Tag Archive for: slew drive

The slewing drive is a key device for achieving the slewing motion of components. It consists of components such as slewing bearings, drive units, and sealing systems. When selecting a slewing drive, multiple factors need to be considered comprehensively.

What is Slewing Drive?

A slewing drive is a device that can realize the rotational motion of mechanical components and plays a key role in various mechanical equipment. It typically consists of components such as a slewing bearing, a drive device, and a sealing system. The slewing bearing, as a fundamental part, can withstand axial forces, radial forces, and overturning moments, ensuring the stable rotation of the equipment. The drive device provides power for the rotational motion. Commonly, a combination of a motor and a reducer is used, which drives the slewing bearing to rotate through gear transmission or other transmission methods.

How to Select Suitable Slewing Drive

Load characteristics are the primary basis for selection. When different devices operate, the loads borne by the slewing drive vary significantly. Take a tower crane as an example. During operation, it not only has to bear the gravity of the jib and the lifted load but also has to deal with complex external forces such as wind load and inertial force, which belongs to a heavy – load working condition. Such equipment requires a slewing drive with a strong load – bearing capacity. The rolling elements and raceways inside usually adopt high – strength materials to ensure stable operation under heavy loads and resistance to damage. In contrast, for small material transfer equipment on an automated production line, the load on the slewing drive is relatively light, and more emphasis is placed on the flexibility and accuracy of operation. A compact and lightweight model can be selected. When making a selection, it is necessary to accurately calculate the magnitude, direction, and acting point of the load to determine the required axial force, radial force, and overturning moment – bearing capacity of the slewing drive, avoiding equipment failures or premature wear caused by inaccurate load estimation.

Rotational accuracy determines the operating precision of the equipment. In precision machining equipment, such as the rotary table of a CNC machining center, a high – precision slewing drive is the core to ensure machining accuracy. Even a slight rotational error can lead to dimensional deviations and increased surface roughness of the machined parts. Such equipment has extremely high requirements for the rotational accuracy of the slewing drive. Generally, products equipped with high – precision bearings and manufactured and assembled through sophisticated processes should be selected to strictly control the radial run – out and axial play errors. For ordinary material handling equipment with less stringent accuracy requirements, the rotational accuracy standard can be appropriately relaxed, and a more cost – effective slewing drive can be selected. Therefore, before making a selection, it is necessary to clearly define the accuracy requirements of the equipment and then screen products with matching rotational accuracy according to the requirements, preventing cost increases due to excessive pursuit of high accuracy or performance degradation due to insufficient accuracy.

The speed requirement is also an important consideration in the selection process. The speed of the slewing drive directly affects the production efficiency of the equipment. In high – speed centrifugal separation equipment, the slewing drive needs to have high – speed performance to meet the needs of rapid material separation. This requires a reasonable internal structure design of the slewing drive to reduce friction and resistance during rotation. At the same time, appropriate lubrication methods and heat dissipation measures should be selected to ensure stable operation at high speeds. Conversely, in some large – scale port cranes and other equipment, although the load is large, the speed is not high, and more emphasis is placed on the low – speed stability of the slewing drive. Therefore, when making a selection, it is necessary to choose a slewing drive that can operate stably within the equipment’s working speed range and meet the power requirements, avoiding problems such as increased heat and wear caused by excessive speed or unstable operation at low speeds.

Working environment factors cannot be ignored. In harsh industrial environments, slewing drives face many challenges. In high – temperature environments, such as next to smelting furnaces in the metallurgical industry, the slewing drive needs to have good high – temperature resistance. Its materials and seals should be able to adapt to high – temperature working conditions to prevent oil deterioration and seal failure. In humid or corrosive environments, such as in marine engineering equipment, the slewing drive is prone to corrosion. Products with anti – corrosion coatings and made of anti – corrosion materials should be selected to extend the service life. In dusty environments, such as in mining machinery, the slewing drive needs to have a reliable dust – proof sealing structure to prevent dust from entering the interior and aggravating wear. Therefore, before making a selection, it is necessary to understand the working environment of the equipment in detail and select a slewing drive that can adapt to the corresponding environmental conditions to ensure the continuous and stable operation of the equipment in harsh environments.

