Single bearing concept improves efficiency of wind turbines
The Schaeffler Group has unveiled a new single bearing design concept for multi-megawatt wind turbine rotor shafts, which it claims improves the energy efficiency and reliability of the turbine and eliminates drive train components.
The new module has been developed using the company's in-house advanced roller bearing calculation software, Bearinx, in combination with finite element analysis tools and multi-body simulation models.
Said to reduce weight and improve reliability and efficiency, the bearing can be tailored to specific wind turbine requirements, including those for both onshore and offshore wind farms.
It also utilises a moment bearing, which is said to enable a high level of system integration and prevent the transfer of negative axial loads to the wind turbine drive train.
