SKF Energy Efficient deep groove ball bearings, which up to now were only available with shields, reduce the frictional moment in a bearing by 30 % or more when compared with equivalent SKF sealed Explorer deep groove ball bearings. The new sealed variant (fig. 1) maintains a reduction of  30 % or more in frictional moment while providing superior protection against lubricant leakage and the ingress of contaminants.

It is particularly suitable for applications that involve harsh environments where friction, grease retention, resistance to water ingress and dust exclusion are important. It supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in their need to develop equipment that has a lower environmental impact.

The SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearing is part of the SKF BeyondZero product portfolio.  To be included in the BeyondZero portfolio, a product must meet stringent criteria showing that it can deliver significant environmental benefits. Depending on the product, a number of environmental factors are taken into account, such as material, energy use, lubricant consumption and lubricant leakage.

The new SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearing has been designed for highly contaminated automotive and industrial applications where there are light to medium loads and relatively high speeds.

• load: P ≤ 0.125 C
• speed: n ≥ 1,000 r/min
• operating temperature: –40 to +110 °C

Due to their reduced frictional moment, SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings run from 5 to 15 °C cooler than an equivalent SKF Explorer bearing. The cooler operating temperatures extend grease life, which ultimately extends bearing service life. SKF Sealed Energy Efficient deep groove ball ­bearings are available in different sizes ranging from 6 mm to 25 mm bore diameter.

Typical applications that operate under these conditions include two-wheelers, water pumps, electric motors (fig. 2), washing machines, power tools, textile machines, conveyors, elevators and escalators.

Design features

The new bearing is based on the shielded SKF Energy Efficient (E2) deep groove ball bearing launched in 2008 and shares some common features, such as its overall design and the internal geometry, polymer cage and lubricant.

Longer grease life

The bearings are filled with a special low-noise, low-friction SKF grease. This specially formulated grease provides good lubrication with minimal friction (fig. 3).

When operating under the recommended load conditions, fatigue failures for sealed bearings are rarely an issue. Therefore, bearing service life is almost always limited by grease life. With that in mind, it becomes clear that because an SKF E2 bearing runs 5 to 15 °C cooler than an equivalent SKF Explorer bearing (fig. 3), grease life and consequently bearing service life can be extended.

Unique seal design

SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings are supplied with a new low-friction contact seal (fig. 4). This highly effective new seal is made from acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR) and reinforced with a sheet steel insert. The design of the seal takes advantage of NBR’s low modulus of elasticity. The resulting thin, flexible design minimizes the frictional moment, while effectively keeping the lubricant in – and contaminants out of – the bearing.

Following the development phase, SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings underwent a range of stringent validation tests to confirm their performance under a range of conditions.  Under the speed test, the bearing was run for 10 hours at both 5,000 r/min and 8,000 r/min with a 50 N radial load to measure the frictional moment (fig. 3) and grease leakage. A dust test was carried out for 168 hours using a fine-grade dust, to assess the effectiveness of the seal. After the test, the grease was found clear, with no dust trace. Dynamic and static water tests were also conducted to confirm the seal’s ability to repel water. A friction test according to SKF standards confirmed its low-friction performance. Tests show that SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings can double bearing service life when compared with equivalent sealed SKF Explorer bearings, thus helping to reduce total cost of ownership.

Benefits in service

SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings can provide tangible benefits. Take a textile machine equipped with 200 SKF Sealed Energy Efficient bearings as an example. The machine, which typically runs for 8,000 hours per year, can save up to 11,300 kWh annually. This reduction in energy use translates to CO₂ savings of 8.5 tonnes per year, according to world power grid mix CO₂ factor of 0.749 kg CO₂e/kWh or the equivalent of 42 kg CO₂e/bearing per year.

In conclusion, SKF Sealed E2 deep groove ball bearings can make an important contribution towards reducing energy use, CO₂ emissions and need for maintenance. Due to the challenges related to reducing energy use, technologies that enable even a small reduction in energy consumption are important, and this bearing is playing its part in supporting the environment.

SKF Energy Efficient (E2) deep groove ball bearings