Cost – effectiveness is also a key factor to be considered in the selection process. The purchase cost is an obvious influencing factor. The prices of slewing drives with different brands, specifications, and performances vary significantly. On the premise of meeting the equipment performance requirements, products with high cost – effectiveness should be selected as much as possible to avoid cost waste caused by blindly pursuing high – end products. However, it is also not advisable to only focus on low – price products and ignore product quality and performance. Some low – price products may save the purchase cost in the short term, but due to poor quality, they frequently malfunction, increasing maintenance costs and downtime, which instead reduces the overall economic benefits. Long – term operating costs, such as energy consumption and maintenance costs, also need to be considered. Energy – efficient slewing drives may have a relatively high initial purchase cost, but they can save a large amount of electricity costs in the long – term use. Products with simple maintenance and low component replacement costs can effectively reduce the equipment’s maintenance costs.

The Price of Slewing Drive

The price of slewing drives is influenced by multiple factors. Materials are a key factor. Using high – quality steel and special alloys can improve strength and wear resistance, increasing costs and thus raising the price. For example, slewing drives made with special alloys are more expensive than those made with ordinary materials. Processing accuracy is also important. High – precision processing requires advanced equipment and complex techniques, increasing costs and making the product price higher. The slewing drives used in precision equipment generally have a relatively high price. The manufacturing process also affects the price. Advanced manufacturing processes can optimize performance but also increase costs and thus raise the selling price.

Supplier of Slewing Drive

LDB Bearing Company is truly a shining star in the bearing industry! Since its establishment in 1999, it has risen from obscurity to industry prominence, relying on its dedication to quality and pursuit of innovation. The company is based in Luoyang, Henan Province, which has a well – developed bearing industry, enjoying the advantages of industrial resources. Its self – developed spur – gear slewing drive is highly accurate and stable, significantly improving the operation accuracy and efficiency of industrial welding robots. With high – quality products and attentive services, its products have been sold to 73 countries and regions around the world, winning numerous praises. It is bound to create more glories in the future!

Slewing bearings are crucial in solar power generation systems. They are composed of components such as inner rings, outer rings, etc., operate based on the principle of rolling friction, and come in various types.

What is a Slew drive Specifically for the Solar Energy Field?

Slew drives usually consist of components such as an inner ring, an outer ring, rolling elements (such as balls or rollers), and a cage. Their structural design enables them to withstand large axial loads, radial loads, and overturning moments while ensuring the smoothness and accuracy of relative motion. According to the type and arrangement of rolling elements, slew drives can be divided into various types, such as single – row four – point contact ball type, double – row non – uniform diameter ball type, crossed roller type, etc. Each type has its unique structural characteristics and applicable scenarios.

The working principle of a slew drive is based on the rolling friction theory. Through the rolling of rolling elements between the inner and outer rings, relative rotational motion is achieved. During operation, the rolling elements bear the external loads and distribute the loads evenly between the inner and outer rings. The function of the cage is to separate the rolling elements, prevent them from colliding and rubbing against each other, and guide the rolling elements to roll on the correct track. The high – precision processing and assembly technology of slew drives ensure the coaxiality of the inner and outer rings and the motion accuracy of the rolling elements, thus achieving smooth and low – friction rotational motion.

Application Scenarios of Slew drives in the Solar Power Generation Field

Application in Single – Axis Tracking Systems

Single – axis tracking systems are widely used in large – scale ground – based photovoltaic power stations. The slew drive is installed at the rotating part of the solar panel support. As the core component of the entire tracking system, it undertakes the important tasks of supporting the solar panels and enabling their rotation. The inner ring of the slew drive is connected to the fixed support structure, and the outer ring is fixed to the solar panel support. Through the action of a driving device (such as a motor and a reducer), the outer ring drives the solar panel support to rotate around the inner ring, achieving tracking of the sun in the east – west direction.

