Wind Turbine Pitch Bearing and/or Pitch Drive System Testing

Pitch bearings and drive systems provide the critical physical connection between a wind turbine’s hub assembly and the blades. Mechanical testing helps to ensure that these components will reliably withstand the extreme forces and motions present in a functioning wind turbine. Such tests typically involve simulation of wind turbine blade loading in up to six degrees of freedom (Fx, Fy, Fz, Mz, My, Mx). Test data can be used to characterize bearing and drive system stiffness and strength, evaluating breakaway and drive friction properties and bearing fatigue strength, and validating FEM models.

As the world’s premier test and simulation solutions provider, MTS is uniquely qualified to help you efficiently evaluate your pitch bearings and/or pitch drive systems under development. We provide unmatched technology and expertise for precisely applying extremely high forces and moments to massive test specimens across multiple axes. Key MTS capabilities include:

• Flexible, user-friendly software for efficient test design and modification
• Digital controllers with high channel density, high capacity, and superior configurability
• Clean, quiet and highly reliable hydraulic power units
• Durable and energy-efficient hydraulic actuators designed specifically for testing
• Non-torque-loading (NTL) devices
• Facilities planning