Tilted Rotor and Stator End Plates for Wind Turbine Generator Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Large-scaled generators in wind turbines face challenges in maintaining mechanical stability due to high axial and radial forces, which can lead to structural instability and potential collisions between the rotor and stator, causing damage.

Innovation Solution

The generator design incorporates at least partially tilted rotor and stator end plates, providing additional mechanical stability by extending at angles relative to the center axis, allowing for improved support structures and reduced axial dimensions of the stator shaft, while maintaining large axial dimensions for the stator coils and rotor permanent magnets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If conventional perpendicular rotor and stator end plates are used, then the generator structure is simple, but mechanical stability is insufficient under high axial and radial forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidsupport structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by tilting the rotor and stator end plates at an angle between 5-45 degrees relative to the perpendicular plane. This asymmetric configuration creates a mechanical stabilizing effect that resists axial and radial forces, improving overall structural stability without requiring additional complex support components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a new dimensional aspect by tilting the end plates, transforming them from a two-dimensional perpendicular configuration to a three-dimensional angled configuration. This dimensional change enables the end plates to better withstand multi-directional forces while maintaining structural simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If larger axial dimensions are provided for the stator shaft, then mechanical stability improves, but the generator weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical stabilityVSAvoidgenerator weight
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

By tilting the end plates asymmetrically, the patent achieves improved mechanical stability with the existing stator shaft dimensions, eliminating the need to increase axial dimensions and thereby avoiding additional weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the geometric parameter of the end plates from perpendicular to angled configuration, which fundamentally alters the mechanical load distribution and stability characteristics without requiring changes in mass or axial dimensions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the center of mass is located farther from the tower construction, then the generator operation is easier, but the statics of the wind turbine construction deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenerator operationVSAvoidwind turbine statics
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The tilted end plate configuration creates an asymmetric mass distribution that allows the center of mass to be positioned more favorably closer to the tower, improving wind turbine statics while maintaining generator operational effectiveness through the tilted geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP2578872B1Generator
Publication Date: 2018.01.03 SIEMENS AG
  • EP2578872B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2578872B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2578872B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Generator (2), particularly for a wind turbine (1), having a rotor (8) and a stator (9), whereby the rotor (8) comprises at least one disc-like shaped rotor end plate (11, 11a, 11b) supporting the rotor (8) and the stator (9) comprises at least one disc-like shaped stator end plate (14, 14a, 14b) supporting the stator (9), wherein the at least one rotor end plate (11, 11a, 11b) and/or the at least one stator end plate (14, 14a, 14b) at least partially extends tilted relative to the centre axis (A) of the generator (2).