Test bench and method for testing the drive train of a wind turbine

Abstract

The invention relates to a test bench (1) for testing a drive train of a wind turbine, comprising a drive device (40) for introducing test power into the drive train, which can be detachably connected to a drive train to be tested. The invention further relates to a method for testing a drive train of a wind turbine by way of a test bench (1), and to a drive train of a wind turbine. The test bench (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the drive device (40) for testing a drive train is or will be fitted and mounted on or to the drive train so as to be removable, wherein most of the weight of the drive device (40) is borne by the drive train when the drive device (40) is fitted or mounted.

Claims

1. A test bench for testing a drive train of a wind turbine, comprising a drive device for introducing test power into the drive train, wherein the drive device is configured to be detachably connected to the drive train to be tested, wherein for testing the drive train the drive device is mounted on or attached to and supported on the drive train so as to be removable, and wherein most of a weight force of the drive device is borne by the drive train when the drive device is mounted on or attached to and supported on the drive train.

2. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein the drive device in a removed state is freely movable.

3. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein when the drive device is mounted on or attached to and supported on the drive train the weight force of the drive device borne by the drive train corresponds to a weight force of a rotor of the wind turbine.

4. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein a bearing of the drive device on the drive train is a floating bearing.

5. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has a gear configured for placement on a drive flange, and one or more pinions, which engage on or in a circumference of the gear in an external toothing or internal toothing of the gear.

6. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has one or more hydraulic or electric drive motors.

7. The test bench according to claim 6, wherein the drive motors each act on a pinion, wherein the drive motors are synchronized by a hydraulic ring line or using an electronic control.

8. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein the drive device comprises a torque support, which has two support feet supported on the ground.

9. The test bench according to claim 8, wherein the torque support has a forced load compensation comprising crossfeed-hydraulic or piezo elements.

10. The test bench according to claim 1, wherein the drive device has a retaining apparatus on which the drive device is suspended, wherein the retaining apparatus has a plurality of retaining openings or an elongated hole having latching positions for a lifting tool by means of which an axis inclination of the drive device can be adjusted when the drive device is suspended.

11. A method for testing a drive train of a wind turbine with a test bench according to claim 1, comprising detachably mounting or attaching a drive device of the test bench on or to the drive train such that most of a weight of the drive device is borne by the drive train.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein when the drive device is mounted on or attached to the drive train the weight of the drive device borne by the drive train corresponds to a weight of a rotor of the wind turbine.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein testing with the drive device occurs on a plurality of drive trains, and wherein in each case the drive device is moved from a tested drive train to a drive train to be tested.

14. A drive train of a wind turbine that has been tested using a method according to claim 11.

Description

(1) The invention is described below, without restricting the general intent of the invention, based on exemplary embodiments in reference to the drawings, whereby we expressly refer to the drawings with regard to the disclosure of all details according to the invention that are not explained in greater detail in the text. The figures show:

(2) FIG. 1 a schematic cross-sectional representation through a nacelle of a wind turbine with a test bench according to the invention placed thereupon, and

(3) FIG. 2 a schematic representation of a crossfeed-hydraulic.

(4) In the drawings, the same or similar types of elements and/or parts are provided with the same reference numbers so that a corresponding re-introduction can be omitted.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional representation through a nacelle 3 in a known wind turbine, for example the wind turbine MD70 of the applicant. The nacelle 3 houses a machine support 12, which is connected to a top-of-tower rotating assembly 7. Azimuth adjustment motors 9 of an azimuth adjustment engage on the top-of-tower rotating assembly 7, and after installation and commissioning align the nacelle 3, or respectively the rotor, in the direction of the prevailing wind direction. Four azimuth adjustment motors 9 are present for this purpose, two of which are arranged on the represented side, and two of which are hidden from view on the other side of the machine support 12. Azimuth brakes 11, which serve for stopping the azimuth adjustment of the rotor, also engage on the top-of-tower rotating assembly 7.

(6) The drive train to be tested begins with a rotor shaft 13, which is rotatably mounted in a rotor bearing 14 formed as a roller bearing. With the wind turbine MD70 of the applicant, the rotor bearing 14 is formed as a fixed bearing that only permits a few millimeters of play in the axial direction of the rotor shaft 13. The rotor shaft 13 drives a transmission 15, which converts the low-speed rotational movement of the rotor shaft into a high-speed rotational movement of a generator shaft 19, which is represented with couplings, the generator shaft 19 driving in turn a generator 20 for generating electricity, being equipped with a heat exchanger 21.

(7) The transmission 15 also has a rotor brake 17 and a slip ring carrier 18, as well as two elastic transmission suspensions, or respectively supports 16, one of which is shown in FIG. 1, whereas the other is located symmetrically on the other side of the transmission 15 and thus is hidden from view by transmission 15.

(8) The support, or respectively the elastic transmission suspension 16, is built conventionally and is comprised of hollow shaft elastomer bodies of two semi-cylindrical partial bodies which are arranged around a cylindrical bolt. The suspension 16 is a floating bearing with the cylindrical bearings thereof, the cylinder axis of which is aligned parallel to the rotor shaft 13, because due to its suppleness in this direction it absorbs only a small amount of rotor thrust in the direction of the rotor shaft axis.

(9) The nacelle 3 is arranged for testing on a bearing frame 31 and is securely supported by means of feet 32, 32′ and bolts 33, 33′ with respect to the ground.

