Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • U.S. offshore wind projects
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Wind Power Videos
    • Wind Power Events
  • Webinars
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
    • Enewsletter Subscription
    • Magazine Subscription
  • About Us
  • 2022 Leadership in Wind
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners

Gearbox lube for wind turbines

By KRemington | August 10, 2010

One way to improve wind-turbine efficiency is with proper gearbox lubricant. Dow recently introduced the UCON GL-320 lubricant for wind turbine gearboxes and those in other applications. The high viscosity index of the lube, addresses the issue of cold weather causing high lubricant viscosity without the need for additional VI improvers. It has higher heat capacity than hydrocarbon oils, which allows it to move more heat, forestalling a shutdown when turbine output is at the maximum. The lubricant has better lubricity at ambient conditions, so it has potential to shift the power-versus-wind-speed curve to the left, leading to greater power output when the production is less than the maximum design output.

This lubricant also addresses the issue of micropitting, which can lead to wearing and changes in gear teeth shape, reducing gear accuracy, and increasing vibrations and noise. It can also lead to other problems such as misalignment and fatigue failure. High viscosity lubricants like UCON GL-320 are a thicker lubricant film that can help to reduce the debris and worn particles that often accompany less well-lubricated gears.

DOW

www.dow.com


Filed Under: Gearboxes, Lubricants, News
Tagged With: Dow, lubricant, UCON, Wind Turbine Gearboxes
 

Tell Us What You Think!

Related Articles Read More >

GE unveils 3-MW onshore turbine built for North American market
TotalEnergies developing 1-GW offshore wind farm off Carolina coast
NRG Systems adopts ZX Lidars’ latest wind profile measurement tool
Acciona celebrates 10 years of operation at Oklahoma’s Dempsey Ridge Wind Farm

Podcasts

Wind Spotlight Interview: RAD Torque Systems
See More >

Windpower Engineering & Development Digital Edition

Digital Edition

Browse the most current issue of Windpower Engineering & Development and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading wind power engineering magazine today.

Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Wind Articles
  • Solar Power World
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Subscribe to Windpower Engineering
  • Advertising
  • About Us/Contact Us

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search Windpower Engineering & Development

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Most recent posts
    • News
    • Featured
  • Resources
    • U.S. offshore wind projects
    • Digital issues
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Wind Power Videos
    • Wind Power Events
  • Webinars
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
    • Enewsletter Subscription
    • Magazine Subscription
  • About Us
  • 2022 Leadership in Wind
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners