Compact and reliable, green and low-carbon: tapered roller bearings for fan spindle

More and more large wind turbines with a capacity of over 6 megawatts are adopting adjustable tapered roller bearing arrangements. This type of bearing arrangement has a large support spacing, which can significantly reduce the internal stress of the bearing, thereby achieving a smaller and lighter bearing arrangement design, better meeting the power density requirements of the fan.

The complete set of tools for designing tapered roller bearings provides various cages, materials, heat treatments, and coating concepts related to applications

Three pillars to ensure reliable operation of adjustable bearing arrangement

The three pillars that ensure the reliable operation of adjustable bearing arrangements are: a validated bearing design kit, system simulation technology at different levels, and Premesy preload measurement system.

The complete set of bearing design tools can provide various cages, materials and heat treatments, as well as coating concepts related to applications. Technicians can optimize the design of tapered roller bearings based on specific peripheral structures and operating conditions of customers.

By using simulation tools that take into account system parameters, technicians can optimize the design of bearing arrangements in multiple stages. In addition, simulation tools also take into account various external factors, such as deformation and temperature of adjacent components, which is of decisive significance for adjustable arrangements. After further improving the bearing and system design, the correct preload force and its geometric input parameters can be determined.

Provide Premesy preload measurement system to assist technicians in reliably setting preload during installation and monitoring during operation. This solution is based on an inductive distance measurement system distributed along the circumference of the bearing, which can monitor the bearing preload force that is crucial for the service life at any point in the transmission system lifecycle.

To significantly reduce the carbon footprint of rolling bearings, we will explore the potential for carbon reduction throughout the entire value chain, from steel procurement, manufacturing to logistics and packaging. For example, seamless induction hardening technology was integrated into the design of large tapered roller bearings several years ago. Induction hardening uses green electricity to heat the bearing rings in specific areas, thereby providing an optimal carbon footprint.

Taking the tapered roller bearings that recently appeared at the Hamburg Wind Energy Exhibition in Germany as an example, their carbon footprint has decreased from about 5.0kgCO2/kg bearings to about 1.5kgCO2/kg bearings, a decrease of nearly 70%.