Engineers from the University of Sheffield have developed a novel technique to predict when bearings inside wind turbines will fail. A method, published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society and developed by Mechanical Engineering research student Wenqu Chen, uses ultrasonic waves to measure the load transmitted through a ball bearing in a wind turbine.…
Morgan offers new grounding brushes and holders for longer bearing life
Morgan Advanced Materials’ Electrical Carbon business recently announced new grounding brush holders, designed for stability and reliable dissipation of current to prolong bearing life. The grounding brush holders have a contact drop of less than one volt because to their high quality silver-graphite brush. DC motors applied on static drive systems and AC motors on adjustable-speed drives…
Schaeffler to exhibit condition monitoring and main shaft bearing solutions at WINDPOWER 2015
Schaeffler will showcase a broad array of product and service solutions for wind turbine applications at the 2015 American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) WINDPOWER Conference and Exhibition held May 18-21 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The WINDPOWER annual conference and exhibition is the premier trade show in the U.S. for wind…
SKF to supply wind turbine bearings to ReGen Powertech
SKF has signed a strategic agreement with ReGen Powertech, a leading wind turbine manufacturer in India. Under the terms of the agreement, SKF will supply pitch and yaw bearing sets and mainshaft bearings for the company’s 1.5-MW wind turbines. Shishir Joshipura, Managing Director and Country Head, SKF India, said, “This agreement positions us as a…
First wind farm trials commence for new bearing life extension technology
Forensic investigation undertaken by Ricardo MultiLife, on behalf of wind energy clients, has identified an important similarity in bearing failure mechanisms commonly arising in wind turbine drivetrains. Wear on the inner race of bearings in the inaccessible planetary stages of the gearbox tends to be concentrated over a small arc of some 40°, and can…
SKF Insight intelligent bearing trialed in wind turbines and rail cars
SKF has begun to apply SKF Insight, its bearing health management technology, in several high-end industry applications. The technology uses self-powered, intelligent, wireless sensors in the SKF bearing to provide instant condition-monitoring data via the Internet and is undergoing trials in challenging projects in the wind turbine and railway industries. SKF Insight monitors dynamic parameters…
Motion Industries releases video on proper bearing handling and storage
Motion Industries, a distributor of industrial maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) replacement parts, has released a new Tom’s Toolbox video that highlights the importance of proper handling and storage of bearings. In the wind industry, many bearings are so large and expensive that proper storage is crucial, providing end users with the full bearing life…
Validating the largest bearing test rig in the world
As OEMs build larger wind turbines, bearings manufacturers must follow with larger bearings. Main-shaft bearings can measure 2m on their OD. OEMs are asking bearing manufacturers to ensure that large main shaft or rotor bearings will stand up to the anticipated structural and environmental stresses. Until recently there was no way to run real-world tests…
Bearing Manufacturer Unveils Plans for U.S. Wind Energy R&D Center
Massive, precision-engineered bearings and seals like those made by The Timken Company are central to wind power production. The largest of these rolling element bearings weighs more than five tons, with an ID of nearly 2 m. Such large bearings require sophisticated measuring and testing capabilities that replicate dynamic wind forces. For that purpose, Timken…
High-capacity slewing-ring bearings featured in data sheet
The HS Series slewing ring bearings offer high load and thrust capacity for their size and are featured in a new data sheet from Kaydon Bearings Division. Outside diameters range from 20 to 47 in. (500 to 1,200 mm). Most HS sizes are available from stock and forgings are stocked for the rest. HS Series…
Good news for gearboxes: Roller bearing improves reliability
Separable High-Capacity Cylindrical Roller Bearings support high-speed shafts and high-speed intermediate shafts in wind turbine gearboxes. These reliable bearings have a higher load-carrying capacity and eliminate risks of roller-to-roller smearing and adhesive wear in service. Exchangeability with standard counterparts allows fitting them to existing design envelopes whether in initial designs or replacement upgrades. The compact…
Special polyurethane improves abrasion resistance
The Timken UltraWind P1 Seal is a significant wind-turbine bearing seal with a polyurethane design that provides increased resistance to abrasion for longer wind-turbine service life and more reliable performance than most other commonly used sealing materials. “Seals have an integral role in maximizing wind-turbine uptime and productivity because they prevent lubrication leakage and bearing…
Bearing take the load off offshore grout
An elastomeric spring bearing improves the stability of the 90-monopole wind turbine foundations at a wind farm off the U.K. coast. The steel and rubber bearings reduce stress on a grouted connection in the wind turbine foundation. Grout fills the gap between an inner-foundation pipe and outer-transition piece of the foundation. It must withstand the…
Trends in bearings
Probably the most significant accomplishment in the bearing industry over the last ten years is the better understanding of what happens to bearings in wind turbines. Researchers and OEMs have defined their loading, vibration, temperature extremes, and identified a few peculiar hazards such as stray electrical currents. This information is driving several industry trends. “For…
Space-saving slewing-ring bearings available from stock
Kaydon Corp. Bearings Division now stocks many models of its space-saving HS Series slewing ring bearings, units capable of handling moment loads to 139,900 ft-lbs. This is about twice the capacity of the widely used Kaydon RK Series bearings, and in the same envelope. The considerable load and thrust with significant space savings makes Kaydon…
One main-shaft bearing does work of two
Switching to a particular double row, tapered-roller bearing is one way to reduce total turbine weight while increasing component service life. The design, called Nautilus from SKF Bearings, carries all rotor loads on a single bearing rather than on a traditional two-bearing arrangement, one that separately carries radial and axial loads. By doing the work…
Slewing ring bearings for wind power
Slewing-ring bearings in the DT series of Slewinfinite product line Kaydon Corp. Bearing Div., provides works in pitch, yaw, and gearbox applications in systems from 200 kW to 5.0 MW. The bearings are said to meet critical requirements and industry regulations such as those specified by Germanischer Lloyd’s Non-Marine Technology—Offshore Wind Energy. The DT Series…
Thin bearing manufacturer opens new website and message
Kaydon Corporation Bearings Division has unveiled its new website, www.kaydonbearings.com, and new brand. “The site was developed with customers in mind, providing more information in a clean, easy-to-navigate design,” says Kaydon Bearings marketing manager Brian Walters. “It features an improved search function, more product and market information, and additional drawings, specifications, and downloads.” The company’s…
Manufacturer for large bearings
Kaydon Bearings Division can manufacturer bearing to support critical pitch, yaw and gearbox applications in systems from 200 kW to 5.0 MW and above. The company has been producing large-diameter custom bearings for over 60 years and has design and manufacturing experience in many applications. The firm can design a bearing to meet the performance…
Bearing handles rocking platforms
A heavy-duty flexible bearing or bushing combines a high-load capacity with an ability to accommodate torsional and angular movements in all planes without lubrication or metal-to-metal wear. The Spherilastik Bearings come in center bore or as a solid member depending on how it’s attached. Typical uses include equipment in wind turbines, traction and braking reaction…