Falls Church, Va.-based Curtiss Wright Flow Control Co.'s subsidiary SWANtech has been selected by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to participate in its Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC), which is aimed at improving reliability and durability of gearboxes on wind turbines.
The GRC allows gearbox manufacturers, bearing manufacturers, wind turbine owner and operators, and wind turbine manufacturers to team up for joint projects that address specific issues on wind turbine gearboxes. The primary means of investigation will be through full-scale testing and analysis of actual gearboxes, both in the field at the Xcel Ponnequin wind farm and in the NREL 2.5 MW dynamometer test facility – both of which are both located in Colorado.
‘We are very pleased to have the opportunity to participate and contribute to the GRC because of the profound value it could have on the future of improving the reliability and availability of wind turbines,’ says SWANtech President Ralph Genesi.
SWANtech's SWANwind condition- and health-monitoring system will provide overall insight into the condition and health of the gearbox and wind turbine drivetrain components. The system will monitor and provide early detection of component wear and lubricant condition and will be capable of identifying how stress from loading can contribute to component fatigue.
SOURCE: Curtiss Wright Flow Control Co.
