3D view of a wind turbine from the inside with slewing bearings marked in blue

Gearbox bearings - Quality-critical components in planetary gearboxes for wind turbines

3D representation of a gearbox from the inside with slewing bearings in grey
© Flender GmbH

psl® Gearbox bearings in planetary gearboxes are used to support various gearbox components such as high, intermediate or low-speed shafts, as well as components such as planet carriers and planetary gears.

Gearbox bearings are able to withstand the demanding operating conditions in terms of durability, quality and reliability, even in gearboxes with increasingly high power densities.

Cylindrical and tapered roller bearings are types mostly used in wind turbine planetary gearboxes. The tailored bearing design depends on several operational factors such as the load level, the operational speeds and the available space. Generally, single-row or double-row bearings are used for these applications. Cylindrical roller bearings without cages are preferred for slow-running shafts and high operational loads.

Due to the very limited internal space, special bearing solutions with integrated gearing can also be considered, which are characterized by their compact design.

Our solutions for gearbox bearings

3D cross-sectional view of cylindrical roller bearings
Cylindrical roller bearing
3D cross-sectional view of a tapered roller bearings
Tapered roller bearing
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What advantages do our gearbox bearings have?

  • Suitable hardening processes

    Bearing rings made out of through, case or induction hardened steels provide sufficient hardness of the raceways. Our hardening processes ensure an appropriate resistance against common failure modes due to dynamic loads, which frequently occur in wind turbine gearboxes.

  • Long service life

    Bearings for wind gearboxes must meet various operational requirements, including constantly changing loads, strong vibrations, and temperature fluctuations. These factors must be thoroughly analyzed and considered during the design phase.

Suitable hardening processes

Bearing rings made out of through, case or induction hardened steels provide sufficient hardness of the raceways. Our hardening processes ensure an appropriate resistance against common failure modes due to dynamic loads, which frequently occur in wind turbine gearboxes.

Long service life

Bearings for wind gearboxes must meet various operational requirements, including constantly changing loads, strong vibrations, and temperature fluctuations. These factors must be thoroughly analyzed and considered during the design phase.

  • Surface coating

    A special surface coating (black oxide) improves sliding resistance and reduces the likelihood of white etching cracks (WEC), especially during the initial stages of operation.

  • Thorough preliminary analysis

    The bearings are typically designed for a minimum service life of 20 years, meeting the standard requirements in the wind energy sector. However, they often outlast the life cycle of the turbines.

Surface coating

A special surface coating (black oxide) improves sliding resistance and reduces the likelihood of white etching cracks (WEC), especially during the initial stages of operation.

Thorough preliminary analysis

The bearings are typically designed for a minimum service life of 20 years, meeting the standard requirements in the wind energy sector. However, they often outlast the life cycle of the turbines.

In the field of transmission bearings, Rothe Erde is characterized by a high level of innovation and close partnerships at eye level, which we use time and again to break new ground. In doing so, we can build on an international footprint that is highly recognized throughout the industry.

Kim Leopold Hartmann
Account Manager

Bearings in Planetary Gearboxes for Wind Turbines – We've Got All the Key Factors Covered

Bearings for Wind Gearboxes have to withstand various loads resulting from the intended operation:

  • constantly changing loads,

  • strong vibrations and

  • temperature fluctuations.

The exact design of the selected bearings depends on several operational factors:

  • load size

  • load direction

  • operational speeds

  • build-up inner gearbox space

Groundbreaking 30 MW test rig project by ZF Wind Power

Two men working on a slewing bearingA man in protective clothing looks up at a slewing bearingSlewing bearing on a crane, photographed from belowPeople in protective clothing stand at the test stand
Two men working on a slewing bearingA man in protective clothing looks up at a slewing bearingSlewing bearing on a crane, photographed from belowPeople in protective clothing stand at the test stand

Rothe Erde has supplied two rothe erde® slewing bearings for the cutting-edge powertrains and gearboxes test rig by the ZF Wind Power, constructed by R&D Test Systems. The bearings we provided have remarkable dimensions, with outer diameters exceeding 4,800 mm and each weighing more than 22 tons.

The test rig is the most powerful of its kind, playing a crucial role in driving the development of next-generation powertrains for both on- and offshore wind turbines.

Photos: Bart Fatan/ZF Wind Power