Modern gearboxes for wind turbines
In modern planetary gearboxes used in wind turbines has been introduced a modular bearing system: It allows the standardisation of the bearings and consequent simplified logistics.Gearboxes are used in most wind turbines in order to transform the rotational speed of the main shaft into higher speeds, required for power generation.
Because the forces to transmit are forever increasing while the gearbox itself has to remain compact, single- or two – stage planetary gearboxes are commonly used. The bearings of the planetary gears are among the highest-loaded in this specific application.
In modern gearboxes an integrated planetary bearing arrangement is used. In these gear units
cylindrical roller bearings without an outer ring are fitted in the planetary gears, with the bore of the gear forming the outer raceway.
The modular structure is based on single-row cylindrical roller bearings, without an outer ring. They are equipped with a one-piece solid brass cage, which is guided by the inner ring . This cage features inspection grooves for endoscopic inspection of the inner raceways as standard.
This kind of modularity has many advantages for the user:
- the designs of planetary bearings can be simplified and standardised (for the first and second gear stage and across various gearbox sizes)
- reduced number of bearing variants
- the modular design simplifies the adaptation of bearing set characteristics to the requirements of each gear stage
- the one-piece solid brass cage provides excellent rolling element guidance even during rapid acceleration
- the lubrication grooves provided as standard improve the lubrication of the planetary gear bearings
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