Tracking systems for photovoltaic plants considerably increase the efficiency of the process of collecting the sun's energy. In conventional widths, photovoltaic plants with tracking systems facilitate an increase in performance of up to 40% compared with static units. Movable units, however, can generate maintenance work that can reduce the cost-efficiency of a project.
The basic principle of high reliability at low costs therefore applies.
High pricing pressure demands cost-effective solutions from high volume production, for example. Our AXS series angular contact roller bearings, which are manufactured using forming methods, can be integrated into existing and new designs and facilitate compact bearing supports that are lubricated for life. Maintenance-free INA metal-polymer composite plain bearings with favorable emergency running characteristics are another cost-effective example.
Photovoltaic concentrator power plants focus the sun's rays on highly-efficient multiple solar cells and, as is the case with solar thermal plants, require very precise tracking systems. For example, compact worm gears are used to adjust the position of the plant to an accuracy of tenths of a millimeter. Schaeffler engineers consider this unit as a system and select the optimum bearing while considering all operating conditions using Bearinx, a calculation program developed in-house.
INA Plain Bearings
INA Spherical Plain Bearings
INA Axial Angular Contact Roller Bearings
Typical applications are reflector adjustment systems. These rolling bearing supports facilitate the movement of the azimuth and elevation axis in double-axis drive units.
Axial angular contact roller bearings AXS comprise thin-walled drawn bearing rings and injection-molded plastic cages with cylindrical rollers. They can support axial forces as well as radial forces and tilting moments. When fitted in pairs, they can transfer very high loads safely. Axial angular contact roller bearings are suitable for O and X arrangement.
INA Slewing Rings
INA slewing rings are known worldwide as premium products in the field of rolling bearing technology. A single bearing can reliably support radial, axial and tilting moment loads. It is therefore possible in many cases to replace bearing supports comprising a combination of radial and axial bearings by a single bearing, despite the high loads involved. This reduces, in some cases considerably, the costs and work required in the design of the adjacent construction and the fitting of bearings.
Slewing rings are sealed on both sides and lubricated with high-quality lubricating grease. They can be lubricated via lubrication nipples. The bearing rings are supplied without gear teeth or, in order to achieve simple drive solutions, are available with external or internal gear teeth. Customer-specific special solutions are also possible. INA slewing rings are available as single or double row four-point bearings as well as crossed roller bearings.