SKF to showcase wind energy innovations at EWEA 2015 Annual Event
Resource from: SKF 10 Nov,2015
SKF will be demonstrating a range of its solutions for the wind energy sector at this year’s EWEA Annual Event.
Gothenburg, Sweden, 09 November, 2015: SKF, the knowledge engineering company, will be demonstrating a range of innovative products that improve the performance and efficiency of assets in the wind energy sector at the EWEA 2015 Annual Event in Paris. The solutions on show enable the global wind energy industry to optimise asset reliability, minimise downtime and cut maintenance costs for both new and existing wind turbines to meet the ever growing demand for wind power.
Visitors to EWEA will see on show SKF’s HRS range of main shaft seals, which have been specifically developed to meet the often complex challenges of the wind energy industry. This new generation of machined polyurethane seals provides the first line of defence between the external environment and the critical main bearings mechanisms by protecting against contamination, while stopping lubricants escaping into the environment.
The HRS seals are manufactured from ozone, UV and hydrolysis resistant G-ECOPUR polyurethane to provide exceptional wear resistance when compared with common rubber materials to ensure a long service life with minimal chance of premature failure. Indeed, they are proven to be five times more abrasion resistant than the next best performing elastomer material.
The range includes three different designs and they can be made to meet specific customer requirements to suit various applications. The seals enable equipment manufacturers to maximise space utilisation and minimise the weight of turbine nacelles as they weigh less and are smaller than labyrinth seal designs. Each design is available in solid and split versions for easy installation during manufacture where operators can access the end of the shaft or for up-tower replacement and manufacturing applications where there is no access to the end of the shaft.
The stiff material and design of the seals means installation can be carried out particularly easy without special tools, helping to save up to four working hours per seal by comparison with alternative fabric designs. Installation is made simpler still thanks to the smooth outer diameter of the HRS seals, while the carefully optimised seal geometry minimises the risk of inverting the seal or losing the stainless steel garter spring during assembly.
Also on show will be SKF’s WindCon with @ptitude Observer Software remote condition monitoring system for wind turbines. This powerful tool allows operators to take a proactive approach to maintenance to consistently ensure reliable performance and improved reliability. It has been developed to enable wind farms to extend turbine maintenance intervals, manage resources more effectively and prevent costly downtime, while cutting operating costs.
The comprehensive system is already helping hundreds of turbine operators around the world to improve performance and eliminate failures. WindCon features vibration sensors mounted on a turbine’s main shaft bearings, drive train gearbox and generator to collect operating data and provide analysis and diagnostics through the @ptitude software. This integrated approach to condition monitoring allows for the fast and reliable gathering of large amounts of complex plant information to identify faults before they become a problem.
Equally, the system makes the information accessible throughout an entire organisation, allowing for straightforward post treatment analysis and investigation into faults to enable the introduction of preventative measures. Recent developments in the @ptitude software now mean it only monitors turbines during meaningful periods, eliminating false alarms, while improvements to the graphical display allow for the quick comparison between machine behaviours to increase diagnostic capabilities. The interface is also designed according to IEC61400-25, enabling the exchange of information with different wind power plants, enhancing still further the diagnostic possibilities.
EWEA 2015 takes place on 17-20 November 2015 at the Paris Expo – Porte de Versailles, Pavilion 1, in Paris. Visitors to the event will find SKF in Hall 1 at Booth N07.
Aktiebolaget SKF
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For further information, please contact:
Press Relations: Nia Kihlström, +46 31-337 2897; +46 706 67 28 97; nia.kihlstrom@skf.com
SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2014 were SEK 70,975 million ($8.5 billion) and the number of employees was 48,593. www.skf.com
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