EP3555468A1

EP3555468A1 - Wind turbine having large rolling bearing and method for the assembly thereof

Info

Publication number: EP3555468A1
Application number: EP17804906.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Horst Schade; Alf Trede
Original assignee: Senvion GmbH
Current assignee: Senvion GmbH
Priority date: 2016-12-13
Filing date: 2017-11-29
Publication date: 2019-10-23
Also published as: DE102016014743A1; CN110462207A; WO2018108525A1

Abstract

The invention relates to wind turbines (1) having large rolling bearings (10) as well as a method for the assembly thereof. The wind turbine (1) according to the invention comprises a large rolling bearing (10) having bolt holes (11', 12') on the outer and inner ring (11, 12) for securing the large rolling bearing (10) to two components (4, 8) of the wind turbine (1) that can rotate relative to one another, such that each component (4, 8) of the wind turbine (1) is in contact with an axial surface of the outer or inner ring (11, 12). In addition, a support device (20) is provided on at least one first component (4) of the wind turbine (1) connected to the outer or inner ring (11, 12) of the large rolling bearing (10), which support device supports at least sections of the outer or inner ring (12) of the large rolling bearing (10), that is connected to the first component (4), in a radial direction, in order to reduce load-dependent deformations of the large rolling bearing (10). In the assembly method according to the invention, the assembly of the support device (20) occurs in the unloaded state of the large rolling bearing (10), wherein a gap is provided between the outer and inner ring (11, 12) of the large rolling bearing (10) and the support device (20), which closes in the loaded state of the large rolling bearing (10).

Description

Wind turbine with slewing bearings and

Method for its assembly

The invention relates to wind turbines with slewing bearings and a method for its assembly.

Wind turbines are known from the prior art. They usually include a rotor which is rotatably mounted on a nacelle, wherein the nacelle is in turn rotatably mounted on a tower. If necessary, the rotor drives a generator via a rotor shaft and a gear. A wind-induced rotational movement of the rotor can be converted into electrical energy, which can then be fed via converters and / or transformers - depending on the type of generator also at least partially directly - in an electrical network. The rotor comprises a plurality - usually three - rotor blades which are rotatably mounted relative to a rotor hub to adjust the angle of attack of the rotor blades.

In wind turbines according to the state of the art so-called large-diameter bearings having a nominal inner diameter of 450 mm or more are used at various points. Unlike smaller rolling bearings, slewing bearings can not regularly be fitted in a bearing receptacle, but rather have bolted circles on their outer and inner rings, so that they can be fastened to the components provided for this purpose solely by screwing. Frequently, corresponding large rolling bearings are used for rotation of the nacelle relative to the tower and at the connection between the rotor blade and rotor hub.

In particular, when the two components to be connected by a slewing bearing have different rigidity, problems may arise on or in the slewing bearing. For example, in a large-diameter rolling bearing, which connects a relatively "soft" tower with a relatively rigid machine carrier for azimuth adjustment of the outer ring of the camp connected to the tower follow the tower soft movements, but the inner ring then regularly tilts inward it to a gap at the screw connection come of the inner ring.

In order to reduce this gap, it is known from the prior art to increase the screw bias and / or the number of screws in order to counteract the gap by the additional clamping force achieved thereby. An increase in the number of screws or the screw bias increases the assembly effort, which has a disadvantageous effect on the cost. In addition, the effect of an increased number of screws or screw bias is limited, so that the problem of gaping can often be reduced only insufficient.

From US 2014/0377039 A1 a stiffening ring for a slewing bearing is known, with which the inner ring of the bearing is to be stiffened. The stiffening ring is thereby fixed by means of the screws with which the inner ring is fastened to a rotor blade root. In order to be able to stiffen the inner ring, it is imperative that the stiffening ring - even if it should be composed of several segments - is self-contained. Only in this way, given the attachment of the stiffening ring, the forces acting on it can be absorbed and the desired stiffening of the inner ring actually occurs.

