Whether we realize this or not, oil refineries are critical in our everyday lives. They convert crude products into diesel, gasoline, LPG, and plastics. The equipment in this plant must withstand very high temperatures, sometimes over 500°C (in the distillation unit)....
In a Middle Eastern refinery, a newly commissioned fire water pump, crucial for emergency services, experienced repeated high temperatures at the non-drive end (NDE) bearing during periodic test runs. Over time, these temperature spikes eventually led to a premature...
It's very much a lubrication issue. To prevent two metal surfaces from welding due to excess friction, keep them apart when expected to interact. A suitable film of lubricating oil accomplishes that. Some 50 years ago, MIT Mechanical Engineering Professor Emeritus...
Grease has been used since ancient times, and new technologies and equipment design require us to improve our understanding and perception of it. These advancements enable those working with grease to recognize better its impact, effective properties, and the proper...
Grease guns seem simple enough. But how well do you know yours? Do you know how to correctly cartridge and bulk load your gun? Do you know how to expel trapped air from it? Do you know its shot size in cc or cu in (e.g., in cubic centimeters or cubic inches)? Do you...
All bearings are destined to fail eventually. While ineffective lubrication practices are arguably the greatest contributing factor in such failures, the root cause(s) are rarely investigated due to production and maintenance turnaround demands. It's through...
Varnish is characterized as a deposit originating from the degradation of lubricating oils. These degradation byproducts are predominantly polar compounds, exhibiting inherent instability within the non-polar phase of the lubricating oil. Due to this chemical...
At an industrial level, bearings are, without a doubt, the most widely used assets in all sectors and allow a lot of critical and non-critical equipment to remain in service. Depending on the source consulted, the first wooden bearings that were discovered date back...
This presentation was presented at the Lubrication Reliability Virtual Summit on September 20, 2023 by Blair Fraser, with UE Systems. Discover how UE Systems cutting-edge technologies are revolutionizing maintenance practices, enhancing equipment performance and...
There are few definitive studies on rolling-element bearing reliability /life based on industry uses and working conditions. However, many claims indicate that most such bearings never achieve their engineered-life rating (some going as low as 10%). Most in the...