In this application scenario, the slew drive needs to bear the self – weight of the solar panels and the support, as well as additional loads generated under harsh environmental conditions such as wind loads and earthquakes. Therefore, the slew drive must have sufficient load – bearing capacity and stability to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the entire tracking system. At the same time, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the drive system, the slew drive should also have a low friction coefficient to ensure the flexibility of rotational motion.

Application in Dual – Axis Tracking Systems

In some solar power generation projects with extremely high requirements for power generation efficiency, such as tower – type solar power plants or photovoltaic power stations in high – latitude regions, dual – axis tracking systems play an important role. The slew drives in a dual – axis tracking system are installed at the joints of two rotating shafts respectively. One slew drive is responsible for realizing the rotation of the solar panels in the horizontal direction (azimuth tracking), and the other slew drive is responsible for realizing the rotation of the solar panels in the vertical direction (elevation angle tracking). Through the coordinated operation of the two slew drives, the solar panels can accurately track the position changes of the sun in two dimensions, achieving the maximum capture of solar energy.

Dual – axis tracking systems place higher demands on the accuracy and reliability of slew drives. Since precise angle adjustment is required in two axial directions, the slew drives must have extremely high rotational accuracy and positioning accuracy to ensure that the solar panels can accurately align with the sun. At the same time, in complex working environments, the slew drives also need to have good fatigue resistance and corrosion resistance to ensure long – term stable operation.

The Impact of Slew drives on the Performance of Solar Power Generation Systems

Improving Power Generation Efficiency

The precise rotation control of slew drives enables solar panels or concentrators to always maintain an angle perpendicular or close to perpendicular to the sunlight, thus significantly improving the solar energy capture efficiency. Research shows that compared with fixed – installed solar power generation systems, those with tracking systems can increase power generation efficiency by 20% – 50%, and the specific increase depends on factors such as geographical location, climate conditions, and the accuracy of the tracking system. As a key component of the tracking system, the performance of the slew drive directly affects the accuracy and reliability of the tracking system, and thus has an important impact on power generation efficiency.

Enhancing System Stability

Slew drives can bear various loads generated during the operation of solar power generation equipment, providing stable support for the entire system. Under harsh weather conditions such as strong winds and heavy rains, the robust structure and good load – bearing capacity of slew drives can ensure the stable operation of solar panels or concentrators, preventing equipment damage due to external forces. In addition, the low – friction characteristics and precise rotation control of slew drives also help to reduce system vibrations and noises, further improving the stability and reliability of the system.

Reducing Maintenance Costs

High – quality slew drives have a long service life and good reliability, which can reduce the number of maintenance times and maintenance costs of solar power generation systems. The sealing performance and lubrication performance of slew drives are crucial for their service life. A good sealing structure can prevent impurities such as dust and moisture from entering the inside of the bearing, avoiding wear and corrosion of bearing components. A reasonable lubrication system can reduce the friction and wear between the rolling elements and the raceways, extending the service life of the bearing. By reducing maintenance and repair work, the downtime of the solar power generation system is shortened, and the power generation efficiency is further guaranteed.

Special Requirements for Slew drives in the Solar Power Generation Field

High Reliability

Solar power generation equipment is usually installed outdoors, and the operating environment is complex and changeable, possibly facing harsh conditions such as high temperatures, low temperatures, high humidity, strong winds, and sandstorms. Therefore, slew drives must have extremely high reliability and be able to operate stably in harsh environments for a long time to ensure the normal operation of solar power generation systems. This requires taking special measures in the design, material selection, and manufacturing process of slew drives, such as using corrosion – resistant and wear – resistant materials, optimizing the sealing structure and lubrication system, and improving the fatigue resistance of the bearings.

High Precision

In order to achieve accurate tracking of the sun’s position, slew drives need to have high – precision rotational performance. High – precision slew drives can ensure that the angular deviation of solar panels or concentrators during the tracking process is controlled within a very small range, thereby improving the solar energy capture efficiency. This requires strictly controlling the dimensional accuracy and geometric tolerance during the manufacturing process of slew drives, using advanced processing technologies and inspection methods to ensure that the performance indicators of the bearings meet high – precision requirements.

