New SKF high-capacity cylindrical roller bearings for wind turbine gearboxes have been engineered to promote longer gearbox service life and optimized performance.

Bearings can accommodate up to three more rollers (depending on dimension series and size) than standard cylindrical roller bearings usually specified for wind turbine gearboxes, according to the company’s press release. This increases the load-carrying capacity and reliability of bearings and gearbox.

The design includes a low cross-section cage, much reducing the risk of damage by roller-to-roller smearing, which is a common failure mode in bearings typically specified for wind turbine gearbox applications.

The cage design allows room for oil passage, which lubricates contacts between rollers and raceways, provides better cooling, and reduces risk of metal-to-metal contact that otherwise could result in smearing and surface wear. The inner ring shoulder-guided cage particularly supports good rolling behavior, especially in low load conditions, reducing the risk of cage slip.

Optimized cross-sections of the rings and rollers significantly reduce the potential for fretting corrosion, ring creep, and flange fracture, compared with other high-capacity bearings.