As a consequence of increasing wind power installations in the Nordic grid the last years, the need for regulating power has become larger. In the Nordic grid, regulating power is mainly provided by hydro power. One part of the regulating power is called frequency control, which ensures that the grid frequency is stable and close to 50 Hz. However, setting the turbine into frequency controlled operation may cause stress and wear of the components in the mechanical control system. Frequency controlling implies large and frequent servo forces and longer travelling distance of the sliding bearings in the Kaplan turbine. Based on one selected Kaplan turbine, Selsfors G1, measurements and MATLAB calculations have been performed in order to determine forces and movements of the linkage system. With these forces and movements as input, stresses and fatigue have been determined as well as sliding distances, bearing pressures and wear of bearings during a typical lifetime of 40 years. The results indicate that no severe wear exists on the bearings during 40 years of service. This is valid for Selsfors G1, where self-lubricating greaseless Orkot bearings are installed. The wear is much smaller than the largest allowed bearing clearance, as long as the bearings are mounted correctly and free from dirt and oil. For turbines with grease or oil lubricated bearings, the result might differ. The highest average stresses have been recorded in the links in the runner. A very simple Finite Element Analysis has been made for the links, to estimate risk of fatigue. The stresses are much lower compared to the fatigue limit, and thus the risk of fatigue is considered very small. In situations where wear and large load changes after all are problems, a change in the turbine regulator settings is recommended. A dead band reduces the sliding distances of the bearings and the amount of load changes remarkably, but causes on the other hand lower turbine efficiency and worse quality of the frequency control.

Top hammer drilling uses a percussive force at the top combined with a rotational energy that transmits through a rod to a drill bit that crushes rock. It is a drilling method that is preliminary used in mining, construction and operations under ground. Fatigue strength plays an important role in the drill rods life span. A top hammer drill rod has a through hole in the center called a flush hole used to flush up the drilling cuttings. The flush hole is a weak spot in the rod. In this preliminary study the purpose was to investigate if, and how, the surface in the flush hole affects the fatigue strength in rock drill rods. Four test methods; Refined inner surface, lathed core, without lubricant and sealed hollow bar. With three samples of each method that affected the surface of the flush hole, were used in the manufacturing of the rods and compared to references. Different tests were applied to measure the quality of the flush hole and of the rods. The material used were fatigue tested under a pulsating pull-pull condition with flushing water. Finally, the fracture surfaces were studied. The fatigue test showed that refined inner surface had supreme fatigue strength, the other methods exhibit approximately 10% more cycles than the references. In conclusion the inner surface affects the fatigue strength. The parameter with the most distinct correlation to the fatigue test was surface roughness. Other parameters that seems to affect were oxidation, hardness and scratches. To obtain statistical certainty more samples are needed.