Slewing Rings and Spherical Roller
Bearings from Schaeffler Ensure
Reliability of Gaia-Wind Turbines
A manufacturer of high performance
small wind turbines based in Scotland has
specified slewing rings and spherical roller
bearings from Schaeffler UK for use on
its 133 wind turbine – the quietest wind
turbine in its class.
Based in Port Dundas, Glasgow in Scotland,
Gaia-Wind is a leading manufacturer of
high performance, small wind turbines
designed for moderate wind speed
sites. The turbines are ideally suited to
farms, rural properties, businesses and
community projects.
Designed in Denmark and manufactured
in Scotland, the Gaia-Wind 133 turbine has
Slewing rings
In order to optimise operating efficiency,
wind turbines need to be aligned to wind
conditions. In order to achieve this, the
slewing rings (yaw bearings) adjust and
optimise the position of the nacelle to the
direction of the wind. The wind loads and
the dynamic inertia forces are transferred
via the bearing raceways and screw
connections into the head of the tower.
Schaeffler develops and manufactures
slewing rings with outside diameters up
to 1,250mm. Due to their design, these
slewing rings can transmit radial and axial
forces, as well as tilting moments.
raceway, solid inner rings and barrel rollers
with cages. The inner rings have cylindrical
bores and are supplied to be fitted into a
housed unit to suit the 133 turbine. The
bearings are manufactured to Schaeffler’s
premium X-life quality standard. The
E1 range includes eight bearing series
with bore diameters from 20mm up to
1,220mm.
Mike Addington, regional sales engineer
(Scotland) at Schaeffler UK commented:
“The INA slewing rings and FAG E1
spherical roller bearings are high
performance bearings that provide the
high quality and reliability that Gaia-Wind
requires on its 133 turbine.
an oversized rotor, allowing it to capture
significantly more energy than similarly
As well as supplying bearings, Schaeffler
rated machines. With more than 1400
UK also provides valuable technical
installed worldwide, these turbines are the
support, advice and guidance to Gaia-
quietest wind turbines in their class and
Wind, for example, how to simplify and
have a long track record of reliability.
speeding up the assembly procedures
Owen Paterson, Operations Manager at
Gaia-Wind commented: “We work with
Schaeffler as they are recognisably one of
the world leaders in bearing technology.
Their massive range of applications
helps them to understand our particular
The slewing rings supplied for the 133
turbine are four-point contact bearings,
enabling precise angular adjustment at
varying loads.
E1 spherical roller bearings
at Gaia-Wind by considering alternative
designs. Currently, Gaia-Wind is working
towards a 20% improvement in the
efficiency of its 133 turbine by the year
2020, and we are therefore looking at
how Schaeffler’s bearing technology can
support this requirement.”
requirements and to come up with
In a wind turbine, the design of the rotor
solutions unique to our needs. For many
shaft bearing is critical, as this bearing is
For more information, please contact
years, Schaeffler has been our first choice
directly exposed to the loads and forces
Schaeffler UK’s Communications &
due to their ongoing commitment to keep
induced by the wind. Alternating loads
Marketing Department on
us up-to-date with the latest in technology
with extreme peaks and troughs, as well
[email protected]
and their flexibility in delivering against a
as fluctuating operating temperatures
www.schaeffler.co.uk
very demanding and changeable supply
represent further challenges to the
requirement.”
bearing designer. Ideal for heavy duty,
harsh operating environments and where
Schaeffler UK has been working with
there is a need to compensate for shaft
Gaia-Wind for over five years, supplying
misalignment, E1 spherical roller bearings
precision engineered slewing rings and
from Schaeffler support the main shaft
E1 spherical roller bearings for the 133
of the 133 turbines. These bearings are
turbine.
double-row, self-contained units that
comprise solid outer rings with a concave
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PECM Issue 21