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Large motors preservation in stores/wharehouse

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Ants

Electrical
Jun 7, 2001
7
We are in the process of building a new plant, and as things go some equipment arrive very early and some very late. My concern lies with the preservation of rotating as well as non-rotating equipment.
Firstly, large (and other sizes) motors needs to be on space heaters (if facility is provided by manufacturer) to ensure no moisture is ingressed into the stator and rotor.
Also, they need to be rotated to prevent bearing damage. My question is this:
Some bearings are sealed grease filled and the rotor can be easily rotated by hand. What to do about white metal oil filled bearings, both sealed and oil pump cooled system. Will the weight of the rotor disperse the oil, causing the bearing to fail when turning it during preservation? If it must be turned, how often(frequency)?
We also have a spare 5MW dry type transformer in a cubicle. Is a space heater sufficient to preserve the trf insulation?
Thanks in advance
 
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Ball Bearing balls and races can weld together when sitting in contact for extended periods. So periodic rotation re-oil films the bearings. Plain bearings do not have this problem (dissimilar metals). Jack the shafts and re oil prior to using the motor.

I wrap bare metal shafts in cloth and saturate with WD40 to protect them while in storage.
 
The space heaters are designed to prevent moisture condensation, energize them.
As Sreid pointed, Babbitted plain bearings do not need to be rotated; only antifriction bearings will require that. The plain babbitted bearings should have a device attached to the shaft designed to prevent mechanical damage. Ask to the manufacturer or distributor for specific Operation and Maintenance Manuals applicable to each motor.
 
GE had a very good detailed proceedure for storing equipment. It was what they required on the nuclear plants that were delayed. CE, B&W and Westinghouse had similar proceedures.
I would post in the Nuclear engineering form and see if anyone still has it.
It was good and covered things like heater with alarms and indicator light, shaft rotation, lubrication, coating of bare metal parts, rodent protection etc.
For large motors they required disassembley and storing the rotors on stand.
The porceedure cover short, long and intermediate storage.
 
Some long flexible shafts may require turning simply to avoid rotor bow.



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