JP2015121226A - Wind turbine and method of assembling cable support system for wind turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cable support system reducing load and stress on an electric cable.SOLUTION: Provided is a wind turbine including: a wind turbine tower; a nacelle; a rotor; and a spindle, a cable support system including at least one support element, a support rod, for example, having a length corresponding to at least a length of the spindle, the support element including an arbitrary number of receiving sub-elements, grooves, for example, configured to extend in an axial direction along the support element and to receive and hold an electric cable, the cable support system further including at least one external tube in which the support element is arranged and that extends along the length of the spindle.

Description

  The present invention includes a wind turbine tower having at least an upper end, and a nacelle disposed at the upper end of the wind turbine tower, the drive train comprising at least a generator configured to generate power output. A nacelle comprising at least a rotor hub configured to be rotatably connected to the nacelle, for example via a bearing assembly, in order to transmit the weight derived from the weight of the rotor and the wind acting on the rotor A rotor further comprising at least one wind turbine blade attached to the rotor hub and having a tip connected to the blade root via an aerodynamic profile; and at least rotational torque from the rotor to the drive train To communicate, it is connected to the rotor hub at one end and another A rotatable main shaft directly connected to the generator at the end, arranged in the hole to hold at least any number of electrical cables, e.g. power cables, data cables, etc., extending at least through the main shaft The present invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a main shaft having holes connected to openings at both ends of the cable support system.

  The invention also relates to a method for assembling a cable support system for a wind turbine as defined in any one of the preceding claims, the assembling method for at least one support element, for example a power cable, Positioning any number of electrical cables, such as data cables, positioning a cable support system in a through hole in the main shaft, and at least a first end element and a second end of the cable support system relative to the main shaft Attaching the end elements.

  It is well known that wind turbines have large blades that are aerodynamically designed to capture the incoming wind through the wind turbine. Typically, two or three wind turbine blades are connected to a rotor hub that rotates about the center axis of the main shaft connected to the drive train in the nacelle. The rotor is supported by the nacelle using a joint, such as a rotating bearing assembly, disposed between the nacelle and the rotor. The joint is designed to convey the weight of the rotor and the load acting on the rotor to the nacelle and thus to the main frame of the wind turbine tower. The rotor hub is connected to a relatively flexible main shaft that extends in sequence through the generator. The main shaft is designed to mainly transmit rotational torque to the drive train located in the nacelle.

  Modem wind turbine blades often have any number of sensors, such as load sensors or wind speed sensors, arranged along the length of the blade. The blade or a part thereof may be further connected to pitch adjusting means for adjusting the pitch of the blade or blade portion to a desired pitch angle. These sensors and pitch adjustment means are connected to any number of power cables and / or control cables that extend through a central hole or inner diameter in the main shaft. However, the main shaft may be bent up to 2 degrees during an operation that causes the electrical cable to be exposed to loads and stresses that may result from failure. Furthermore, it is necessary to fix the cable in a relatively stable position so that the cable is not bent or contacted by a rotating spindle having a nominal rotational speed such as 14 revolutions per minute. This may change the characteristics of the cable or damage the cable insulation.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,031 discloses an alternative embodiment that teaches the use of a spindle that does not extend through a generator. The rotor hub includes a cylindrical frame portion on which a free end portion of the tapered frame portion of the nacelle is installed. The tapered frame part is in turn firmly connected in sequence to the rest of the nacelle container. Two annular bearing units are arranged between the two frame parts so that the structural load of the rotor hub is supported by the nacelle. The main shaft is connected to a mounting flange in the rotor hub and extends through a central hole in the tapered frame portion. The other end of the main shaft is coupled to a gear box unit that is sequentially connected to the generator via a flexible joint. The generator and gearbox unit must be attached to a vibration damping element installed on the container in order to cancel the vibration and bending moment transmitted through the main shaft. A vibration damping element may also be used to cancel any misalignment in the drive train. However, such elements are subject to considerable wear and tear and need to be replaced every 3 to 5 years, increasing maintenance costs and failure times. Such vibration dampening elements, when modeling the stresses and loads experienced by the wind turbine, further introduce variable elements, which predict the stress and load values experienced within the components of the wind turbine. Make it even more difficult.

  The main shaft in this configuration comprises a central through hole having an inner diameter that allows the rotor hub to rotate around a tube installed in the through hole. The tube extends outward from the rotor hub and guides the electrical cable to an anemometer installed at the end of the tube. The electrical cable is loosely arranged inside the tube, thereby allowing dust, moisture or water to enter the nacelle through an opening located outside the rotor hub. Since the cable for the sensor in the blade and pitch mechanism cannot be placed in the tube because the tube extends out of the rotor hub, the tube can only guide the cable to the anemometer.

  Other wind turbines use a main shaft in the form of a fixed support shaft that is designed to transmit both rotational torque and weight and the load of the rotor on the nacelle. U.S. Patent No. 6,057,031 discloses such a wind turbine having a drive train transmission system with a hollow generator shaft extending through a generator and gearbox unit. The generator shaft is sequentially coupled to a main shaft connected to the rotor hub via a gear box unit. The hollow generator shaft allows hydraulic tubes and electrical cables to be guided through the generator and main shaft into the rotor hub. The two shafts have different inner diameters that create the need to support the cable and tube within a larger main shaft, otherwise the tube and cable will move around the interior of the rotating shaft during operation. You can move freely. This increases the risk that the tube or cable will hit the inner surface of the main shaft and in some cases will cause failure or leakage in the hydraulic tube.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,031 discloses a cable fastening system in which the system is disposed within the main shaft of a wind turbine with elongated support elements located at both ends of the main shaft. The plurality of wires are hung between two support elements and stretched by using stretching means placed on one of the support elements. The electrical cable is connected to roller bearings distributed along the length of a plurality of slidable rings or wires. The support element is rigidly connected to the end flange of the main shaft so that the cable fixing system follows the rotation of the main shaft. Although the cable is suspended in many points along the length of the main axis, the cable still moves or bends between points during operation due to gravity. This may cause the cable to strike or break the inner surface of the spindle, or it may not be fixed at one or more points.

