Wind Turbine Coupling to Mitigate Torque Reversals

Abstract

A wind turbine power generating system, including a wind turbine connected to a speed-increasing gearbox having an output shaft. An electrical generator having an input shaft is also provided. A coupling interconnects the input and output shafts. The coupling includes a high torsional wind-up and/or displacement ability in parallel with a high frictional slip ability, such that during normal operation there is little or no frictional slippage and during a transient torque reversal the loads in the turbine drive system are decreased, thus decreasing the impact loads on the gearbox bearings.

Claims

1. In a wind turbine power generating system comprising a wind turbine connected to a speed-increasing gearbox having a high-speed output shaft and an electrical generator having an input shaft, the improvement comprising: a coupling system interconnecting said output and input shafts, said coupling system having a portion of its torque path split between at least one of a torsional wind-up and displacement component along with a torsional dampening component.

2. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein the torsional damping component is a frictional slip component set in the forward direction to at least 10% of the rated turbine torque.

3. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the frictional slip setting in the reverse driving direction is equal to at least 10% of the rated turbine torque.

4. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the torsional rotational displacement movement in a reverse direction taken from the group of at least 10 degrees or greater for turbines with generators operating at 1000 rpm or more and for turbines with lower generator speeds in the range of 1 to 5 degrees per 100 rpm.

5. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, where there is a zero backlash connection between the pressure plate and the endplate.

6. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 2, wherein the parallel wind-up and frictional slip are located on the generator shaft.

7. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein an adapter plate is provided to fit the existing flexible coupling of the turbine for ease and safety of retrofitting.

8. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein a portion of the rotational movement is frictional slip without torsional wind-up in forward or reverse.

9. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 8, wherein the frictional-slip-only portion is at least 10 degrees.

10. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein there is a hard stop after a threshold of torque in a forward direction is exceeded.

11. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 10, wherein the threshold is above 120% of rated turbine torque.

12. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein the rotational movement has an asymmetric action during operation such that the only time a deadband is engaged is during a torque reversal exceeding a frictional slip threshold.

13. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the asymmetric action is automatic.

14. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the frictional slip setting is greater than 20% of the rated turbine torque and less than 100%.

15. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 12, wherein the design of the frictional slip and the wind-up elements are symmetric to allow for use on wind turbines which have gearbox designs that may either be clockwise or counterclockwise forward rotation.

16. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling system is symmetrical in design and asymmetrical in its response to torque reversals with a prolonged slip ability in either direction of shaft rotation.

17. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 1, wherein a slip torque setting is high enough to only occur during transient torsional events.

18. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 17, wherein transient torsional events include torque reversals.

19. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 18, wherein the transient torque events also include shutdowns and startups and recovering from said transient torque events.

20. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 19, wherein the torsional movement during normal startup and shutdown is less than 10 degrees.

21. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 25, wherein the torsional movement during transient torque reversal that exceeds the frictional slip setting is greater than 10 degrees.

22. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 4, wherein the torsional wind-up device uses at least one of the elements taken from the group of an elastomeric material in shear, an elastomeric material in compression, metal springs in compression, metal springs in bending, and gas springs.

23. The improvement in a wind turbine power generating system according to claim 22, wherein the same torsional wind-up components provide wind-up in both forward and reverse directions.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] For a complete understanding of the various aspects, structures and operation of the invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a functional schematic of a wind turbine coupling system between the gearbox and the generator particularly adapted as a retrofit for existing coupling systems;

[0029] FIG. 2 is a graph of drive coupling torque as a percent of rated torque vs. angle of displacement for the present invention compared to the torsional rigidity of the typical existing coupling hub it replaces, indicated by the vertical dot-dash line, during normal operation;

[0030] FIG. 3 is the same torque vs. angle of displacement graph as in FIG. 2, but shows the torque and displacement during a torque reversal and restart of the turbine, the torsional rigidity and zero backlash of existing coupling systems being shown with the dot-dash line;

[0031] FIG. 4 is the same torque vs. angle of displacement graph as in FIGS. 2 and 3, but if the turbine were turning in the opposite direction of forward rotation, e.g. counter-clockwise vs. clockwise, demonstrating a symmetric design with asymmetric behavior;

[0032] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling adapted for implementation of the system;

[0033] FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the coupling showing one of the compression springs that provides the torsional deflection;

[0034] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a coupling of the invention showing the compression springs for the torsional deflection, along with the slots for the torque bolts in the friction plate, and the Bellville springs for controlling the force on the friction elements;

[0035] FIG. 8 is a view of the input hub showing the holes for the torque bolts and the slots to allow rotational travel of torsional wind-up compression springs without compression, along with the ends of the spring slots that provide for compression of the torsional wind-up springs at each end of travel;

[0036] FIG. 9 is a view of the end plate showing the torque bolt holes, along with slots for movement and compression of the torsional wind-up springs and recesses for a Bellville spring;

[0037] FIG. 10 shows the friction plate with bonded friction material and openings for the compression-type spring that is used for the torsional wind-up, along with slots to allow the torque bolts to displace rotationally relative to the friction plate; and

[0038] FIG. 11 is the pressure plate that fits into the endplate with zero backlash drive to transfer the torque between the two.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0039] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly FIG. 1, it can be seen that a wind turbine coupling system between the gearbox output shaft and generator input shaft made in accordance with the prior art is designated generally by the numeral 10. The system includes a gearbox 12 coupled to the generator 19 by a spacer coupling 14. The instant invention 16 replaces the existing coupling hub on the generator shaft and adapts to the spacer of the existing coupling system. The drawing illustratively shows a frictional slip capability 17 in parallel with a torsional deflection and/or displacement capability 18.

