WIND TURBINE, BEARING HOUSING AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE

Abstract

Provided is a wind turbine, including a rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a generator and a bearing housing, whereby the bearing housing includes at least a first bearing group and a second bearing group each comprising at least a primary bearing setup and a secondary bearing setup in which bearing is receivable, whereby the rotor shaft is rotatably arranged by the primary bearing setups or the secondary bearing setups.

Claims

1. A wind turbine, comprising a rotor with a rotor shaft connected to a generator and a bearing housing, wherein the bearing housing comprises at least a first bearing group and a second bearing group each comprising at least a primary bearing setup and a secondary bearing setup in which bearing receivable, whereby the rotor shaft is rotatably arranged by the primary bearing setups or the secondary bearing setups.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the first bearing group and the second bearing group are arranged on axially spaced locations.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the primary bearing setup and the secondary bearing setup of the first bearing group and/or the primary bearing setup and the secondary bearing setup of the second bearing group are axially abutting each other.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the bearing setups comprise at least one circumferentially arranged notch in which the at least one bearing is receivable or received.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein the notch is fluid proof.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the bearing is at least one of fluid bearings and sliding bearings, wherein each bearing element comprises at least one exchangeable bearing pad.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the bearing housing comprises a service crane support to connect a service crane to the bearing housing.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 7, wherein the service crane support is connected to the bearing housing between the first bearing group and the second bearing group.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 7, wherein the bearing housing comprises a service crane that is connected to the service crane support.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein the service crane is rotatable around a mainly vertical axis that leads through the service crane support.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 9, wherein the service crane comprises an arm that is at least one extendable and rotatable around a horizontal axis.

12. A bearing housing for a wind turbine according to claim 1.

13. A method for operating a wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the wind turbine is operated with the bearing being mounted or received in the primary bearing setups or the secondary bearing setups, whereby the bearing setups in operation are changed, if at least one bearing setup related component is damaged or needs maintenance.

14. The method according to claim 13, comprising the following steps: If at least one primary bearing setup is damaged or needs maintenance the secondary bearing setups are used to pivot the rotor shaft until the at least one primary bearing setup is repaired or maintained, If the at least one primary bearing setup is irreparably broken the secondary bearing setups are kept in operation.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the bearing of the primary bearing setups are used in the secondary bearing setups, if the primary bearing setups are not operational.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0035] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an inventive bearing housing;

[0037] FIG. 2 shows a sectional drawing of the bearing housing from FIG. 1;

[0038] FIG. 3 shows a sectional drawing of an inventive wind turbine;

[0039] FIG. 4 shows a bearing housing comprising a service crane support;

[0040] FIG. 5 shows a bearing housing with a service crane attached to the support;

[0041] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the service crane on the bearing housing; and

[0042] FIG. 7 shows a crosscut of a bearing housing with a service crane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bearing housing 1 for a wind turbine 2, which is depicted in FIG. 3. The bearing housing 1 comprises a first bearing group 3 and a second bearing group 4, being axially spaced. The first bearing group 3 and the second bearing group 4 each comprise a primary bearing setup 5, 6 and secondary bearing setup 7, 8.

[0044] As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the primary bearing setup 5 and the secondary bearing setup 7 as well as the primary bearing setup 6 and the secondary bearing setup 8 abut each other axially. Therefore the pivot points for the rotor shaft (not shown) are similar independent of the use of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 or the secondary bearing setups 6, 8.

[0045] The bearing setups 5, 6, 7, 8 comprise notches 9 that are circumferentially arranged and able to receive bearing means or bearing, for example a fluid bearing. In case of sliding bearings exchangeable pads 10 can be received in the notches 9 and can be exchanged in case of pad damage. The notch 9 is, in particular, in case of a bearing fluid filled in the notch, built fluid proof.

