Wind turbine pitch bearing with friction enhancing insert layer

Abstract

A pitch bearing for coupling a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine includes an outer race mountable to the hub and an inner race rotatable relative to the outer race and mountable to the rotor blade. The inner race is formed from first and second ring members, each of which has an outer annular surface and an inner annular surface. The first and second ring members are joined together at the inner annular surfaces such that the inner annular surfaces oppose each other. A layer of friction enhancing material is interposed / disposed between the opposing inner annular surfaces, the friction enhancing material comprising an abrasive particle component that increases a coefficient of friction to minimize slippage between the first and second ring members.

Description

technical field [0001] The present subject matter relates generally to wind turbines, and more particularly, to pitch bearings for wind turbines that include friction enhancing layers between ring components of the bearing. Background technique [0002] Wind power is considered to be one of the cleanest and greenest energy sources currently available, and wind turbines are receiving increasing attention in this regard. A modern wind turbine typically includes a tower, generator, gearbox, nacelle, and one or more rotor blades. The rotor blades capture kinetic energy from the wind using known airfoil principles and transfer the kinetic energy through rotational energy to turn a shaft that couples the rotor blades to a gearbox or, if a gearbox is not used, directly to a generator. The generator then converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy, which can be deployed to the utility grid. [0003] A wind turbine includes a pitch system arranged between the blade root o...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

This condition can lead to relative sliding between the two ring parts and consequent damage or failure of the bearing or its bolted connection

[0005] Another consequence of conventional bearing design is that because the two annular parts of a bearing ring are made of steel or other iron-based material, microscopic motion can often occur between these two parts (even in the absence of macroscopic slippage), and this can lead to the formation of fretting corrosion

Fretting corrosion can lead to failure of interface joints or bearings

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