Bearing And Lubrication Cartridge Is Available For Process Industry Cooling Fans

Colfax has developed a MistLock bearing and lubrication cartridge for air-cooled heat exchangers (ACHEs) used in refineries, power plants and petrochemical plants. ACHEs use fast-rotating fans to remove heat from process fluids and transfer it to the surrounding air.

Grease can degrade at high temperatures, trap contaminants and not distribute properly on the surfaces that need it. The result can be failure of the shaft bearing system, requiring production downtime and costs for maintenance.MistLock overcomes the disadvantages of grease by supplying a clean, cool and continuous oil mist that evenly coats surfaces. Positive pressure in the cartridge prevents entry of external contaminants that could otherwise cause abrasive failure.
 
Additionally, the MistLock bearing cartridge is designed to accommodate up to 20 degrees of axial and parallel misalignment of the shaft, which eliminates the need for shims. The bearing assembly is designed to allow axial thermal expansion of the shaft without restricting rotation.
MistLock has shown a significant increase in the median time between repairs compared to grease. The average life of a grease bearing is about 2.5 years compared with Colfax tests showing MistLock bearing life to be nearly 10 years.