Significance of effective lubrication in mitigating system failures: a wind turbine gearbox case study.

Sinha, Yashwant; Steel, John A.; Andrawus, Jesse A.; Gibson, Karen

Abstract

The effectiveness of lubrication in machines mainly depends on the physical and chemical properties of lubricating oil, like quantity, level of suspended particles, effect of external load/shear forces, temperature amongst others. Periodic inspection of lubricating oil for its grade of viscosity, H2O content, fuel content, amount and nomenclature of suspended particles etc. assists maintenance personal in assessing the quality of oil and its residual life. Such assessments are also useful in determining health of the system in which the lubricating oil was used. This work discusses about industrial Wind Turbine Gearbox lubrication, its importance, applications, oil analysis method and lists constituents found in the oil. Results lead us to the conclusion that additives in the oil protect the gearbox from wear and tear during initial years of operation. Analysis also suggests that re-lubrication process should be performed every 18 months time interval to optimise the life of gearbox components. Other results and advice for lubrication are also listed.

Citation

SINHA, Y., STEEL, J.A., ANDRAWUS, J.A. and GIBSON, K. 2014. Significance of effective lubrication in mitigating system failures: a wind turbine gearbox case study. Wind engineering [online], 38(4), pages 441-449. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1260/0309-524x.38.4.441

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 15, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Aug 1, 2014
• Publication Date: Aug 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Mar 11, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 11, 2016
• Journal: Wind Engineering
• Print ISSN: 0309-524X
• Electronic ISSN: 2048-402X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 38
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 441-449
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1260/0309-524x.38.4.441
• Keywords: Lubrication; Oil analysis; Wind turbine; Maintenance; Gearbox
• Public URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10059/1427