The wind farm Vetrocom in Bulgaria is located at a demanding site: 29 Fuhrlaender 2.5 turbines with a total of 72.5MW rotate at an average altitude of 1,500m. The wind direction is changing and the temperatures are extreme. Highest requirements for the main bearings, which the original bearing design could not withstand in the long run.

When replacing the bearings, the owner Alpiq chose Main Bearing Units (MBU) type 2500TV from eolotec. Since the installation of the first prototype in 2016, 2-3 additional units have been successfully installed every year. Also in 2020: the main bearing unit from eolotec has now replaced the three-row roller bearing provided in the original design within 11 of 29 turbines. And further MBU installations are planned for the next years. In addition to the improved kinematics, the MBU also has advantages in terms of assembly: the storage unit can be safely assembled even at high wind speeds and the modular design concept enables parallel working at site. This is particularly important for Vetrocom wind farm in Kazanlak, as the prevailing conditions mean that there is only a limited period of time each year for replacing large components.

The condition monitoring data confirms the successful operation despite high demands:

• Constant preload
• Constantly low bearing temperatures
• No anomalies in vibration values ​​and grease samples

In total eolotec has already equipped more than 15% of the total Fuhrlaender 2.5 fleet with MBUs. You can read more information about the MBU2500TV and other replacement solutions by eolotec here.