GENERATOR FOR A WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE COMPRISING SAME, METHOD FOR LOCKING A GENERATOR, AND USE OF A LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

A generator, in particular a generator of a wind turbine, comprising a rotatably mounted generator rotor, a generator stator which corresponds to the generator rotor and which has a support structure for fixing in the wind turbine, and at least one arresting device which is configured to be coupled in between the generator rotor and the generator stator in such a way that there is a force flow between the generator rotor and the generator stator and which is adapted in the coupled state to arrest the generator rotor in a predetermined position relative to the generator stator. The arresting device has a damping element which is variable in shape such as to deform as a result of the force flow between the generator rotor and the generator stator.

Claims

1. A generator, comprising a rotatably mounted generator rotor, a generator stator corresponding to the generator rotor and having a support structure configured for attachment inside a wind turbine, and at least one arresting device configured to be coupled in between the generator rotor and the generator stator and configured to establish a flux of force between the generator rotor and the generator stator, wherein the at least one arresting device is configured to arrest the generator rotor in a predetermined position relative to the generator stator when in the coupled state, wherein the arresting device comprises a damping element which is variable in shape such as to deform as a result of the flux of force between the generator rotor and the generator stator.

2. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the damping element is configured to be variable in shape such that the generator rotor is movable in a radial direction relative to the generator stator.

3. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the damping element is designed to be variable in shape in such a way that the generator rotor is movable in a axial direction relative to the generator stator.

4. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the damping element is designed to be variable in shape in such a way that the generator rotor is only movable to a lesser extent in a peripheral direction relative to the generator stator compared to a mobility in a radial or an axial direction, respectively.

5. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the arresting device comprises a holding arm having a stator end and a rotor end, wherein a receiving means for the damping element is provided at the stator end, wherein the damping element which is configured to be brought into contact with the support structure and is arranged at the stator end.

6. The generator as set forth in claim 5 wherein provided at the rotor end of the holding arm is a clamping unit having at least one opening configured to receive a connector and to connect the arresting device to the generator rotor.

7. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support structure has a plurality of segments, wherein each of the plurality of segments has a first side, a second side, a first arresting device configured to be brought into contact with the first side of the support structure, and a second arresting device configured to be brought into contact with the second side of the support structure, wherein an operative direction of the first arresting device extends substantially in opposite relationship to an operative direction of the second arresting device.

8. The generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein the damping element is configured to be filled with a pressurized fluid.

9. The generator as set forth in claim 1 comprising a braking device configured to reduce a relative speed of the generator rotor, wherein the braking device has a mechanical brake unit and a brake disk operatively coupled to the generator rotor.

10. The generator as set forth in claim 9 wherein the arresting device is configured to be coupled to the brake disk.

11. The generator as set forth in claim 9 wherein the brake disk comprises a plurality of recesses, and wherein the clamping unit is configured to be coupled to the brake disk by a clamping connection.

12. A wind turbine comprising: a nacelle, a machine support arranged in the nacelle, a rotor rotatably mounted to the nacelle, and a generator as set forth in claim 1 operatively coupled to the rotor.

13. A method of comprising: arresting a generator rotor of a generator, the arresting comprising: holding the generator rotor in a predetermined position relative to a generator stator of the generator, and coupling a damping arresting device in between the generator rotor and the generator stator to establish a flux of force between the generator rotor and the generator stator, and uncoupling the damping arresting device from at least one of the generator rotor or the generator stator.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein before the arresting, the method comprises: braking of the generator rotor, and locking the generator rotor relative to the generator stator in a predetermined position.

15. The method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising performing a modal analysis to determine a dynamic behavior of the generator.

16. A method comprising: using an arresting device for arresting a generator rotor of a generator, of a wind turbine, and performing a modal analysis to determine the dynamic behavior of the generator, wherein the arresting device has a damping element that is variable in shape such as to deform as a result of force flow between the generator rotor and a generator stator of the generator.

17. The generator as set forth in claim 8 wherein the pressurized fluid is compressed air.

18. The generator as set forth in claim 11 wherein the clamping connection is in the region of the plurality of recesses.

19. The generator as set forth in claim 15 wherein the modal analysis is performed after the generator rotor has been arrested and before the damping arresting device is uncoupled.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] The invention is described in greater detail hereinafter by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying Figures in which:

[0039] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a wind turbine,

[0040] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a rotor of a wind turbine as shown in FIG. 1,

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a part of the view of the rotor and an arresting device as shown in FIG. 2,

[0042] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of the arresting device of FIG. 2,

[0043] FIG. 5a shows a part of the arresting device of FIG. 4 without relative movement,

[0044] FIG. 5b shows a part of the arresting device of FIG. 4 with relative movement in the radial direction,

[0045] FIG. 5c shows a part of the arresting device of FIG. 4 with relative movement in the axial direction, and

[0046] FIG. 5d shows a part of the arresting device of FIG. 4 with relative movement in the peripheral direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a wind turbine 100 having a tower 102 and a nacelle 104. Arranged on the nacelle 104 is a rotor 106 having three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 110. The rotor blades 108 are mounted with their rotor blade roots to a rotor hub. In operation the rotor 106 is caused to rotate by the wind and thereby drives a generator (not shown) in the nacelle 104.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a generator 120, in particular a generator for the wind turbine, having a rotatably mounted generator rotor 121, a generator stator 122 which corresponds to the generator rotor 121 and has a support structure 123 for fixing in the wind turbine 100. The stator support structure 123 further has a plurality of segments 123a, 123b, 123c and at least a first side 123 and a second side 123.

