What are hydrodynamic bearings?

As mentioned above, hydrodynamic bearings use a lubricating film that is created by the relative movement between the bearing and shaft. This film completely separates the surfaces of the components, preventing contact. This reduces friction and wear to a minimum, which increases the service life and efficiency of the systems.

The function of hydrodynamic bearings depends on the operating conditions, in particular the viscosity of the lubricant, the speed and the load.
 

What are the advantages of hydrodynamic bearings?

Ideal for applications with high loads

The advantage of hydrodynamic bearings is that they have a larger contact surface than other bearing types. This distributes the load more evenly. This reduces the mechanical load.

The lubricating film created by the hydrodynamic effect reliably separates the bearing surfaces and the shaft, even under high loads. This minimizes the occurrence of wear. The result is a significantly longer service life and efficient operation even under extreme conditions.

In addition, hydrodynamic bearings offer the advantage of minimizing friction and heat generation, which in turn increases operating efficiency.

Sustainability from production to applications

Sustainable production processes: Modern production techniques, such as PVD or direct coating, allow the tribologically effective sliding layer to be applied directly to the bearing in a targeted manner.

• the bearing,
• the corresponding mating partner (e.g. shaft) or
• the component itself (e.g. inner diameter of a gear wheel).

As a result, the material is used efficiently, raw materials are saved and waste is minimized.

Energy consumption can also be reduced through efficient production methods. One example is the reuse of solvents when cleaning bearings. This reduces CO₂ emissions and conserves resources.

Sustainable application: Bearing technologies and hydrodynamic bearings have the advantage of enabling sustainable and resource-saving solutions in numerous applications:

• They make powerful wind turbines over 20 MW feasible thanks to compact gearboxes, thereby increasing the efficiency of renewable energy generation.
• In hydropower plants, they ensure the reliable operation of Pelton, Francis and Kaplan turbines.
• Bearings also contribute to more environmentally friendly flying in aerospace. They make turbofans possible, which consume less fuel and reduce emissions.
• Finally, they also play a key role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in large engines by enabling the use of alternative fuels such as methanol, hydrogen and ammonia through their technological advancement.

Sustainable function: In an optimal environment, hydrodynamic bearings have the advantage that they operate almost frictionless and are very durable.

However, should an unexpected problem occur in the system, bearings are designed to be the first to fail before major damage occurs. This targeted protective mechanism makes it possible to react to problems at an early stage and avoid major repair costs for the entire system.

Depending on the damage, a bearing may only need to be repaired compared to other bearing systems. This often requires fewer resources and less effort than a complete replacement of the bearing.
 

Sustainable development:
The development and use of lead-free materials is a significant step forward. The performance of the bearings remains constant, while at the same time the environmental impact of pollutants is further reduced. Through continuous research and development, Miba is making a significant contribution to eliminating environmentally harmful substances such as lead.

Sustainable system improvement:
Hydrodynamic bearings offer advantages in numerous industries and make a valuable contribution to improving the performance and conserving resources of existing and next-generation systems. 
Thanks to their high load capacity and compact design, they enable more efficient use of existing installation space. What is particularly sustainable is that a performance-enhanced system generation can often be realized with minimal effort and only minor adjustments to the existing oil system.

One of the advantages of hydrodynamic bearings is their space-saving design. In this way, not only can weight savings be achieved in the next generation of systems compared to other bearing systems, but also in the overall system. This in turn reduces the material costs and therefore the overall costs of the systems.

Less installation space

As already mentioned, hydrodynamic bearings are more compact and require less installation space than other bearing systems. Due to their wall thickness of usually only a few millimetres, they are suitable for applications with limited installation space and strict weight specifications, such as in aviation and compact drive systems.

The compact design not only has an impact on sustainability. Here, hydrodynamic bearings offer the advantage of

• weight savings compared to other bearing systems and also in the overall system.
• This in turn reduces the material costs and
• overall costs of the systems.
   

Optimum vibration behavior

The lubricating film in hydrodynamic bearings has the advantage that it has a damping effect and reduces vibrations caused by uneven loads or dynamic operating conditions. This improves running smoothness and reduces mechanical loads on adjacent components. Bearings are therefore ideal for applications with dynamic loads compared to other bearing systems.

The damping effect can lead to a longer service life of the components and thus reduce the need for spare parts. This is particularly resource-saving and sustainable and has a positive effect on costs.

Low maintenance

In hydrodynamic operation, there is no direct contact between the bearing surface and the shaft. By using a suitable lubricant and adhering to the application limits adapted to the system and the hydrodynamic bearing, the bearings operate wear-free.

To ensure their optimum performance over the long term, it is only necessary to regularly check the lubricant for contamination and quality. Apart from this, hydrodynamic bearings are extremely low-maintenance.

The advantages of hydrodynamic bearings at a glance

Hydrodynamic bearings offer an ideal combination of performance, durability and sustainability. Your most important advantages at a glance:

High load capacity & long service life

• Large contact surface ensures even load distribution
• Lubricating film minimizes wear and increases operational reliability

Sustainable production & application

• Resource-saving coating technologies reduce material consumption
• Energy-efficient production reduces CO₂ emissions
• Use in renewable energies (wind power, hydropower) and sustainable drive systems (aviation, alternative fuels)

Space and weight saving

• Compact design optimizes the use of space
• Weight saving reduces material and overall costs

Optimum vibration behavior

• Lubricating film has a damping effect and increases running smoothness
• Reduces mechanical loads and extends the service life of components

Virtually maintenance-free & cost-efficient

• No direct contact between bearing surface and shaft during operation
• Low maintenance requirements, only lubricant checks necessary