Development of a Methodology for a WT Gearbox Robustness Test

Journal of Physics Conference Series, vol. 2362, pp. 012014

Abstract

The paper presents a novel test method to address non-calculative failure modes in wind turbine gearboxes through a metrological robustness evaluation. The method is exemplarily shown for the evaluation of the failure mode “fretting corrosion” which is caused by ring creep at roller bearings. The method was also verified for the failure modes smearing and rehardening. Through the proposed gearbox robustness test, it is for the first time possible to test gearboxes against relevant failure modes and to establish a baseline to compare the robustness of gearboxes with each other. This allows identifying design elements that increase the gearbox robustness and boosters a further increase in availability and reliability of wind turbines.

Authors 3

1. Jonas Gnauert corresponding Aachen Chair for Wind Power Drives (CWD)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair for Wind Power Drives, RWTH Aachen

2. Georg Jacobs Aachen Chair for Wind Power Drives (CWD)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair for Wind Power Drives, RWTH Aachen

3. Dennis Bosse Aachen Chair for Wind Power Drives (CWD)

   RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Chair for Wind Power Drives, RWTH Aachen