Polymer bearings beat offshore corrosion
A
Victrex product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jun 5, 2003
Single Buoy Moorings of Monaco has turned to PTFE-filled Victrex Peek polymer to overcome corrosion problems associated with bronze components.
Single Buoy Moorings of Monaco, a major supplier of floating production, storage and offloading systems (FPSOs), has turned to PTFE-filled Victrex Peek polymer to overcome the corrosion problems associated with bronze components.
Designed and moulded by 3P/EGC of Texas, USA, the polymer bearings and thrust washers in the mooring systems, driving chain systems and swivels provide an extended service life, significant weight reduction and excellent load bearing capabilities.
Corrosion resistance in subsea environments is of prime importance as FPSOs are constructed in open or unprotected water to facilitate the mooring of tankers at offshore oil and gas exploration stations without jetties and breakwaters.
Unlike bronze components, which can develop severe galvanic corrosion, Victrex Peek polymer bearings and thrust washers provide long-term corrosion resistance as well as superior wear resistance.
Victrex Peek polymer requires no external lubrication, which is another key advantage in this application.
The problem with bronze bearings and thrust washers is their inability to run dry, which results in premature wear and reduced service life.
Victrex Peek polymer's excellent dry running capabilities ensure long-term tribological performance and a service life of at least 10 years.
Switching to Victrex Peek polymer has provided significant weight savings.
"Many of these bearings and thrust washers are large, up to 50cm in diameter", explains Raju Kalidindi, Senior Applications Engineer at 3P/EGC.
"When they are made with bronze they can be extremely heavy.
Victrex Peek polymer parts are much lighter, making them easier to handle.
This is important because the components have to be inserted into large metal housings".
FPSOs also facilitate the production and storage of fluids and are often equipped with complex crude oil separation plants, as well as water injection and gas compression systems.
The ability to carry heavy loads is therefore another important requirement.
"The bearings and thrust washers in these systems must be able to carry loads ranging from 175-350kPa", continues Kalidindi.
"With so many metal assemblies, the function of the bearings and thrust washers is critical to the end-use product.
Victrex Peek polymer has excellent load bearing capabilities.
The moulded components can carry the maximum loads in the system and will not wear quickly.
It is a high strength material with excellent tribological properties".
3P/EGC has developed a tailor-made process to mould the large Victrex Peek polymer cylinders without defects.
In addition to being large in size, some of the bearings have wall thicknesses of up to 5cm.
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