The Advantages of Ball Bearings and Their Application on Large-Horsepower High-Speed Horizontal Induction Motors

Many of today's specifications continue to limit the use of ball bearings on induction motor drives to on or below 200 hp. Advances in bearing technology and manufacture, along with increased bearing selection and application knowhow, have greatly increased the horsepower range over which ball bearings may be reliably used. Many performance and operational advantages are enjoyed through the use of ball bearings. With proper bearing selection and application, ball bearings can and are being successfully applied to motors as large as 2000 hp running at 3600 r/min with excellent results in bearing performance. With increased confidence in ball bearing reliability, acceptance of motor drives with these types of bearings should be greatly expanded in the immediate future.