The industrial and technology group ThyssenKrupp has started operation of a new test and development center for slewing rings in Lippstadt.
Covering an area of 3,000 square meters, the facility is one of the biggest and most modern of its kind in the world. It will be used to test and optimize slewing rings for onshore and offshore wind turbines. With the new development center ThyssenKrupp is intensifying its cooperation with customers, suppliers and universities. Together they will drive forward the development of slewing ring technology for the industrial use of wind power.
“Wind power is the most important renewable energy in the world – and it continues to have the greatest growth potential. As individual wind turbines grow increasingly large and powerful, the requirements to be met by components manufacturers are changing. As a development partner we support our wind energy customers in making this energy form available for use on an industrial scale. To underline this goal we now have one of the world’s most advanced research and test facilities for slewing ring systems,” said Dr. Karsten Kroos, CEO of the Components Technology business area.
The new development center has facilities for testing slewing rings with outside diameters of up to six meters. These are used as rotor bearings in the biggest commercial wind turbines currently available with an output of up to seven megawatts. Testing will focus mostly on the material grade and quality of various slewing bearings. In addition function and lifecycle tests will be carried out on individual components and assemblies.
Here the focus will be on induction-hardened bearings, extremely powerful components suitable for large-scale applications. The test center is due to be expanded as soon as next year. Then it will be possible to test and optimize under real conditions slewing bearings for turbines with a capacity of up to ten megawatts.
Image: ThyssenKrupp