Wind turbine generator with localized air gap control and a wind turbine having such a generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9850882-B2
Application number	US-201214118474-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 21, 2012
Priority date	May 19, 2011
Publication date	Dec 26, 2017
Grant date	Dec 26, 2017

Abstract

A wind turbine component includes an inner member and an outer member disposed relative to the inner member, wherein the inner and outer members move relative to each other. A plain bearing is coupled to one of the inner or outer member and configured to provide a fluid film for maintaining separation of and facilitating relative movement between the inner and outer members. A position adjustment mechanism is coupled to the one of the inner or outer member for selectively moving the plain bearing. A position controller may be operatively coupled to the position adjustment mechanism for controlling the position of the plain bearing. The wind turbine component may be a wind turbine generator with the inner member and outer member corresponding to one of the stator and rotor assemblies. Methods for controlling the generator are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wind turbine component, comprising:
an inner member;
an outer member disposed relative to the inner member,
the inner and outer members moving relative to each other, and one of the inner or outer members including a plurality of member segments each including:
a plain bearing coupled to the member segment and configured to provide a fluid film for maintaining separation of and facilitating relative movement between the inner and outer members, the plain bearing establishing an adjustable air gap between the member segment and the other of the inner or outer members, and
a position adjustment mechanism including an actuator coupled to the member segment for selectively moving the plain bearing; and

a position controller operatively coupled to the actuator of the position adjustment mechanism of at least one member segment and configured to:
monitor a parameter, and
actuate the actuator so that the position adjustment mechanism positions the plain bearing of the at least one member segment to control the adjustable air gap between the at least one member segment and the other of the inner or outer members based on the monitored parameter.

2. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , wherein each position adjustment mechanism is independently controlled by the position controller.

3. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , wherein the plain bearing includes a hydrostatic bearing having at least one cavity confronting the other of the inner or outer member and operatively coupled to a fluid supply and a pressure source for supplying a pressurized fluid that forms the fluid film between the inner and outer members.

4. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pressure source that provides pressurized fluid to the plain bearing; and
a pressure source controller operatively coupled to the pressure source for controlling the pressure of the fluid film provided by the plain bearing.

5. The wind turbine component according to claim 4 , wherein the plain bearing includes a hydrostatic bearing having at least one cavity confronting the other of the inner or outer member and is operatively coupled to a fluid supply by the pressure source for supplying the pressurized fluid that forms the fluid film between the inner and outer members, and the pressure source controller is operatively coupled to the pressure source for controlling at least one of the pressure of the fluid film and a flow of fluid to the at least one cavity of the hydrostatic bearing.

6. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , wherein the position adjustment mechanism further comprises a passive member placed in series with the actuator.

7. The wind turbine component according to claim 6 , wherein the passive member includes at least one of a spring, a bladder, or a rubber block.

8. The wind turbine component according to claim 6 , wherein the passive member includes a damping element.

9. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine component includes an interior space defined between the inner and outer members, the wind turbine component further including a cooling system, the cooling system comprising:
a liquid coolant at least partially filling the interior space and in open communication with at least one of the inner and outer members, the liquid coolant configured to absorb heat from the wind turbine component;
a pump in communication with the interior space; and
a heat exchanger in communication with the pump,
wherein the pump is configured to circulate the liquid coolant through the heat exchanger and thereby transfer the heat absorbed by the liquid coolant away from the wind turbine component.

10. The wind turbine component according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid coolant partially fills the interior space, the cooling system further comprising at least one spray head for spraying the liquid coolant on a portion of the wind turbine component.

11. The wind turbine component according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid coolant and the fluid that forms the fluid film are the same.

12. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 wherein the wind turbine component is a bearing assembly.

13. The wind turbine component according to claim 12 , wherein the bearing assembly is configured as a main bearing assembly or a blade bearing assembly.

14. A wind turbine having a wind turbine component, the wind turbine component comprising:
an inner member;
an outer member disposed relative to the inner member,
the inner and outer members moving relative to each other, and one of the inner or outer members including a plurality of member segments each including:
a plain bearing coupled to the member segment and configured to provide a fluid film for maintaining separation of and facilitating relative movement between the inner and outer members, the plain bearing establishing an adjustable air gap between the member segment and the other of the inner or outer members, and
a position adjustment mechanism including an actuator coupled to the member segment for selectively moving the plain bearing; and

a position controller operatively coupled to the actuator of the position adjustment mechanism of at least one member segment and configured to:
monitor a parameter, and
actuate the actuator so that the position adjustment mechanism positions the plain bearing of the at least one member segment to control the adjustable air gap between the at least one member segment and the other of the inner or outer members based on the monitored parameter.

15. The wind turbine component according to claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine component includes a generator, the inner member includes one of a stator assembly or a rotor assembly of the generator, and the outer member includes the other of the stator assembly or the rotor assembly of the generator.

16. The wind turbine component according to claim 15 , wherein the inner member includes the stator assembly and the outer member includes the rotor assembly.

17. The wind turbine component according to claim 15 , wherein the plain bearing is coupled to the stator assembly.

18. The wind turbine component of claim 1 , wherein the position controller actuates the actuator to maintain a consistent air gap between the member segment and the other of the inner or outer members.

Assignees

• Mongeau Peter
• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Mongeau Peter

Classifications

• F16C17/02

  for radial load only · CPC title

• H02K2213/12

  Machines characterised by the modularity of some components · CPC title

• H02K5/1672

  radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor (H02K5/1677 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F03D80/70

  Bearing or lubricating arrangements · CPC title

• H02K2213/09

  Machines characterised by the presence of elements which are subject to variation, e.g. adjustable bearings, reconfigurable windings, variable pitch ventilators · CPC title