Bearings from NKE for wind turbine gearboxes and generators

NKE Austria will be presenting its bearings for wind turbine gearboxes and generators at the WindEurope Annual Event in Bilbao, Spain, in April 2022. Wind turbines cannot be serviced easily. This is why the components of the gearbox, especially the bearings, must be exceptionally reliable.

The most common bearings used in a wind gearbox are full complement cylindrical roller bearings, single and multi-row cylindrical roller bearings, tapered roller bearings, spherical roller bearings, deep groove ball bearings and angular contact ball bearings. “NKE can manufacture all of those bearing types for wind gearboxes to high quality standards,” says Michael Rössl, application engineer at NKE in Steyr, Austria.

“NKE bearings are installed inside wind turbines for power ratings from several hundred kilowatts up to multi-megawatts. NKE has more than 20 years of experience in the wind business and has equipped a great number and variety of wind turbines in the past – so we know about the design and specifications which need to be fulfilled for service demands. As we are building up a stock of frequently used wind bearings and complete gearbox sets, we can guarantee high availability.”

Bearings used in wind turbine gearboxes are commonly coated with black oxide. This special treatment provides a protective layer on the functional surfaces of a bearing. Among other advantages, black oxide finished bearings offer are said to offer improved run-in and wear and enhanced adhesive wear characteristics. For very demanding applications, NKE can choose from a wide variety of different materials and heat treatments – such as bainitic hardening, case-carburized bearing steel, etc – for optimised bearing performance.

Besides the gearboxes, wind turbine generators are also essential to the overall functionality of wind turbines. Generator bearings have to operate under challenging conditions. In modern applications, the bearings must frequently withstand issues caused by stray electrical currents or electric discharge. Depending on the expected operating conditions and demands of customers, NKE offers insulated generator bearings and hybrid generator bearings with ceramic rolling elements.

Both solutions offer protection against all kind of issues related to electric current passing through a bearing. Moreover, hybrids reduce friction and operating temperature, improving the overall operating conditions and thus extending lubricant and bearing service life. “In a nutshell, NKE’s generator bearings lower the risk of a premature bearing failure and increase the reliability and efficiency of the turbine as a whole,” Rössl says.

NKE offers a wide variety of insulating bearings, which are suitable for all common multi-megawatt generators, and offers customised insulated bearing solutions upon request. For applications that have to function under especially harsh operating conditions, NKE offers premium hybrid bearings that maximize the generator’s reliability and performance. Hybrid bearings consist of bearing rings made of bearing steel, and ceramic rolling elements. Large-sized wind generator hybrid bearings are available with rolling element guided steel sheet cages or massive brass cages.

“NKE premium hybrid bearings as well as electrically insulated bearings have proven successful in leading wind generator brands,” Rössl says. “NKE collaborates with wind turbine manufacturers, generator manufacturers and service providers worldwide.”