Easier Tuning For Magnetic Bearing

Certified Tuning E300V2 is the name of a new service launched by SKF, which leverages the capabilities of the E300V2 control cabinet for SKF S2M magnetic bearings. The company said that the service is a spin-off from a previous subsea electronic system developed for the Norwegian Åsgard oilfield project and offers the ability to monitor and control magnetic bearings from a remote location.

“The new service allows machine tuning to be conducted by an OEM from their own site, with their own technicians and without SKF’s physical presence,” said Jérémy Lepelley, project manager at SKF Magnetic Mechatronics. In fact, the OEM has direct control over this activity, with simultaneous checking and validation available from SKF, who remains responsible for the overall control and safety aspects of the machine.

SKF explained that this arrangement is meant to avoid waiting times that both OEM and supplier had to endure when conducting tuning operations, which required sequential inputs from SKF and the OEM during the tuning process. Now these operations can be carried out more quickly and efficiently, allowing the OEM to streamline production planning at his facility while becoming more familiar with magnetic bearing technology and its implementation.

As far as production and testing of its bearing technology, in 2017 SKF inaugurated its newly-built Sven Wingquist Test Center in Schweinfurt, Germany. According to the company, the center is the first in the world that is able to test large-size bearings under actual operating conditions; the investment for the project totaled €40 million.

The Sven Wingquist Test Center has two testing rigs. One rig is designed for the testing of bearings used in industrial sectors, including mining, construction and marine transport, while the second one will be used for the testing of wind turbine main shaft arrangements.

Combined with SKF’s continued development of diagnostics, condition monitoring and simulation methods, these rigs will contribute to reduced testing and product development lead-times and provide deeper insights into bearing performance.

Victoria Van Camp, CTO and president, Innovation and Business Development, said: “No other test center is capable of testing large-size bearings this accurately, under actual operating conditions, giving us and our customers a significant strategic advantage. The technologies being used here in the Sven Wingquist Test Center will help save our customers time and resources, whilst supporting their ambitions of increased reliability and service life.”