(10) A drive device 40 of a test bench 1 according to the invention sits on a drive flange 5 arranged on the rotor shaft 13. A pitch cabinet 6, for blade adjustment, is fastened to the drive flange 5. The drive device has in a housing a large gear 41 that is placed on the drive flange 5 of the rotor shaft 13. A rotation of the large gear 41 leads therefore also to a rotation of the drive train. A plurality of pinions 42, thus small gears, are uniformly distributed about the circumference of the large gear 41, the gears of which act on the gears of the large gear 41. Each pinion is provided with a motor 43 that drives the pinion 42. The motors 43 can be electric or hydraulic. In the sectional representation in FIG. 1 there are only two pinions 42 and drive motors 43 shown, it is however customary to use a plurality of drive motors 43.

(11) The drive motors require an energy supply, not shown, e.g. by means of electrical cables or hydraulic high pressure hoses. The claimed characteristic “freely movable” includes that the energy supply can lead to limitations, e.g. due to the cable tube lengths. Functionally however, the drive device 40 is movable and rotatable in all directions with respect to the item to be tested.

(12) The housing, or respectively the drive device 40, has a torque support 45, which rests on the ground 30 using a foot 46 or support foot. This torque support 45 ensures that the torque, which is transmitted by the large gear 41 to the drive train in the nacelle 3, is dissipated to the ground 30. The torque support additionally has a crossfeed-hydraulic 60, which prevents a radial displacement and effects a compulsory or forced load compensation.

(13) The drive device 40 further has a retaining apparatus 48 on the upper end thereof, in the upper region of which a plurality of retaining openings 49 are arranged next to each other. The retaining openings 49 serve for receiving a support hook of a lifting tool 52 such that the drive device 40 can be held and moved by a lifting crab 51 on a support rail 50, using the lifting tool 52. Different retaining openings 49 are arranged at different positions in the longitudinal direction so that a specific axis inclination of the drive device 40 is set by selecting a specific retaining opening 49. With this, the axis inclination can be adapted already before coupling at a drive train in a type appropriate manner to the axis inclination of the drive train in the respective machine housing.

(14) Overhead cranes with chains, steel cables or crane belts can be provided as a lifting tool. Alternatively however trolleys with appropriate adjustment devices can also be provided for lifting and angle adjustment. This is particularly advantageous when no overhead crane with sufficient bearing load is available.

(15) FIG. 2 schematically shows the principle of a crossfeed-hydraulic 60. This comprises two hydraulic cylinders, or respectively hydraulic cylinders 61, 61′ each having a plunger 62, 62′, which respectively divides the interior of the hydraulic cylinders 61, 61′ into an upper partial volume 63, 63′ and a lower partial volume 64, 64′. The plungers are pressurized from above each with the force, which for example pressurizes the weight force or the respective force which results from the torque from the drive device 40. Thereby, both plungers 62, 62′ are pressed downward and the lower partial space 64, 64′ is respectively reduced.

(16) There are hydraulic lines 65, 66 between the upper partial volume 63 of the hydraulic cylinder 61 and the lower partial volume 64′ of the hydraulic cylinder 61′ on the one side, and the lower partial volume 64 of the hydraulic cylinder 61 and the upper partial volume 63′ of the hydraulic cylinder 61′ on the other side, through which the hydraulic fluid in the respective partial volumes, connected together, communicate with each other. This results in the fact that an increased pressure on for example the plunger 62 of the hydraulic cylinder 61 leads to a further reduction of the lower partial volume 64. Using the connection line 66, this pressure is further conducted on to the plunger 62′ in the hydraulic cylinder 61′, which is likewise further loaded. With this, for example, a torque can be compensated acting in such a manner that the torque intends to actually move the plunger 62′ upwards. Thus, this crossfeed-hydraulic acts in that a radial displacement that is generated by the torque of the drive device 40 is prevented and the drive device 40 is not moved with respect to the drive train. This crossover also causes the sum of the absorbed forces to be zero.

(17) All named characteristics, including those taken from the drawings alone, and individual characteristics, which are disclosed in combination with other characteristics, are considered individually and in combination as essential to the invention. Embodiments according to the invention can be fulfilled through individual characteristics or a combination of several characteristics.

REFERENCE LIST

(18) 1 test bench

(19) 3 nacelle

(20) 5 drive flange

(21) 6 pitch cabinet

(22) 7 top-of-tower rotating assembly

(23) 9 azimuth adjustment motors

(24) 11 azimuth brakes

(25) 12 machine support

(26) 13 rotor shaft

(27) 14 rotor bearing

(28) 15 transmission

(29) 16 elastic transmission suspension

(30) 17 rotor brake

(31) 18 slip ring carrier

(32) 19 generator shaft with couplings

(33) 20 generator

(34) 21 heat exchanger

(35) 30 ground

(36) 31 bearing frame

(37) 32, 32′ foot

(38) 33, 33′ bolt

(39) 40 drive device

(40) 41 large gear

(41) 42 pinion

(42) 43 drive motor

(43) 45 torque support

(44) 46 foot

(45) 48 holding apparatus

(46) 49 holding opening

(47) 50 support rail

(48) 51 lifting crab

(49) 52 lifting tool

(50) 60 crossfeed-hydraulic

(51) 61, 61′ hydraulic cylinder

(52) 62, 62′ plunger

(53) 63, 63′ upper partial volume

(54) 64, 64′ lower partial volume

(55) 65, 66 hydraulic line