Hydrostatic Rotor Shaft Bearing Assembly for Wind Turbine Vibration Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine bearing assemblies with multiple friction bearing segments require complex mechanical or hydraulic springs for assembly and servicing, increasing complexity and potential for vibration-related issues.
Innovation Solution
A bearing assembly with hydrostatically supported friction segments that use a lubricant to create a pressure system acting as a spring/damper, eliminating the need for separate springs and allowing for self-adjusting lubricant gaps to maintain a uniform lubricant film, thereby reducing assembly complexity and damping vibrations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical or hydraulic springs are used to mount friction bearing segments, then the bearing assembly can support the rotor shaft, but the complexity of assembling and servicing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the mechanical or hydraulic springs from the bearing assembly. Instead of using separate spring elements to mount the friction bearing segments, the patent uses a simplified mounting structure where segments are directly secured to the bearing ring, removing the complex spring mechanism while maintaining the necessary support function
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical spring system with a direct mounting arrangement. The friction bearing segments are mounted directly to the bearing ring without intermediate spring elements, substituting a complex mechanical system with a simpler structural solution that achieves the same functional outcome
2Force
If multiple friction bearing segments are used to support the rotor shaft, then the load distribution is improved, but the number of mounting components and assembly steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the mounting function into the bearing ring structure itself. Instead of having separate mounting components for each friction bearing segment, the bearing ring incorporates integrated mounting features that directly secure the segments, combining multiple functions into a single unified structure and reducing the total number of components
3Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical springs are used for mounting friction bearing segments, then elastic mounting is achieved, but vibration damping becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables the bearing assembly to self-damp vibrations through the inherent characteristics of the friction bearing segments and their direct mounting arrangement. The system uses the natural friction and contact characteristics of the segments against the bearing ring to provide vibration damping, eliminating the need for separate vibration control mechanisms while maintaining elastic mounting properties
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 simplifies assembly and servicing while providing effective vibration damping for smooth operation and preventing wear by maintaining an adequate lubricant gap between the friction segments and the bearing rings, ensuring a wear-free operation.
Implementation Method 1
a first compression chamber (24) is formed between the first bearing ring (11) and the first friction bearing segment (21), in which a pressure which displaces the first friction bearing segment (21) in a direction towards the first friction face (12.3) can be generated by directing a lubricant into the first compression chamber (24)
Implementation Method 2
at least one hydrostatically supported first friction bearing segment (21) which interacts with a first friction face (12.3) that is disposed on the second bearing ring (12)
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine includes a rotor shaft. The rotor shaft is mounted via a bearing assembly having a first bearing ring and a second bearing ring mounted to rotate in relation to the first bearing ring. A hydrostatically supported first friction bearing segment is disposed on the first bearing ring and interacts with a first friction face that is disposed on the second bearing ring. The first friction bearing segment is received in a receptacle pocket of the first bearing ring such that a first compression chamber is formed between the first bearing ring and the first friction bearing segment. The first friction bearing segment is configured such that a second compression chamber is formed between the first friction bearing segment and the second bearing ring, wherein the first compression chamber and the second compression chamber are connected by a duct that runs through the first friction bearing segment.