Rotor Shaft
Highly-dynamic Loads
The ideal solution for every bearing support concept
The rotor shaft bearing support is of central importance in wind turbines. This is where all the forces act that are induced by the wind. The rolling bearings are subjected to highly-dynamic loads and operating conditions. In partnership with customers, Schaeffler develops the most efficient bearing support for each case.
Shaft Bearing Support
If locating and non-locating bearings are mounted in separate housings, only one type of bearing with an angular adjustment facility can be used due to assembly and manufacturing inaccuracies in addition to shaft deflection.
FAG spherical roller bearing (non-locating bearing)
Advantages
- Long life
- Suitable for high loads
- Misalignments and shaft deflections are compensated
- Simple to relubricate
Features
- Adjusted internal clearance
- Reduced friction
- Solid brass cage
You can find standard spherical roller bearings for the non-locating bearing position in our GL1 catalog.
Optimized FAG spherical roller bearing (locating bearing)
The locating bearing is subject to particularly high axial loads as a result of the wind forces. We have optimized our proven standard spherical roller bearings in order to better fulfill the specific requirements in the wind turbine.
Advantages
- Reduced vibration in the drive train due to higher axial bearing rigidity
- Increased robustness of bearings due to reduction parameters for contact pressure and wear
Features
Internal construction optimized for the application.
- Adjusted internal clearance
- Narrow osculation
- Rigid central rib
- Profiled rolling elements
- X-life quality
FAG asymmetric spherical roller bearing (locating bearing)
Asymmetric design for even higher axial load carrying capacity
In addition to the optimized internal geometry, we have consistently further developed the spherical roller bearing in order to increase the operating life in wind turbines. The axial load carrying capacity has been significantly increased thanks to an asymmetric bearing design. The asymmetric spherical roller bearing has a larger contact angle on the bearing row subject to axial loads and a smaller contact angle on the bearing row subject primarily to radial loads.
Advantages
- Reduced vibration in the drive train due to even higher axial bearing rigidity
- Increased robustness of bearings due to further reduction of parameters for contact pressure and wear
Features
- Asymmetrical contact angle
- Adjusted internal clearance
- Narrow osculation
- Profiled rolling elements
- Rigid central rib
- X-life quality
Customer-specific features for longer operating life
Customer-specific spherical roller bearings can also be provided with the following characteristics:
- Durotect B for increased robustness against white etching cracks
- Triondur C for reducing wear under mixed friction conditions
- Adjusted bore diameter for professional bearing replacement
- Schaeffler Wind Power Standard for increased reliability
"FAG Spherical Roller Bearing – Rotor Bearing for Wind Turbines" – technical animation
Hub Bearing Support
If the locating and non-locating bearings are placed in the same housing, the bearing positions can be very precisely matched to each other so that bearing types without an angular adjustment facility can also be used. The locating/non-locating bearing consists of a double-row tapered roller bearing and a cylindrical roller bearing. In the adjusted bearing version, two tapered roller bearings are mounted.
Double-row FAG tapered roller bearing (locating bearing)
Advantages
- Long life
- High operational safety and short mounting time due to preset internal clearance
- Internal clearance and contact angle can be optimally adjusted
- Narrow axial guidance of the rotor
- Compact bearing design
- High bearing load carrying capacity
- High rigidity
Features
- Internal construction optimized for the application
- Preset internal clearance
- Optimized internal geometry regarding wear and angular misalignment
FAG cylindrical roller bearing (non-locating bearing)
Advantages
- Ideal non-locating bearing: all axial movements occur inside the bearing without negatively influencing the bearing kinematics
- High radial load carrying capacity
- High radial rigidity
Features
- Preset internal clearance
- Optimized internal geometry regarding wear and angular misalignment
FAG tapered roller bearing (adjusted bearing version)
Advantages
- Reduced weight
- High rigidity
- Narrow axial guidance of the rotor
Features
- Compact bearing design
- High bearing load carrying capacity
- Contact angle can be optimally adjusted
Double-row Tapered Roller Bearing in an O Arrangement
With the single bearing concept, the rotor is only supported by one double-row tapered roller bearing in an O arrangement that supports all forces and moments. The dimensions of the large-size bearing extend to over 400 mm in width and over 3,000 mm in outside diameter.
FAG double-row tapered roller bearing (moment bearing)
Advantages
- Long life
- High operational safety and short mounting time due to preset internal clearance
- Narrow axial guidance of the rotor
- Compact power train design possible
Features
- Double-row tapered roller bearing in O arrangement with large contact angle
- All forces and moments are supported in one bearing
- Optimum adjustment of the internal clearance and high moment support capacity at the same time
- Preset internal clearance
Flange-mounted double-row FAG tapered roller bearing (flange bearing)
Advantages
- Long life
- High operational safety and short mounting time due to preset internal clearance
- Easy to mount preassembled unit
- Narrow axial guidance of the rotor
- Compact power train design possible
Features
- Double-row tapered roller bearing in O arrangement with large contact angle
- All forces and moments are supported in one bearing
- Optimum adjustment of the internal clearance and high moment support capacity at the same time
- Preassembled bearing unit (sealed and greased)
- Components coated against corrosion
Smart Systems
Real operating data offer immense potential for improving drive trains’ rolling bearing supports and the system as a whole, as well as for optimizing wind turbine operation. We are therefore developing bearings and systems with sensor technology that gather the relevant data directly in the wind turbine. We can interpret these data using our expert knowledge and offer our customers added value in the form of digital services and improved products:
- Prevention of bearing damage and unplanned downtimes
- Predictive maintenance planning
- Optimization of the operating strategy
- Optimization of rolling bearings and the system as a whole
- Lower levelized costs of electricity (LCOE)