  U.S. Patent No. 6,057,031 discloses a gear box connected to a rotor that allows the hollow shaft to extend through the gear box, thereby allowing the power cable to be guided through the hollow shaft. The cable is fixed with respect to a cable support located inside the shaft in the plurality of points, and the cable support system is a plate or a rib. This plate or rib may be bent or twisted in synchrony with the deformation of the shaft, thereby causing additional wear on the cable. Furthermore, since the cable is only supported at many points, it may bend or move, thereby risking the cable hitting the inner surface of the shaft.

US Pat. No. 4,757,211 International Publication No. 2012/052023 Pamphlet European Patent No. 2078856 European Patent No. 1921310

  The present invention aims to provide a wind turbine that remedies the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a cable support system that reduces load and stress on an electrical cable.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable support system that supports cables along the length of a main shaft.

  It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for assembling a cable support system that allows for quick and simple assembly.

  The object of the invention comprises at least one support element, for example a support rod, having a length corresponding at least to the length of the main shaft, the support element extending axially along the support element and an electrical cable The cable support system has at least one extending along the length of the main axis in which the support element is arranged. This is achieved by a wind turbine featuring a cable support system further comprising an outer tube.

  This provides a cable support system for the wind turbine that maintains the electrical cable in a stable position along the entire length of the main shaft. This prevents the electrical cable from moving or bending during operation, thereby reducing the stress experienced in the cable and the risk that the properties of the electrical cable will gradually change due to fatigue failure. This configuration is applicable to all types of wind turbines having any number of sensors, such as load sensors, displacement sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors, or the like, located on or within the blades of the wind turbine. Well suited. This configuration also allows wind turbine blades with adjustable pitch (whole blades adjust pitch) or wind turbine blades with partially adjustable pitch (only some of the blades are pitched) Fully suitable for wind turbines with

  The electrical cable may be a pitch mechanism located in the rotor or blade, a sensor, or a power cable for driving the illumination, a data cable for transmitting control signals between the wind turbine sensor and the controller, or a rotor hub and / or Alternatively, other types of electrical cables connected to other types of electrical components located within the wind turbine blade may be provided. The electrical cables may be arranged in any number of bundles comprising at least two electrical cables. The electrical cable may be connected at its other end to a power source or circuit and / or controller located in the nacelle.

  The term “principal shaft” is defined as a rotating shaft for at least transmitting rotational torque directly or indirectly from the rotor to the drive train generator, for example via an intermediate rotating shaft or generator shaft. A drive train is used between a generator and a main shaft to convert a relatively low speed rotation of the main shaft into a higher speed rotation of an intermediate shaft or generator shaft connected to the generator rotor assembly. You may further provide the gearbox unit arrange | positioned. The present invention is particularly well suited for direct-coupled wind turbines (ie, wind turbines in which the gearbox unit is omitted and the rotor is directly connected to the generator, for example via a main shaft).

  The structural frame of the rotor hub may be connected to the structural frame of the nacelle (ie, the main frame) via a rotating coupler such as one, two, or more bearing systems. The rotor hub may comprise a rotor beam or similar frame structure disposed within the rotor hub. The rotor beam or frame structure may be configured to transmit the structural load of the rotor and the dynamic load of wind acting on the rotor. The rotor hub, and thus the rotor beam or frame structure, for example, includes an opening facing the nacelle and mounting flange for mounting the main shaft located toward the front of the rotor hub at the bottom of the gap connected to the opening. Also good. The air gap is configured to receive a major axis and / or a free end of the nacelle frame structure. The load may then be transmitted to the main frame of the nacelle via a bearing system and further onto the tower structure, for example via a yaw mechanism. The main shaft may then be configured primarily to transmit rotational torque from the rotor to the generator. This makes it possible to reduce the size and weight of the spindle, thereby reducing costs.

  In another configuration, the inner rotor beam or frame structure may be omitted, and the outer container of the rotor hub is configured to convey the structural load of the rotor and the dynamic load of wind acting on the rotor. May be. In this configuration, the mounting flange may be located in the opening facing the nacelle. In this configuration, the main shaft may be configured to transmit rotational torque and optionally bending moments (ie, the load on the rotor and the wind acting on the rotor).

  In yet another configuration, the main shaft may be an intermediate shaft or generator shaft coupled to another shaft configured to transmit both rotational torque and bending moment, such as in US Pat. The intermediate shaft may be disposed between the rotor and the generator. The generator shaft may be connected to the generator on the rotor side and / or extend through the generator and may be connected to the grid side of the generator as needed. In this configuration, the cable support system may be disposed only within the main shaft, or may extend at least partially into another shaft.

  The receiving sub-element may be arranged along the outer or inner periphery of the support element. The support element may be formed as a solid or hollow cylindrical element, for example a rod or tube. The sub-element may be configured as a groove or slot, for example located around the support element and extending in a direction parallel to the center of gravity axis of the support element. Alternatively, the sub-element may be configured such that the through holes connected to the opening are located at both ends of the support element. The grooves or through holes may have different sizes depending on the type of electrical cable intended to be placed in the grooves or through holes. The number of sub-elements may be between 2 and 20, or between 4 and 10. This allows an electrical cable to be placed in the sub-element from either the end face or the side face of the support element. The sub-element may additionally or alternatively be configured to accept any number of hydraulic holes extending through the main axis.

  The support element may be placed inside an outer tube having an inner diameter or width that more or less corresponds to the outer diameter or width of the support element. The inner surface of the tube is configured to follow the outer contour of the support element. The support element may be a circular, elliptical, square, triangular, or polygonal cross-sectional profile. This allows the outer tube to assist in maintaining the electrical cable in place during assembly and operation. It also protects the electrical cables and support elements from any external shock or impact. The outer tube may have an outer diameter that is as large as the inner diameter of the main shaft. The support element and / or outer tube may be made from a metal such as steel, or a plastic such as nylon, or another suitable material.

