Wind Turbine Yaw Drive Torque Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine systems face the challenge of preventing the nacelle from rotating in the opposite direction to the intended turning direction due to external loads caused by wind or other moments, especially when the braking force is released during yaw rotation.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine system comprising a ring gear, a yaw drive unit, a yaw brake unit, a load information acquiring unit, and a control unit that releases the braking force only when the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit exceeds the external load, ensuring the nacelle turns in the correct direction by maintaining appropriate braking forces until the rotational torque is larger than the external load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the braking force is released to allow the ring gear to rotate, then the nacelle can turn in the intended direction, but the nacelle may rotate in the opposite direction due to external wind loads
Solution Approach 1:
The braking force is dynamically adjusted based on the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit. The control unit continuously monitors the rotational torque and externally applied loads, and dynamically releases or maintains braking force accordingly. This dynamic control ensures that the braking force is released only when sufficient rotational torque is generated, preventing opposite-direction rotation while enabling smooth yaw movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit and comparing it with external loads. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines when to release the braking force. This feedback mechanism ensures that the braking force is released only when the rotational torque exceeds external loads, preventing unwanted opposite-direction rotation while maintaining reliable yaw direction control.
2Reliability
If the braking force is maintained to prevent opposite-direction rotation, then yaw direction control is reliable, but the nacelle cannot rotate in the intended direction
Solution Approach 1:
The braking force is dynamically adjusted based on the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit. The control unit continuously monitors the rotational torque and externally applied loads, and dynamically releases or maintains braking force accordingly. This dynamic control ensures that the braking force is released only when sufficient rotational torque is generated, preventing opposite-direction rotation while enabling smooth yaw movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit and comparing it with external loads. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines when to release the braking force. This feedback mechanism ensures that the braking force is released only when the rotational torque exceeds external loads, preventing unwanted opposite-direction rotation while maintaining reliable yaw direction control.
3Speed
If the braking force is released early to enable rotation, then the nacelle can respond quickly to wind changes, but the nacelle may rotate in the opposite direction due to external loads
Solution Approach 1:
The braking force is dynamically adjusted based on the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit. The control unit continuously monitors the rotational torque and externally applied loads, and dynamically releases or maintains braking force accordingly. This dynamic control ensures that the braking force is released only when sufficient rotational torque is generated, preventing opposite-direction rotation while enabling smooth yaw movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements feedback control by monitoring the rotational torque generated by the yaw drive unit and comparing it with external loads. Based on this feedback, the control unit determines when to release the braking force. This feedback mechanism ensures that the braking force is released only when the rotational torque exceeds external loads, preventing unwanted opposite-direction rotation while maintaining reliable yaw direction control.
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
This configuration effectively prevents the nacelle from rotating in the opposite direction to the intended turning direction, ensuring accurate yaw adjustment and efficient wind power generation by ensuring the nacelle turns in the correct direction.
Implementation Method 1
a yaw brake unit configured to generate a braking force for inhibiting rotation of the ring gear
Implementation Method 2
a yaw drive unit including a pinion gear meshing with the ring gear, the yaw drive unit being configured to rotate the pinion gear
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wind turbine system (1) includes: a ring gear (110); a yaw drive unit (120) including a pinion gear (230) meshing with the ring gear (110), the yaw drive unit (120) being configured to rotate the pinion gear (230); a yaw brake unit (130, 140) configured to generate a braking force for inhibiting rotation of the ring gear (110); a load information acquiring unit (310) configured to acquire an external load applied to the ring gear (110); and a control unit (320) configured to release the braking force of the yaw brake unit (130, 140) when a rotational torque generated on the ring gear (110) by the yaw drive unit (120) has been larger than the external load acquired by the load information acquiring unit (310), in switching the ring gear (110) from a stationary state to a rotating state.