SKF DryLube Bearings bring benefits to a wide range of high temperature applications

Keeping the bearings properly lubricated in high temperature environments is quite a challenge, where product surface temperatures can reach 900 °C. Operating speeds of equipment such as continuous caster foot rolls used in heavy milling industry can be as low as 5 rpm. The effects of cooling water, scale, and chemicals all contribute to an extremely tough operating environment and present a lubrication challenge. Ultimately, the consequence of bearing failures often leads to equipment downtime, often damaging both equipment components and the end product. This all leads to increased costs in repair, affecting productivity and profitability.

To deal with high temperature applications, bearings are typically lubricated with a centralised lubrication system to counteract lubricant loss and prevent bearing failure. However, these systems drive up energy costs, consume excessive amounts of costly, high temperature greases, and are prone to pipe blockages caused by burnt grease. Even when working optimally, centralised lubrication systems must apply large amounts of lubricant to compensate for heat-induced grease degradation. This can pose significant fire and safety risks, as excess grease can accumulate outside the bearing housings, creating dangerous working conditions, including slippery floors and a higher risk of fire. Water cooling systems are also sometimes used, adding to high investment and operating costs.
Oil-air lubrication is sometimes used as an alternative to grease lubrication, but is also not ideal due to the difficulty to form a good lubricating film, especially at low speeds. It requires a significant capital investment and leads to increased costs for both energy and maintenance.
By moving away from grease lubrication, SKF DryLube Bearings can help avoid the associated operating costs and productivity limitations that can occur when grease lubricated bearings are exposed to high temperatures. Heat causes grease to deteriorate quickly, leaving bearings without adequate lubrication.

By filling the empty space inside a bearing with an engineered graphite mixture, SKF provides an efficient and cost effective alternative to the use of grease in hostile environments. Almost any SKF bearing type can be supplied as an SKF DryLube Bearing, providing very low and constant friction, and an extremely high temperature limit of 350 °C. SKF DryLube Bearings do not require re-lubrication, eliminating the cost and environmental consequences of conventional greasing programmes.

SKF DryLube Bearings are available in a wide variety of types and sizes and can, therefore, be used in a broad range of equipment and applications.
Hugo Carlén, SKF Product Manager said, “The SKF DryLube Bearing solution is already helping manufacturing industries worldwide to become safer and more competitive”. He further added, “In one installation, by switching to SKF DryLube Bearings, bearings that had been failing every month are now lasting more than two years.”

SKF DryLube Bearings are having a significant impact on reliability, safety and costs in high temperature applications. In some cases, it has enabled the removal of centralised lubrication systems and even cut insurance costs due to the reduced fire hazard.