  According to one embodiment, the cable support system comprises a first end element, for example a plate, and a second end element, for example a plate, the two end elements having an opening in the main shaft. Are respectively connected to the main shaft.

  The support element and / or the outer tube may be connected to two end elements configured to hold the cable support system in a predetermined position relative to the main axis (eg, in a position corresponding to some extent to the center of gravity axis of the main axis). Good. The end element may be formed as a plate, an elongated element, an X-shaped element or a Y-shaped element, a wheel with multiple spokes, or another suitable shape. The end element may comprise any number of cutouts to save material. The end element may be attached to or form part of the support element and / or the outer tube. The end element is used for attaching the end element to a main shaft (for example, an end flange of the main shaft) by using fastening means (bolts, nuts, screws, rivets or the like), for example, mounting such as a mounting hole Means may be provided. One or both of the end elements may comprise a contact surface for contacting a mating contact surface located on the inner surface of the through hole in the main shaft.

  At least one of the end elements may comprise a bushing or bearing connected to the outer tube so that the end element can move, i.e., rotate relative to the outer tube. . This allows the end element to be separated from the twist of the main shaft during operation without breaking or damaging the support element or the outer tube. This also allows the tube to be deformed axially independent of the axial deformation of the main shaft.

  In one configuration, a gap, such as an air gap, may be formed between the outer surface of the support element and / or the outer tube and the inner surface of the through hole in the main shaft. The ratio between the outer diameter of the support element and / or the outer tube and the inner diameter of the through hole in the main shaft may be at least 1: 2. The ratio may be 1: 2, 1: 3, 1: 5, 1:10, or any value in between. This allows the wall thickness of the spindle to be reduced, thereby saving weight and material. The main shaft may have a wall thickness of, for example, 10-500 millimeters, 20-250 millimeters, or 30-100 millimeters, measured at the midpoint of the main shaft.

  According to a special embodiment, the at least one intermediate support unit is arranged between the first end element and the second end element and is in contact with the mating contact surface on the side wall of the through-hole. At least one contact surface.

  One or more intermediate support units may be distributed along the length of the outer tube and thus the support element. The intermediate support unit may be configured to hold the outer tube and the support element in place during rotation of the main shaft. The intermediate support unit may be connected to the outer tube using a mounting flange or may form part of the outer tube. The outer tube may comprise a mating attachment flange for attaching the intermediate support to the outer tube via fastening means such as bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, or the like. In a simple embodiment, the intermediate support unit may comprise support plates and / or any number (preferably at least three) fingers that extend radially outward from the center axis of the intermediate support unit. Good. The fingers may form part of the support plate or be directly connected to the support plate by fastening means such as bolts, nuts, screws, rivets, or the like. The fingers may protrude outward from the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate support unit, i.e., the support plate. The second support plate may be disposed relative to the first support plate and connected to the first support plate and / or fingers via a spacer element. The finger may be disposed between the two support plates. One or two sets of fingers may be used depending on the desired configuration. Each finger or support plate may comprise at least one contact surface for contacting a mating contact surface on the side wall of the through hole in the main shaft. The side wall defines the internal dimension of the through hole in the main shaft. This allows the intermediate support unit to come into contact with the spindle sidewall at many points, thus reducing the amount of force required to move the intermediate support unit to the proper position relative to the spindle. The intermediate support unit may contact the main shaft to some extent along the entire circumference of the side wall, if necessary. For example, a friction reducing material such as a lubricant may be used to place the intermediate support unit. This allows for easier installation of the cable support system.

  The end elements and / or intermediate support elements may be a metal such as steel or a plastic such as nylon (eg polyamide).

  According to a further specific embodiment, the intermediate support unit further comprises at least two protruding elements, e.g. fingers, extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the intermediate support, at least one of the two protruding elements being an intermediate support unit The movable element is configured to move in the radial direction with respect to the center of gravity axis.

  At least one of the fingers or the second type of fingers may be formed as a movable element or finger configured to be moved radially relative to the center of gravity axis of the intermediate support unit. The movable element may be configured to be guided along a track and / or groove. All or some of the fingers may be formed as movable elements. The moveable finger may be connected to the support plate (s) by one or more adjustment mechanisms disposed on the finger and / or the support plate (s).

  The adjustment mechanism may comprise one or more bolts connected to at least one of the finger and support plate, or may comprise a separate bolt extending through a mounting hole in the finger or support plate. Good. The free ends of the bolts may be placed in a series of holes on adjacent elements to adjust the position of the elongated holes or movable fingers. The nut may be used to lock the movable element in the desired position.

  According to a particular embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is connected to the movable element and is configured to move the element when the adjustment mechanism is activated.

  The adjustment mechanism may be configured to be actuated by a tool that allows the movable finger to be moved when the adjustment mechanism is actuated. The adjustment mechanism may be, for example, a spring loaded by a spring element such as a torsion spring compression spring arranged against one of the bolt or the movable finger. The spring force accumulated in the spring element by actuating the mechanism may be used to move the finger in the radial direction, for example by a second movable element. For example, a second movable element, such as a V-shaped element, may have a contact surface, such as another inclined surface, for contacting a mating contact surface, such as an inclined surface, on the movable finger. When the mechanism is activated, the second movable element moves the movable finger away from or toward the center of gravity axis. Another type of adjustment mechanism may be used instead.

  The adjustment mechanism may be formed to function as a removal mechanism that allows the movable finger to be placed in the stowed position and then locked. When the intermediate support unit is placed at a desired position with respect to the main shaft, the removal mechanism may then be actuated so that the movable finger contacts the side wall of the through hole of the main shaft. Two or more of the fingers extending radially outward from the intermediate support unit may be formed as movable fingers. This allows easier positioning of the intermediate support unit and thus positioning of the cable support system relative to the main shaft.

  According to one embodiment, the main shaft is connected to a gearbox unit or generator in at least one of the drive train and / or the support element, and the outer tubes are arranged in a sequential order and connected to each other. Two or more sections (sections) are provided.

