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Main bearings for wind turbines​
Looking back on more than 30 years of experience in the wind industry, Liebherr rounds off the slewing bearing portfolio for wind turbines

WHICH BEARING DESIGNS ARE AVAILABLE?

Depending on the type of wind turbine, triple-row roller bearings, double-row tapered roller bearings or single-row tapered roller bearings are used as main bearings. While the roller bearing leads to lower stresses in the adjacent construction, the double-row tapered roller bearing is particularly attractive because it has zero play, therefore allowing for an optimal rolling behaviour of the bearing.​

The single-row tapered roller bearings ensure optimum rolling characteristics and ideal force distribution by the layout and design. In addition, the precise rolling elements combined with the narrow manufacturing tolerances of the two single-row tapered roller bearings provide for an exact preloading in the installed condition. ​

Triple-row roller bearings

Lower tension in the adjacent construction

Double-row tapered roller bearing

Bearing with zero play and optimal rolling behaviour of the rolling elements

Single-row tapered roller bearing

Main bearing consists of the front and rear bearing

Reliable rotor bearings

Liebherr rounds off its slewing bearing portfolio for wind turbines by including main bearings that are suitable for use in wind turbines with a capacity of 2 MW and upwards. The moment bearings ensure that the rotor can rotate steadily around its own axis and thus withstand constant high loadings. Liebherr customers benefit from the high reliability of the bearings.

Depending on customer requirements, the rotor bearings are available with oil or grease lubrication. An optimised sealing system always offers the best protection against leakage and ensures minimal friction losses.

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Testing makes the difference: new test bench for main bearings up to six metres in diameter

Main bearings are the heart of every rotor in wind turbines. They play a central role in the efficiency of the overall system and must, therefore, pass extensive tests. To ensure these high requirements for main bearings, they are tested on a new main bearing test bench. It can validate main bearings with a diameter of up to 6 metres.

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Thoroughly tried and tested

Main bearings are validated on our own test bench for continuously rotating moment bearings. The machine carrier of a wind turbine serves as a connecting structure and allows tests under realistic environmental conditions by realistically depicting the stiffness conditions of the wind turbine. Real-life deformations and loading limits can be simulated very precisely.

The dynamic main bearing test bench generates a maximum bending moment of 8,000 kNm and a maximum radial load of 2,000 kNm. The tests not only provide valuable input for optimal design of the bearings but also essential validation of the design approach concerning raceway lifespan, sealings and rolling elements.

A comprehensive offer

Liebherr's extensive slewing bearing portfolio includes slewing bearings with a diameter of up to 9,500 mm. With main bearings and slewing bearings for azimuth as well as pitch adjustment, Liebherr covers all types of bearings used for wind turbines.

Liebherr also manufactures special gearboxes, hydraulic cylinders and frequency converter systems for wind turbines, thus offering comprehensive solutions for the wind industry.

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Single-row tapered roller bearings as main bearings

Wind energy

Slewing bearings

Unique production processes