Generator suspension arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9906091-B2
Application number	US-201514749685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 25, 2015
Priority date	Jul 18, 2014
Publication date	Feb 27, 2018
Grant date	Feb 27, 2018

Abstract

A generator suspension arrangement for suspending a generator unit of a wind turbine is shown, which generator suspension arrangement includes a suspension assembly arranged on a bedframe of the wind turbine, which suspension assembly includes a plurality of suspension points configured to transfer the weight of the generator unit to the suspension assembly, and wherein the suspension points lie at a distance outward from the body of the generator unit. Furthermore, a wind turbine includes a generator unit and such a generator suspension arrangement arranged to suspend the generator unit above a bedframe of the wind turbine. Furthermore, a method of reducing vibrations of a generator unit of a wind turbine is shown.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A generator suspension arrangement for suspending a generator unit of a wind turbine comprising:
a suspension assembly mounted to a bedframe of the wind turbine, the suspension assembly including a plurality of suspension points arranged to support a front end of the generator unit and a rear end of the generator unit, the plurality of suspension points configured to transfer a weight of the generator unit to the suspension assembly; and
a vertical offset structure between the bedframe of the wind turbine and the suspension assembly;
wherein the plurality of suspension points are arranged at a distance outward from a body of the generator unit.

2. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a front suspension assembly configured to suspend a front end of the generator unit and a rear suspension assembly configured to suspend a rear end of the generator unit.

3. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , comprising an interface structure configured to connect the generator unit to the suspension assembly.

4. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 3 , wherein the interface structure comprises an end frame for arranging at one end of the generator unit and at least one suspension plate configured to extend from an end frame to the suspension assembly.

5. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 4 wherein a suspension plate extends to the suspension assembly in a plane essentially parallel to an axis of rotation of a generator of the generator unit.

6. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 4 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a plurality of clamps, wherein a clamp of the plurality of clamps is configured to clamp about the suspension plate.

7. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a damper between a suspension point and a vertical offset structure.

8. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a mounting plane defined by the plurality of suspension points comprises an essentially horizontal plane.

9. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a mounting plane defined by the plurality of suspension points comprises an inclined plane, the inclined plane being essentially parallel to an axis of rotation of a generator.

10. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of suspension points of the suspension assembly are arranged such that a centre of mass of the generator unit lies in a mounting plane or at a distance above the mounting plane, the distance comprises at most 30% of a diameter of the generator unit.

11. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein the distance comprises at most 25% of the diameter of the generator unit.

12. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 10 , wherein the distance comprises at most 20% of the diameter of the generator unit.

13. The generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the suspension assembly comprises a rectangular arrangement of four suspension points of the plurality of suspension points, wherein two front suspension points are arranged to support the front end of the generator unit and two rear suspension points are arranged to support the rear end of the generator unit.

14. A wind turbine comprising:
a generator unit, the generator unit including at least a generator for generating electric power; and
a generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 arranged to suspend the generator unit above a bedframe of the wind turbine.

15. The wind turbine according to claim 14 , wherein the generator unit comprises a cooling arrangement mounted on top of the generator.

16. A method of reducing vibrations of a generator unit of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
mounting a suspension assembly of a generator suspension arrangement according to claim 1 on a bedframe of the wind turbine; and
connecting a generator unit to the plurality of suspension points of the suspension assembly to transfer a weight of the generator unit to the suspension assembly.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Jensen Jens Bomholt

Classifications

• F05B2260/964

  by damping means · CPC title

• H02K5/24 Primary

  specially adapted for suppression or reduction of noise or vibrations · CPC title

• H02K5/26

  Means for adjusting casings relative to their supports · CPC title

• F03D80/88

  of mechanical components · CPC title

• F03D9/25 Primary

  the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence) · CPC title