A disadvantage of this prior art is required for achieving the desired stiffening complex shaping of the stiffening ring or of its segments with two parallel, but not identically shaped horizontal webs, which must be connected to each other via a vertical web. Since the rigidity can only be increased if the reinforcing ring rests as large as possible over the entire circumference of the inner ring of the large rolling bearing, the individual segments must continue to be accurately formed or suitable compensation areas must be created to compensate for manufacturing tolerances. As a result, the reinforcing ring according to US 2014/0377039 A1 is expensive. In addition, sufficient space for the stiffening ring and its installation must be available in the wind turbine, which is not always the case.

Object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine with a Large-diameter bearings and to provide a method for assembling a slewing bearing in wind turbines, in which the disadvantages known from the prior art no longer occur or only to a lesser extent.

This object is achieved by a wind turbine with a slewing bearing according to the main claim, and a method according to claim 1 0. Advantageous further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a large rolling bearing with bolt holes on the outer and inner ring for fastening the large rolling bearing to two mutually rotatable components of the wind turbine so that each component of the wind turbine rests against an axial surface of the outer or inner ring, on at least one first component of the wind turbine connected to the outer or inner ring of the large rolling bearing, a supporting device is provided which at least partially supports the outer or inner ring of the large rolling bearing connected to the first component in the radial direction in order to reduce load-dependent deformations of the large rolling bearing ,

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for mounting a slewing bearing of a wind turbine according to the invention, with the steps:

Attachment of the large rolling bearing on the first component of the wind turbine provided for the supporting device;

Mounting the supporting device or the support segments of the support device to the first component of the wind turbine, so that a gap with a predetermined width between the outer or I nnenring the large rolling bearing and the supporting device consists; and

Attachment of large roller bearing to the second component of the wind turbine.

Starting from a wind energy plant, as known in the art, the invention has recognized that the support of the outer or inner ring of a slewing bearing (depending on where deformation, for example in the form of gap between outer or inner ring and the first component of the wind energy plant is to be expected) by a supporting device, which is not attached to the slewing bearing itself, but rather to a component of the wind turbine connected thereto, is advantageous. Since the supporting device is fastened to a basically rigid component of the wind energy plant, the supporting device must regularly be designed only for a, as a rule, radial force flow from the inner or outer ring to the component in question. In particular, the form of a closed ring, as is absolutely necessary in the prior art, can be dispensed with. Rather, it may also be sufficient if the supporting device abuts in sections on the inner or outer ring of the slewing bearing in order to support it. "Sectionwise" in this context means that the supporting device is distributed over the entire circumference of the inner or outer ring distributed in several sections on the inner or outer ring, in order to support it, while the supporting device in the areas between them not at the inner The support device may in particular comprise a plurality of support segments, each of which forms a support section.

Among other things, as a result of this, the support device in the wind energy installation according to the invention can generally be designed so that it requires no or only a very small space of its own. Since a continuous structure of the support device in the wind turbine according to the invention is not required, the support device can also be integrated into other components of the wind turbine or configured such that it has recesses for other components of the wind turbine. In this way, the invention can be realized in existing wind turbines or finished designs of wind turbines without extensive modifications or redesigns would be required.

It is preferred if the supporting device supports the inner ring of the slewing bearing. In particular, it is preferred if the large rolling bearing is the azimuth bearing of the wind turbine, the outer ring with the tower of the wind turbine and the inner ring is connected to the nacelle of the wind turbine, preferably to the nacelle of the nacelle. In the case of such a slewing bearing, there is the danger, in particular in the inner ring, that the load-dependent deformation occurs as tilting away of the screw connection with which the inner ring is connected to the nacelle or its machine carrier. At the same time limited by the required brakes and the azimuth drive the space for the support device, so that stiffening rings, as known from the prior art, can not or only very difficult to apply.

In the area of the azimuth adjustment, a ring-shaped brake disc arranged coaxially with the slewing bearing can be provided on the tower, in which brake calipers arranged radially outward are encompassed by a plurality of distributors distributed over the circumference. It is preferred if the one arm of at least one part of the calipers is designed such that it is in a supporting contact with the inner ring of the large rolling bearing. In this embodiment, therefore, the support device provided according to the invention is at least partially formed by a part of the brake calipers or their respective one arm, which can be regarded as support segments of the support device. With a large number of appropriately executed calipers can be dispensed with an additional structural component for the supporting device.

