Description: Special spherical bearings are manufactured for nuclear power plants. The coefficient of friction of these special spherical bearings shall be below 0.1µ and the working temperature up to 600°C. These special spherical bearings are used for supporting the steam generator guide support at steam nozzle location in nuclear power plants. These special bearings support steam nozzle against loads during normal operating conditions, earthquake and/or pipe rupture events. The special spherical bearings are manufactured with housing in stainless steel and a spherical ball in special alloy bronze fixed with solid lubricant. This arrangement permits free diametrical expansion of steam nozzle, free vertical upward thermal expansion and tilting of steam generator and to transfer the load from steam generator to building structure. In these special spherical bearings the solid lubricant used has very low co-efficient of friction, less than 0.1?. The solid lubricant is suitable for high operating temperature, 600°C. Bearings are suitable for maximum load of 34 N/mm2; chemicals and weather has no effect on the solid lubricant; the special spherical bearings are manufactured to meet the stringent quality requirements of Nuclear Power Corporation of India. These special spherical bearings were designed and tested for loads up to 375 MT without any failure or defects.
