Segmented Damper Arrangement for Wind Turbine Ring Gear Vibration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional torsional dampers are bulky, require significant space, and are not easily adjustable to the natural frequency of large systems like wind turbines, leading to inadequate structure-borne noise reduction and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A damper arrangement comprising interconnected vibration damper units forming a closed ring around the functional part, with adjustable elements to match the system's natural frequency, using wedge-shaped bearings and elastic layers for high damping with minimal space and ease of maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional torsional dampers are used, then vibration damping is achieved, but the device occupies significant space and is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is divided into multiple segment elements that can be independently mounted around the circumference of the ring gear. Each segment contains damping material and can be separately installed and maintained, reducing the space required compared to a conventional single-piece damper while maintaining effective vibration damping through the distributed arrangement of multiple segments
Solution Approach 2:
The segment elements are designed to be mounted within or around the existing ring gear structure, utilizing the available space efficiently. The damping segments can be positioned in the annular space between the ring gear outer circumference and the housing, nesting the damping function within the existing mechanical structure rather than requiring additional external space
2Reliability
If conventional torsional dampers are used, then vibration damping is achieved, but the damper is not easily adjustable to the system's natural frequency
Solution Approach 1:
The damper incorporates adjustable stiffness elements within each segment, such as preloaded springs or adjustable mounting mechanisms, that allow the natural frequency of the damping system to be tuned to match the specific operating conditions and natural frequency of the wind turbine drivetrain. This dynamic adjustability enables the same damper design to be adapted across different machine sizes and operating regimes
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristics can be modified by changing parameters such as the stiffness of the elastic mounting, the mass distribution of the segments, or the preloading force applied to the damping elements. These parameter adjustments allow the damper's natural frequency to be matched to the system's critical frequencies, optimizing vibration damping effectiveness for specific applications
3Object-generated harmful factors
If large absorber mass is used for high damping, then structure-borne noise reduction is improved, but the space required increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a single large mass, the damper employs multiple localized mass segments distributed around the ring gear circumference. Each segment contains sufficient mass to effectively damp vibrations in its local region, and the distributed arrangement provides overall high damping effectiveness without requiring a single large volume. The local quality of each segment is optimized for its specific position and loading conditions
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
Provides effective torsional vibration damping with significant structure-borne noise reduction, adaptable to the system's frequency, and requiring minimal space, while being easy to maintain and replace.
Implementation Method 1
Each absorber element comprises... one or more elastic layer elements or layers which are arranged between the straight, obliquely arranged, inner contact surface of the flywheel part and the straight, oblique, outer contact surface of the wedge-shaped bearing
Implementation Method 2
The damper arrangement... for reducing torsional vibrations, in particular structure-borne sound
Data Source
Figure 1(a)~1(c)
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to damping arrangements for concentric functional parts of gearboxes, generators and motors, such as rotors and stators, in particular ring gears of planetary gearboxes of wind turbines in particular, which can be dampened in terms of vibration technology, in particular with regard to structure-borne noise, by attaching specially designed and interconnected vibration damping units, by reducing torsional vibrations, without requiring significant space.