Gearbox oil leaks present a special challenge in an outdoor green-power application. Unfortunately, they have been so prevalent, leaks are defined by their degree. Drips, leaks, seeps, and weeps all contribute to the costs of maintenance and to the environment in which we work, both in nacelle and out. The most common cause of gearbox…
The Gearbox Standard for Windturbines gets an Upgrade
The recently drafted ISO/IEC standard for wind-turbine gearboxes is significant for many reasons. First, several organizations collaborated to produce ANSI/AGMA/AWEA 6006-A03, which was adopted without change in 2005 as ISO 81400-4, an international standard. The new draft (IEC project 61400-4), expands on preceding standards so it is more encompassing. It provides a conduit through which…
Synthetic gear oils cut wind power operating costs
A worldwide manufacturer of specialty lubricants will showcase three gear oils for the windpower industry at the CanWEA 2009 trade show September 20 to 23 in Toronto, Canada. The lubricants, from Kluger Lubrication, Londonderry, NH, (klubersolutions.com/wind) include these three synthetic high-performance, high-load gear oils: • Klübersynth GEM 4 N (polyalphaolefin) • Klübersynth GH 6 (polyglycol)…
Bearings for wind turbines
Several bearing configurations for wind turbines come from NTN Bearing Co. of America, Mt. Prospect, Ill. For instance, for main shafts, designs include spherical roller bearings. The company says these increase efficiency and service life. Credit for that goes to new materials and improved heat treatments that significantly increase overall bearing service life. The company…
Gearbox, generator, and controls in one package
GE Drivetrain Technologies, a unit of GE Transportation, Erie, Pa, says the company has launched a wind generator and control systems division to serve wind turbine owners around the globe. The new company will immediately offer doubly-fed induction and permanent magnet generators in the 2 to 6 MW power range. The company produces more than…