SKF development project will generate cost savings in wind turbines by main bearings with reduced axial cleareance. In The Windfair Newsletter

Hamburg, 15.09.2011. This damages not just mean huge efforts of time and organization, but also cause very high costs. These are not only the costs for spare parts and the accompanying maintenance project, but you have also to regard the outage of the turbine. The lost income varies of course depending on the duration of the maintenance project.

SKF has taken up this issue in a development project and developed a new main bearing solution. The main bearing will be mounted with a tapered sleeve by the SKF drive-up method. Through this solution, in which the radial internal clearance of the main bearing will be reduced, stiffness increases in the entire drive train. By mounting the main bearing with the tapered sleeve the tolerances of the main shaft and the bearing are considered by the drive up methode.

This is not possible by the installation on cylindrical seat. The reduced radial internal clearance not only means a higher main bearing stiffness, but also benefits for the entire gearbox. By the reduced radial internal clearance is also automatically a low axial bearing clearance which not only reduces the axial movement into the gearbox and thus an improved force progression for the gearbox bearings. Also the axial movement will be reduced and limited. This lower way, it is also the main reason why shocks in the axial direction have a smaller disruption potential, which results in reduced failures and thus will lead to lower cost.

But also the possibility of non-destructive removability of the main bearing was an integral part of the development project. The main bearing could now be dismantled at a gearbox failure, reviewed by SKF, if necessary rebuilded and then be reinstalled. This also contributes to the efficiency of wind turbines.

With SKF knowledge bundled from several platforms you have now the opportunity to avoid bigger damages. With SKF condition monitoring you are able to take care of your assets. The operators are in a position to plan the maintenance task in a longer period of time. And this causes to less costs for the owner of a turbine regarding planned maintenance and an effective deployment of the maintenance employees.

Conclusion:
By modification of the main bearing and as well as the bundling of expertise has SKF succeeded to develop technical advantages and potential savings over the entire operating costs and the complete life cycle of wind turbine. And these advantages are not only theoretical they will bring the owner of wind turbines into the possibility to save real money.