Highest demands on gears, couplings and bearings in wind energy converters (WEC) despite the industry’s tangible efforts should hide the rapid development of wind turbines not, that especially in the systems of higher power classes continue to errors and also claims in all elements of the drive train (gear, couplings, bearings) occur. These errors were previously driving strings of comparable magnitude in other sectors and industries (E.g. heavy rolling mill drives) so unknown. The main reason is that the supporting structure of a wind power plant, consisting of Tower and nacelle is very elastic and represents an extremely vulnerable to vibration system in combination with the rotor. Also, the rapid growth of the industry is certainly a problem in recent years, because little operational experience with the size of the investment could be collected.

The wind turbines have been getting bigger and more efficient. But the larger and so economic fail, the stronger the wind turbines also errors and claims in all elements of the drive train (gear, couplings, bearings) in the center of attention back. “The pressing issue to improve the reliability and availability of large-scale wind turbines is at the heart of the bilingual Symposium powertrains in wind turbines / Drivelines in wind power installations” in Essen Haus der Technik from 9 to 10 March 2010. Under the direction of Prof. Dr.-ing.

Berthold Schlecht from the Institute for machine elements and machine design of the Technical University of Dresden are presented solution approaches. Starting current damage images claim fair interpretation of the individual components is discussed and introduced modern techniques for the diagnosis of vibration during operation. New drive concepts complete the event. Because technology and efficiency are rarely so closely intertwined as in wind turbines, the event is not only aimed Developers and designers, but also employees of the operating companies, insurance companies, banks and experts. The meeting will be with simultaneous translation into English (or vice versa) are offered to meet the demand from abroad.