Three-Ring Pitch Bearing Structure for Higher Wind Turbine Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
As wind turbines increase in size, traditional pitch bearings face challenges with increased loads, leading to high costs and complex maintenance due to their size and four-point contact geometry, which limits their ability to handle larger loads efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A three-ring pitch bearing design with a radially-split center race and two-point contact rolling elements, allowing for optimized contact angles and reduced complexity in machining, enabling the bearing to handle increased loads without the need for larger or more expensive components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional four-point contact pitch bearings are used to support wind turbine loads, then the bearing can handle moderate loads, but the bearing size and cost increase significantly when rotor blade lengths increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is divided into three separate races (inner race, center race, outer race) instead of the traditional two-race design. This segmentation allows the bearing to handle increased loads from longer rotor blades by distributing forces across multiple contact points and races, avoiding the need for a single oversized bearing component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the contact geometry from four-point contact to two-point contact rolling elements. This parameter change optimizes the load distribution and reduces the complexity and cost of the bearing while maintaining or improving load capacity for larger rotor blade configurations.
2Strength
If traditional four-point contact pitch bearings are used, then the bearing structure is established, but machining complexity increases with larger sizes
Solution Approach 1:
Dividing the bearing into three races allows each race to be manufactured separately with simpler machining requirements, avoiding the need to machine large complex four-point contact geometries in a single integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Changing from four-point to two-point contact geometry simplifies the machining requirements for the raceways and rolling elements, making manufacturing more economical while maintaining structural strength.
3Force
If larger pitch bearings are used to handle increased loads, then load capacity improves, but accessibility for maintenance and replacement becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The three-race design with two-point contact rolling elements creates a more compact and modular bearing structure that maintains better accessibility for maintenance operations while handling increased loads, compared to a single large four-point contact bearing.
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 three-ring pitch bearing effectively manages increased loads from larger rotor blades with reduced complexity and cost, providing improved durability and maintenance accessibility compared to traditional designs.
Implementation Method 1
each of the first and second rows of rolling elements of the first and second sets may contact at least one of the inner race, the outer race, or the center race at only two contacting locations
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a bearing for a wind turbine. The bearing includes an outer race, an inner race, and a radially-split center race configured between the inner race and the outer race. Further, the center race includes a first race portion and a separate second race portion. In addition, the first and second race portions are arranged together in an axial direction. The bearing also includes a first set of rolling elements positioned between the inner race and the center race and a second set of rolling elements positioned between the center race and the outer race.