Spindle Bearings Integrated in Record-Setting Floating Wind Turbine
Luoyang Bearing Science & Technology Co., Ltd., announced that its independently developed spindle bearing products have been successfully integrated into the world’s largest direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine unit in terms of single-unit power capacity and rotor diameter. The unit was recently commissioned in Fuqing City, Fujian Province, marking a new breakthrough in offshore wind power equipment manufacturing.
As a core component of wind turbines, spindle bearings play a critical role in absorbing aerodynamic loads from the rotor and transmitting power, earning them the title of the “heart” of wind turbines. Large-capacity wind power spindle bearings are particularly challenging to manufacture due to their extremely high reliability requirements and technical complexity. The newly commissioned China Huaneng–Dongfang Electric 17-MW direct-drive floating offshore wind turbine features a rotor diameter of 262 meters and a hub center height of approximately 152 meters. Compared to other floating offshore wind turbines, this unit offers a larger tilt angle, superior motion adaptability, the capability to withstand waves exceeding 24 meters, and resilience against Category-17 typhoons.
