The bearings allow easy maintenance, without having to remove the shafts of long horizontal rotors that agitate sewage and introduce oxygen to the treatment process.

Previously, a crane was required to remove the solid support bearings, at a cost running to thousands of pounds per day.

In addition, the sealed SRB bearings are designed to withstand full submersion in sewage sludge, which can occur due to raised levels in the aerator tanks during periods of heavy rainfall.

In brief detail, each of the aeration tanks has several horizontal rotors that agitate the sewage, which, in the past, were supported by two solid bearings with internal seals.

However, during periods of heavy rain the sludge level can rise to the point where the bearing units become temporarily submerged, compromising the bearing seals and leading to premature failure.

In an effort to reduce maintenance, Revolvo was asked to find a solution – and hence the solution based upon its SRB range of split roller bearings.

The split bearing units were specified with housings and supports designed to be interchangeable with the existing bearing units wherever possible, or incorporate adaptor plates.

The housings were also equipped with high performance split rubber lip seals with garter springs and retaining plates, to guard against water ingress during intermittent submersion.

Finally, and importantly, the bearings were equipped with remote grease points that allow maintenance without engineers ever having to come into contact with the sludge waste.

"Thanks to a very effective sealing system, our bearings are capable of surviving far longer than traditional bearings – eight years, or more – with no more basic maintenance than standard regreasing required," comments Revolvo sales and marketing director Adrian Menzies.

"Another advantage of SRB split roller bearings is that, when they do reach the end of their life, they are very easy to replace," he adds.

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