Main Bearing Lubrication Challenges in Today's Turbines

How can the next generation of lubricants improve main bearing reliability? Wind turbine main bearings are subject to demanding conditions such as axial thrust loads, "stop and go" intermittent motion, high transient/shock loads, and vibration. They are also influenced by environmental/ambient conditions such as temperature and water ingress that can vary based on geography.

We will look at the design of greases and how to use lab test methods to predict field performance. Addressing all the conditions bearings are subject to can be difficult as improving one parameter may result in a decline in another. It is also an iterative process to determine actual performance versus predicted performance. Maximizing the right KPI's can dramatically improve the reliability of a main bearing. We will demonstrate with case studies how improvements in wear monitoring, temperature readings, and vibration analysis can lead to longer component life.