Advantages of the Low Maintenance Drive (LMD) Vs. Condensate Control Unit (CCU)

Nils Young, PE, Managing Director 

Basic Design: Principle of Operation

The CCU is an electrical device designed to prevent the formation of condensation inside the main gear housing of a drive unit.  This system blows a consistent stream of heated air into the main housing, thus keeping the air inside the bearing housing below the saturation point. The LMD is a design that relies on a hydraulic seal (labyrinth design).  It does not have moving components, and forces all air flowing into or out of the main gear housing to pass through a desiccant filter.

Advantages of Low Maintenance Drive

The LM feature does not have mechanical parts. The CCU includes a fan and heater and will wear with time. The CCU requires 110-120V power to operate. There is some power consumption on the CCU and there is none for the Low Maintenance option. The electrical components on the CCU are not available for explosion proof requirements.  Since the CCU ingresses the ambient air into the gear housing, it is not ideal for corrosive environments. The LM allows the main gear housing to breathe through a desiccant filter.  There is no flow of air pushed into the main gear housing. The LM is not affected by the material of construction. The material is whatever the drive unit is made of. The housing of the CCU can be made of other material including stainless steel, however it is limited by material of its components. The ambient temperature has a greater impact on the performance of the CCU than the Low Maintenance option. Because of this the LM option is a better product and has replaced the CCU.  The CCU has been discontinued.