Hydraulic / Pneumatic / Radial Shaft Seals
Polyurethane Seal protects turbine bearings from contaminants.
Press Release Summary:
Manufactured from polyurethane material exhibiting resistance to wear, abrasion, UV radiation, and ozone, SKF axial excluder seal (HRC1) comes in standard solid and split versions for shaft sizes from 1–3 m and offers alternative to rubber seals in wind turbine applications. Sealing lip helps reduce bending while minimizing contact area, friction, and wear; flexibility and engineering geometry allow axial displacement of + 2 mm; and integrated grooves keep sealing edge properly lubricated.
Original Press Release:
New SKF Axial Excluder Seal Offers Ideal Alternative to Rubber Seals for Protecting Wind Turbine Bearings from Contaminants
The new SKF axial excluder seal introduces an ideal high-performance alternative to conventional rubber seals for protecting wind turbine main shaft bearings from contaminants. Ultimately, the seal represents an advanced first line of defense against any debris or contaminants the wind may carry and can help wind farm operators significantly reduce the risks of contaminant-related bearing failures and the high costs of associated unplanned downtime, repair, and lost productivity.
Unlike conventional rubber seals typically prone to excessive wear and subsequent failure, the SKF axial excluder seal (designated HRC1) is manufactured from a proprietary SKF polyurethane material exhibiting excellent resistance to wear, abrasion, UV radiation, and ozone.
Key design features include a robust sealing lip to help reduce bending and minimize contact area, friction, and wear; optimized flexibility and engineering geometry allowing axial displacement of + 2 mm; and integrated grooves to keep the sealing edge properly lubricated. In addition, the seal features a stainless steel clamping band with a fast-lock mechanism to facilitate easy up-tower installation and fixation on the shaft, whether for new installations or retrofits.
Early field trials confirmed the HRC1 seal’s performance levels and robustness. Seals installed on 40 separate 2.5 MW turbines operated continuously under real-world conditions and, after three months, an initial inspection revealed only normally expected run-in wear – with no dramatic changes six months later.
HRC1 axial displacement seals are available in standard solid and split versions for shaft sizes from 1m to 3m. Custom solutions can be developed.
Contact
Bryan Uncapher
Business Development Manager-North America, SKF USA Inc.Â
Tel: +1-224-535-4007
Bryan.S.Uncapher@skf.com
www.skfusa.com
SKF is a leading global supplier of bearings, seals, mechatronics, lubrication systems, and services which include technical support, maintenance and reliability services, engineering consulting and training. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 15,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2013 were SEK 63,597 million and the number of employees was 48,401. www.skf.com