  The generator may be arranged at the end of the nacelle opposite the rotor if the main shaft may extend at least from the rotor to the generator or gearbox unit. The main shaft may be connected to the mounting flange of the rotor hub, for example located at the bottom of the rotor beam. The main shaft may be connected to a mounting flange located on the rotor side or grid side of the generator or gear box unit. The main shaft may extend through the gear box unit and may be connected to a generator shaft that is sequentially connected to a rotor assembly disposed inside the generator, if necessary. The main shaft or generator shaft may be connected on the grid side to a slip ring unit having any number of phases or terminals connected to electrical cables located inside the main shaft. Another set of electrical cables may be connected to the slip ring unit and to another electrical component in the wind turbine structure. This makes it possible to balance the load distribution of the nacelle and provides easier access to the generator. This allows for easier installation and maintenance compared to the generator located at the rotor end.

  The support element and / or outer tube may comprise any number of sections distributed along the length of the cable support system. The sections may be distributed in a sequential order and interconnected to each other, for example via fastening means. Fastening means such as, for example, screwed bolts or nuts may be arranged at the junction between two adjacent sections. Another fastening means, such as a mating screw-in bolt, nut, etc., located in the joint on the opposite opposing end face may be used to connect the two sections. Alternatively or additionally, a separate fastening means in the form of a threaded rod may be arranged in the central hole of the support element and used to connect the two sections. The outer tube portion may be connected by a mounting flange located at one or both ends of the tube portion.

  In one embodiment, the intermediate support unit may be connected to at least one of the mounting flanges of the outer tube part located at the joint. This allows a simple and easy connection of the intermediate support unit to the outer tube, since no additional mounting flange is required. Additionally or alternatively, another mounting flange located on the outer tube may be used to maintain the intermediate section in the desired position. This allows an intermediate support unit or a plurality of intermediate support units to be arranged along the length of the outer tube.

  The outer tube and / or the support element may have a length corresponding at least to the length of the main shaft. The outer tube and / or support element may further comprise a section extending through the generator, i.e. having a length corresponding at least to the length of the generator. The length of the support element and / or the outer tube may be at least 3 meters, or 3-15 meters, 4-12 meters, or 5-10 meters. The length of each section of the outer tube and / or support element may be at least 400 millimeters or at least 1000 millimeters. The section of the support element may have a length that is different from the length of the outer tube.

  According to one embodiment, the main shaft is made from a composite material.

  The main shaft may be configured as a relatively flexible main shaft that can be bent or bent with respect to its initial position while having high torsional strength. The main shaft is formed by a filament wound shaft, a pre-impregnated fiber composite shaft, a slat structure shaft (a plurality of elongated plates arranged in a longitudinal or helical order connected to each other by using a suitable flexible adhesive) Shaft) or another suitable composite shaft. The fibers in such a shaft may be selected from different types of fibers such as glass, carbon, basalt, aramid, organic fibers and the like. In one preferred configuration, the main axis may be a nanocomposite material comprising, for example, nanoclay, carbon nanotubes, nanosilica, or another suitable nanocomposite material. This allows the spindle to prevent the transfer of bending moments from the rotor to the drive train (especially the generator). This allows the drivetrain components to be mounted on the mainframe without having to take bending loads into account, thereby making it easier to service as well as removing and replacing various components .

  The material of the main shaft is selected so that one end of the shaft can twist within a predetermined angular interval relative to the other end when the main shaft is loaded by the rotor and / or generator May be. The main shaft may be made from an electrically insulating material such as a metal such as steel for increased structural strength, or a fiber reinforced composite material to prevent current transmission in the event of a lightning strike.

  The object of the present invention is also a method of assembling a cable support system for a wind turbine, in which an electrical cable, for example a power cable, a data cable, etc., is in any number of receiving sub-elements located in the support element. Arranged and achieved by a method characterized in that the sub-elements extend axially along the cable support system.

  This allows a simple and easy way to assemble a cable support system that supports electrical cables along the entire length of the main shaft, unlike the system of US Pat. This configuration allows the electrical cable to be placed in the receiving sub-element before or after the cable support system is placed in the main shaft. The support element may be formed as a cylindrical or solid element, e.g. a rod or tube, where the sub-element is formed as a groove located on the outer surface of or around the through hole located inside the support element. Is done. This eliminates the need to connect the electrical cable to a plurality of slidable rings or roller bearings as in Patent Document 3, thus allowing easier placement of the electrical cable. This configuration allows the cable support system to be assembled and installed in the spindle before it is installed in the nacelle.

  According to one embodiment, the support element is further arranged in at least one outer tube surrounding the support element before or after placing the electrical cable in the sub-element of the support element.

  Unlike the slidable ring or roller bearing of U.S. Patent No. 6,057,059, an outer tube may be used to maintain the electrical cable in place in the groove, protecting the electrical cable from external shocks and impacts. . The support element and / or outer tube may comprise two or more sections that may be connected to each other prior to placing the electrical cable within the sub-element. The compartmentalized configuration of the support element and / or outer tube allows the length of the cable support system to be adapted to the desired length in a simple and easy manner. It also allows the outer tube and / or the support element to be assembled segment by segment so that the electrical cable is guided in place on the support element.

  According to one embodiment, the at least one intermediate support element is arranged in a first position relative to at least one of the end elements.

  The main shaft may include a through-hole having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the outer tube so that a gap such as an air gap is formed between the two units. One or more intermediate support units may be arranged along the length of the outer tube before installing the cable support system in the main shaft. The intermediate support unit may comprise a central hole that allows it to be slid to a position on the outer tube. The intermediate support unit may then be connected to one or more mounting flanges located at or between the ends of the tube portion. This allows the cable support system to be supported in many points along the length of the main shaft. This configuration also allows the cable support system to be installed in a quick and simple manner, since the intermediate support unit contacts only the side wall of the through hole in the main shaft, which reduces the amount of friction between the two units. Allows to be done.

  The first and second end elements in the form of end plates may then be connected to the outer tube at both ends of the main shaft. Alternatively, one of the end elements may be connected to the outer tube before placing the cable support system in the main shaft. This allows the through hole of the main shaft to be at least partially blocked.

