JP2004140971A - Windmill plant - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a technique of providing an apparatus mounted on a rotor rotating integrally with a windmill rotator with power in a noncontact manner. <P>SOLUTION: This windmill is equipped with a fixed part (2), a windmill rotor (not shown in figure), and a rotator (1) which is joined integrally with the above windmill rotor and is supported movably relative to the fixed part (2). The fixed part (2) includes primary winding (6) which is supplied with power. The rotator (1) is equipped with secondary winding (7) which performs electromagnetic mutual action with the primary winding (6), and the first apparatus (5) which is connected with the secondary winding (7). Power is supplied from the primary winding (6) to the first apparatus (5) via the secondary winding (7). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to wind turbines. The present invention particularly relates to a wind turbine in which equipment is mounted on a rotating body that rotates in the same manner as a wind turbine rotor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Various devices are connected to the windmill rotor of the windmill. Various sensors and a pitch angle adjusting mechanism for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades of the wind turbine rotor are typical devices connected to the wind turbine rotor. The equipment connected to the windmill rotor must be mounted on a rotating body that rotates in the same manner as the windmill rotor.
[0003]
In order to operate a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor, it is necessary to supply power to the device from the outside, transmit a signal to the device, and receive a signal from the device. There may be. 2. Description of the Related Art A slip ring is known as a means for supplying electric power to a device mounted on a rotating body from the outside and mediating the exchange of signals with the device. The slip ring includes an annular conductor and a conductive brush, and realizes electrical connection between the fixed member and the rotating body by sliding between the annular conductor and the brush. However, the slip ring requires periodic maintenance because the annular conductor and the brush wear. Further, since the annular conductor and the brush are in mechanical contact with each other, the slip ring is likely to fail.
[0004]
It is desired to provide a technology for non-contactly supplying power to a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor, and for exchanging signals with the device in a non-contact manner.
[0005]
Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 disclose a technique for supplying electric power to a scanner rotating unit of an X-ray CT apparatus in a non-contact manner as a technique that can be related to the present invention. Patent Document 3 discloses a non-contact type torque meter that supplies electric power to a strain gauge fixed to a rotatable main shaft via a rotary transformer.
[0006]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-7-204192 [Patent Document 2]
JP 2001-338820 A [Patent Document 3]
JP-A-10-281900
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
An object of the present invention is to provide a technology for supplying electric power to a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor in a contactless manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a technology that enables a signal to be exchanged in a non-contact manner with a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
Hereinafter, means for solving the problem will be described using numbers and symbols used in [Embodiments of the invention]. These numbers and symbols are added to clarify the correspondence between the description in [Claims] and the description in [Embodiment of the Invention]. However, the added numbers and symbols shall not be used for interpreting the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].
[0009]
A windmill according to the present invention includes a fixed part (2), a windmill rotor (not shown), and a rotating body (1) integrally joined to the windmill rotor and rotatably supported relative to the fixed part (2). 1). The fixed part (2) includes primary windings (6) and (23) supplied with electric power. The rotating body (1) is connected to the secondary windings (7) and (25) that perform electromagnetic interaction with the primary windings (6) and (23) and the secondary windings (7) and (25). And a first device (5). Power is supplied from the primary windings (6) and (23) to the first device (5) via the secondary windings (7) and (25). The wind turbine is configured to contactlessly transfer power to the first device (5) by electromagnetic interaction between the primary windings (6) and (23) and the secondary windings (7) and (25). Can be supplied.
[0010]
It is preferable that the primary winding (6) and the secondary winding (7) constitute the induction machine (8) in that the three-phase power can be easily supplied to the first device (5). .
[0011]
When the three-phase power is supplied via the induction machine (8), the first device (5) is driven by the three-phase power supplied from the secondary winding (7) and is driven by the blade of the windmill rotor (not shown). It is preferable to apply a blade pitch adjusting device (5) for adjusting the pitch angle of (1).
[0012]
When three-phase power is supplied via the induction machine (8), it is preferable that the rotating direction of the rotating magnetic field generated by the primary winding (6) and the rotating direction of the rotating body (1) are opposite to each other. It is.
[0013]
The primary winding (23) and the secondary winding (25) can also constitute a rotary transformer (21).
[0014]
The fixed part (2) further includes a light emitting element (13) to which the first electric signal (17) is supplied and outputs the first optical signal in response to the first electric signal (17), and the rotating body (1). ) Further receives the first optical signal and outputs a second electric signal (18) in response to the first optical signal; and a light receiving element (15) in response to the second electric signal (18). The configuration including the operating second device (10) is preferable in that a signal can be transmitted from the fixed unit (2) side to the second device (10).
[0015]
The rotator (1) is further supplied with a second device (10) for generating a third electric signal (18) and a third electric signal (19), and the second electric device (19) is responsive to the third electric signal (19). A light-emitting element (16) for outputting two optical signals; and the fixing part (2) further includes a light-receiving element (14) for outputting a fourth electric signal (20) in response to the second optical signal. The configuration is preferable in that the fixed unit (2) can receive a signal from the second device (10).
