A major step has been taken in the development of the world's largest test facility for wind turbine main bearings, which is currently being built at Lindø Offshore Renewables Center (LORC). R&D Test Systems, the engineering company behind the project, has successfully completed the complex lifting and installation of a 560-ton load unit – the central element of the new test bench. This is stated in a statement by R&D Test Systems.
Using Lindø's 1,200-ton gantry crane and with only 25 centimeters of clearance on each side, the load unit was lifted through the roof and positioned with impressive precision. The unit measures 16 meters in length, 9 meters in width and over 8 meters in height and contains a drive system that can simulate the extreme loads that offshore wind turbine components are exposed to. One of the heaviest individual parts, a shaft weighing 260 tons and with a diameter of up to 5 meters, underlined the scale and complexity of the facility. Dry weather and thorough planning were crucial for the operation to be completed in one day. The building was closed again that same afternoon.
- Such an operation is about more than engineering. It is about precise and safe execution at the highest level. We are proud to push the boundaries of what is possible in testing components for the wind industry, says Nicolas G. Andersen, Vice President of Operations at R&D Test Systems.
When the facility is commissioned, it will enable full-scale testing of the next generation of main bearings for offshore wind turbines. This will help manufacturers validate performance, increase operational reliability and shorten development times. Schaeffler will be the first bearing manufacturer to put the new test facility into operation.
The installation marks an important step towards higher quality and greater robustness in critical turbine components. By enabling realistic testing under high loads, LORC helps support innovation and growth in the global offshore wind sector.
extreme loads that offshore wind turbine components
are exposed to. (Video: R&D Test Systems)
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