INCREASING BEARING RELIABILITY OF WIND TURBINES

The main shaft of wind turbine requires reliable bearing for stable operation. Some bearing damages will result in costly maintenance repairs. Selecting the proper bearing is really critical for wind turbine's overall performance.

Wind-turbine designs commonly use spherical roller bearings to support and carry the main shaft loads. The single SRB design, known as a 3-point mount which is supported by a single main bearing and two reactionary torque arms of the gearbox. Unfortunately, some operators have experienced field failures much earlier than expected with some single SRB designs, which significantly reduced service life. Unplanned main shaft bearing replacement can cost wind-farm operators up to $450,000 to replace and have an obvious impact on financial performance.