Wind Turbine Ring Gear Tooth Load Tracking for Lifespan Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind power generating systems face challenges in accurately measuring and identifying which teeth of a ring gear are subject to load and how much load is applied, leading to potential damage due to prolonged engagement with pinions.
Innovation Solution
A load measuring system and method that includes a load detecting part and a position identifying part to detect and identify the target teeth of a ring gear subjected to load, using sensors to measure rotational positions and pinion positions, distinguishing between loads from external forces and driving forces, and calculating damage probability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the ring gear teeth remain loaded over a period of time through continuous engagement with pinions, then the wind power generating system can maintain continuous operation, but the loaded teeth of the ring gear become damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by installing sensors to detect the rotational position of the ring gear and pinion, and the load on the teeth. This feedback information is processed to identify which teeth are currently loaded and for how long, enabling the system to monitor tooth load duration and prevent damage while maintaining continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection and identification of loaded teeth before damage occurs. By continuously monitoring tooth load duration through sensors and processing units, the system can identify at-risk teeth in advance and trigger maintenance actions before actual damage happens, thus preventing reliability issues while allowing continuous operation.
2Device complexity
If no load detection is performed on ring gear teeth, then the system structure remains simple, but the ability to identify loaded teeth and measure load magnitude is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces sensors as intermediary devices to detect tooth load and rotational position. These sensors act as mediators between the mechanical gear system and the data processing system, enabling load measurement without fundamentally changing the gear structure. The sensors convert mechanical load information into detectable signals that can be processed to identify loaded teeth.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct mechanical measurement of tooth load with sensor-based detection and electronic signal processing. Instead of using complex mechanical load cells or strain gauges integrated into the gear teeth themselves, the system uses sensors to detect rotational position and infers load information from the operational state, simplifying the overall system structure while enabling precise load measurement.
3Device complexity
If all teeth of the ring gear are monitored equally, then the measurement system is simple, but the ability to identify specific target teeth subject to load is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring function by identifying and tracking individual teeth as they pass through the load zone. The system divides the continuous rotation into discrete tooth engagement events, tracking each tooth's load history separately. This segmentation enables the system to identify which specific teeth are currently loaded and for how long, providing detailed information about target teeth while maintaining a relatively simple overall monitoring structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically tracks the rotational position of the ring gear and pinion to identify which teeth are currently engaged and loaded. By continuously updating the identification of target teeth based on real-time rotational data from sensors, the system adapts to changing operational conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to focus monitoring resources on currently loaded teeth rather than treating all teeth equally, providing targeted information about specific target teeth.
Data Source
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AI summary
It is determined which of the teeth of a ring gear are subject to a load and to what extent the load is exerted. A load measuring system includes: a load detecting part for use in a moving part of a wind turbine, the moving part including a ring gear with a plurality of teeth and at least one drive unit with a pinion meshing with the ring gear, the load detecting part being configured to detect an applied load that is exerted on a tooth of the ring gear due to application of an external force or a driving force of the drive unit via the pinion with the ring gear meshing with the pinion; and a position identifying part for identifying, from among the teeth of the ring gear, a target tooth subject to the applied load.