  According to a particular embodiment, at least one position of the end element or the intermediate support unit is, for example, radially of the end element or the intermediate support unit relative to the axis of gravity of the end element or the intermediate support unit. By moving at least one movable element, the center axis of the through hole of the main shaft is adjusted.

  After the cable support system is placed in the main shaft, the position of the support element and the outer tube may be adjusted by actuating an adjustment mechanism located on one or more of the intermediate support unit and / or end element. Good. The support element and the outer tube may be aligned with the central axis of the main axis by moving a movable element in the form of a finger radially relative to the central axis of the intermediate support unit and / or end element. The adjustment mechanism may be actuated by the tool before, during or after positioning of the cable support system within the spindle. The adjustment mechanism may be actuated individually after the cable support system is placed in the main shaft. This allows the support element and thus the electrical cable to be placed in a central position within the main shaft that reduces the centrifugal forces acting on the cable support system during the rotation of the main shaft.

  The movable finger may be secured in the stowed position before the cable support system is placed in the main shaft and then removed. This allows for easier positioning of the cable support system and allows each intermediate support unit to be centralized before or during positioning of the cable support system.

  The present invention relates to a wind turbine tower having at least an upper end, and a nacelle disposed at an upper end of the wind turbine tower, the nacelle including at least a drive train including at least a generator configured to generate electric power output. And a rotor hub that is configured to be rotatably connected to the nacelle, for example, via a bearing assembly, to transmit the weight derived from the weight of the rotor and the wind acting on the rotor. A rotor further comprising at least one wind turbine blade attached to the rotor hub and having a tip connected to the blade root via an aerodynamic profile, and for transmitting at least rotational torque from the rotor to the drivetrain Connected to the rotor hub at one end and at the other end A rotatable main shaft directly connected to the generator, with holes connected to the openings at both ends of the cable support system disposed in the hole, and extending at least through the main shaft, for example, a power cable And a main shaft comprising at least an outer tube for holding any number of electrical cables, such as data cables, the cable support system being first end elements, such as plates, respectively located at the openings of the main shaft And a second end element such as a plate, and at least one intermediate support unit is disposed between the first end element and the second end element and is formed of a through-hole in the main shaft. It may further relate to a wind turbine characterized in that it comprises at least one contact surface for contacting the mating contact surface.

  This provides a cable support system for a wind turbine that maintains the cable support system in place with respect to the main shaft along the entire length of the main shaft. The outer tube protects the electrical cable and support element from any external shock or impact. The outer tube may have an outer diameter that is as large as the inner diameter of the main shaft. The outer tube holds the electric cable at a position corresponding to some extent with respect to the center of gravity axis of the main shaft. This configuration is applicable to all types of wind turbines having any number of sensors, such as load sensors, displacement sensors, pressure sensors, vibration sensors, or the like, located on or within the blades of the wind turbine. Well suited. This configuration also allows wind turbine blades with adjustable pitch (whole blades adjust pitch) or wind turbine blades with partially adjustable pitch (only some of the blades are pitched) Fully suitable for wind turbines with

  According to one embodiment, the through hole of the main shaft has a side wall that defines the inner diameter, the element that holds the electrical cable has an outer surface that defines the outer diameter, for example, a gap, such as an air gap, Formed between the outer surface and the side wall, the ratio between the outer diameter and the inner diameter is at least 1: 2.

  In this configuration, for example, a gap such as an air gap is formed between an outer surface of an element that holds an electric cable such as an outer tube or a support element on which the cable is arranged and an inner surface of a through hole in the main shaft. Make it possible. The ratio between the outer diameter of the support element and / or the outer tube and the inner diameter of the through hole in the main shaft may be at least 1: 2. The ratio may be 1: 2, 1: 3, 1: 5, 1:10, or any value in between. This allows the wall thickness of the spindle to be reduced, thereby saving weight and material. The main shaft may have a wall thickness of, for example, 10-500 millimeters, 20-250 millimeters, or 30-100 millimeters, measured at the midpoint of the main shaft. The end elements and / or intermediate support elements may be a metal such as steel or a plastic such as nylon (eg polyamide).

  According to a particular embodiment, the intermediate support unit further comprises at least two protruding elements, e.g. fingers, extending outwardly from the outer periphery of the intermediate support, at least one of the two protruding elements being A movable element configured to move in a radial direction with respect to the center of gravity axis.

  At least one of the fingers or the second type of fingers may be formed as a movable element or finger configured to be moved radially relative to the center of gravity axis of the intermediate support unit. The movable element may be configured to be guided along a track and / or groove. All or some of the fingers may be formed as movable elements. The moveable finger may be connected to the support plate by one or more adjustment mechanisms disposed on the finger and / or support plate (s). The adjustment mechanism may comprise one or more bolts connected to at least one of the finger and support plate, or may comprise a separate bolt extending through a mounting hole in the finger or support plate. Good. The free ends of the bolts may be placed in a series of holes on adjacent elements to adjust the position of the elongated holes or movable fingers. The nut may be used to lock the movable element in the desired position.

  According to a particular embodiment, the adjustment mechanism is connected to the movable element and is configured to move the element when the adjustment mechanism is activated.

  The adjustment mechanism may be configured to be actuated by a tool that allows the movable finger to be moved when the adjustment mechanism is actuated. The adjustment mechanism may be, for example, a spring loaded by a spring element such as a torsion spring compression spring arranged against one of the bolt or the movable finger. The spring force accumulated in the spring element by actuating the mechanism may be used to move the finger in the radial direction, for example by a second movable element. For example, a second movable element, such as a V-shaped element, may have a contact surface, such as another inclined surface, for contacting a mating contact surface, such as an inclined surface, on the movable finger. When the mechanism is activated, the second movable element moves the movable finger away from or toward the center of gravity axis. Another type of adjustment mechanism may be used instead.

