Main Guide Bearings

Thordon Bearings recommends two bearing grades for use in water-lubricated turbine main guide bearings.

• Thordon SXL offers the lowest coefficient of friction, superior adhesive wear performance and good resistance to wear resulting from third particle abrasion.
• Thordon Composite is specially formulated to provide superior wear resistance in abrasive-laden water conditions, routinely outwearing rubber bearings by a factor of two or more, yet, still exhibiting a significantly lower coefficient of friction compared to rubber.

Thordon bearings can be specified as an upgrade for rubber or other non-metallic bearings in existing water-lubricated bearing systems or as a complete conversion from sealed oil or grease lubricated systems to pollution-free water lubrication. Thordon main shaft guide bearings are usually supplied factory-bonded into split bearing housings, or on larger bearings, on to multiple guide blocks. If required, bearings can be supplied in stave configuration as well.