Alternatively or additionally, the support device may comprise one or more support plates distributed over the circumference as support segments which are in abutment with the outer or inner ring of the large rolling bearing for support. Corresponding support plates are inexpensive to manufacture and can be easily assembled. If a brake device is provided as described, the one or more support plates may preferably be arranged between in each case at least one brake caliper and the component of the wind energy plant to which the brake calipers are fastened - that is, for example, the machine carrier. In this case, often not even separate fastening elements, such as screws, are required for the support plates. Rather, at least one support plate can be arranged in such a way relative to a brake caliper that it is at least partially fixed by the fastening means of this caliper. The support plate preferably has a thickness of 6-14 mm, more preferably 8-12 mm, more preferably 10 mm. It may, for example, be made of steel.

Alternatively or additionally, the support device may comprise one or more pressure screws distributed over the circumference as support segments on the component connected to the outer or inner ring of the large rolling bearing which can be brought into contact with the outer or inner ring for support. Corresponding pressure screws are guided in a threaded bore in the component of the wind power plant connected to the inner or outer ring and are unscrewed from the threaded bore so far that they bear against the outer or inner ring of the large rolling bearing.

It is preferred if the distance from the axial surface against which the component is in contact and the region in which the supporting device engages the outer or inner ring is greater than or equal to the distance between this region and the other axial surface. This ensures that the support device can counteract a tilting of the outer or inner ring in the radial direction with respect to the respective axial connection surface particularly well.

It is preferred if the support device has at least two, preferably more than ten, separately mountable and preferably individually adjustable support segments. The individual support segments need not necessarily be configured the same. Rather, for example, it is also possible that a part of the support segments is formed by the arms of calipers, another part by Abstützbleche and / or in turn another part by pressure screws. A support segment is then considered to be adjustable in the sense of the invention, when the radial distance to the outer or inner ring is adjustable. The adjustability of the support segments is directly guaranteed with pressure screws. In calipers and support plates, the adjustability can be achieved, for example. By providing slots through which the fasteners, such as. Screws are guided to attach a caliper or a support plate to a component of the wind turbine. In the method according to the invention, the supporting device or support segments is mounted when the large roller bearing is attached only to the first component - that is, the component to which the support device is attached. The slewing bearing is thus load-free at the time of assembly of the support device. The supporting device or the supporting segments are mounted in such a way with respect to the inner or outer ring of the large rolling bearing, that between these and the supporting device there is a gap with a predetermined width. After the final attachment of the slewing bearing also on the second component of the wind turbine, the large roller bearing is loaded, whereby the gap is closed and the supporting device rests against the inner or outer ring of the large roller bearing. The width of the gap can be selected accordingly.

The assembly in the load-free state with gap has the advantage that act in the loaded state no unwanted forces from the support device on the slewing bearings. The gap width during assembly can be checked easily and simply, for example with a feeler gauge. If the support device or a support segment adjustable, the gap can also be set exactly, possibly again using a feeler gauge.

The invention will now be further described by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1: a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a wind turbine according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic sectional view of the azimuth bearing of the wind turbine according to Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the azimuth bearing of the wind energy plant according to FIG. 1 along the section line III-III from FIG. 2; and

Figure 4: a schematic sectional view of the azimuth bearing of a second

Embodiment of a wind turbine according to the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a wind turbine 1 according to the invention. The wind energy plant 1 comprises a rotor 2 with a plurality of rotor blades 3, which is arranged rotatably about the axis 5 on a nacelle 4. The rotor blades 3 are rotatable about the respective axes 6 to the angle of attack or pitch of the rotor blades third

- 7 -

REPORTED SHEET (RULE 91) IPEA / EP adjust. The nacelle 4 is rotatably mounted about the axis 7 on the tower 8 to be tracked in the azimuth direction of the wind can. In the nacelle 4, a generator (not shown) for converting wind energy acting on the rotor 3 is provided in electrical energy, the electrical energy is fed via converters and / or transformers in the wind turbine 1 in an electric grid.

