German outfit Schaeffler has upgraded its spherical roller bearings to meet the specific requirements of wind turbines, including an asymmetrical design to reduce wear.
The company said its engineers have reduced the internal bearing clearance, which has improved the operating clearance.
“This has also reduced the rolling bearing forces and the axial sliding of the drive train,” the company said.
It had also used a “firm centre rib for the locating bearings of the wind turbine rotor and increased axial rigidity, which reduced the axial displacement of the drive train”.
The bearings have also been certified by Germanischer Lloyd.
Image: Schaeffler
Schaeffler bearing up for wind
German outfit's asymmetrical design aims to reduce wear in turbines
By EBS