Heyde Windtechnik’s Antaris 2.5 l wind turbine, which has a nominal output of 2.5kW, can be used for battery charging, as an alternative to solar heating, and to supplement domestic electricity supply. In addition, the system has many applications in developing countries, where electricity supplies are unreliable or non-existent.
At the outset of the project, Antaris designer and company founder, Michael Heyde wanted a system that would be robust and able to withstand storms. It also had to be quiet (when used in residential areas), as maintenance-free as he could possibly make it, and be capable of withstanding all climatic extremes.
The entire generator of the Antaris 2.5 system tips upwards with the rotor, like a helicopter, greatly reducing the surface area exposed to the wind. This enables the output to be restricted during storm conditions when gusts of up to 150km/h are possible. The tip bearings of the rotor were selected from the range offered by plain plastic bearings specialist, igus. The unit also makes use of flange bearings from igus’ igubal self- aligning range, which are easy to fit, adjust to any angular movement and can, in many cases, avoid the need for special housings.
Igubal products cope well in difficult conditions and offer good corrosion resistance, allowing use in damp or wet environments. They have a temperature range from -30 to +80ºC and require no seals, even when subjected to fine dust or coarse particle contamination. Technically dry and offering very good vibration damping characteristics, these lightweight and compact bearings are not only inexpensive to purchase but also maintenance-free - a deciding factor when it came to selecting bearings for the Antaris 2.5.
Self-lubricating
The traditional approach to self-lubrication using polymer coated steel can suffer failure due to the sliding layer migrating under heavy loads, edge pressure or vibration. igus plain polymer bearings, on the other hand, feature solid lubricants that are mixed homogeneously throughout the wall thickness; the lubricant cannot therefore be pushed out of the way when the shaft starts to move.
These positive benefits persuaded Michael Heyde that polymer bearings were the components of choice for his wind turbine. “There are mass produced flange bearings made of metal, but these often need to be lubricated, because they corrode, or are too expensive for small wind turbines. I have not been able to find any comparable bearing to the maintenance-free, corrosion resistant, and economical igubal bearings that has the right mix of characteristics.”