Types of Bearings Used in Centrifugal Pumps – Load, Misalignment & Speed Capabilities

⚙️ Types of Bearings Used in Centrifugal Pumps – Load, Misalignment & Speed Capabilities

Bearings are critical components in centrifugal pumps, ensuring smooth rotation of the shaft, reducing friction, and supporting both radial and axial loads. The correct bearing selection directly impacts pump reliability, efficiency, and service life.  

This Blog explains the types of bearings commonly used in centrifugal pumps along with their load capacity, misalignment tolerance, and speed capability.

🔹 Importance of Bearings in Centrifugal Pumps

- Support rotating shaft and impeller under hydraulic loads.  

- Reduce friction and wear between moving parts.  

- Maintain alignment between pump and driver shaft.  

- Enable high‑speed operation with minimal vibration.  

- Extend equipment life by preventing premature failures.  

Explanation of Bearing Capabilities

1. single row deep groove ball bearings 

- Handles low axial and radial loads.  

- Excellent misalignment tolerance.  

- Suitable for moderate speed applications.  

2. Angular Contact Ball Bearings (Single Row in Pair)

- Provide moderate axial load capacity and very high radial load capacity.  

- Good misalignment handling.  

- Limited speed capability.  

3. Double Row Angular Contact Ball Bearings

- Balanced performance with moderate axial and radial load capacity.  

- High misalignment tolerance.  

- Used in pumps requiring compact design.  

4. Cylindrical Roller Bearings

- Excellent axial load capacity but no radial load capacity.  

- Very high misalignment tolerance.  

- Limited speed capability.  

5. Taper Roller Bearings

- Handle very high axial and radial loads.  

- Moderate misalignment tolerance.  

- Speed capability is low, but ideal for heavy‑duty pumps.  

6. Spherical Roller Bearings

- Very high axial load capacity and moderate radial load capacity.  

- Moderate misalignment tolerance.  

- Excellent speed capability, making them suitable for high‑speed centrifugal pumps.  

🔹 Bearing Types and Their Capabilities

Types of Bearing	Axial Load capacity	Radial Load capacity	Misalignment capacity	Speed capacity
Single row deep groove ball bearing	Low	Low	Very high	Moderate
single row angular contact ball bearing in pair	Moderate	Very high	High	Low
Double row angular contact ball bearing	Moderate	Moderate	High	Low
Cylindrical roller bearing	High	No capacity	Very high	Low
Taper roller bearing	Very high	Very high	Moderate	Low
Spherical roller bearing	Very high	Moderate	Moderate	Very high