  The adjustment mechanism may be formed to function as a removal mechanism that allows the movable finger to be placed in the stowed position and then locked. When the intermediate support unit is placed at a desired position with respect to the main shaft, the removal mechanism may then be actuated so that the movable finger contacts the side wall of the through hole of the main shaft. Two or more of the fingers extending radially outward from the intermediate support unit may be formed as movable fingers. This allows for easier positioning of the cable support system relative to the intermediate support unit and thus the main shaft.

  According to one embodiment, the cable support system comprises at least one support element, for example a support rod, having a length corresponding at least to the length of the main shaft, the support element being axial along the support element And any number of receiving sub-elements, such as grooves, configured to receive and hold the electrical cable.

  This provides a support element that maintains the electrical cable in a stable position along the entire length of the main shaft. This configuration also prevents the electrical cable from moving or bending during operation, thereby reducing the stress experienced in the cable and the risk that the electrical cable characteristics will gradually change due to fatigue failure. Reduce.

  The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings.

1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wind turbine capable of adjusting the pitch according to the invention. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wind turbine capable of partially adjusting the pitch according to the present invention. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a rotor connected to a nacelle. The grid side of the generator shown by FIG. 3 is shown. 1 shows a cable support system according to the present invention. Fig. 6 shows the outer tube of the cable support system shown in Fig. 5; 6 shows support elements of the cable support system shown in FIG. Fig. 4 shows the outer tube and support element when assembled. Figure 9 shows the outer tube and support element shown in Figure 8 as viewed from one end. FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of the intermediate support unit shown in FIG. 5. 11 shows a cut-out of the intermediate support unit shown in FIG. The attachment of the intermediate support unit to the outer tube is shown.

  In the following text, the drawings will be described one by one, and the different parts and positions recognized in the drawings will be numbered with the same numbers in the different drawings. Not all parts and positions shown in a particular drawing will necessarily be discussed with that drawing.

  FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a wind turbine 1 with adjustable pitch according to the invention. The wind turbine 1 is arranged not only on the ground surface 2 but also on the sea surface. The wind turbine 1 includes a wind turbine tower 3 having an upper end portion and a lower end portion facing in a direction opposite to the upper end portion. The lower end is configured to be attached to the attachment end of the base 4. The wind turbine tower 3 may comprise two, three or more tower parts (not shown) that are attached to each other to form the wind turbine tower 3. The nacelle 5 is arrange | positioned at the uppermost part of the wind turbine tower 3, and is rotatably connected with respect to the wind turbine tower 3 through a yawing mechanism (not shown), for example. The rotor having the rotor hub 6 is rotatably connected to the nacelle 5 via, for example, a bearing assembly between the rotor hub 6 and the main frame structure of the nacelle 5. Two or more wind turbine blades 7 (three wind turbine blades are shown) in the form of wind turbine blades with adjustable pitch, for example via one or more pitch mechanisms (not shown), Connected to the rotor hub 6. The wind turbine blades 7 extend outward from the center of the rotor hub 7 to form a plane of rotation, and each blade 7 includes a tip 8 and a blade root 9. Each blade 7 includes a first surface defining a pressure side 10 connected to a second surface defining a suction side 11 via a leading edge 12 and a trailing edge 13.

  FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a wind turbine 14 with a partially adjustable pitch according to the present invention. In this configuration, the wind turbine blade 15 is at least configured as a blade having an inner blade portion 16 and an outer blade portion 17 that can partially adjust the pitch. The outer blade portion 17 is connected to the inner blade portion 16 via another pitch mechanism (not shown) disposed at the pitch joint portion 18. The pitch mechanism is configured to adjust the pitch of the outer blade portion 17 relative to the inner blade portion 16 according to the pitch angle. The inner blade portion 16 has a first blade end, ie, an outer blade end, facing the tip 8. The outer blade portion 17 has a second blade end, ie, an inner blade end, that faces the blade root portion 9. The blade portions 16, 17 may have the same aerodynamic profile or different aerodynamic profiles, such as a stall-controlled inner blade portion 16, a pitch-controlled outer blade portion 17.

  FIG. 3 with a portion of the structure removed to illustrate the interior of the structure shows a preferred embodiment of the rotor and nacelle 5. The main shaft 19 is connected to the rotor hub 6 at one end in order to transmit at least rotational torque from the rotor in the nacelle 5 to the generator 20. The main shaft 19 is directly connected to the generator 20 at the other end. The main shaft 19 includes through holes (not shown) connected to the openings 21 at both ends. As shown in FIG. 3, the cable support system 22 is disposed in the through hole. The main shaft 19 is a relatively flexible main shaft that can be bent with respect to its initial position while having high torsional strength. The main shaft 19 is made from a composite material such as a filament wound shaft, a pre-impregnated fiber composite shaft, a slat structure shaft, or another suitable composite shaft. The material of the main shaft 19 allows one end of the shaft to twist with a predetermined angular spacing relative to the other end when the main shaft 19 is loaded by the rotor and / or generator 20. Selected as

  The nacelle 5 comprises a support structure in the form of a main frame 23 connected to a yaw mechanism having a yaw bearing 24 arranged at the top of the wind turbine tower 3. The main frame 23 has a gap connected to the opening 25 a facing the generator 20 and the opening 25 b facing the rotor hub 6. The main frame 23 is configured to transmit a structural load and a load generated by the inflow air acting on the nacelle 5. These loads are then transmitted to the wind turbine tower 3 via the yaw bearing 24.

  The rotor hub 6 comprises a support structure in the form of a rotor beam 26 arranged inside the outer container of the rotor hub 6. The rotor beam 26 is configured to convey a structural load and a load generated by the inflow air acting on the rotor hub 6. The rotor beam 26 has a gap connected to the opening 27 facing the nacelle 5. The attachment flange 28 for attachment to the fitting attachment flange of the main shaft 19 is located toward the front 29 of the rotor hub 6, for example, at the lowest part of the gap of the rotor beam 26. The rotor beam 26 is rotatably connected to the main frame 23 via a rotary coupler in the form of two bearing systems in order to transmit the rotor load to the main frame 23 of the nacelle 5.

