Measuring the bearing gap in wind turbines
In wind turbines, there are two main bearings in which rotor shaft runs. Measuring the bearing clearance is important as it provides information on the sliding properties. If the clearance width is reduced, then the thickness of the oil film is also reduced. This causes reduction in the sliding properties and exposed the bearing to friction-induced wear. Further reduction of the oil film may causes contact between the components and increases the friction that results in an increased temperature inside the bearing. This may result in rapid wear and bearing damage.
Modern sensor technology helps in reducing maintenance and service costs by providing real-time monitoring facilities. The inductive eddyNCDT sensors by Bestech Australia are capable of measuring upto 6 mm and provide accurate measurements of bear gap to prevent direct contact between the bearing surface and the shaft. Unlike the traditional measurement methods, this method doesn’t require to shut down the plant while performing the measurements. These sensors are highly suitable for such applications involving typical oil pressures reaching upto 1 to 2 bar in the bearing. The eddyNCDT inductive measurement system is used to analyse and optimize the maintenance intervals of wind turbines and ideal for high volume applications for condition monitoring.
The sensor is connected to controller via a 1 m long cable which enables the optimization and analysis of the maintenance intervals. The analog output can directly be fed into a PLC and the further evaluation of the measured result is done via an external software. The sensor exibits certain features such as linearity calibration and temperature compensation that makes it suitable for different installation positions.
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