The big advantage for Ameriloc HLD (Hydraulic Locking Devices) is the short time it takes to install. With larger diameters, 530 mm, the HLD can be tensioned in a few minutes, compared to several hours required for another similar design. The hydraulic pump required for assembly can be a stationary unit, but use of a…
Cylinders for hydraulic pitch adjustment
German company Liebherr is offering their hydrau-lic cylinder for hydraulic pitch adjustment in wind turbines to the American market. The company offerso both electromechanical pitch adjustment with gearboxes as well as hydraulic pitch adjustment with the corresponding blade bearings as a full system. Cylinders are supplied in accordance with a customer’s particular requirements, in-cluding piston rod heads and integrated stroke measuring systems.
Seal material for hydraulics good to 270°F
A proprietary polyurethane compound, Zurcon Z25, has all the characteristics of the widely used Zurcon grade Z20 with an elevated operating temperature to 130°C or 270°F. Zurcon Z25 is recommended for hydraulic applications in which high-temperature performance is required due to an improved extrusion resistance and compression set. The material is ideal for use in…
How are hydraulics used in wind turbines?
Hydraulics will probably provide the heavy-duty muscle in the nacelle. The systems there will be made of two-position valves, proportional valves for precise control, hoses, lubricants, fittings, and pumps. Valve selection provides a good example of the complexity that comes in just selecting one component. Selecting a proportional hydraulic valve for pitch control is an…
Trends in wind hydraulics
As in other areas of the wind industry, hydraulics engineers are looking for ways to improve turbine operating efficiency while reducing maintenance. This leads to a focus on preventative maintenance, rather than just replacing worn parts with new ones from the OEM. Research is also being conducted toward expanding hydraulics in wind transmission drives. Ken…
Leak-free hydraulic fittings prevent vibration failures
Anthony Palanci Product Sales Manager Tube Fittings Division Parker Hannifin Corporation Cleveland, Ohio parker.com/TFD The cost of scheduled maintenance for wind turbines has been relatively low. However, unscheduled maintenance is a completely different story. Until recently the turbine manufacturer’s warranty has covered unscheduled maintenance and repair costs. But that’s changing as a large number of…
Free software finds tools for tube assembly tasks
A recent web-based app makes it fast and easy to choose equipment necessary for a variety of standard tube assembly operations. Determining the appropriate equipment for an operation is easier with ToolSpec because it applies information supplied by users to find a suitable match. Rather than simply listing tasks the tools perform, the application describes…
Fluid-power organization gets pumped for wind power
Insuring a place for fluid power in wind-power technology is the latest example of the Center for Compact and Efficient Fluid Power’s (CCEFP) reach toward realizing two of its goals: Reducing our nation’s energy usage and increasing the ways in which fluid power can improve quality of life. Wide scale use of wind as a…
Eaton expands in China with $1.5M wind power agreement
Industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation says it will provide key wind-power technologies to Guodian United Power Technology Co. Ltd., a wind turbine manufacturer in China. The agreement will generate about $1.5 million in revenues annually for the U.S. firm. Eaton’s Hydraulics Group based in Shanghai will supply hydraulic power units equipped with Vickers and Integrated Hydraulics…
Plating protects fittings against corrosion
A proprietary plating gives hydraulic fittings protection against red rust. This helps users avoid the cost of corrosion which is calculated in terms of possible leak points and replacement fittings, along with potential lost sales stemming Parker TFD fittings and those from five major competitors were exposed to neutral salt spray test ASTM B117. One…
New ways to monitor and maintain turbine oil
Olli Rantanen, Heavy Duty Lube and Filtration, Parker Hannifin Corp., Urjala, Finland parker.com Maintaining lubricating and hydraulic oil once meant changing it on a set timetable. More recently, it makes sense to keep it as clean as possible, let the oil tell when it needs changing, and let it tell how equipment in the nacelle…
Tough crane provides a gentle touch for turbine equipment
The ISL Model gantry crane is a heavy duty model engineered for higher duty cycles due to increased hoisting drum speeds, as well as increased ground speeds. The cranes, from Shuttlelift, Sturgeon Bay, Wisc, have fully traversing hooks, those that move the entire width of the crane for easy loading and unloading. Each ISL Model…
Many seals for turbine tasks
There is a lot of sealing work in a nacelle. Hydraulic equipment, of course, needs them along with areas such as where blades meet hubs. These must all be weather tight yet allow rotation. Simrit Americas, Plymouth, Mich., manufacturers several designs in a range of materials for these applications. For instance: Simmerring seals meet and…
What to Expect from Hydraulic Seals
To attain their highest possible capacity factor, wind turbines must be sited where they will be exposed to as much consistent wind as possible. An assessment must often show a site to annually have about 2,500 hours of wind at about 25 mph to make it viable for a utility company. Consequently, all parts of…
Considerations for Designing Turbine Hydraulics
An efficient, responsive, and reliable blade-pitch control on a wind turbine is made from many valves, pumps, hoses, reservoirs, and brakes. They must all work together to meet the demanding requirements placed on the pitch control in a turbine hub. An effective hydraulic blade-pitch control (BPC) requires knowing the performance characteristics of each component and…
How clean is oil in the turbine? Monitor tells
Operators of hydraulic and lubrication equipment are paying more attention to oil contamination. On the one hand, more value is being placed on well-thought-out, high grade filters. And on the other hand, more attention is being paid to monitoring the oil’s cleanliness. In the case of high-value machinery, such as a gearbox up in a…
Think proportional flow for blade-pitch control
To provide smooth and consistent power outputs, wind-turbine manufacturers use hydraulics to set the “pitch” of the rotor blade. The Eaton Vickers KB range of proportional flow control valves from Eaton’s Hydraulics Operations, Eden Prairie, Minn., has been the frequently selected valve to control blade pitch. It is globally installed in over 20,000 turbines. KB…
Hydraulic yaw and pitch drives
For years, Nabtesco says it has been developing hydraulic equipment, engine accessory and fuel systems, and flight control systems for several Japanese Defense Agency programs. Now the company, a manufacturer of hydraulic drives and controls, is expanding into energy-efficiency and environment-friendly products. Hence, it has started a new business involving the application of hydraulic equipment…
Filters for wind-turbine hydraulics
Eaton’s Vickers Filters handle flows to 450 gpm and pressures to 6,090 psi. Bypass valves, pressure drop indicators, and media grades facilitate filter installation and provide needed system cleanliness. A closer look at reservoir vent filters shows its useful features. These sport visual indicators and corrosion-resistant housings. In addition to particle control, these filters also…
Hydraulic firm introduces quick-connect couplings
The range of hydraulic couplings has expanded for CEJN Industrial Corp., Gurnee, Ill, with several new series. Several new products meet the ISO 16028 standard and are available in many versions and sizes, including couplings in steel and stainless steel with a working pressure to 500 bar. ISO 7241-1 standard couplings in different sizes come…