Keeping the Florida Everglades Grease-Free for 24 Years

The primary goal of the Everglades ecosystem restoration project is to improve water quality and to restore the Everglades to its original flow while still preventing flooding of populated areas. The comprehensive system captures and treats this water in surface and underground storage aquifers where it is stored until needed.

As part of the project, Thordon SXL grease-free pump bearings were specified by Florida State Water Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for all its existing vertical pumps and for any new pumps ordered for pumping stations in South Florida.

The original pumps were equipped with greased bronze bearings, but the residual grease and its environmental impact were inconsistent with the environmental focus of the project. As a result, all existing vertical pumps would be converted to water-lubricated bearings.

The dry start-up capability of Thordon’s SXL material was an important consideration in this application as some pumps run infrequently. Another critical factor was the balance between a low operating coefficient of friction and abrasion resistance compared to other materials.

Since 1994, Thordon has delivered hundreds of SXL bearings. Many pumps have had the same bearings since they were first installed and others, despite remaining in the accepted tolerance range, were replaced during routine service. WW

Thordon Bearings, a Thomson-Gordon Group company, is a family-owned business manufacturing high-performance oil- and grease-free bearing systems, seals and other shaft line products. To learn more, visit thordonbearings.com.

Circle No. 252 on Reader Service Card