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Quotes - Engineering - SalesAKG Gearbox Cooling
Visualize a gear in a gearbox the same way you'd perceive a paddle wheel in the water. The more the paddle wheel is submerged and the faster it rotates, the more water it displaces. This displacement of the water—or oil in our context—produces heat, a phenomenon often referred to as churning.
In your gear drive, the heat from churning is further amplified by heat originating from friction in each gear mesh. Helical gear meshes generally have an efficiency rate of around 99%. The remaining 1% of power loss is dominated by heat and sound. Additionally, bearings also contribute to heat generation—due to both churning and friction. The friction on the lip seal similarly results in heat production. These factors, combined with external application influences, cause your gear drive to naturally heat up.
Gearbox Oil Coolers
Choosing the right cooling solution for a gearbox can be a complex decision. One of the best options is an air-cooled heat exchanger, which operates as an oil-to-air cooling unit. This type of heat exchanger offers similar advantages to direct water-cooling, while eliminating the need for constant access to cool water or running water directly through the gearbox.
The utilization of an air-cooled heat exchanger requires an oil pump that directs oil to the external heat exchanger. This could mean adding a pump to your gear drive, necessitating a separate motor. But remember, this creates a potential failure point in the gear drive. It's also important to note that the pump motor might need electricity, which may operate on a different voltage than the main gearbox motor.
The selection of a cooling solution greatly depends on your specific application, the heat conditions of your environment, and the availability of water. Our goal at all times is to provide the most efficient cooling solutions, designed to minimize points of failure and requiring the least amount of maintenance. An air-cooled heat exchanger could be just the solution you're looking for.