  The main shaft 19 is disposed in the space between the rotor beam 26 and the main frame 23, and extends through the opening 25 b, the nacelle 5 27, and the rotor hub 6. The main shaft 19 includes a mounting flange 30 positioned at the opposite end for mounting on the fitting mounting flange 31 of the generator 19.

  FIG. 4 shows a generator 20 having a grid side 32 and a generator side 33. The generator 20 is configured to generate power output and includes a rotor assembly (not shown) disposed relative to a stator assembly (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cable support system 22 is disposed inside the through hole of the main shaft 19 and extends through the rotor assembly of the generator 20. The cable support system 22 is connected to the slip ring unit 34 on the grid side 32. The slip ring unit 34 comprises any number of phases or terminals that are electrically connected to any number of electrical cables (not shown) located within the main shaft 19. The phases of the slip ring unit 34 are further connected to another set of electrical cables having any number of cables connected to various electrical components located within the wind turbine structure.

  FIG. 5 shows the cable support system 22 according to the invention before it is installed in the main shaft 19. The cable support 22 includes an outer tube 35 having a first portion 35 a extending along the length direction of the main shaft 19 and a second portion 35 b extending through the generator 20.

  The outer tube 35 comprises a first opening 36 a in which a first end element 37 in the form of an end plate is arranged and a second opening 36 b located on the grid side 32 of the generator 20. The second end element 38 in the form of an end plate is arranged at a predetermined position on the outer tube 35 with respect to the second opening 36b. The end elements 37, 38 are provided with attachment means (eg attachment holes) for attachment to the attachment flange 28 and attachment flange 39 of the generator 20, such as a rotor assembly.

  The end elements 37 and 38 are configured to hold the cable support system 22 at a predetermined position with respect to the main shaft 19 (for example, at a position corresponding to some extent with respect to the center of gravity axis of the main shaft 19). Both end elements 37 and 38 include a contact surface 39 for contacting a mating contact surface (not shown) located on the side wall of the through hole in the main shaft 19. At least one of the end elements 37 comprises a bushing 40 connected to the outer tube 35 so that the end element 37 can move, i.e. rotate relative to the outer tube 35. .

  As shown in FIG. 5, the one or more intermediate support units 41 are distributed along the length of the outer tube 35 and are disposed between the end elements 37, 38. The intermediate support unit 41 is configured to hold the cable support system 22 at a predetermined position with respect to the main shaft 19 (for example, at a position corresponding to some extent with respect to the center of gravity axis of the main shaft 19). The intermediate support unit 41 includes a contact surface 42 for contacting a fitting contact surface (not shown) located on the side wall of the through hole in the main shaft 19.

  FIG. 6 shows the outer tube 35 of the cable support system 22 separated from the support element 43 of the cable support system 22. The outer tube 35 includes a first tube portion 44a connected to the second tube portion 44b. Each tube portion 44a, 44b includes mounting flanges 45a, 45b for attaching the two tube portions 44a, 44b to each other by using fastening means such as bolts and nuts.

  FIG. 7 shows the support element 43 of the cable support system 22 positioned inside the outer tube 35 when assembled. The support element 43 comprises any number of sections 46 (three sections are shown) connected to each other by using fastening means such as bolts and nuts. The threaded rod 47 is arranged along the center of gravity axis of the support element 43 and is connected to a mating threaded nut or nut extension 48.

  The support element 43 and / or the outer tube 35 has a total length defined by sections 44, 46 of at least 3 meters. The end elements 37, 38 and / or the intermediate support element 41 may be a metal such as steel or a plastic such as nylon.

  8 and 9 show the outer tube 35 and the support element 43 when assembled. The outer tube 35 is connected to the support element 43 by using fastening means 49 such as bolts. The support element 43 is formed such that the support rod has any number of sub-elements 50 configured to receive and hold electrical cables, as shown in FIG.

  The sub-element 50 is formed as a groove disposed along the outer periphery 51 of the support rod 43. As shown in FIG. 9, the periphery 51 includes a contact surface for contacting the fitting contact surface of the inner wall 52 of the outer tube 35. The sub-elements 50 are arranged in different groups 50a, 50b, 50c having different sizes to accept different types of electrical cables. The first group 50a is configured to receive power cables, the second group 50b is configured to receive data cables, and the third group 50c is for controlling lighting located in the rotor, for example. Configured to accept a third type of electrical cable, such as

  FIG. 10 shows an exploded view of the intermediate support 41 comprising two support plates 53 spaced by a spacer element 54 in the form of an annular element. Any number of fingers 55 (three fingers are shown) are disposed between the two support plates 53. The fingers 55 protrude radially outward from the center of gravity axis of the intermediate support unit and / or the peripheral end 56 of the support plate 53 where the contact surface 42 is located on the peripheral end of each finger 55. Each finger 55 is provided with attachment means in the form of an attachment hole for attaching the finger 55 to a fitting attachment means such as an attachment hole on the support plate 53 by using fastening means 56 such as bolts and nuts, for example. Prepare.

  At least one of the fingers is a movable finger 57 configured to move in a radial direction (marked by an arrow 58) relative to the center of gravity axis of the intermediate support unit 41. One of the support plate 53 and / or the spacer element 54 comprises a recess 59 for receiving an adjusting mechanism 60, such as a V-shaped element 60a. The movable finger 57 includes a contact surface, such as an inclined surface, located in the recess 59 for contacting the mating contact surface 61 of the V-shaped element 60a. The V-shaped element 60a is connected to an actuating means in the form of a bolt 60b arranged with respect to a bushing 60c and a spring element 60d, for example a compression spring. The spring element 60d applies a spring force to the bolt 60b so that the V-shaped element 60a is moved relative to the support plate 53a. The elongated hole 62 is disposed in the movable finger 57 for adjusting and attaching the finger 57 to the support plate 53 by using fastening means 63 in the form of bolts and nuts.

