Wind Turbine Adjustment Drive Torque Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adjusting devices in wind turbines face issues with elasticity in gear drives due to backlash, leading to delayed reactions to external loads, reduced drive torque during load changes, and increased wear from residual holding torque, necessitating frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Operating at least two adjusting drives with electric motors at different speeds to distribute drive torque and minimize elasticity, using a control device to manage speed and torque setpoints, allowing one drive to counteract the others, thereby achieving sufficient tensioning and reducing torque holes during starting and stopping processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If residual holding torque is applied by brake calipers during adjustment device operation, then the adjustment device can maintain position against wind loads, but brake wear increases and frequent maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the position holding function from the braking device and transfers it to the adjusting drives themselves. The control device operates the adjusting drives such that they actively maintain the adjustment position through controlled torque application, eliminating the need for continuous brake engagement. This resolves the contradiction by removing the harmful brake wear while preserving the position holding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical friction-based holding system (brake calipers) with an active control system using the adjusting drives. Instead of relying on mechanical friction to hold position, the system uses controlled motor torque to maintain the adjustment device position, thereby eliminating brake wear while maintaining reliability.
2Stability of the object's composition
If adjusting drives operate at different speeds, then drive torque is distributed and elasticity is minimized, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic speed control to the adjusting drives, where the control device continuously adjusts the speeds of multiple adjusting drives during operation. This dynamic approach allows the system to optimize torque distribution and minimize elasticity in real-time, achieving superior rigidity despite the increased control complexity. The control device monitors drive conditions and dynamically balances the speeds to maintain optimal performance.
3Force
If high drive torque is designed for adjustment drives to handle extreme wind loads, then the adjustment device can overcome strong winds, but the drives experience speed changes and braking/acceleration during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes in the control device that dynamically adjusts drive torque and speed parameters based on actual operating conditions. When wind loads increase, the control device modulates the torque and speed parameters of the adjusting drives to maintain stable operation. This prevents excessive speed changes and braking/acceleration events while still providing sufficient torque capability to handle extreme wind conditions.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for rotating a component of a wind turbine by moving an adjustment device, wherein the adjustment device comprises at least two adjustment drives, each having at least one electric motor, for moving the adjustment device, and wherein, during the movement of the adjustment device, the electric motor of at least one of the at least two adjustment drives is operated at a different speed than the electric motor of at least one of the other at least two adjustment drives. The invention also relates to a corresponding device.