[0016]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
(First embodiment)
In the first embodiment of the wind turbine according to the present invention, a rotating body 1 is provided together with a fixed part 2 as shown in FIG. The fixed part 2 is inserted into the rotating body 1 and is surrounded by the rotating body 1. The fixed part 2 is provided with a bearing 3, and the rotating body 1 is supported by the bearing 3 so as to be rotatable around a center 1 a.
[0017]
The rotating body 1 includes a connecting member 4, and is connected to the wind turbine rotor (not shown) by the connecting member 4. When the windmill rotor is rotated by wind power, the rotating body 1 rotates in the same manner as the windmill rotor.
[0018]
The rotating body 1 is equipped with a pitch angle adjusting device 5 for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades of the wind turbine rotor. The pitch angle adjusting device 5 is supplied with three-phase power. The pitch angle adjusting device 5 drives the blade using the supplied three-phase power as a power source to adjust the pitch angle.
[0019]
The supply of the three-phase power to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 includes a primary winding 6 provided on the fixed part 2 and a secondary winding 7 provided on the rotating body 1. Primary winding 6 and secondary winding 7 constitute induction machine 8. Transmission of electric power via the induction machine 8 is preferable in that transmission of three-phase electric power is easy. The three-phase power is supplied to the primary winding 6 via the three-phase power line 9. The primary winding 6 generates a rotating magnetic field by the supplied three-phase power. The generated rotating magnetic field links with the secondary winding 7 provided on the rotating body 1. When the rotating magnetic field links to the secondary winding 7, a voltage is induced in the secondary winding 7, and three-phase power is transmitted from the primary winding 6 to the secondary winding 7. The pitch angle adjusting device 5 operates by receiving three-phase power from the secondary winding 7. By such an operation, non-contact power supply to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is realized.
[0020]
It is preferable that the rotating direction of the rotating magnetic field generated by the primary winding 6 be reversed from the rotating direction of the rotating body 1. Since the rotation direction is reversed, the voltage induced in the secondary winding 7 increases, and efficient power transmission becomes possible. Furthermore, the fact that the rotational direction is reversed ensures that the rotational speed of the rotating body 1 does not coincide with the synchronous speed of the induction machine 8 in any case, and transmission of three-phase power is ensured.
[0021]
It is preferable that the pitch angle adjusting device 5 be supplied with three-phase electric power via the induction machine 8 because a high voltage can be supplied to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 when the load on the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is large. The load on the pitch angle adjusting device 5 for driving the blades of the wind turbine rotor is so large that the strong wind hits the blades of the wind turbine rotor. On the other hand, when a strong wind hits the blades of the wind turbine rotor, the rotation speed of the wind turbine rotor increases, and accordingly, the voltage induced in the secondary winding 7 also increases. By supplying three-phase power via the induction machine 8 as described above, when a strong wind hits the blades of the wind turbine rotor and the load on the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is large, a high voltage is applied to the pitch angle adjusting device 5. It becomes possible to supply.
[0022]
The rotating body 1 is further provided with a sensor 10 for measuring the state of the wind turbine rotor. Input and output of signals to and from the sensor 10 are performed via the photocoupler 11. The photocoupler 11 includes a light emitting element 13 and a light receiving element 14 provided on the fixed part 2 and a light receiving element 15 and a light emitting element 16 provided on the rotating body 1. Non-contact input / output of a signal to the sensor 10 is realized by the photocoupler 11.
[0023]
The supply of a signal from the outside to the sensor 10 mounted on the rotating body 1 is performed in the following process. The light emitting element 13 provided in the fixed part 2 generates an optical signal in response to an electric signal 17 supplied from the outside. The light receiving element 15 provided on the rotating body 1 receives an optical signal from the light emitting element 13 and generates an electric signal 18 in response to the optical signal. Sensor 10 receives an electrical signal 18.
[0024]
On the other hand, the reception of the signal from the sensor 10 is performed in the following process. The electric signal 19 generated by the sensor 10 is supplied to the light emitting element 16. The light emitting element 16 generates an optical signal in response to the electric signal 19. The light receiving element 14 provided in the fixed part 2 receives an optical signal from the light emitting element 16 and outputs an electric signal 20 in response to the optical signal. The electric signal 20 is received by a device (not shown) provided in the fixed unit 2.
[0025]
As described above, in the first embodiment, non-contact supply of three-phase power to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is realized by using the induction machine 8. Further, by using the photocoupler 11, non-contact input / output of a signal to / from the sensor 10 is realized.
[0026]
(Second embodiment)
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the wind turbine according to the present invention. As in the first embodiment, the input and output of signals to and from the sensor 10 are performed in a contactless manner by the photocoupler 11, as in the first embodiment.
