From aviation to the food industry: hydrodynamic slide bearing application examples for numerous industries

Hydrodynamic slide bearings are indispensable in many industries and can offer numerous advantages over other bearing types.

 

Whether in compressors for industrial applications, gearboxes for off-highway vehicles or turbines for aviation - they impress with their ability to

  • bear high loads,
  • dampen vibrations and
  • work under extreme conditions.

 

In this article, we use application examples to illustrate why hydrodynamic slide bearings can often be the better choice compared to other bearing systems.

All the facts about hydrodynamic slide bearings

Functionality A lubricating film is created by the rotation of the shaft. This prevents contact between the surfaces.
Friction and wear Friction and wear are minimized by the lubricating film.
Load capacity High load capacity due to the large-surface lubricating film, ideal for heavy and alternating loads.
Vibration damping Good damping properties due to the continuous lubricating film. Ideal for applications where vibrations need to be effectively damped.
Application examples Hydrodynamic slide bearings are particularly suitable for applications where high loads or speeds occur. Some examples of such applications are compressors, gearboxes, pumps, motors, electric motors, generators, expanders, turbines, presses, rollers and turbochargers.
Maintenance Requires continuous lubrication, but the lubricating film ensures less wear and therefore low-maintenance bearings.
Installation space The compact multi-layer design of a Miba hydrodynamic slide bearing provides the bearing function in a minimal installation space of just a few millimeters.

Hydrodynamic slide bearing application examples in various industries

Power generation – Wind

The main gearbox in modern wind turbines plays a crucial role in the transmission of energy from the rotor to the generator unit. In the main gearbox application example, hydrodynamic slide bearings offer a higher power density due to the bearing design and a longer service life due to hydrodynamic operation. This also reduces overall costs.

The bearings are

  • more resilient,
  • easier to install and
  • contribute to a reduction in weight due to their compact design.

Power generation - Water 

In the bearing application example of hydropower plants, hydrodynamic slide bearings are often used in the large turbines. These turbines - such as Kaplan, Pelton and Francis turbines - have one thing in common: they often rely on hydrodynamic slide bearings to efficiently cope with the enormous loads and long operating times. As hydropower plants often run continuously for years, the longevity and low maintenance of the hydrodynamic slide bearings is particularly important.

The dimensions of such bearings are also impressive: Miba bearings with a diameter of up to 3.5 meters are installed in large hydropower plants.

 

Aviation

In the aviation application example, hydrodynamic slide bearings offer considerable advantages. They allow the turbine to be designed in such a way that, compared to its competitors

  • noise emissions by up to 75 % and
  • NOx emissions by up to 50 %

compared to its competitors.

 

Due to the reduced overall weight, they consume less fuel. This reduces costs and CO2 emissions by up to 15 %.

In addition, hydrodynamic slide bearings enable a

  • longer service life,
  • higher load capacity and
  • shock resistance.

Off-Highway Vehicles

Hydrodynamic slide bearings are ideal for the conditions in transmissions and engines of off-road vehicles. They offer excellent resistance to friction, wear and corrosion, resulting in a longer service life and less maintenance.

Thanks to their compact design and reduced weight, they enable considerable fuel savings and a higher payload.

Hydrodynamic slide bearings also ensure maximum efficiency, are insensitive to dirt and minimize unplanned downtime. This optimizes the functionality and productivity of agricultural, construction and mining machinery.

 

Industrial bearing applications

There are many examples of applications in industry where the flexible solutions of hydrodynamic slide bearings are required. In close co-operation with our customers, they guarantee the optimum bearing application for every challenge.

They offer high wear resistance and shock resistance as well as a long service life in hydrodynamic operation. This minimizes downtimes and increases productivity. In addition

  • they enable a reduction in installation space,
  • reduce maintenance costs and
  • maximize overall efficiency, even in demanding environments.

Metal processing

In the metalworking applications, hydrodynamic slide bearings are the preferred choice for machines that operate under high loads, dirt and abrasive conditions such as

  • high-speed presses,
  • radial forging machines or
  • steel rolling mills

Thanks to their hydrodynamic operation, they offer a long service life and minimize unplanned downtime.

The low maintenance requirements and high wear resistance make them ideal for demanding environments. Due to their high load capacity and resistance to dirt, hydrodynamic slide bearings contribute to higher production speeds and capacities.

Food industry

Homogenization is a standard industrial process in food production as well as in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.

Miba produces bearings for various manufacturers in this area of application. The bearing shells are installed on the connecting rods in the crankshaft housing for homogenizations.

The low maintenance requirements and high reliability of the bearings make them ideal for the requirements of this 24/7 application example.

Hydrodynamic slide bearing application examples show why they are the better choice

Hydrodynamic slide bearings offer numerous advantages in a wide range of industries, from power generation and aviation to metal processing and the food industry.

They are characterized by

  • high load capacity
  • lower maintenance requirements,
  • longer service life and
  • increased performance.

Especially for 24/7 applications and high loads or speeds, hydrodynamic slide bearings are often the better choice over other bearing systems. The versatility and reliability of hydrodynamic slide bearings make them a preferred solution to minimize downtime and optimize overall machine performance.

 

You can also find more information about our plain bearings on our axial- and radial plain bearings product pages.
 

Would you like to find out more about the advantages and hydrodynamic slide bearings application examples? Get in touch with us. We will be happy to advise you on our flexible solutions.

Contact us now!