In order to allow the rotation of the rotor blades 3 about the respective axes 6 and the rotation of the nacelle 6 with respect to the tower 8, at the indicated with the reference numeral 9 interfaces between the rotor blade 3 and rotor hub or between nacelle 4 and tower 8 each have a large rolling bearing 10th intended.

In Figures 2 and 3, the large roller bearing 10 between gondola 4 and tower 8 is shown schematically in more detail. The large roller bearing 10 comprises an outer ring 1 1 and an inner ring 12, which are each provided with a bolt circle 11 ', 12'. About the bolt circle 1 1 'on the outer ring 1 1, the large roller bearing 10 is connected by screws 13 to the tower 8. Through the bolt circle 12 'of the inner ring 12 screws 14 are guided, with which the inner ring 12 is fixed to the nacelle 4, more precisely to the machine frame 4' of the nacelle 4. At this machine carrier 4 'are at least the main components of the wind turbine 1, which are located directly in the nacelle 4, attached (such as, the generator, or the rotor shaft bearing, possibly a gear, possibly a converter, etc.). Between the outer and inner ring 1 1, 12 two parallel raceways 15 are provided, which allows a relative movement between the outer and inner ring 1 1, 12 and thus ultimately a rotation of the nacelle 4 on the tower 8 about the axis 7 (see FIG ).

Between the tower 8 and the outer ring 1 1 of the large roller bearing 10, an annular brake disc 16 is provided, which is also secured by the screws 13. This brake disc is surrounded by over the circumference of the large roller bearing 10 evenly distributed, radially outwardly open brake calipers 17 which are formed to form an azimuth brake on the principle of a disc brake. In Figure 3, only the feet 17 'of the calipers 17, the brake disc 16 are not shown due to the selected section plane.

- 8th -

REPORTED SHEET (RULE 91) IPEA / EP Between the machine carrier 4 and two adjacent brake calipers 17 each have a support plate 18 is arranged and fixed by the attachment of the calipers 17 on the machine frame 4 (not shown). The support plates 18 are made of 1 0 mm thick sheet steel and are at least in the illustrated, loaded by the weight of the nacelle 4 state of the large rolling bearing 10 sections of the inner ring 12 of the large rolling bearing 1 0 at. The inner ring 12 is thus secured against tipping over. The support plates 18 are thus support segments 19 of a support device 20th

The distance ά from the axial surface of the inner ring 12, against which the machine carrier 4 rests, and the region in which the support plate 18 bears against the inner ring 12 is greater than the distance d ₂ between this region and the other axial surface of the inner ring. As a result, the support plate 1 8 counteract the tilting of the inner ring 12 particularly well.

FIG. 4 shows the azimuth bearing of a second exemplary embodiment of a wind energy plant 1 according to the invention. The second embodiment is similar in many parts to the first embodiment, which is why reference is made to the above explanations and will be discussed below only on the differences between the two embodiments.

4, between gondola 4 and tower 8, separate supporting plates 18 are dispensed with as supporting segments 19 of a supporting device 20 (compare FIGS. 2 and 3). Rather, the upper arm 1 7 "of the calipers 1 7 is extended relative to the first embodiment, that they rest on the inner ring 12 of the slewing bearing 10 and support this 4, a supporting device 20 is provided, which supports the inner ring 12 in sections, the distance ά being increased compared to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS.