[0027]
In the second embodiment, the supply of power to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is performed by a coaxial rotary transformer 21 instead of the induction machine 8. The rotary transformer 21 includes a fixed core 22 and a primary winding 23 fixed to the fixed portion 2, and a rotating core 24 and a secondary winding 25 fixed to the rotating body 1.
[0028]
The fixed iron core 22 is annular, and is provided coaxially with the rotation center 1 a of the rotating body 1. The fixed iron core 22 is provided with a depression, and its cross section is U-shaped. The primary winding 23 is inserted into the recess of the fixed iron core 22. The primary winding 23 is annular and provided coaxially with the center of rotation 1 a of the rotating body 1. Single-phase power is supplied to the primary winding 23 via a power line 26.
[0029]
The rotating core 24 and the secondary winding 25 provided in the rotating body 1 face the fixed iron core 22 and the primary winding 23 in the radial direction. The rotating core 24 is annular and provided coaxially with the center of rotation 1 a of the rotating body 1. The rotary core 24 is provided with a depression, and its cross section is U-shaped. A fixed winding 25 is inserted into the hollow of the rotating core 24. The secondary winding 25 is annular and provided coaxially with the center of rotation 1 a of the rotating body 1.
[0030]
The fixed iron core 22 and the rotating iron core 24 face each other with a slight gap therebetween, and form a magnetic path linking the primary winding 23 and the secondary winding 25.
[0031]
The rotary transformer 21 having such a structure supplies the single-phase power supplied to the power line 26 to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 in a non-contact manner. When the single-phase power is supplied to the primary winding 23, the primary winding 23 generates a magnetic flux. The generated magnetic flux passes through a magnetic path formed by the fixed iron core 22 and the rotating iron core 24 and is linked to the secondary winding 25. When the magnetic flux is linked, a single-phase voltage is induced in the secondary winding 25, and the single-phase power is supplied from the secondary winding 25 to the pitch angle adjusting device 5.
[0032]
As described above, in the second embodiment, the non-contact supply of the single-phase power to the pitch angle adjusting device 5 is realized by using the rotary transformer 21.
[0033]
In the second embodiment, the structure of the rotary transformer 21 can be changed. For example, the cross-sectional shapes of the fixed iron core 22 and the rotary iron core 24 can be E-shaped. Further, instead of the coaxial rotary transformer 21, a flat rotary transformer may be used.
[0034]
Further, in both the first embodiment and the second embodiment, a device to which power is supplied and a device to input / output a signal are devices other than the pitch angle adjusting device 5 and the sensor 10. It is also possible. The device to which power is supplied and the device to which signals are input and output need not be separate devices.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, there is provided a technology for non-contactly supplying power to a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor.
According to the present invention, there is also provided a technology capable of contactlessly exchanging a signal with a device mounted on a rotating body that rotates together with a wind turbine rotor.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a wind turbine according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the wind turbine according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: rotating body 1a: center 2: fixed part 3: bearing 4: connecting member 5: pitch angle adjusting device 6: primary winding 7: secondary winding 8: induction machine 9: three-phase power line 10: sensor 11: photo Couplers 13 and 16: Light emitting elements 14 and 15: Light receiving elements 17 to 20: Electric signal 21: Rotary transformer 22: Fixed core 23: Primary winding 24: Rotating core 25: Secondary winding 26: Power line

Claims (7)

Fixed part,
With a windmill rotor,
A rotating body integrally joined to the wind turbine rotor and rotatably supported relative to the fixed portion;
The fixed part includes a primary winding supplied with power,
The rotating body is
A secondary winding that interacts electromagnetically with the primary winding;
A first device connected to the secondary winding, wherein the power is supplied to the first device from the primary winding via the secondary winding. The windmill according to claim 1,
The primary winding and the secondary winding constitute an induction machine,
A windmill, wherein the power is three-phase power. The windmill according to claim 2,
The wind turbine rotor includes a blade,
The first device is a wind turbine which is a blade pitch adjusting device driven by the three-phase power supplied from the secondary winding to adjust a pitch angle of the blade. The windmill according to claim 2,
A windmill in which a rotating direction of a rotating magnetic field generated by the primary winding is opposite to a rotating direction of the rotating body. The windmill according to claim 1,
A windmill, wherein the primary winding and the secondary winding constitute a rotary transformer. The windmill according to claim 1,
The fixing unit further includes a light emitting element to which a first electric signal is supplied and outputs a first optical signal in response to the first electric signal,
The rotating body further comprises:
A light receiving element that receives the first optical signal and outputs a second electric signal in response to the first optical signal;
A second device that operates in response to the second electrical signal. The windmill according to claim 1,
The rotating body further comprises:
A second device for generating a third electrical signal;
A light emitting element to which the third electric signal is supplied and which outputs a second optical signal in response to the third electric signal;
The windmill further includes a light receiving element that outputs a fourth electric signal in response to the second optical signal.

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