Measuring the bearing gap in wind turbines
In wind
turbines, the bearing gap is very important because the better the sliding
properties, the higher the plant effectiveness and service life. The bearing
gap between the bearing surface and the drive shaft is reliably monitored using
inductive sensors from Micro-Epsilon based on eddy currents.
Wind turbines
typically have two main bearings in which the rotor shaft runs. Due to safety
and cost reasons, wind turbines require 24/7 monitoring. Determining the
bearing gap is one of the most essential tasks in wind turbines, as the bearing
gap provides information about the sliding properties. If the gap width is
reduced, the oil film is also reduced, which should protect the bearing
components from friction-induced wear. In the worst case scenario, reduced
sliding properties cause contact between the components, which causes increased
friction that results in an increase in temperature inside the bearing.
Consequently, the components wear much faster, which could lead to bearing
damage.

To date, bearing gaps
were measured during standstill based on a tactile principle. This meant that
long inspection intervals were required in order to operate the plant for as
long as possible without having to shut it down completely. However, the risk
of a plant failure arose. In contrast,...
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To date, bearing gaps
were measured during standstill based on a tactile principle. This meant that
long inspection intervals were required in order to operate the plant for as
long as possible without having to shut it down completely. However, the risk
of a plant failure arose. In contrast, inductive sensors from Micro-Epsilon are
based on eddy currents which enable reliable, fast and cost-effective bearing
gap measurements. It is not necessary to shut down the plant as measurements
are carried out during operation. Since the eddyNCDT 3005 measuring system
withstands oil and bearing-typical oil pressures up to 2 bar, it is ideally
suited to measurement tasks in harsh environments.
The system includes a
sensor with a measuring range up to 6 mm, which is permanently connected to the
controller via a 1 m long cable. It enables the optimization and analysis of
the maintenance intervals. The analog signals are output and can be directly
fed into a PLC. Furthermore, the measured results can be evaluated via external
software. Special features such as linearity calibration and temperature
compensation from Micro-Epsilon enable the sensors to be adapted to suit different
installation positions.
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Published by Micro-Epsilon USA on Dec 03, 2018
Micro-Epsilon USA
www.micro-epsilon.com
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T: (919) 787-9707
F: (919) 787-9706
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8120 Brownleigh Dr.
Raleigh, NC
27617
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