PENGGUNAAN KAYU ULIN (EUSIDEROXYLON ZWAGERI) SEBAGAI MATERIAL SLEEVE BEARING PADA POMPA VERTIKAL CENTRIFUGAL MULTISTAGE

Abstract

The use of vertical centrifugal multistage pumps is very common and plays a crucial role in energy conversion and fluid transfer in various industrial application¹³. For instance, they are used as raw water intake systems in a leading fertilizer company in South Sumatra. The pumps draw water from the Musi River, which is then used as raw material for Boiler Feed Water (Demineralized Water for Boiler Feed), Cooling Water, and Filtered Water for various purposes, such as household needs. One of the key components of a centrifugal pump is the bearing, which functions to support the hydraulic load on the impeller while minimizing frictional losses with the shaft. Bearing failures are generally caused by contamination, the presence of foreign objects, corrosion, poor lubrication, misalignment, or overloading. Ulin wood (Eusideroxylon Zwageri) is a high-quality, class 1 wood species native to Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines). Also known as ironwood or bulian wood, it is highly valued for its hardness and weather resistance. Its use as a material for sleeve bearings in vertical centrifugal multistage pumps offers several advantages: fabrication and installation processes are easier and faster (24 hours or a 50% time saving), costs are lower, and pump performance is improved, as indicated by the low initial vibration when the pump is first run, namely; 1A=2.2mm/s, 1H=0.8mm/s, 1V=2.3mm/s, 2A=1.1mm/s, 2H=2.4mm/s, 2V=2.4mm/s compared to the previous bronze sleeve bearing material, which had vibrations of; 1A=2.3mm/s, 1H=5.4mm/s, 1V=5.4mm/s, 2A=2.9mm/s, 2H=3.1mm/s, 2V=3.2mm/s.

Keywords: Sleeve Bearing, Ulin Wood, Eusideroxylon Zwageri, Vibration, Vertical Centrifugal Pump.