Low Friction

Low – friction slew drives can reduce the energy consumption of the drive system and improve the overall efficiency of the solar power generation system. To achieve low – friction operation, slew drives usually use special rolling element materials and surface treatment processes, optimize the geometric shape and surface quality of the raceways, and select appropriate lubricants and lubrication methods. In addition, the structural design of slew drives should also consider reducing internal friction, such as using a reasonable cage structure and rolling element arrangement.

Lightweight Design

In some solar power generation projects with strict weight restrictions, such as space solar power stations or portable solar power generation equipment, slew drives need to be designed with a lightweight approach. Lightweight design can not only reduce the overall weight of the equipment, reducing transportation and installation costs, but also improve the mobility and flexibility of the equipment. To achieve lightweight, slew drives usually use high – strength and low – density materials, optimize the structural design, and reduce unnecessary material consumption.

Development Trends of Slew drives in the Solar Power Generation Field

Material Innovation

With the continuous development of materials science, the application of new materials in slew drives will become a trend. For example, high – performance ceramic materials have the advantages of high hardness, good wear resistance, high temperature resistance, and corrosion resistance, and are expected to be more widely used in slew drives to improve the performance and reliability of bearings. In addition, the research on new composite materials and nanomaterials also provides new ideas and directions for material innovation in slew drives.

Intelligent Design

With the rapid development of the Internet of Things, sensor technology, and artificial intelligence, the intelligent design of slew drives will become the future development direction. Intelligent slew drives can integrate various sensors to real – time monitor the operating status of the bearings, such as parameters like temperature, vibration, and load. Through data analysis and processing, early warning and intelligent diagnosis of bearing failures can be achieved. At the same time, intelligent slew drives can also communicate with the control system of the solar power generation system to achieve intelligent control and optimization of the tracking system, further improving the efficiency and reliability of the solar power generation system.

Green Manufacturing

In the context of the global advocacy for green environmental protection, the green manufacturing of slew drives will become an inevitable trend. Green manufacturing requires minimizing the impact on the environment throughout the entire life cycle of slew drives, from raw material procurement, production and manufacturing, use and maintenance, to scrap and recycling. This requires slew drive manufacturing enterprises to use environmentally friendly raw materials and production processes, optimize the production process, improve resource utilization, and reduce waste and pollutant emissions.

Slew drives, as key components in the solar power generation field, play a crucial role in improving the efficiency, stability, and reliability of solar power generation systems. With the continuous development of solar power generation technology and the expansion of application scale, the market demand for slew drives in the solar power generation field will continue to grow. At the same time, in order to meet the special requirements of solar power generation systems for slew drives, the slew drive industry will also continue to innovate and develop, making new breakthroughs in materials, design, manufacturing processes, etc., providing more solid technical support for the sustainable development of the solar power generation industry.

The Price of Slew drives for Solar Power Generation

The prices of slew drives for solar power generation are affected by multiple factors. In terms of materials, using high – quality and corrosion – resistant steel comes with a high cost, resulting in a relatively higher price. In terms of size, large – scale slew drives are more expensive than small ones due to their high material consumption and difficult processing. Precision requirements are also crucial. High – precision products are complex to manufacture, leading to an increase in price. The stronger the load – bearing capacity, the more complex the structure and materials, and the higher the price. After – sales service is equally important. A comprehensive after – sales service will make the price on the high side. In addition, market supply and demand also influence prices. When demand is high and supply is low, the price rises, and vice versa.

Supplier of Slew drives

In terms of product quality, LDB bearing always adheres to the attitude of striving for perfection and has established a strict quality control system. Starting from the procurement of raw materials, strict checks are carried out, and high – quality steel is selected to ensure the basic performance of the products. During the production process, every process is strictly monitored and inspected. From steel billet forging, forging ring rolling, rough turning processing, heat treatment, to hole – making processing, fine grinding, and finally assembly operations, every link is not allowed to have the slightest mistake.