Flowserve Improves Reliability of Variable Frequency Driven Motors with Latest in Bearing Gard Technology

31.08.2016

Flowserve combines proven Bearing Gard reliability with latest in AEGIS grounding ring technology to extend motor bearing life, while reducing bearing contamination and related wear and maintenance costs.

In recent years, VFDs have grown in popularity because of their ability to deliver greater system efficiency, extend motor life and optimize operating costs. However, VFDs operate by delivering power to the motor in a series of positive and negative pulses, which often results in unbalanced voltage that can accumulate in the motor shaft until it can find a path to ground.

Without proper grounding between the shaft and the motor housing, the bearings often become the path to ground. The resulting electrical discharge can drastically damage or even destroy the bearings in just a few months of service. Flowserve developed new Bearing Gard technology to directly address this challenge. With integrated electrical grounding protection in place, substantial elimination of shaft voltage is achieved, which helps to significantly extend bearing life.

The new Bearing Gard - with electrical grounding technology - dramatically increases electric motor reliability by guarding against the two main causes for premature motor failure: 1) bearing contamination and 2) damage due to electrical discharge.

The Bearing Gard is capable of resisting contamination at the entry point with its patented triple combination of static shut-off, O-ring-protected rotor/stator interface, and oversized contamination channels.

The newly added and industry-leading AEGIS grounding ring technology is designed to provide protection against bearing damage due to electrical discharge and/or fluting. The AEGIS grounding ring technology provides consistent and reliable current-diversion methods, discharging harmful shaft voltage to the ground instead of through the bearing.

The new, highly engineered Bearing Gard is now available in one complete, easy-to-install package. Key features include:

  • Innovative static-sealing technology, preventing contamination under shut-off conditions

  • 360-degree grounding contact for improved protection

  • Protection against bearing lubrication breakdown due to electrical discharge machining and contamination

  • Static shut-off design to increase reliability by preventing O-ring binding while providing the largest standard axial movement available in the industry

Building on the continued success of the Flowserve Bearing Gard product line originally launched in 2014, the Flowserve Bearing Gard with electrical grounding is the latest addition to a family of bearing isolators and related services and upgrades for rotating equipment including pumps, motors, steam turbines, gearboxes, pillow blocks, and many more.

Same-day shipping is available with many standard sizes to help customers minimize potential downtime and return equipment to production as quickly as possible.

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