Find Your Bearings

An examination of design features of common generator bearings as well as practices for proper maintenance and minimal vibration.

Generator bearing selection plays a key role in determining the overall performance, lifetime, cost and maintenance methods for a generator set.  In “Find Your Bearings” we will examine differences in cost, size, application, maintenance practices and certifications between deep groove ball, spherical roller, split roller, and sleeve bearings.  In addition, we will explore the appropriate maintenance routines and practices needed to maximize your generator life.  Finally, we will discuss how vibration measurements and limits affect the design of the generator for custom applications.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand major design features, advantages and disadvantages of common generator bearing types.
• Learn how to properly maintain bearings to maximize generator life.
• Explore methods to test and evaluate generator vibration limits.