Lifetime Computational Models of Rolling Bearings in a 1.5MW Wind Turbine’s Epicyclic Gearbox
This paper introduces a computational model for calculating the lifetime of rolling bearings in a 1.5MW wind turbine’s epicyclic gearbox. At first, a quasi-dynamic model is established to analyze the skidding of bearings and the skew of rollers. Then, the load distributions on raceways and inner rings of bearings are calculated using the quasi-dynamic model. Meanwhile, a multi-body finite element model established in RomaxWind software is utilized to simulate and analyze dynamics behaviors of the epicyclic gearbox including all bearings. The comparison of bearings’ lifetimes calculated with different methods shows that the quasi-dynamic model can obtain very close results as the multi-body finite element model obtains, but costs less time. Failures occurring on inner and outer rings, such as pitting, adhesion, are mainly resulted from the misalignment of inner rings and roller number on the skidding of bearings