[0049] Each segment of the stator support structure 123a, 123b, 123c has at least a first side 123a, 123b, 123c and a second side 123a, 123b, 123c. In addition arranged in the generator 120 are at least three arresting devices 130a, 130b, 130c which are coupled in between the generator rotor 121 and the generator stator 122 in such a way that there is a force flow between the generator rotor 121 and the generator stator 122.

[0050] The arresting devices 130a, 130b, 130c arrest the generator rotor 121 relative to the generator stator 122 in a predetermined position. In that case a respective first arresting device 130, 130a, 130b, 130a is in contact with a first side of the stator structure 123a, 123b, 123c and a second arresting device 130a, 130b, 130c is in contact with a second side of the stator support structure 123a, 123b, 123c.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows a portion of the generator 120 of FIG. 1. In the illustrated preferred embodiment the rotatably mounted rotor 121 is operatively connected to a brake disk 125 which is so designed that it has a plurality of openings along its periphery.

[0052] The generator stator 122 is connected to a support structure 123. The stator support structure 123 is adapted to connect the generator stator 122 to the wind turbine 100. The stator support structure 123 further has a plurality of segments 123a, 123b, 123c and at least a first side 123 and a second side 123.

[0053] The arresting device 130, 130 is coupled to the brake disk 125 of a braking device of the generator rotor 121. In addition the arresting device 130 is in contact with a first side of the support structure 123 and the arresting device 130 is in contact with a second side of the support structure 123 of the generator stator 122.

[0054] The arresting device 130, 130 also has a holding arm 133 having a stator end with a receiving means 134 for the damping element 131 and a rotor end.

[0055] A damping element 131 is arranged at the stator end of the arresting device 130 at the receiving means 134. Provided at the rotor end is a clamping unit 132 having one or more openings 135 through which connecting means, for example screw connections, can be passed to make the clamping connection.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows the arresting device 130. The arresting device 130 includes a holding arm 133 having a stator end at which is arranged a receiving means 134 for a damping element and a damping element 131. The holding arm 133 further has a rotor end at which there is a clamping unit 132. The clamping unit 132 has at least one opening 135, through which connecting means, in particular screws, can be passed to make a clamping connection.

[0057] The contact surface between the support structure 123 and the damping element 131 extends substantially perpendicularly to an axis 150. The operative direction of the damping element 131, starting from the periphery of the rotor 121, extends substantially parallel to the axis 150.

[0058] FIG. 5a shows a portion of the arresting device 130 in the rest state. The arresting device 130 includes an axis of symmetry 140, a holding arm 133 having a stator end at which are arranged a receiving means 134 for a damping element and a damping element 131. The damping element 131 is in contact with the support structure 123 of the stator 122. The contact surface between the support structure 123 and the damping element 131 extends substantially perpendicularly to the axis 150.

[0059] FIG. 5a further shows an axis 150 which extends substantially perpendicularly to the radial of the generator 120 and which substantially coincides with the axis of symmetry 140 of the arresting device 130.

[0060] The arresting device 130 experiences a force F.sub.T1 in the peripheral direction through the rotor 121, that is transmitted to the damping element 131. The damping element is of a height L.

[0061] FIG. 5b shows a portion of the arresting device 130, corresponding to FIG. 5a, which under the action of a force FR experiences a relative movement in the radial direction. The arresting device 130 further experiences a force F.sub.T1 in the peripheral direction through the rotor 121, that is transmitted to the damping element 131. In that arrangement the damping element is of a height L. The damping element 131 which is variable in shape substantially experiences a shearing effect by L as a result of the force F.sub.R.

[0062] In addition FIG. 5b shows an axis 150 which, with the relative movement in the radial direction, is at a spacing L relative to the axis of symmetry 140 of the arresting device 130.

[0063] FIG. 5c shows a portion of the arresting device 130 corresponding to FIG. 5a, which under the action of a force F.sub.A experiences a relative movement in the axial direction. The arresting device 130 further experiences a force F.sub.T1 in the peripheral direction through the rotor 121, which is transmitted to the damping element 131. In that arrangement the damping element is of a height L. In that case the damping element 131 which is variable in shape experiences substantially a shearing action by L as a consequence of the force F.sub.R.

[0064] In addition FIG. 5c shows an axis 150 which, with the relative movement in the axial direction, is at a spacing L relative to the axis of symmetry 140 of the arresting device 130.

[0065] FIG. 5d shows a portion of the arresting device 130 corresponding to FIG. 5a, which under the effect of a force F.sub.T2 (F.sub.T2>>F.sub.T1) through the rotor experiences a relative movement in the peripheral direction. The force F.sub.T2 is transmitted to the damping element 131 so that the height of the damping element which is variable in shape is upset by L.

[0066] FIG. 5d further shows an axis 150 which substantially coincides with the axis of symmetry 140 of the arresting device 130.

[0067] On the simplified assumption that forces act exclusively in the peripheral direction on the damping element 131 then for extension or upsetting by L the tensile or compression stress to be applied is derived as follows:

=E.Math.=E.Math.L,

with E as the modulus of elasticity.

[0068] On the simplified assumption that forces act exclusively in the radial and axial direction respectively on the damping element 131 then for shearing by the angle the shearing stress to be applied is derived as follows:

[00001]$=G.Math.\tan .Math..Math.=G.Math.\frac{.Math.L}{L},$

with G as the shearing modulus.

[0069] Accordingly as L>>L and G<E this provides that consequently the force to be applied for a relative movement AL in the radial or axial direction is a multiple less than a force in the axial or radial direction respectively.