Precise bearing supports for high efficiency, long life

Irrespective of whether solar power plants are photovoltaic or use solar thermal technology, they are particularly efficient if the collectors track the course of the sun. The more precise and trouble-free they operate, the better and more profitable the plants are. Rolling and plain bearings as well as linear units from the INA, FAG and ELGES brands make a decisive contribution here, since they have high rigidity and high load carrying capacity and operate reliably even under extreme operating conditions. With its extensive range of products and specialist expertise for materials, coatings, and seals, Schaeffler is an important development partner and supplier for projects involving parabolic trough, solar tower, Dish Stirling and Fresnel power plants. Besides standard products, individual solutions for specific customer requirements are offered. Depending on the type of power plant and its individual design, suitable rolling bearing solutions can include slewing rings, angular contact roller bearings, ball screw drives, housing units and radial insert ball bearings as well as track rollers. Plain bushes, spherical plain bearings, and linear units are also used.

Plain bearings for single-axis tracking systems

Schaeffler has systematically expanded its range of plain bearing solutions. In addition to the plain bearings with ELGOGLIDE that have proven themselves for several years, the product range also includes metal-polymer composite plain bearings as well as plain bearings with ELGOTEX.

ELGOGLIDE stands for a sliding layer that essentially comprises a technical woven material comprising support fibers and Teflon fibers and a synthetic resin matrix. The advantages of these bearings are the total freedom from maintenance and very high load carrying capacity, especially in the case of very high loads on one side and swiveling motion.

The special characteristics of metal-polymer composite plain bearings are due to the combination of plastic and metal materials. This material compound allows low-wear sliding characteristics as well as a high load carrying capacity and thermal conductivity. The excellent material formability also enables customer-specific components to be designed for various rotary, linear and swivel motions.

The combination of materials in bearings with ELGOTEX means they are resistant to corrosive media and facilitates a constant low friction value with low wear and absolute freedom from maintenance. The material comprises two layers that are wound onto each other. The internal sliding layer, which is embedded in a resin matrix with fillers and solid lubricants, is made of synthetic and PFTE fibers. The external layer comprises continuous glass fibers (glass filament) in epoxy resin. A specific winding angle of the glass fibers stabilizes the layer, thereby significantly increasing the strength of the bush.

Angular contact roller bearings AXS for double-axis tracking systems

Rolling bearings, such as AXS angular contact roller bearings, are used, for example, in the double-axis tracking systems of solar thermal plants such as solar tower and Dish Stirling power plants. Typical applications are reflector adjustment systems. High load carrying capacity, rigidity and positioning accuracy also play a decisive role here. These features are the prerequisites for a secure and smooth bearing support without vibrations for solar collectors. The bearings must also support high forces and moments, for example during sudden gusts of wind. The bearing supports are therefore decisive for the plants’ reliability and cost-effectiveness. Angular contact roller bearings AXS can be integrated in existing and new designs. They are very easy to fit securely. The geometry of the bearing rings is identical, which means no errors cArtículos deportivos para ni?os