Genuine CERBEC ® silicon nitride balls are used in Wind Turbine applications to improve Bearing Performance. CERBEC balls are lighter, stiffer, smoother, harder, corrosion and electrically resistant, require less lubrication and have lower thermal expansion than their steel counterparts which allow bearings to run at higher speeds, higher operational temperatures with less lubrication. CERBEC balls are extremely durable.

Link to WIND ENERGY Bearing Companies

Courtesy of Koyo Corporation of U.S.A.

Key Benefits

• Eliminate Electrical Arcing
• Longer Life
• Less Total Operating Cost
• Lighter weight
• Lower Thermal Expansion

Example:

Wind energy companies are beginning to realize the advantages of high performance ceramic hybrid bearings, particularly in converting the 30 rpm motion of the wind blades into 2000 rpm of the rotor shaft to generate electricity. Bearings using CERBEC ceramic balls are beneficial because they eliminate electrical arcing, last longer than steel bearings in harsh conditions – such as particles of debris and temperature extremes, and maintain their lubricity. A long life bearing is attractive because of the high cost of bearing replacement in wind mills. A bearing replacement can cost up to $10,000 because of the need for cranes and crews.

Jeff McLaughlin is General Manager of Machine Building Specialists (Manitowoc, WI), a company that provides engineering and manufacturing solutions to the wind turbine, power generation, and the crane and construction equipment industries. According to McLaughlin, “the use of hybrid ceramic bearings has helped us achieve and surpass our goals of improved machine performance, reduced maintenance costs, and higher availability for our customers. The differential cost over standard bearings is easily justified in wind turbine generator applications, especially for high speed and generator shafting. The lower mass, thermal stability, reduced friction, and electrical isolation – when used as part of a comprehensive remediation plan – have resulted in ‘better than new’ OEM performance.”

CERBEC balls last longer and provide better performance than steel balls in bearings because of their inherent lower thermal expansion, smoother surface, increased hardness and stiffness, lighter weight, and corrosion/electrical-resistant properties.