Both the support plates 18 of the first exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 3 and the brake calipers 17 of the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 4 are mounted after the large roller bearing 10 has already been mounted on the machine frame. support 4 'of the nacelle 4, but before it is also attached to the tower 8. The assembly of the support device 20 thus takes place in a state in which the large roller bearing 1 0 is unloaded. To ensure that in the loaded state - ie after the nacelle 4 is placed on the tower 8 - unwanted and / or uneven voltages occur, the support segments 1 9 - ie the support plates 1 8 or the calipers 1 7 - mounted such that a Gap of predetermined width between them and the inner ring 12 is made. The gap can be checked during assembly, for example. With the aid of a feeler gauge and closes in the loaded state of large roller bearing 10th

Claims

claims

Wind energy plant (1) comprising a slewing bearing (1 0) with hole circles (1 1 ', 12') on the outer and inner ring (1 1, 12) for fastening the slewing bearing (10) to two mutually rotatable components (4, 8 ) of the wind turbine (1), so that in each case a component (8, 4) of the wind turbine abuts against an axial surface of the outer or the inner ring (1 1, 12),

characterized in that

on at least one first component (4) of the wind energy plant (1) connected to the outer or inner ring (11, 12) of the slewing bearing (10) a supporting device (20) is provided, which is connected to the first component (4). connected outer or inner ring (1, 12) of the large roller bearing (1 0) in the radial direction at least partially supported to reduce load-dependent deformations of the large roller bearing (10).

Wind energy plant according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the supporting device (20) supports the inner ring (12) of the large rolling bearing (10).

Wind energy plant according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that

the large rolling bearing (1 0) is the azimuth bearing of the wind energy plant (1), wherein the outer ring (1 1) with the tower (8) of the wind turbine (1) and the inner ring (12) with the nacelle (4) of the wind turbine (1 ), preferably with the machine carrier (4 ') of the nacelle (4) is connected.

Wind energy plant according to claim 3,

characterized in that

on the tower (8) coaxial with the large roller bearing (1 0) arranged annular brake disc (1 6) is provided, of a plurality of the nacelle (4) distributed over the circumference, radially outwardly open brake calipers (17) two arms (1 7 ") is embraced, with one arm (1 7 ") of at least a portion of the calipers (1 7) is designed such that it is in a supporting contact with the inner ring (12) of the large rolling bearing (1 0) and thus part of the supporting device (20).

Wind energy plant according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the support device (20) comprises one or more support plates (1 8), which are distributed over the circumference for support with the outer or inner ring (11, 12) of the slewing bearing (1 0), wherein the one or more support plates ( 1 8) is preferably arranged between in each case at least one brake caliper (1 7) and the component (4, 4 ') to which the calipers (1 7) are fastened.

Wind energy plant according to claim 5,

characterized in that

the at least one support plate (18) has a thickness of 6-14 mm, preferably of 8-12 mm, more preferably of 10 mm and / or at least one support plate (1 8) is arranged relative to a brake caliper (1 7) such that It is fixed by the fastening means of this caliper (1 7).

Wind energy plant according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the support device (20) distributed over the circumference comprises pressure screws on the component (4, 8) connected to the outer or inner ring (11, 12), which for support in contact with the outer or inner ring (11, 12) can be brought.

Wind energy plant according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the distance (c ^) from the axial surface of the outer or inner ring (1 1, 12) against which the component (4, 8) abuts and the region in which the supporting device (1 7 ", 20) abuts engages the outer or inner ring (1 1, 12), greater than or equal to the distance (d ₂ ) between this area and the opposite lying axial surface of the outer or inner ring (1 1, 12).

Wind energy plant according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that

the support device (20) has at least two, preferably more than ten separately mountable and preferably individually adjustable support segments (19).

Method for assembling a slewing bearing (10) of a wind turbine (1) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of: a) securing the slewing bearing (10) to the first component (4, 4 ') provided for the support device (20) Wind energy plant (1); b) mounting the supporting device (20) or the supporting segments (1 9) of the supporting device (20) on the first component (4, 4 ') of the wind energy plant (1), so that a gap with a predetermined width between outer or inner ring (1 1, 12) of the large roller bearing (1 0) and the supporting device (20) consists; and c) attaching the slewing bearing (1 0) to the second component (8) of the wind turbine (1).

Method according to claim 10,

characterized in that

Step (b) comprises the adjustment of the support device (20) or support segments (1 9) and / or checking the gap width with a feeler gauge.