[0040] With reference to FIG. 2, an appreciation can be obtained as to the torsional behavior of an existing wind turbine coupling hub compared to the torsional behavior of a preferred embodiment of the invention. The existing coupling hubs are characterized by torsional rigidity and zero backlash with virtually no useful torsional wind-up or angular displacement as shown with the near-vertical dot-dash line. In contradistinction, the preferred embodiment has a useful level of torsional wind-up (torque increasing with angular displacement) and/or some significant torsional displacement. In parallel with the torsional wind-up and/or displacement is a frictional slip capability preferably set to allow some slight torsional displacement during startup and shutdown. A slip setting of 40% of rated turbine torque is shown to allow this slight frictional slippage during startup and shutdown and thus keeping the frictional interface in optimum condition. FIG. 2 also shows a potential for large angular displacement, but it does not become active until a torque reversal, as shown in FIG. 3. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that a frictional slip setting that was much greater than 50% of rated turbine torque could prevent slippage in the forward direction. It could still function in the torsional reversal mode, which is a rare event in typical modern turbines and thus the friction interface would have to be well protected from corrosion and other frictional interface changes that could cause stick/slip behavior or an undesirable increase in its static torque slip release setting.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows the behavior of the preferred embodiment during a torque reversal exceeding the frictional torque setting threshold. It shows the effect of providing a large amount of angular displacement or backlash in conjunction with the torsional wind-up ability that is acting in parallel with the frictional slip ability. Torque reversals are known to cause load zone reversals on the gearbox bearings that result in the rollers impacting on the bearing raceways. This can lead to cracking and failing of the bearing races. By designing in a significant angular displacement, the frictional slippage can absorb most or all of the impact energy that could cause bearing damage. Most torque reversals occur during severe stopping events. FIG. 3 shows that upon restarting the turbine, a preferred embodiment automatically slips back into normal operation when the forward torque in the system exceeds the frictional slip threshold. The preferred embodiment also has a torsional wind-up ability at the end of the reverse angular displacement. This provides cushioning in case the amount of angular displacement designed is not enough to fully absorb the torque reversal energy. Some hard stops may also be designed in to limit the torsional wind-up and protect the torsional wind-up springs from damage.

[0042] FIG. 4 shows another reason to provide the torsional wind-up ability in reversethe symmetry of the design. FIG. 4 is again the same FIGS. 2 and 3, but shows another advantage of designing the torsional wind-up ability into the reverse directionthe design becoming symmetrical so that the unit can operate the same whether the normal direction of rotation of the generator shaft is clockwise or counterclockwise. This eliminates the need to manufacture and stock two different units for the same size wind turbine that has different directions of rotation at the generator.

[0043] Referring now to FIG. 5, an appreciation of the invention can be obtained from a sectional view that shows the details of the preferred embodiment. Adapter 20 connects the coupling spacer 14 to the input hub 22. Torque bolts 24 clamp the endplate 26 to the input hub 22 with spacing controlled by the bolt spacers 25. The endplate 26 retains the Belleville springs 32 that provide the necessary force on the pressure plate 28 against the friction material 30 to control the slip torque setting. The friction material is affixed to the friction plate 34, which is fixed to the output hub 40 with bolts 38. Bearing 36 maintains concentricity of the input to the output. A shrink disc shaft locking device 42 clamps the output to the generator shaft.

[0044] FIG. 6 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 that shows one of a plurality of compression springs 50 that provides a means for torsional wind-up. FIG. 7 is a sectional end view showing one of the compression springs 50 compressed in the normal operating position with the torque bolts 24 near the end of travel in the slots 52 in frictional plate 34. The slot ends provide a hard stop against the torque bolts to protect the compression springs from being overstressed. A plurality of Belleville springs 32 is also shown. These provide the necessary axial force for the characteristic slip torque on the friction surfaces 30.

[0045] FIG. 8 shows the details of the input hub 22 with holes 58 to accommodate the torque bolts 24. Slots 54 provide clearance for the compression springs 50 to allow rotational movement between the input and the output when the frictional torque threshold set by the Belleville springs 32 is exceeded. Slot ends 56 contact the compression springs 50 at the extremes of the angular displacement to provide the desired torsional wind-up capabilities at each end of the torsional displacement.

[0046] FIG. 9 is a view of the endplate 26 showing slots 60 matching the slots 54 for the rotational movement relative to the compression springs. Similar slot ends are also shown. Recesses 62 for the Belleville springs are also shown.

[0047] FIG. 10 is a view of the friction plate 34 showing slots 66 for relative movement of the torque bolts and openings 68 for containing the compression springs 50.

[0048] FIG. 11 is a view of the pressure plate 28 with tabs 70 shown as a means of carrying the torque to the endplate.

[0049] It is contemplated that various embodiments will typically have a combination of torsional wind-up and torsional displacement that will exceed 10 degrees and preferably be on the order of 20 to 60 degrees or greater for typical turbines with generators operating at 1000 rpm or more. For turbines with lower generator speeds, the required torsional displacement would be lower, in the range of 1 to 5 degrees per 100 rpm.

[0050] It is also contemplated that various embodiments will typically have a frictional torque setting exceeding 10% of the turbine torque so that normal turbine torque fluctuations do not cause unnecessary slippage and wear. The frictional torque setting would preferably be in the range of 20 to 50%, but could also be in excess of 50%. The most preferred setting would be 30 to 45% so as to provide a slight amount of slippage during normal startup and shutdown. That keeps the friction interface at its optimum performance during the rare torque reversal events that can damage the bearings.

[0051] Thus, it can be seen that the various aspects of the invention have been achieved by the structure presented and described above. While in accordance with the patent statutes, only the best known and preferred embodiment of the invention has been presented and described in detail, the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention, reference should be made to the following claims.