The Compact Drive Train.
Unique drive train concept for quieter running.

The FL 2500‘s unique drive train concept has many objectives: It allows for a smaller and quieter system. Instead of a heavy main shaft, a new hardened non-slip rotor bearing is used between rotor hub and machine carrier. Cross and thrust forces of the rotor are directly transferred over the strengthened machine carrier to the tower and do not load the gearbox bearing. This positively affects the service life of the gearbox. Rotor torque is transferred over a shaft coupling (weighing about 1.9 tons) to the gearbox.

The complete 360° bolting of the gearbox to the machine carrier provides optimal power flux for torque support at its centre of gravity. This construction eliminates all powers except the torque that have an impact on the gear. The accessibility of the hub is possible through the manhole opening in the shaft coupling without having to leave the turbine house-Turbine house and hub form a joint air-conditioned service room.

Elastomer Elements.
Forward looking connection between rotor and gearbox.

The rotor bearing is a triple row roller bearing optimally designed for the prevailing load conditions. The shaft coupling to the flange ring of the gearbox is provided by 24 elastomer elements. It provides good structure-borne noise isolation while also absorbing drive train impacts. If necessary, they can be replaced very easily without having to remove any other component. 

  1. Direct access from turbine house to the hub.
  2. The main bearing absorbs all bending and lateral forces from the rotor.
  3. Structure-borne sound decoupling trunnion bearing between rotor and gearbox.
  4. The rotor shaft coupling between the gearbox and the main bearing exhibits a high cushioning characteristic due to the spheroid graphite cast iron casing. This solution provides a clear weight advantage compared to conventional main shaft mountings.
  5. The gearbox is fixed around its entire circumference by means of ring-shaped torque support. The assembly uses ultra-bushings for sound decoupling and peak torque absorption.