attributed to incorrect bearing fixing arrangement. NSK recommended using high capacity Spherical Roller Bearings used within SNN Plummer Blocks. A trial was conducted resulting in zero bearing failures over a 12 months period, with significant improvements in performance and reduced maintenance and associated downtime costs, with 4 times greater life.
- Industrial Fan Unit
- Spherical Roller Bearing with Brass Cage
Key Facts
- Total Air Fan: direct drive overhung fan supported by two Spherical Roller Bearings in Plummer Blocks
- Frequent bearing failure taking 3 engineers 10 hours each time to repair, incurring high costs per breakdown
- Incorrect bearing arrangement (fixing wrong bearing)
- NSK Solution: High capacity Spherical Roller Bearings within SNN Plummer blocks and split nitrile seals along with recommendations on correct bearing location
- Four times longer bearing life with significant downtime reduction, improved efficiency and equipment reliability
Value Proposals
- NSK engineering conducted an Application Review including a failed bearing examination from the drive and non-drive end bearings of one Fan Unit
- NSK recommended High Capacity Spherical Roller Bearings within SNN Plummer Blocks and split nitrile seals along with recommendations on correct bearing location. Furthermore High Capacity Spherical Roller Bearings were chosen as the internal design is more reliable for direct coupled overhung industrial fan units, due to inner ring ribs providing better roller guidance
- Trial conducted, with NSK Engineering overseeing the installation and implementation of NSK recommendations with zero breakdowns in a 12 month period
- The customer benefited from increased productivity, substantial loss of production savings and reduced maintenance down time
Product Features
- Heat stabilised up to 200°C,
- One-piece machined brass cage
- Special ring tolerances to withstand vibration, shock loads & misalignment
Cost Saving Breakdown
| Before | Cost p.a. | NSK Solution | Cost p.a. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bearing Costs: Bearing Cost: 2 bearings replaced 4 times per year x 2 fans | € 6,000 | Bearing Costs: Bearing Cost: Initial installation x 2 fans | € 1,200 | |
| Costs of lost production: Downtime Costs: €1584/hr x 10 hr replacement time x 4 times per year x 2 Fans | € 126,720 | Costs of lost production: No downtime costs | € 0 | |
| Engineering Costs: Fitting Costs: €42/hr x 10 hr replacement time x 4 times per year x 2 Fans | € 3,360 | Engineering Costs: Fitting costs: Initial fitting, €42/hr x 10 hr x 2 fans | € 840 | |
| Total Costs | € 136 080 | € 2 040 | ||
Reference:SS-E-2092
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