Case Study: ZF Wind Power improves gear load capacity and reduces noise with Romax Technology

Improving the gear load carrying capacity and noise performance of wind turbines

ZF Wind Power, part of ZF Group, develops wind turbine drivetrains for onshore and offshore applications and faced the challenge of increasing power density and load carrying capacity while reducing drivetrain noise and transmission error. To support this, ZF Wind Power used Romax Technology’s Romax Enduro software to model gear stages, bearings, micro-geometry, and drivetrain dynamics in a simulation-led design process.

With Romax Technology’s Romax Enduro, ZF Wind Power was able to correlate simulation closely with test rig measurements, refine model complexity where needed, and optimize gear load distribution and transmission error. The result was improved gear flank and root load sharing across a wide torque range, better durability, earlier identification of noise risks, and reduced risk of tonal powertrain noise—helping ZF Wind Power design lighter, more power-dense drivetrains with greater confidence.

ZF Wind Power

Nico De Bie

Gears Excitation Engineer