Thordon Bearings pioneering polymer bearing technology is gaining traction in Vietnam’s hydropower market.
This follows the performance success of its self-lubricating bearings retrofitted to five turbines at the Sơn La Hydropower plant.
Thordon’s wicket gate and linkage bearings have been in continuous use for four years and were installed when the company was asked to provide an alternative to a competing system, some parts of which had failed after just two years under the intensive conditions at the dam.
Having entered service in December 2012, the Sơn La Hydropower project is situated on the Đà River in It Ong, Muong La District, Sơn La Province and is the largest hydropower dam in Southeast Asia.
Delta Marine & Industries, Thordon’s authorised distributor in Vietnam, worked with end user Vietnam Electricity (EVN) to choose suitable replacements for the original metal polymer lined bearing.
The refit included ThorPlas-Blue wicket gate and linkage bearings with washers, Thordon SXL operating ring wear pads, Thordon Thor-Flex wicket gate seals, and SXL upper and lower gate seal.
Johnny Dao, managing director, delta marine and industries, said: “Thordon’s grease-free bearing products for hydropower installation combine a very low coefficient of friction with low wear in abrasive water environment and high resistance to shock loading and vibration. They offer high pressure performance and resilience, as well as extremely long wear life.”
“The original material was delaminated, with severe wear to the bushing surface. “Finding a sustainable solution was critical for the client due to the original parts having failed so soon after entering service,” said Axel Swanson, Thordon Bearings’ business development manager - hydro, pump and industrial.
Thordon Bearings powers success in fluid sector
