Wind Turbine Pitch Bearing Segmented Rolling Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbines face challenges in efficiently transferring increasing wind loads to hubs while maintaining bearing durability and minimizing cost and weight, as traditional pitch bearings approach their limits with larger balls and multi-bearing designs are space-consuming and costly.
Innovation Solution
The use of pitch bearings with two or more rows of rolling elements and separate flexibility enhancing means, such as plates, angle compensating rings, and hollow rollers, allows for improved load transfer without significant weight or cost increase, ensuring durability and functionality even under distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the pitch bearing size is increased to transfer larger wind loads, then the load transfer capability is improved, but the bearing weight and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch bearing is divided into multiple rows of rolling elements (two or more rows) instead of using a single large bearing. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple smaller rolling elements, achieving the required load transfer capability without proportionally increasing the bearing ring size and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from increasing ball diameter (one dimension) to increasing the number of rolling element rows (another dimension). By adding rows of rolling elements, the bearing achieves higher load capacity through increased contact points rather than larger individual elements, thus avoiding proportional weight and cost increases.
2Force
If larger bearing balls are used to increase load capacity, then the moment transfer capability is improved, but the bearing cost and ring size increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using fewer large bearing balls, the invention segments the load transfer function into multiple rows of smaller rolling elements. This allows the moment to be transferred through distributed contact points, avoiding the need for oversized individual balls and their associated larger bearing rings.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter from ball diameter to number of rows. By maintaining smaller ball diameters while increasing the number of rows, the bearing achieves equivalent or superior moment transfer capability with reduced ring sizes and lower costs.
3Productivity
If multiple bearings are used to transfer the moment, then the load transfer efficiency is improved, but the space consumption and structural rigidity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple bearing functions into a single integrated pitch bearing structure with multiple rows of rolling elements. This consolidation achieves the load transfer efficiency of multiple separate bearings while occupying less space and reducing the need for additional structural support elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of distributing load transfer across multiple separate bearings in space (increasing volume), the invention stacks multiple rows of rolling elements within a single bearing assembly (utilizing radial dimension), thereby achieving high load transfer efficiency without proportional space consumption.
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
This design enables wind turbines to handle larger moments and loads effectively, maintaining bearing functionality and reducing costs by enhancing flexibility and rigidity where needed, thus addressing the limitations of traditional pitch bearings.
Implementation Method 1
one or more pitch bearings including two or more bearing rings and two or more rows of rolling elements
Implementation Method 2
enable that the blades can rotate freely and accurately
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a wind turbine including at least two pitch controlled wind turbine blades. Each blade has pitch bearings including two or more bearing rings, and pitch controlling means for pitching the blades by means of the bearings. The blades are mounted on a hub via the pitch bearings and the pitch bearings include separate flexibility enhancing means for controlling loads in the bearings.