How do oil film bearings replace rolling bearings?

Apr 02, 2024

With the continuous development of industrial technology, mechanical equipment has increasingly higher performance requirements for bearings. In this context, oil film bearings have gradually emerged and become an important bearing type, gradually replacing traditional rolling bearings in many fields.

1. Characteristics and advantages of oil film bearings

Oil film bearings, as the name suggests, are bearings that support loads by forming a stable oil film between the oil film bearing and the journal. This kind of bearing has the following significant features and advantages:

High load-bearing capacity: Oil film bearings can withstand huge loads, especially in heavy-load, high-speed, high-precision mechanical equipment. Due to its unique oil film support principle, the bearing can maintain stable operation even when bearing large loads.

Good friction performance: The friction coefficient of oil film bearings is much lower than that of rolling bearings, which means less friction heat is generated during operation. It reduces the temperature of the equipment and improves its operating efficiency.

Long life: The oil film bearing has superior lubrication conditions, which can effectively reduce wear and extend the bearing's service life. In addition, the structural design of the oil film bearing also makes its maintenance more convenient and reduces maintenance costs.

Strong adaptability: Oil film bearings can adapt to various complex working environments and working conditions, such as high temperature, high pressure, corrosion, and other environments. It makes oil film bearings have broad application prospects in heavy industries such as steel, mining, and electric power.

2. The process of replacing rolling bearings with oil film bearings

With the continuous advancement of industrial technology, oil film bearings have gradually demonstrated their unique advantages and have begun to replace traditional rolling bearings in many fields. This process is mainly reflected in the following aspects:

Promoted by technological innovation: Continuous innovation in material science, lubrication technology, manufacturing processes, etc., has significantly improved the performance of oil film bearings. It makes oil film bearings gradually surpass rolling bearings in terms of load-bearing capacity, friction performance, service life, etc., thus gaining wider applications.

Changes in market demand: With the continuous expansion and deepening of the industrial field, the requirements for the performance of mechanical equipment are becoming higher and higher. Rolling bearings have been unable to meet the demand, especially in heavy-load, high-speed, and high-precision application scenarios. Oil film bearings have gradually become the preferred bearing type in these fields due to their superior performance and adaptability.

Consideration of economic benefits: Although the initial investment of oil film bearings may be slightly higher than that of rolling bearings due to their long life, low friction, easy maintenance, and other characteristics, they can bring significant economic benefits during long-term use. Many companies have begun to realize that the use of oil film bearings can not only improve the operating efficiency and stability of equipment but also reduce maintenance costs and downtime, thus improving overall economic benefits.

3. Applications of oil film bearings in different fields

As oil film bearing technology continues to mature and its application scope expands, it has replaced rolling bearings in many fields and has become a key component in mechanical equipment. The following are some typical application areas:

Steel industry: In the steel production process, key equipment such as rolling mills and continuous casting machines need to withstand huge loads and impacts. Traditional rolling bearings often need help meeting these requirements. Oil film bearings have become an ideal choice for this equipment due to their high load-bearing capacity and good friction performance.

Mining machinery: Mining machinery often needs to operate in bad working environments, such as high temperature, high humidity, and dust. Oil film bearings can adapt to these environments and maintain stable operation under heavy load conditions, so they are widely used in mining machinery.

Electric power industry: In generators' rotor support and transmission systems, oil film bearings can withstand huge radial and axial loads while maintaining low friction and wear, thereby ensuring stable operation and efficient power generation.

Aerospace field: Among key components such as aircraft engines and landing gear, oil film bearings provide a strong guarantee for the safe flight of aerospace vehicles with their high load-bearing capacity and excellent friction performance.

To sum up, oil film bearings have gradually replaced traditional rolling bearings with their advantages, such as high load-bearing capacity, good friction performance, long life, and wide adaptability. With the fast and continuous advancement of industrial technology and the rapid expansion of application fields, the application prospects of oil film bearings will be broader. In the future, we expect oil film bearings to play their unique role in more fields and promote the sustainable development of the industrial field.

However, it is worth noting that although oil film bearings have many advantages, there are still some issues that need to be paid attention to in practical applications. For example, the lubrication system of oil film bearings needs to be carefully designed and maintained to ensure the stability of the oil film and the normal operation of the bearing. In addition, for different working conditions and application scenarios, it is necessary to select suitable oil film-bearing types and parameters to give full play to its performance advantages.

In short, oil film bearings replacing rolling bearings are an inevitable trend of technological progress and market demand. With the continuous improvement of relevant technologies and the accumulation of application experience, oil film bearings will play a more important role in the future industrial field.