Tilting Pad Thrust Bearing for Wind Turbines
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbines require costly external crane services for main bearing maintenance and replacement, especially for offshore installations, due to the use of roller or ball bearings which are difficult to access and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine design incorporating a thrust bearing with a piston and spring element, where the bearing pad is movably connected to the support structure, allowing for translational and tilting movement, and utilizing a hydrostatic bearing with lubricant to reduce friction and facilitate easier maintenance, featuring a disc spring or polymer element for optimal spring rate and compact arrangement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If roller or ball bearings are used for the main bearing, then the bearing can support radial and axial loads, but the serviceability and replacement require costly external crane services
Solution Approach 1:
The main bearing is segmented into multiple independent thrust bearing pads that can be individually removed and replaced. Each pad is a separate component that can be serviced independently without requiring removal of the entire bearing assembly, enabling maintenance without external cranes.
Solution Approach 2:
The thrust bearing pads are designed with movable connections to the support structure, allowing them to be dynamically removed and reinstalled. The pads can tilt and move translationally relative to the support structure, facilitating easy access and replacement during maintenance operations.
2Force
If conventional thrust bearing designs are used, then the bearing can handle axial loads, but the maintenance costs are very high especially for offshore installations
Solution Approach 1:
The thrust bearing pads are designed as replaceable components that can be easily swapped out when worn. This approach treats the pads as consumable parts that can be replaced quickly and economically, significantly reducing maintenance costs compared to replacing entire bearing assemblies, particularly for offshore installations where crane services are expensive.
3Device complexity
If the bearing pad is rigidly fixed to the support structure, then the structure is simple, but the serviceability is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pad is connected to the support structure through a movable connection that allows the pad to tilt and move translationally. This dynamic connection maintains structural simplicity while enabling easy removal and replacement of the pad during maintenance, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and serviceability.
4Ease of repair
If a piston and spring element mechanism is used, then the bearing pad can move and tilt for better serviceability, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The piston and spring element mechanism enables the bearing pad to automatically move and tilt under its own weight and operational forces, facilitating self-service maintenance. The spring element provides automatic return positioning, and the piston guides the movement, creating a self-regulating system that improves serviceability without requiring complex external actuation mechanisms.
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
Simplifies serviceability and maintenance of the main bearing by providing improved manageability and defined movement limits, reducing maintenance costs and enabling reliable operation even under high loads, particularly beneficial for offshore installations.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element which is configured to resiliently support the bearing pad relative to the support structure
Implementation Method 2
a hydrostatic bearing with lubricant to reduce friction
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
A wind turbine (1), comprising a support structure (13) and a thrust bearing (12) having a bearing pad (18) which comprises a piston (26) and is which movably connected to the support structure (13), a spring element (21) which is configured to resiliently support the bearing pad (18) relative to the support structure (13), wherein a pad portion (22) of the bearing pad (18) and/or the bearing pad (18) itself is configured to tilt and to move translationally relative to the support structure (13), and wherein a gap (27) is provided between the piston (26) and the support structure (13). The piston (26) limits the movement of the bearing pad (18). Thus, reliable and well defined movement limits are provided. Furthermore, a broad spectrum of spring parameters is available since the movement may be restricted by means of the piston (26) and not necessarily be means of the spring element (21) .