Maintenance crews acknowledge that frequent lubrications with small quantities extend the working life of bearings and seals. But long hours of hub crawling is physically and mentally demanding work. A better idea is a centralized and automatic lubrication system for wind turbines. One instance, the WindLub from SKF USA, Kulpsville, Pa., provides a cost-saving design for lubrication tasks in the wind turbine, including the main shaft bearings. As a plus, the equipment reduces lubricant consumption and refilling the grease pump is simple and quick. SKF says the centralized lubrication system reduces turbine operating costs, increases operational reliability, and extends service intervals.
Filed Under: Lubricants