[0046] Advantageously the bearing housing 1 has a primary bearing setup 5, 7 and a secondary bearing setup 6, 8 in the first bearing group 3 and the second bearing group 4, whereby either the primary bearing setups 5, 7 or the secondary bearing setups 6, 8 contain bearing means or bearing. Therefore, in case one of the bearing setups 5-8 is damaged or needs maintenance, the bearing setups 5-8 can be switched or changed, respectively. For example, if the primary bearing setup 5, 7 are in operation, so that the bearing means or bearing are received in the notches 9 of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 and a damage or a need for maintenance occurs at one of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 the respective affected bearing setup 5, 7 can be set out of operation and the corresponding secondary bearing setup 6, 8 can be set in operation. Thus, the wind turbine 2 can be kept operational, even if one of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 is not operational. Of course, it is also possible to change both primary bearing setups 5, 7 if only one of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 is affected.

[0047] After the affected primary bearing setup 5, 7 is repaired or maintained the primary bearing setups 5, 7 or the respective primary bearing setup 5, 7 can be used again, whereby the respective secondary bearing setup 6, 8 can be set out of operation and the bearing means or bearing can be switched from the respective secondary bearing setup 6, 8 into the primary bearing setup 5, 7. It is also possible to keep the secondary bearing setup 6, 8 in operation, even if the primary bearing setup 5, 7, that has previously been affected by the failure or damage is repaired or maintained.

[0048] In particular, if one of the primary bearing setups 5, 7 is irreparably damaged, for example if the raceway on the rotor shaft is irreparably damaged, the corresponding secondary bearing setup 6, 8 can be used instead. It is therefore not necessary to exchange the whole bearing housing 1, in contrast to conventional wind turbines, where a change of a bearing setup is not possible. Advantageously by way of embodiments of the invention the corresponding secondary bearing setup 6, 8 or one of the corresponding bearing setups can be used to give the wind turbine 2 a second life.

[0049] Of course, it is also possible to have more than a first bearing group 3 and a second bearing group 4. Each bearing group 3, 4 can also comprise more than the primary bearing setups 5, 7 and the secondary bearing setups 6, 8, so that even a third or more bearing setups can be provided.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a wind turbine 2 with a bearing housing 1. The wind turbine 2 further comprises a rotor 11 connected to the bearing housing 1. The rotor shaft (not shown) of the rotor 11 is rotatably arranged by the first bearing group 3 and the second bearing group 4 or in the situation shown in FIG. 3 is rotatably arranged by the primary bearing setups 5, 7 respectively. As can further be seen from FIGS. 1 and 3, the bearing housing 1 comprises a generator mounting flange 12, by which a generator (not shown) can be connected with the bearing housing 1.

[0051] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a bearing housing 1 for a wind turbine. The bearing housing 1 comprises a first bearing group 3 and a second bearing group 4, being axially spaced. A service crane support 13 is connected to the bearing housing 1. The service crane support 13 is suitable to connect a service crane to the bearing housing 1.

[0052] FIG. 5 shows a bearing housing with a service crane attached to the support. The bearing housing 1 comprises a first bearing group 3 and a second bearing group 4, being axially spaced. A service crane support 13 is connected to the bearing housing 1. A service crane 14 is connected to the service crane support 13. The service crane 14 is shown in a park position, that is has during the operation of the wind turbine, when the service crane is not in use.

[0053] From this position the service crane 14 can be rotated to be used in the front part of the wind turbine nacelle, in the direction towards the bearing group 3. It can also be used for lifting operations in the back of the nacelle beyond the bearing group 4, or at the sides of the bearing housing. The service crane 14 can also reach upward, through a hatch in the roof of a nacelle canopy.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the service crane on the bearing housing. The service crane 14 is connected to the bearing housing 1 by a service crane support 13. The crane comprises a hook on a rope, the hook is connected to an extendible arm and the rope can be reeled in and out be a winch.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a crosscut of a bearing housing with a service crane. The bearing housing comprises a first bearing group 3 and a second bearing group 4. The two bearing groups 3, 4 are connected by the wall of the bearing housing 1. The service crane support is connected to the upper part of the bearing housing 1. The load of the crane 14 is distributed by the bearing housing 1 to the support structure of the wind turbine.

[0056] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0057] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of a or an throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and comprising does not exclude other steps or elements.