Planetary Load Sharing in Three-Point Mounted Wind Turbine Gearboxes: A Design and Test Comparison
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Romax InSight, Nottingham, (United Kingdom)
- The Timken Company, Jackson Township, OH (United States)
This work compares the planetary load-sharing characteristics of wind turbine gearboxes supported by cylindrical roller bearings (CRBs) and preloaded tapered roller bearings (TRBs) when subjected to rotor moments. Planetary bearing loads were measured in field-representative dynamometer tests and compared to loads predicted by finite-element models. Preloaded TRBs significantly improved load sharing. In pure torque conditions, the upwind planet bearing load in the gearbox with preloaded TRBs was only 14% more than the assumed load compared to 47% more for the gearbox with CRBs. Consequently, the predicted fatigue life of the complete set of planetary bearings for the gearbox with preloaded TRBs is 3.5 times greater than that of the gearbox with CRBs.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1351159
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/TP-5000-67394
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Planetary Load Sharing in Three-Point- Mounted Wind Turbine Gearboxes: Preprint
Comparison of planetary bearing load-sharing characteristics in wind turbine gearboxes