Extending the lifespan of air purification components
Submarine life is no easy feat. Historically, these vessels would stay underwater for just a few days, before resurfacing to exchange stale air for fresh oxygen. Today’s submarines however, use oxygen systems to enable ocean travel for up to 90 days at a time. Chris Johnson, managing director of specialist bearing supplier SMB Bearings, explains how to extend the lifespan of components in these vital air purification systems.
Air purification systems are vital to maintaining human life in a submarine. They release oxygen based on a computerised system that senses the percentage of oxygen in the air, or in more traditional systems, the oxygen is released in periodical batches. Bearings are used to enable the flow and distribution of oxygen from fans in these systems.
Bearings in these environments can be exposed to chemicals and solvents. SMB Bearings recently completed a project to replace the bearings in a submarine’s air purification system. The previous bearings were lubricated with standard grease which was being stripped out of the bearing due to contact with solvent in the system.
For the submarine air purification system, the solution was to re-lubricate the existing steel bearings with a highly chemically resistant grease. Not only is this important for bearings in air purification systems, but also for any equipment in which harsh chemicals are present such as cleaning equipment, chemical processing equipment and chlorine systems.
For a submarine’s air purification system, problems with oxygen distribution could disrupt the balance of gases in the submarine to a life-threatening level. Most submarines have advanced technology to identify even the smallest discrepancy in oxygen supply. This enables engineers to recognise any problems quickly. For example, if the issue was related to bearing failure, the engineer could swiftly replace the bearing but specifying a bearing that can withstand solvents and chemicals will result in lower maintenance costs.
Air purification for submarines ensure that the vessels can withstand underwater operation for up to 90 days at a time. While a bearing may seem like a tiny component in these large, complex systems, their functioning is vital to the equipment’s operation, and the lives of those on board.
For more information on chemical resistant bearings and greases, speak to the experts at SMB Bearings. Contact the team directly on +44 (0) 1993 842 555 or visit the SMB Bearings website.
