Posted to News on 31st Jan 2024, 12:00
Schaeffler cooperates with LORC on wind bearing test facility
As wind turbines become larger and more powerful, the main shaft bearing system is of elementary importance, as this is where all the forces and torques exerted by the wind on the turbine add up. Schaeffler is rising to the challenge and will contribute actively to the development of multi-megawatt wind turbines.
In Lind, Denmark, the worlds most powerful test facility for main shaft bearings will be built at LORC (Lind Offshore Renewables Centre). The investment is in the mid-double-digit millions and includes grants from the Danish GreenLab programme. Concrete test programmes should already be running by the end of 2025.
LORC has partnered with R&D Test Systems, which is one of the leading suppliers of test benches for the wind industry, to build the new test facility. Schaeffler played a major part in defining the specifications of the test facility and will be the first customer to test its main shaft bearings for future generations of wind turbines in cooperation with OEMs.
Dr Michael Pausch, CTO for industrial at Schaeffler, stresses: We are a key market and technology leader for bearing technologies in the wind power industry. With LORC, one of the most experienced operators of test facilities for wind turbine drivetrains, we have found a partner to help us further expand our know-how and our product performance. We now have the opportunity to shape the development of the next generations of wind turbines with suitable testing technology and method development.
Bernd Endres, vice president of the wind business unit at Schaeffler Industrial, adds: We have been gaining valuable insights for the development of bearing solutions since 2011 with our large-size bearing test bench Astraios, the worlds most powerful test bench at the time. With the new test facility, we will now be able to advance into new and future dimensions and contribute to a more rapid development of reliable multi-megawatt turbines.
Closed loop engineering
Schaeffler has been offering reliable bearing solutions for on- and offshore wind turbines for around 40 years. Rolling bearings from Schaeffler are found in every second to third wind turbine worldwide.
Schaeffler takes a closed loop engineering approach for its wind turbine bearings. Besides engaging in the pure development of bearing solutions, the Schaeffler experts also support turbine development with system simulations, testing, and field measurement campaigns. The findings gained flow back into the further development of customers projects, design tools as well as the development of new bearing solutions.
The experts from Schaeffler work closely with developers from OEMs to increase the reliability of wind turbines and make wind power more cost-effective. The new test bench will provide an important building block for the developments of the coming decades.
