GRAPHALLOY^® Bushings

Solve Tough Water/Seawater Pump Problems

Recently, a customer contacted engineers at Graphite Metallizing with a special request. Their company was providing single-stage, axial-split case, double-suction, between bearings pumps for a Floating Liquid Natural Gas (FLNG) ship prototype. These fresh water and seawater pumps would be used to cool the gas. The customer contacted us because they knew that the non-galling, self-lubricating features of GRAPHALLOY would allow the pumps to continue working even when experiencing run-dry, flashing or cavitation.

The bushings were needed in a hurry. Because the pumps would be installed at the bottom of the ship, they needed to be in place before further construction could proceed. As the project manager described the situation, “timely completion of a multi-billion dollar project depends on timely delivery of our pumps.”

The customer needed steady bushings in 75 model LPN-V pumps. The LPN pump is a single-stage, horizontally mounted, axial split case, double suction, between bearings pump. The bushings were designed, made, and delivered within an aggressive time frame so that the customer could honor its delivery commitments to the end user.

The bushings were installed over 9 years ago and are still in service.

Click here for more information about GRAPHALLOY's success in troublesome pump applications. GRAPHALLOY bearings and wear rings allow for tighter clearances which improve reliability, lower vibration and increase efficiency in vertical and horizontal pumps.

Read about Graphalloy's Success in a application that experienced frequent dry running