Wind Turbine Drivetrain Coupling With Aligned Maintenance Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional wind turbine drivetrain design with annular connecting parts lacks accessibility for fasteners, requiring maintenance-free solutions that are costly and inefficient, as apertures for access compromise the structural integrity and flexibility of the coupling components.
Innovation Solution
The drivetrain design includes an outer and inner access opening in the housing and intermediate part, allowing access to fasteners without compromising structural integrity, using standard bolted connections that can be maintained periodically, and a method to align these openings for maintenance access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If apertures are provided in the annular plates for fastener access, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but the flexion and torsion properties of the annular plates deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly is divided into two separate annular plates (first and second annular plates) connected by a hollow shaft, with fasteners positioned at different locations. This segmentation allows the structure to maintain structural integrity while providing access points for maintenance without compromising the flexion and torsion properties of each individual plate.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow shaft acts as an intermediary element connecting the two annular plates. It provides a pathway for fastener access while maintaining the structural integrity and mechanical properties of the annular plates, serving as a mediator that enables maintenance accessibility without directly compromising plate strength.
2Reliability
If a maintenance-free design is implemented for the coupling assembly, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling assembly is designed to be serviceable by operators through the provided access openings, allowing routine maintenance and inspection without requiring specialized intervention or complex maintenance-free mechanisms. This self-service capability balances reliability with cost-effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the coupling assembly into accessible components with designated access openings, the design allows for targeted maintenance of specific elements (such as fasteners and bearing assemblies) without requiring complete disassembly or expensive maintenance-free solutions, thereby reducing overall manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability.
3Force
If the hollow shaft is made as short as possible to transfer loads efficiently, then load transfer capability is improved, but accessibility to interior components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Access to interior components is achieved by utilizing the radial dimension through openings in the annular plates rather than requiring axial length. The hollow shaft remains short for efficient load transfer, while access openings provide another dimensional pathway (radial access) to interior components like fasteners and bearing assemblies.
Solution Approach 2:
The hollow shaft serves as an intermediary that maintains short length for load transfer while the access openings in the annular plates act as mediators providing pathways to interior components, resolving the conflict between compactness and accessibility.
4Ease of operation
If access openings are formed in the housing and intermediate part, then maintenance accessibility is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Access openings are provided at specific localized positions in the housing and intermediate part rather than throughout the entire structure. This local quality approach maintains overall structural strength while providing necessary access points for maintenance activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing and intermediate part are segmented to include discrete access openings that provide maintenance access without compromising the overall structural integrity. The openings are strategically positioned to minimize impact on structural strength while enabling necessary maintenance operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine drivetrain is provided, including a low-speed shaft; a high-speed assembly including a planetary gearbox and a generator; a coupling assembly including a first annular part connected to the low-speed shaft, a second annular part connected to a first stage of the planetary gearbox, and a cylindrical intermediate part extending between the annular parts, a drivetrain housing arranged to enclose the low-speed shaft and the coupling assembly; having an outer access opening formed in the drivetrain housing; and an inner access opening formed in the intermediate part of the coupling assembly and arranged to align with the outer access opening to facilitate access to the interior of the coupling assembly. Also, further described is a method of performing a maintenance procedure on such a wind turbine drivetrain.