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SKF introduced two new bearing designs, a new lubrication kit, disclosed a new large order for wind turbine monitoring equipment and received official verification from Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd. The news were presented at one of the world's leading fairs for wind energy, Hamburg Wind Energy Fair, on Wednesday.
• To solve the problem with passage of electrical current through the generator bearings, causing expensive repair and downtime, SKF has developed a range of large hybrid bearings especially for wind turbine generator applications that do not allow the passage of electrical currents. Such currents would lead to electrical erosion of the raceways and eventual bearing and generator failure. They also tend to break down the structure of the lubricant, which also heavily affects bearing performance.
• SKF also introduces a new high capacity cylindrical roller bearing that has been designed to increase the load carrying capacity and therefore increases reliability of the bearings and the wind turbine gearbox, optimizing its performance.
• The new automatic lubrication kit, introduced by SKF, allow turbine owners and wind park operators to ensure that all critical lubrication points receive the right amount of lubricant at the right time and that no lubrication point is missed. There is no need for human inspection and point-to-point re-greasing action by maintenance personnel. This means more electricity generated, less maintenance cost, less spare parts used and less lubricants consumed.
• SKF also announced that the company has received an order from REpower Systems AG for 100 SKF WindCon condition monitoring systems for wind turbines. Additionally, REpower, ordered 4 SKF WindCon systems to equip their 5 megawatt turbines, one of the biggest wind turbine in the world. For the first time two of these turbines would be used in an offshore environment.
SKF WindCon is an online monitoring system providing continuous data from key machinery within the turbine. With these systems, wind turbine productivity is optimized by reducing unplanned downtime. REpower tested several condition monitoring systems by different providers and selected SKF WindCon based on its capability and innovative technology.
• Det Norske Veritas and Germanischer Lloyd announced that they gave official verification that the increase in dynamic load ratings beyond the ISO 281 standard has been justified for SKF Explorer bearings. This confirms that the SKF Explorer bearing has set a new performance standard.
SKF is the world's leading supplier of roller bearings and condition monitoring equipment to the wind energy industry.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| GE17KRRB bearing | 17 | 40 | 27.78 |
| RAE17NPPB bearing | 17 | 40 | 28.6 |