Wind Turbine Generator Segmentation for Transport and Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The assembly and maintenance of large, heavy generators in wind turbines are challenging due to difficulties in transporting and accurately setting the air gap between the rotor and stator, leading to increased effort and cost.

Innovation Solution

The method involves forming generator segments with pre-adjusted air gaps, allowing for separate transportation and assembly on-site, where the stator and rotor segments are fixed relative to each other, reducing the need for on-site air gap adjustment and enhancing accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If the generator is segmented into multiple components for transportation, then the transportability is improved, but the assembly precision and time for setting the air gap deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidair gap setting precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The air gap is pre-adjusted to the correct dimension during the segmentation process, before the actual assembly at the installation site. This preliminary action ensures that when the segmented components are assembled later, the air gap precision is already established, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site adjustments and ensuring high assembly precision despite the segmented design

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The generator is divided into multiple separable components (stator segments and rotor segments) that can be transported independently. This segmentation enables transportability of large generator components while maintaining the ability to achieve precise air gap settings through pre-adjustment and standardized connection interfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Length of moving object

If the generator components are heavily segmented for transport, then the transportability is improved, but the assembly effort and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidassembly time
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The air gap adjustment is performed as a preliminary action during the segmentation manufacturing process, rather than during final assembly. This eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site adjustments and reduces the overall assembly time at the installation site, as the critical air gap dimension is already established before components are brought together

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The generator is segmented into transportable components with standardized interfaces. This segmentation enables independent transportation of heavy components while the pre-established connection standards and pre-adjusted air gaps minimize the time required for on-site assembly of these segmented parts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4016812A1Method for providing a generator of a wind turbine
Publication Date: 2022.06.22 WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
  • EP4016812A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4016812A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4016812A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for providing a generator (1) of a wind turbine (100), a method for assembling a generator (1), a method for maintaining a generator (1) of a wind turbine (100), an assembly device and a maintenance device.In particular, the invention relates to a method for providing a generator (1) of a wind turbine (100), comprising the steps of: providing a generator ring (5) by arranging stator segments (200) end-to-end to form a stator ring (202) and arranging rotor segments (300) end-to-end to form a rotor ring (302), wherein each stator segment (200) is arranged circumferentially adjacent to an associated rotor segment (300), so that at least two generator segments (10) are formed, each comprising a stator segment (200) and a rotor segment (300); setting an air gap (12), in particular with a predefined thickness, between the stator ring (202) and the rotor ring (302); and fixing the stator segment (200) and the rotor segment (300) of each generator segment.