Page 16 - North American Clean Energy January February 2018 Issue

wind power
16
_P__R__O__T__E__C_T___Y__O__U__R___I_N__V__E__S__T__M___E_N___T_
PAdding/shading Equipment available for sale, rent or leasing.
AUTHORIZED DEALERS OF
 1.888.997.3687  [email protected]  WRSRENTS.COM  @WRSRENTS JANUARY•FEBRUARY2018 /// www.nacleanenergy.com
PVD Coatings
Physical vapor deposition encompasses a wide range of vacuum deposition methods. It essentially covers components with thin coatings to increase their surface hardness and durability, lower the friction coe cient, and resist corrosion.
By applying components with PVD coatings designed for such demanding conditions, not only is the surface hardness and durability increased, but essential parts are
far less likely to fail, if at all. As a result, maintenance and unexpected downtime is drastically reduced.
A particularly e ective PVD coating can be applied in thicknesses of 0.5
to 4 micrometers on roller bearings
Extending the Life
of Wind Turbine
Components
by Dr. Florian Rovere
Specialized PVD coatings and nitriding signi cantly increase the durability and lifespan of wind turbine components, like roller bearings and planetary gears, under metal-on-metal, high load conditions.
With the increasing demand for carbon-free renewable energy, more companies are turning to wind power as a source for their energy needs. Although this presents a good deal of potential for the manufacturers of wind turbines and their components, the technological challenges of providing a reliable product that operates with minimal maintenance or repair, are increasingly daunting.
at’s because enormous forces are at work on the individual internal components.
Turbine shaft bearings, planetary and sun gears, and rotating shafts, for example, operate under high load conditions that involve direct metal-on-metal contact, often in poor lubricating conditions. With components increasing in size, these forces only become more extreme. When this occurs, even components made of hardened steel or metal alloys break down from excessive wear, scu ng, surface fatigue, pitting and galling.
Wind farm operators bear signi cant costs for overhauls, which often involves using cranes for on-site repairs. When you have to bring in a crane to change the main shaft bearing, for example, the cost includes not only the new bearing but also the labor involved.
At $100,000 or $200,000 per overhaul, all of a sudden the green energy becomes quite expensive, which is why wind farm operators want to extend the longevity of the components as much as possible.
Coatings and surface treatments can address this issue by signi cantly extending the service life of wind turbine components. Today, this is being accomplished through the application of specialized physical vapor deposition (PVD) coatings, and nitriding treatments; both of these methods increase surface hardness and durability.
By applying coatings optimized for punishing environments, components bene t from increased surface hardness and a much lower coe cient of friction. erefore, these critical parts do not have to be replaced as frequently, if at all, reducing maintenance and unplanned downtime, while improving wind turbine performance.