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Wind Power Bearing Technology: "Key Big Inventory" Skills
Home > Bearing Knowledge > Wind Power Bearing Skills – “Key Big Inventoryâ€
Source: Bearing Network | Time: March 19, 2013
Wind power bearings play a critical role in the performance and reliability of wind turbines. As the industry continues to evolve, there are several key technical challenges and innovations that need to be addressed. Here’s an in-depth look at some of the essential aspects of wind power bearing technology.
(1) Material and Heat Treatment. Bearings used in different parts of wind turbines require specialized materials and heat treatment processes. For example, 40CrMo steel is often used for yaw and pitch bearings, which operate in extremely cold environments (ambient temperature as low as -40°C, with operating temperatures around -20°C). The heat treatment process must ensure high impact energy, surface hardness, and control of the hardened layer depth and soft band width. Special attention is also given to avoiding surface cracks, especially at the tooth root area, through induction hardening techniques. Gearbox bearings, on the other hand, use advanced steels like STF or HTF, with careful control over retained austenite content. Spindle bearings may use electroslag remelted carburizing steel ZG20Cr2Ni4A, but domestic vacuum degassing steel still needs improvement in quality.
(2) Cage Design. The cage in transmission bearings must have higher strength and wear resistance to ensure long-term durability under demanding conditions.
(3) Analysis and Simulation. Currently, most designs rely heavily on analogy, while detailed force analysis and load spectrum studies are still lacking. One of the biggest challenges is meeting the alignment requirements of spindle bearings, which must last more than 13×10ⴠhours with over 95% reliability. Additionally, the high failure rate of gearbox bearings—often responsible for about 80% of gear failures—requires better load capacity modeling and predictive maintenance strategies.
(4) Clearance Requirements. Yaw and pitch bearings are subject to shock loads from wind, so they require tight clearance. Pitch bearings, which experience greater shock loads due to blade oscillation, often require zero or slightly negative clearance to minimize fretting wear on the rolling surfaces.
(5) Testing and Experimentation. Comprehensive testing includes measuring friction torque, using simulation test machines, and developing standardized experimental procedures to ensure reliable performance under real-world conditions.
(6) Grinding Process. With the increasing size of wind turbines, bearings must offer higher flexibility and dynamic performance. Yaw and pitch bearings now undergo grinding rather than conventional fine turning, and the matching steel balls have been upgraded from G48 to G20 to improve precision and longevity.
(7) Corrosion Protection and Sealing. Many yaw and pitch bearings are exposed to harsh environmental conditions, making anti-corrosion treatments essential for their entire service life. Internal sealing is also crucial to prevent grease leakage and the intrusion of external contaminants.
(8) High-Precision Machining. Spindle and transmission bearings, particularly spherical roller bearings, require high machining accuracy. While current standards typically reach P5, the demand has increased to P4, reflecting the growing need for precision in modern wind turbine systems.
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