With it’s latest generation of electrically insulated bearings, SKF has raised the performance standard to provide constant electrical performance, even in high humidity.
By combining bearing and insulation in a single product, INSOCOAT protects against electrical erosion at significantly lower total cost of ownership.
SKF’s INSOCOAT bearings have an electrically insulating coating on the external surfaces of its inner or outer ring, and are plasma-sprayed with an aluminum-oxide coating. The coating, which is naturally hygroscopic, is sealed with a resin to protect against the conductive effects of high humidity and moisture ingress.
These bearings are specially designed and manufactured for use in rotating electrical machines, such as generators. They prevent the passage of harmful electrical currents from the rotor to the machine frame via the bearings, which causes progressive electrical erosion of the bearings’ rolling contact surfaces and premature failure.
Following the introduction of an improved plasma spray coating process and optimized ceramic layer, SKF can provide this superior insulating coating as standard and off-the-shelf across its entire INSOCOAT range. These bearings are now able to withstand voltages of 3000V DC sufficient to cope with the vast majority of stray bearing current problems in electrical machines.
In addition, the upgraded moisture-resistant coating provides greater protection against humidity storage environments which can compromise a bearing’s insulating properties before it is even placed in service, making INSOCOAT bearings highly robust during transport and handling.
Combining bearing and insulation in a single solution, INSOCOAT protects against electrical erosion at significantly lower total cost of ownership compared with other techniques such as shaft or housing insulation.
Filed Under: Bearings, Generators, News, Turbines
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