Wind Turbine Torque Limiter Assembly for Detachable Hub-Shaft Service
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine drive trains lack an easily exchangeable and serviceable torque limiter to effectively manage maximum torque, posing challenges in offshore wind parks regarding assembly, maintenance, and protection of components from overload.
Innovation Solution
A torque limiter assembly with clamping disks and a friction disk, preloading means, and a detachable design that includes a torque shaft and hub shaft, allowing for easy installation and removal without disassembling the generator, and featuring sliding rings for alignment and electrical insulation to prevent premature wear and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the torque limiter is integrated into the generator hub assembly, then the drive train can limit maximum torque effectively, but the maintenance and replacement of the torque limiter becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The drive train is divided into modular assemblies: the generator hub assembly (containing generator, brake, and coupling) and the torque shaft assembly (containing torque limiter and articulated joint). This segmentation allows the torque limiter to be serviced independently by removing only the torque shaft assembly, without disassembling the generator or brake components.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling connects the generator hub assembly to the torque shaft assembly, serving as an intermediary that allows independent removal and service of the torque limiter while maintaining the functional integrity of the overall drive train system.
2Ease of repair
If the torque limiter is made detachable for easy maintenance, then serviceability improves, but the structural complexity and number of connection points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drive train is segmented into distinct assemblies connected by standardized interfaces. The torque shaft assembly can be detached as a complete unit from the generator hub assembly, reducing the number of discrete connection points that would otherwise be scattered throughout the torque limiter mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the friction disk is bolted to the hub shaft, then the torque limiter can be detached as a whole, but the number of interface bolts and connection points increases
Solution Approach 1:
The friction disk is merged with the hub shaft through bolting, creating a unified sub-assembly. This merging reduces the total number of connection points by combining multiple potential attachment locations into a single integrated unit that can be removed as one piece.
4Ease of repair
If the torque shaft is connected to the first clamping disk with detachable bolts, then the torque shaft assembly can be extracted, but the complexity of disassembly and reassembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The torque shaft assembly is segmented from the generator hub assembly through the use of detachable connections at the coupling and articulated joint. This segmentation allows the entire torque shaft assembly to be extracted as one unit, simplifying the overall disassembly procedure compared to separating individual components.
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 solution enables efficient torque management, reduces maintenance workload, protects generator components from overload, and allows for seamless replacement of the torque limiter without affecting the predetermined clamping force, thereby enhancing the reliability and longevity of wind turbine drive trains.
Implementation Method 1
The clamping disks and the friction disk are configured such that the friction disk is frictionally clamped between the clamping disks. The clamping force to frictionally clamp the friction disk between the clamping disks is pre-determined by the preloading means.
Implementation Method 2
The sliding rings are configured to align the friction disk and the clamping disks with respect to each other.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Provided is a drive train of a wind turbine. The drive train comprises a torque limiter assembly comprising a torque limiter. The torque limiter comprises: a first clamping disk, a friction disk, a second clamping disk, and a preloading means. The clamping disks and the friction disk are configured such that the clamping disks frictionally transmit a torque to the friction disk. The torque limiter assembly further comprises a torque shaft and a hub shaft. The torque shaft is connected to a rotor of the wind turbine, and the hub shaft is connected to a generator rotor of a generator. The friction disk is bolted to the hub shaft via interface bolts from a downwind side, such that the torque limiter is detachable from the hub shaft as a whole. Further provided is a wind turbine.