Operating Temperature of Babbitts

If you are sensing the metal temperature with a probe embedded in the bearing metal (not the oil), then typical numbers would be:
80C - high normal
90C - alarm
100C - trip

You can find the above numbers in many references, including several EASA documents.

With good oil, you might be able to stretch it a little beyond 100C since oil degradation and more importantly viscosity change with temperature is the first concern and babbit melting isn't until much higher temperautres.

All of this is generic guidance. Of course if your machine typically runs at 55C, then it might be appropriate for you to alarm at 65C. Trip at 75C sounds a little low to me.

Thanks for the info, yes we are sensing the metal temperature with a probe embeded in the bearing and I had a feeling that our settings are a little low but based on the average bearing temperature of 30 degrees C I guess it's not too bad, and because it's out of the usual there's probably something wrong with the probe or the flow.
Do you know of a good flow meter with adjustable flow control we can install ?

There is a very good system available that will allow very precise oil flow control as well as volume monitoring for each point. It can be set up for a few or many points. The main pump and reservoir have to be sized but can be designed with cooling and very fine filtration.

For more info start here:

http://www.dropsa.com/main.asp?target=recircoil%2Easp

or contact me and I can direct you to someone in the US.

Dean

Industrial Autolube International

info@autolube.ca