Wind Turbines
Large wind turbines are enormous machines.
Many 2-megawatt class turbines are now being built with blades of around 40 meters in length, and a rotor hub height of 60 to 100 meters. The total weight is over 200 tons. Therefore, the bearings used in wind turbines are very large, with bore diameters of between 100 mm and 700 mm, and even as much as 2 meters in some instances.
Very few manufacturers worldwide, including NSK, can offer the market a stable supply of such large bearings. Suppliers must have both production capability and the ability to provide sales and technical service in key locations around the world, because the wind-turbine industry is now developing on a global scale.
Strong winds, stronger bearings.
NSK entered the market in the second half of 1990's, supplying the European wind turbine industry. At that time, European companies had a monopoly in the market. NSK currently also supplies bearings to the United States, China, India and elsewhere.
NSK is well known as one of the best bearing suppliers, and currently with NSK bearings used by nine of the world's top ten wind turbine manufacturers, the company is making a substantial contribution to environmental protection.
NSK offers a wide range of high-quality products specifically developed for thewind turbine market. Whether it’s our bearings, our ball screws or our linear guides, our components offer peace of mind to customers all over the globe.
NSK Experience & Technology
Reliability, sustainability, and productivity are key necessities across industries, and NSK’s knowhow and technologies help fulfil these needs. From standard high-capacity bearings to specialized bearings that showcase our latest advances, NSK provides the proper response to industry requirements.
Constantly changing wind speeds mean that the bearings are subjected to strongly varying load conditions. The turbines are switched off when it is calm or there are strong winds and are either stationary or spin at very low speed. The resulting start-up and shutdown procedures lead to high loading. NSK solutions are designed to maximize uptime through increased reliability, less maintenance, and longer life.
Find out more about NSK Products and Services for Wind
Operating conditions: variable loads
A wind turbine’s main gearbox serves to convert low rotor speed into high generator speed. The gearboxes commonly used in megawatt-class turbines consist of one or two planetary stages and one or two spur-gear stages. Operating conditions for wind turbines make high demands of the bearings used for the individual shafts and gearbox components.
mportant parameters include the weight of the gearbox, which due to installation at a height of up to 120 metres needs to be as low as possible, and, of course, the costs. Optimum bearing concept and design is thus essential for competitive gearboxes.
Bearing design by experienced engineers using sophisticated calculation and simulation tools: Besides extreme and maximum conditions, load cycles, lubrication, deformation and thermal response are also taken into consideration. This allows a safe design to be created in order to achieve the desired service life using cost-optimised components.
TF Series Bearings
Designed for outstanding toughness under harsh conditions, combining longer service life & superior resistance against wear, seizure & heat. >>
EM Series Roller Bearings
Features high load ratings and quiet running with precision machined tough one-piece cage. >>
Ceramic Coated Bearings
Optimal for applications that are susceptible to bearing damage and failures due to electrical corrosion >>
NSKHPS Roller Bearings
NSKHPS series or high performance standard uses state of the art material technology bearings, offering high speed & load ratings. >>
Technical Enquiry
Looking for a new solution? Fill out the technical enquiry form and one of the NSK technical team members will provide assistance as soon as possible. >>
NSK Academy
The NSK Academy is the best place to develop your understanding of the role bearings play in the Cement Making sector. Refresh your knowledge and learn about your industry with NSK. >>
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