  FIG. 11 shows a cut-out of the intermediate support unit 41 of the cable support system 22 when arranged with respect to the length direction of the outer tube 35. As shown in FIG. 11, the intermediate support unit 41 is attached to 45b of the attachment flanges 45a of the tube portions 44a and 44b using fastening means extending through the intermediate support unit 41 and the attachment flange. The bushing 64 is used to align the intermediate support unit 41 with the mounting flanges 45a and 45b.

  FIG. 12 shows an assembly step for attaching the intermediate support unit 41 to the outer tube. First, the segments 46 of the support element 43 are connected to each other to form a desired length. An electrical cable (not shown) is then placed in the sub-element 50 of the support element 43. The support element 43 with the electrical cable is then placed in the outer tube 35 so that the outer tube 35 surrounds the entire outer surface of the support element 43.

  The intermediate support unit 41 is moved (eg, slid to a position above one of the tube portions 44a) and aligned with the mounting flange 45a of the tube portion 44a. The intermediate support unit 41 and the tube portion are then connected to each other by using fastening means.

  The cable support system 22 is then placed in the main shaft 19. The positions of the support element 43 and the outer tube 35 are then adjusted by actuating the adjusting mechanism 60 located on the intermediate support unit 41 by using a tool configured to engage the bolt 60b. When actuating the adjustment mechanism 60, the V-shaped element 60a is moved relative to the support plate 53a that moves the movable finger 57 in the radial direction 58. The positions of the support element 43 and the outer tube 35 are thereby aligned with the center of gravity axis of the through hole in the main shaft 19. The end element 38 is finally connected to the support element 43 and / or the outer tube 35, the mounting flanges 28, 39.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wind turbine which can adjust pitch 2 Ground surface 3 Base 4 Wind turbine tower 5 Nacelle 6 Rotor hub 7 Wind turbine blade 8 Tip part 9 Blade root part 10 Compression side 11 Suction side 12 Tip edge 13 Trailing edge 14 Partial Wind turbine with adjustable pitch 15 Wind turbine blade 16 Inner blade portion 17 Outer blade portion 18 Pitch joint portion 19 Main shaft 20 Generator 21 Opening in main shaft 22 Cable support system 23 Main frame of nacelle 24 Shaking bearing 25 Main frame opening 26 Rotor rotor beam 27 Rotor beam opening 28 Mounting flange 29 Front end 30 Spindle mounting flange 31 Generator mounting flange 32 Grid side 33 Rotor side 34 Sliplin Unit 35 external tube 36 external tube opening 37 first end element 38 second end element 39 generator mounting flange 40 bushing 41 intermediate support unit 42 contact surface 43 support element 44 tube part 45 mounting flange 46 support Element classification 47 Treated rod 48 Nut, nut extension 49 Fastening means, bolt 50 Sub-element, groove 51 Perimeter, contact surface 52 Side wall, contact surface 53 Support plate 54 Spacer element 55 Finger 56 Perimeter end 57 Moveable finger 58 Radial direction 59 Recess 60 Adjusting mechanism 61 Elongated hole 62 Adhering means, bolt 63 Bushing

Claims (11)

A wind turbine tower having at least an upper end;
A nacelle disposed at the upper end of the wind turbine tower, the nacelle having at least a drive train comprising at least a generator configured to generate power output;
A rotor having a rotor hub configured to be rotatably connected to the nacelle, for example via a bearing assembly for transmitting the weight of the rotor and the load generated by the wind acting on the rotor, A rotor further comprising at least one wind turbine blade with a tip attached to the rotor hub and connected to a blade root via an aerodynamic shape;
A rotatable main shaft connected to the rotor hub at one end and directly connected to the generator at the other end to transmit at least rotational torque from the rotor to the drive train. A wind turbine having a connected shaft and in which a cable support system for holding any number of electrical cables, for example power cables or data cables, extending at least through the main shaft is arranged. In the turbine,
The cable support system has at least one support element, for example a support rod, with a length corresponding at least to the length of the main shaft, the support element being axially along the support element The cable support system has any number of receiving sub-elements, such as grooves, configured to extend and receive and hold the electrical cable, the cable support system having a length of the main shaft on which the support element is disposed And further comprising at least one outer tube extending along the wind turbine.   The cable support system comprises a first end element, such as a plate, and a second end element, such as a plate, wherein the first end element and the second end part The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein elements are respectively disposed in the openings of the main shaft and connected to the main shaft.   At least one contact for contacting at least one intermediate support unit between the first end element and the second end element and contacting a mating contact surface at a side wall of the through-hole The wind turbine according to claim 2, further comprising a surface.   The intermediate support unit further comprises at least two protruding elements, such as fingers, extending outwardly from the outer peripheral edge of the intermediate support, wherein at least one of the two protruding elements has a center of gravity of the intermediate support unit The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein the wind turbine is a movable element configured to move in a radial direction with respect to the shaft.   The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein an adjustment mechanism is connected to the movable element and is configured to move the movable element when the adjustment mechanism is activated.   The main shaft is connected to a gearbox unit or a generator in the drive train and / or one of the support elements, and the outer tubes are arranged in a sequential order and connected to each other. The wind turbine according to claim 1, further comprising a section.   The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the main shaft is formed of a composite material. A method for assembling a cable support system for a wind turbine according to claim 1, comprising:
Placing any number of electrical cables, for example power cables or data cables, against at least one support element;
Disposing the cable support system in the through hole of the main shaft;
Attaching a first end element and a second end element of the cable support system to the main shaft.
The electrical cable, e.g. a power cable or a data cable, is arranged in any number of receiving sub-elements arranged in the support element, the receiving sub-element extending in an axial direction along the cable support system Feature method.   9. The method of claim 8, wherein the support element is further disposed on at least one outer tube that covers the support element before or after placing the electrical cable on the sub-element of the support element. .   9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one intermediate support element is disposed at a first position relative to one of the end elements.   At least one position of the end element or intermediate support unit moves, for example, at least one movable element of the end element or intermediate support unit in a radial direction relative to the center of gravity axis of the end element or intermediate support unit The method according to claim 8, wherein the main axis is adjusted with respect to a center of gravity axis of the through hole.

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