How to remove fan bushing on cooling tower

Cooling tower fans may experience aging of bearings and bushings (fan shaft sleeves) due to wear, corrosion, or poor lubrication during long-term operation, requiring regular maintenance or replacement. Correctly removing the fan liner can not only prolong the service life of the equipment, but also ensure the safety and stability of the cooling tower operation. This article will provide a detailed introduction to the steps, methods, and construction precautions for removing the cooling tower fan liner.

Preparation

Before starting the demolition, it is necessary to ensure safety and prepare necessary tools.

1. Safety measures

1）Cut off power: Turn off the cooling tower fan and hang a "Do Not Operate" warning sign.

2）Wait for the fan to completely stop: Ensure that the inertia of the fan disappears before proceeding with the operation.

3）Wear protective equipment: including safety helmets, anti slip gloves, protective goggles, and anti fall equipment (when working at heights).

4）Check the homework platform: Ensure that the passage is safe, slip resistant, and has sufficient operating space.

2. Tool preparation

1）Wrench, hex wrench

2）Lamar (wheel puller)

3）Lubricating oil or disassembly agent

4）Rubber mallet

5）Cleaning cloth

6）New lining (if replacement is required)

Steps to remove fan liner

Step 1: Remove the fan blades

1.Mark the installation position of the blade with a marker pen for resetting.

2.Loosen the blade fixing bolts.

3.Gently remove the fan blades to avoid deformation or collision.

Step 2: Remove the fan belt or coupling (depending on the structure)

If it is belt driven:

Loosen the adjusting bolt of the motor base, loosen the belt, and remove the belt.

If it is driven by a coupling:

1）Loosen the locking screw inside the coupling.

2）Gently separate the fan shaft from the motor shaft.

Step 3: Release the fan hub

1) Find the fastening bolts between the hub and the main shaft of the fan.

2) Loosen all bolts evenly to avoid unilateral stress.

3) If the wheel hub gets stuck, spray disassembly agent and wait for a few minutes.

Step 4: Use a puller to remove the wheel hub

1) Install the puller in the fixed hole of the wheel hub.

2) Uniformly tighten the center screw of the puller to slowly retract the hub from the spindle.

3) If the wheel hub is still tight, gently tap the outer edge of the wheel hub (do not tap the shaft).

Step 5: Remove the fan bushing (shaft sleeve)

There are slight differences in the method according to the type of shaft sleeve (tension sleeve, cone sleeve, smooth shaft sleeve).

Common methods:

1. Loosen the bolts on the shaft sleeve.

2. If it is an expansion sleeve, tighten the designated bolt position according to the instructions.

3. Fix the puller on the screw hole of the shaft sleeve and slowly detach the shaft sleeve from the fan shaft.

4.If the shaft sleeve gets stuck due to corrosion, the following methods can be used:

1) Spray penetrant

2) Thermal expansion and contraction method (heating the hub area to avoid heating the main shaft)

3) Lightly tap the outer wall of the shaft sleeve (to avoid damaging the shaft)

5. After successfully removing the shaft sleeve, clean the surface of the spindle.

Inspection before installing new lining

When replacing the new liner after dismantling, the following parts should be inspected:

1. Whether the spindle is worn or scratched

2. Are the bearings loose or damaged

3. Is the roundness of the wheel hub hole normal

4. The shaft surface is clean and free of rust or debris

If there are any issues, they should be resolved before installation.