
Wind power bearings are key components of wind power plants. Based on their location and function in a wind generator, they are mainly divided into yaw bearings, pitch bearings, main shaft bearings, gearbox bearings and generator bearings.
Wind power bearings are key components of wind power plants. Based on their location and function in a wind generator, they are mainly divided into yaw bearings, pitch bearings, main shaft bearings, gearbox bearings and generator bearings. The range of bearings includes many standard sizes and models. Based on the type of equipment supplied, bearings are divided into bearings for wind energy, bearings for road construction equipment, automobile bearings, bearings for machine tools, railway bearings, bearings for metallurgical and mining equipment, etc. Bearings used in wind power plants include: yaw bearings (serve to connect the nacelle and tower, tracking the direction of the wind), pitch bearings (connect the blades and hub, regulate the angle of the blades), main shaft bearings (main shaft support, power transmission), gearbox (multiplier) bearings, generator bearings. The average number of bearings per wind generator: yaw bearing - 1 set, pitch bearings - 3 sets, main shaft bearings - 2 sets, generator bearings - 3 sets. Taking into account the gearbox bearings, the average number of bearings per wind generator can reach 27 sets. The main shaft bearing is the key and most critical component. Common types include spherical roller bearings (SRB, mainly used in double-feeder machines and machines up to 5 MW), tapered roller bearings (TRB), and three-row cylindrical roller bearings (CRB, mainly used in high-power gearless and semi-gearless machines). The independent pitch system, by separately dynamically adjusting the angle of rotation of each of the three blades, allows each blade to occupy a different target position, reducing the dynamic balancing load. Independent pitch bearings have the potential to become an industry trend. Bearings for wind energy are characterized by a high degree of customization, high requirements for reliability, the need for anti-corrosion and moisture resistance (especially for marine applications), safety and maintainability. Their operating conditions are difficult, the cost of repairs is high, and extremely high demands are placed on service life.
1. It is necessary to control the forging temperature to avoid the growth of large grains;
2. It is necessary to control the process of thermal improvement (hardening with high tempering), ensuring the required core structure after thermal improvement, which guarantees mechanical properties;
3. Control of the depth of the surface hardened layer during hardening with high-frequency particles;
4. Preventing the formation of surface microcracks.