At Rubix U.K. we have extensive experience of working with some of the biggest names in the energy sector. They choose us for their industrial supplies and services because of our specific sector expertise. 

Our vast experience means that we are able to better understand the unique and special needs that relate to your business and your production processes and to provide bearings that meet those needs.

Understanding Your Business

Wind turbine manufacturers and operators face a unique set of challenges. First, the size of the bearings required are huge and not widely available. Second, they frequently have to operate in harsh conditions. And third, they are often located in remote locations that are hard – and expensive – to reach. When you combine this with the demand being placed on the industry to reduce costs whilst improving performance, it’s understandable that equipment reliability and longevity are foremost concerns.

Longevity of bearings is a top priority. Bearings in the largest turbines have an internal bore of more than 2m. The high cost, and technical difficulty, of replacing them means that operators want them to last for the full 25-year operating life of a turbine.

Consider this: SKF’s advanced test centre is the only site capable of testing large size bearings under conditions that represent real-life dynamic loads. This enables a more efficient development process for customers, leading to bearings with higher performance and longer service life.

Demanding loads and harsh environments can limit bearings’ performance and reliability. A wind turbine’s main shaft arrangement must withstand axial and radial loads, which continually vary. The environment in which they operate – offshore exposed to corrosive seawater, in cold climates or remote locations – puts added strain on to equipment.

Consider this: SKF High Endurance Slewing Bearings have specially designed cage and raceways to reduce friction, which can increase turbine and pitch control performance. They feature a polyurethane seal for enhanced resistance to ozone, UV and salt water.

High cost of repairs and long lead times for replacement parts can make energy generation uncompetitive. Anything that prevents a service trip can boost return on investment and reduce costs. Reliability is therefore vital.

Consider this: Roller skidding is a frequent cause of early bearing failure in lightly loaded, high-speed applications in wind turbine gearboxes. SKF high-capacity cylindrical roller bearings can be used here to allow high-speed intermediate shafts to withstand greater loads whilst also reducing the risk of smearing, adhesive wear and bearing failures. They combine the maximum load carrying capacity of a full complement bearing with the robust performance of a caged bearing.

Sustainability is at the heart of wind energy, so making every part of the process as sustainable as possible is important.

Consider this: rather than replace a bearing that is failing, look to repair it or use a remanufactured bearing. Bearing remanufacturing can significantly reduce carbon emissions, consuming around 10% of the energy of making a new one. By extending bearing service, remanufacturing avoids the scrapping of components and wasteful use of natural resources. The lead time on a remanufactured bearing will also be shorter than for a new one.

SKF Nautilus

SKF Nautilus is a main shaft bearing solution, which provides you with the flexibility to develop a wide variety of turbines. They can be designed with gearboxes or be directly driven, with outer or inner ring rotation, and can be mounted on shafts or directly bolted onto the surrounding structure.

Spherical roller bearings

Available in many designs, series and sizes, with open and sealed variants, these bearings are optimal for operations in harsh conditions. Versions designed specifically for wind turbine main shafts are optimised to handle dominating axial loads, allowing them to perform more reliably under typical operating conditions.

Cylindrical roller bearings

Available in a wide range of designs, series, variants and sizes. The main design differences are the number of roller rows and the inner/outer ring flanges as well as cage designs and materials. The bearings can meet the challenges of applications faced with heavy radial loads and high speeds. Accommodating axial displacement (except for bearings with flanges on both the inner and outer rings), they offer high stiffness, low friction and long service life.

Tapered roller bearings

To improve the performance of high-, intermediate- and low speed shaft bearing arrangements in wind turbines, SKF offers tapered roller bearings in a wide range of bearing sizes and cross sections.

Deep Groove Ball Bearings

Low friction and optimised for low noise and low vibration which enabled high rotational speeds, Deep Groove Ball Bearings accommodate radial and axial loads in both directions, are easy to mount, and require minimum maintenance. Available in a range of designs, variants, and sizes.

Slewing Bearings

Comprise an inner ring and an outer ring, one of which usually incorporates a gear. Together with attachment holes in both rings, they enable an optimised power transmission with a simple and quick connection between adjacent machine components. The bearing raceways, in conjunction with the rolling elements and cages or spacers, are designed to accommodate loads acting singly or in combination, and in any direction. For longest life, SKF High Endurance Slewing Bearings feature redesigned cage and raceways to reduce friction, which can increase turbine and pitch control performance. The bearing features a polyurethane seal which enhances resistance to ozone, UV and salt water. The seal design is also more resistant to ring deformation during operation, which reduces grease leakage and water ingress. In turn, this adds robustness and reduces maintenance costs.

SKF Quiet Running deep groove ball bearings

Designed and developed based on the operating conditions of wind turbine generators, these bearings help prevent resonance that can occur between the rotor, stator and bearings. 

XL hybrid bearings

Designed and developed to protect bearings in large wind turbine generators.

Black Oxide Bearings

Reducing the probability of premature bearing failure due to white etching cracks. They provide enhanced protection from corrosion, improved resistance against smearing, improved performance in low-lubrication conditions, limit the risk of fretting and reduced risk of damage from aggressive oil additives.

INSOCOAT® bearings

Feature a special aluminium oxide coating to control the main effects of electrical erosion.

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