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:
Leak detectors on Simmerring seals measure leaks using a nonwoven material. Onboard electronics provide some analysis and send results to a computer or telephone. This allows remotely monitoring a seal and scheduling an exchange when necessary in a normal maintenance interval.
Simmerring seals meet and exceed DIN 3760 standards for seal function and lifespan. Available in over 3,500 different dimensions, the seals protect motors and machines in original equipment and provide options for maintenance personnel. Designs in NBR and FKM materials are available especially for wind turbines. The seals can also be equipped with a leakage sensor.
Simmerring Radiamatic, a form-pressed continuous ring, works well on the large dimensions encountered in wind turbines in part due to rust-proof tension spring which presses permanently against the seal rim. The seal comes in 200 to 1,700-mm diameters.
Profile rings, large seal areas, are batch vulcanized for advantages over glued rings. Profile rings are available in standard materials, such as NBR, CR, and others. Profile rings ensure long working lives, low torques, high resistance, and security against press out. Profiles are well suited for sealing pivoting bearings.
Accumulators store hydraulic fluid at pressure for a constant, uninterrupted supply for hydraulic blade positioning and braking. To ensure such functions, Simmerring accumulators are adapted to individual applications. Users also benefit from lower costs of smaller pumps.
Vibrations in wind power plants cause increased wear on equipment and noise. The company offers a large selection of conical mounts, ultra bushes, layered springs, circular mounts, Mo-mounts and V-mounts for wind applications. Conical mounts work on generators in wind turbines with high damping effect on vertical vibrations, while absorbing vertical forces and insulating structure-borne noise.
Filed Under: Components, Hydraulics, Seals & slip rings
