As wind turbine manufacturers search for high flexibility for their new generation turbine developments, ZF has developed a new concept, helping customers reduce the cost of wind energy, and accelerating the shift towards the future. The concept is called ‘Shift’.
The modular platform designs help turbine manufacturers reduce business uncertainties and life-cycle costs by:
- Allowing maximum use of the latest technological developments and optimised designs, processes and supply chain to scale power density, while reducing Cost of Energy.
- Enabling platform upgrades of the mechanical torque up to 40%, while covering a broad range of gearbox-generator combinations in terms of gearbox ratios.
- Keeping the gear unit outer dimensions identical across the full torque range − eliminating the need for major drive-train/nacelle re-designs during the turbine platform lifetime.
In brief, using standardised building blocks inside the gearbox leverages the platform supply chain and operational synergies. And re-using building blocks simplifies servicing and reduces maintenance costs, while offering potential for future turbine power upgrades of the installed base.
