Floating Current Transfer Assembly for Wind Turbine Deformation Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current transfer elements in electrical machines, particularly in large machines like direct drive wind turbine generators, are prone to malfunction due to deformations and movements, affecting the distance between components and leading to potential damage and functional issues.
Innovation Solution
A current transfer element with a floating conductor assembly and support, featuring a resiliently connected floating chassis on a roller, allows for adjustable contact pressure and maintains a consistent distance with the rotating component, ensuring reliable current transfer even under movement or deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the distance between current transfer elements is reduced to prevent damage, then reliability improves, but the system becomes more sensitive to deformations and movements
Solution Approach 1:
The current transfer element incorporates a resilient connection between the floating chassis and support structure, allowing the system to dynamically adapt to deformations and movements while maintaining reliable current transfer. The resilient connection enables the floating chassis to move relative to the support, compensating for dimensional changes without compromising the electrical connection.
2Manufacturing precision
If a fixed mounting structure is used for current transfer elements, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the system cannot accommodate operational deformations
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting structure transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic resilient connection. The floating chassis is resiliently connected to the support, allowing the system to maintain manufacturing precision during installation while accommodating operational deformations and movements that occur during machine operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient connection allows the physical parameters of the mounting structure (distance, position) to change in response to operational conditions. The floating chassis can move relative to the support within acceptable ranges, maintaining electrical contact while adapting to dimensional changes caused by deformations and movements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures effective and durable current transfer by adjusting to positional changes, preventing damage and maintaining optimal contact pressure, thus enhancing the reliability and longevity of the grounding system.
Implementation Method 1
the floating chassis is resiliently connected to the support
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a current transfer element (100) configured to be mounted on a first component (300) of a machine, the machine comprising a second component (200) configured to rotate with respect to the first component and the second component comprising an electrical conductor. The current transfer element (100) comprises a floating conductor assembly, and a support (120), and the floating conductor assembly comprises a floating chassis (111) resiliently connected to the support (120), the floating chassis arranged on a roller (112) which is configured to contact the second component (200), and carrying a floating conductor (113) configured to transfer current from the electrical conductor of the second component (200). The present disclosure further relates to generators and electrical machines comprising floating conductor assemblies, and direct drive wind turbines comprising such generators.