Engineering At Sea - Tidal Turbines

Did you know that Tidal Turbines are the next big break through within the Marine Industry?  

It’s the answer to our energy needs worldwide! This revolutionary power source is created using the movement of tides and oceans where the movement of water is used to push turbines underwater to generate electricity. The Marine Industry will be playing a vital role in supporting the undersea offshore power sector, helping to generate green sustainable energy for the future.

Use of Bearings in Turbines

All Turbines require the use of bearings, something that is able to support the circular motions of how turbines operate. To be specific, Spherical Roller Bearings are often the type of bearing utilised in the main shaft of the turbines. These bearings have the capacity to deal with very heavy radial and axial load in applications which are prone to misalignment. The rolling element of the bearing permits rotation with low friction, perfect for use within turbines of any sort. Additionally, it is common to find Tapered Roller Bearings, used in combination with Cylindrical Roller Bearings in the main shaft of turbines.

Having the ability to carry heavy loads in applications like Tidal Turbines and accommodate the misalignment, the use of these bearings can help you obtain a longer bearing service life and are of low maintenance costs.

Challenges in The Marine Environment

The Marine Industry demands high levels of reliability and performance of their machinery and ship powered services. Their operating conditions have been proven to be difficult as the equipment which are used are more prone to corrosion due to them being utilised in wet conditions such as seawater. Tidal Turbines require high capital investment which is hard to obtain in order to construct tidal power plants. Maintaining and repairing equipment can be a challenge but sourcing the right bearings for Tidal Turbines and their applications can assure longer bearing life. In the Marine environment, stainless steel bearings are commonly used but has limited resistance to seawater, ideally full ceramic bearings offer excellent corrosion resistance to such environments.

Lubrication

Despite the challenges faced in the Marine Environment, we can always look to try and prolong the life of your bearings. Utilising the right lubrication for your bearings can extend your bearing’s lifecycle through maintenance and help you keep breakdown costs to a minimum. For Turbines specifically used in the Marine Industry, we offer a range from Shell that have been developed by Shell to deliver you optimum value, enhancing protection, long oil life and high system efficiency. The Shell Turbo range can help protect your equipment from corrosion and reduce the build-up of deposits and lacquer in turbine bearings and control valves.

Here at Quality Bearings Online, we can help you source the right bearings for your application. Whether it is bearings utilised in turbines for tidal energy or wind energy we would be happy to help. Additionally, we also sell Lubricants and Maintenance Tools to help you maintain and prolong the life of your bearings. Just Contact Us and a member of our trusted team will assist and support you or better yet, Visit Our Website and browse online through our range of robust bearings.

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