Swedish manufacturer SKF has taken the wraps off a new bearing designed to boost performance in wind turbines.
The Gothenburg company said its new spherical bearings for turbine main shafts are designed to “deliver outstanding reliability” and meet service life needs of more than 25 years.
“These newly developed bearings work even harder than their existing counterparts as they have been tailored specifically for the application. Features not needed in this sector . . . have been eliminated to focus on those that are — including improved radial and axial robustness — for best in class operation,” it said.
The adapted design includes a significant weight reduction, an optimised internal geometry and improved lubrication capabilities, said SKF.
Jens Bode, head of business development at SKF’s renewable energy business unit, said: “We have created our first symmetrical spherical roller bearing designed explicitly to provide unparalleled performance in turbine main shafts.
“This unique, sector specific solution improves the features that are critical to the application for ultra robust and reliable main shaft arrangements that reduce the levelized cost of energy through extended service life.”
Image: SKF
