Optimized

Bearings for Gas

Compressors
The Best Compressors in Class
Bearings in high efficiency gas compressors are crucial to both the efficiency
and the service life of the compressor. No one knows this better than the
design team at Johnson Controls, who has now in decades developed and
fine-tuned their screw compressors to become best in class.

The low friction rolling element bearings are carefully dimensioned and protected with
bespoke oil circulation and filtration systems, all to maximize bearing life and reduce
operational costs.

In some specific and highly demanding industries, even perfectly designed bearing
arrangements are challenged. Bearing life is compromised by the very media passing
through the compressor. Aggressive gases, droplets of water, or microscopic particles
are just some of the known causes of lubricant film breakdown, resulting in accelerated
bearing wear.

For these few difficult applications, the design teams from Johnson Controls and
CeramicSpeed Bearings have joined forces and developed a recipe for the strongest
combination of specifications, which is now an available option for a range of Johnson
Controls Gas Compressors. By combining the known advantages of ceramic rolling
elements, black oxide surface treatment of bearing steel surfaces, and rugged brass
cages, extra safety and longer service life are now available off the shelf.
Ceramic Balls

Ceramic balls are superior to steel balls in all physical measurable properties. This
ensures many benefits in the bearing: The increased hardness of the ball means that the
contact area between the ball and the track is reduced leading to lower friction, higher
potential speeds, and less energy waste. The hardness and the extremely smooth sur-
face also mean that the balls are far more durable than steel balls. Ceramic balls are also
significantly lighter than steel balls which reduces the centrifugal load on the raceway as
the bearing spins, and wear and tear are significantly reduced, keeping the bearing in top
condition for longer. As an added benefit the bearing can operate at much higher RPMs -
up to 50 % higher - giving the possibility of using long-life bearings in demanding
highspeed applications, such as machine tool spindles and turbomachinery..

CeramicSpeed
Steel Balls Difference
Silicon Nitride Balls
Density [g/cm^3] 7.6 3.2 58% lighter

Hardness (Vickers) 700 1600 128% harder

Elastic Modulus [GPa] 190 310 63% stiffer

Thermal expansion coefficient [µm] 12.3 3.7 -70%

Max usage temperatur [ºC] 320 1000 +680

Surface finish grade [micron] 0.02 0.005 400% smoother

Life wear resistance - <10x <10x

10^16 = insulator
Electrical resistivity [Ohm/cm] 10^-9 10^14
0= superconductor

Black Oxide Surface Treatment

To protect bearing surfaces from the variety of failures and reduce the bearings premature
failure rates, coatings are widely used. Black oxide as the so-called conversion coating is
currently seen as an attractive solution in terms of performance and cost.
Black oxide treatment provides an increase of the bearing life by enhancing the protection
of bearing surfaces against micro pitting, smearing and slip damages, it offers a basic
corrosion protection and further reduces the permeation of H2 through the steel – pro-
tecting against the WECs formation and propagation.
 CeramicSpeed Bearings A/S
Noergaardsvej 3
DK - 7500 Holstebro
+45 97 402 544
industry@ceramicspeed.com