JP4641481B2 - Wind power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wind turbine generator that converts wind energy into electric energy.

  Conventionally, a windmill, a generator directly connected to the windmill by a main shaft, a nacelle that accommodates the generator, a tower that rotatably supports the nacelle, and the like are provided. The wind turbine is configured to convert the wind energy into rotational power, transmit the rotational power to the generator via the main shaft, and convert the rotational power into electric energy with the generator. Wind power generators are known.

  In such a wind turbine generator, a ring gear is fixed on the tower side, and a pinion that meshes with the ring gear is provided on the nacelle side, and an actuator such as an electric motor that rotationally drives the pinion is provided. The nacelle is configured to rotate by being driven to rotate. A hydraulic brake device is provided between the tower and the nacelle, and the nacelle can be fixed at an arbitrary turning position by controlling the brake device.

In addition, the pitch angle of each blade of the windmill is configured to vary according to the wind speed, so that when the wind speed exceeds a preset value during windstorms, etc., the blade is almost parallel to the wind direction so that the wind will flow. It was controlled to become. In this manner, the wind turbine is prevented from being damaged by reducing the wind load received by the blade (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
JP 2002-303255 A

  However, in a conventional wind power generation device, when a power failure occurs, the actuator does not drive, so the nacelle is fixed at a certain turning position, and the blade is made to be substantially parallel to the wind direction as described above. However, the load received by the blade cannot be reduced, and a large load is easily applied to the blade, which may damage the blade.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, in claim 1, in a wind turbine generator including a windmill, a generator connected to the main shaft of the windmill, a nacelle that accommodates the generator, and a tower that rotatably supports the nacelle. Means for detecting the wind direction, means for detecting the wind speed, a hydraulic cylinder that changes the pitch angle of each blade of the windmill according to the wind speed, a hydraulic motor that changes the turning position of the nacelle according to the wind direction, and hydraulic pressure Equipped with an electromagnetic valve for controlling the pitch angle of the blade and an electromagnetic valve for controlling the turning direction of the nacelle for switching the oil supply direction of the pressure oil to the cylinder and the hydraulic motor, respectively, and a controller for controlling them. At times, a pair of oil passages connecting the electromagnetic valve for controlling the turning direction and the hydraulic motor communicate with each other, and the blade receives wind from the hydraulic cylinder. It is to drive so as to be pitch angle.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, a throttle is provided in the middle of an oil passage connecting a pair of oil passages connecting the hydraulic motor and the electromagnetic valve for controlling the turning direction.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  In claim 1, it is possible to freely turn the nacelle from a state where it is held at an arbitrary turning position at the time of a power failure or at a set wind speed or more, and the windmill is directed in the leeward direction by receiving the wind. Can do. Further, the blade can receive the wind by setting the pitch angle of the blade to be substantially parallel to the wind direction. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the wind load acting on the blade and prevent the windmill and the nacelle from being damaged.

  According to the second aspect, the turning speed of the nacelle can be adjusted with a simple configuration, and sudden turning can be prevented. Further, since the means for adjusting the turning speed of the nacelle does not use braking by friction, the member is not worn and the maintenance can be reduced.

  Next, embodiments of the invention will be described.

  1 is a front view of a wind turbine generator according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a wind turbine generator 1 includes a windmill 2, a generator (not shown) directly connected to the windmill 2 through a main shaft, a nacelle 5 that accommodates the generator, and the like. A tower 6 that is turnably supported is provided. The tower 6 holds the windmill 2 and the nacelle 5 at a predetermined height. The windmill 2 converts wind energy into rotational power, and the rotational power is transmitted via the main shaft. The power is transmitted to a generator, and the generator is configured to convert rotational power into electric energy.

  In the power generator 1, the wind turbine 2 is configured by pivotally connecting a plurality of blades 2 a, 2 a, 2 a to one end of a main shaft protruding from the nacelle 5 via a hub, and is disposed on one side in the longitudinal direction of the nacelle 5. . In addition to the generator connected to the other end of the main shaft in the nacelle 5, the pitch angle of each blade 2a of the brake device 11 and the wind turbine 2 that stops or suppresses the rotation of the wind turbine 2 by braking the main shaft Are provided in accordance with the wind speed, a hydraulic motor 15 for changing the turning position of the nacelle 5 in accordance with the wind direction, and a hydraulic pump 18 driven by the motor 17.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the brake device 11 is provided with a hydraulic actuator 11a, and the hydraulic actuator 11a, a hydraulic cylinder 13, and a hydraulic motor 15 are connected to a hydraulic pump 18 via an oil passage, respectively. . The hydraulic pump 18 can supply hydraulic oil in the oil tank 19 as pressure oil to the hydraulic actuator 11a, the hydraulic cylinder 13, and the hydraulic motor 15.

  Switching valves 31 to 38 are provided in the oil passages connected to the hydraulic actuator 11a, the hydraulic cylinder 13 and the hydraulic motor 15 of the brake device 11, respectively. The switching valves 31 to 38 are constituted by electromagnetic valves, and are connected to the control device 50 via solenoids of the electromagnetic valves so that the switching control is performed by the control device 50.

  3, in addition to the switching valves 31 to 38, the control device 50 includes a wind speed sensor 51 that is a means for detecting the wind speed, a pitch angle detection sensor 53 that is a means for detecting the pitch angle of the blade 2a, and a wind direction. Are connected to a wind direction sensor 52, which is a means for detecting the turning position, a turning position detection sensor 54 for detecting the turning position of the nacelle 5, a rotation speed sensor 55 for detecting the rotation speed of the blade 8, and the like. The valves 31 to 38 are appropriately switched by a solenoid so as to perform drive control of the brake device 11, the hydraulic cylinder 13, and the hydraulic motor 15.

  Of the switching valves 31 to 38 connected to the control device 50, the first switching valve 31 and the second switching valve 32 are used for driving control of the brake device 11, and the third switching valve 33 to the sixth switching valve 36 are used. Used for drive control of the hydraulic cylinder 13. The seventh switching valve 37 and the eighth switching valve 38 are used for driving control of the hydraulic motor 15.

  In the hydraulic circuit configured as described above, the pressure oil delivered from the hydraulic pump 18 is branched in three directions and sent to the oil passages 21, 22, and 23. Among these oil passages 21, 22, and 23, the brake device 11 is connected to the oil passage 21, and pressure oil is supplied from the oil passage 21 to the hydraulic actuator 11 a of the brake device 11, so that the brake device 11 is The main shaft that is actuated and linked to the wind turbine 2 is braked.

  A first switching valve 31 for main shaft braking is provided in the middle of the oil passage 21, and the operating state of the brake device 11 can be changed by switching the first switching valve 31. During normal operation, the first switching valve 31 is switched to the closed side so as to prevent the flow of pressure oil in the oil passage 21 by the control device 50, and the supply of pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 18 to the hydraulic actuator 11a is stopped. The brake device 11 is controlled not to operate. At this time, the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 18 is sent to an accumulator 41 provided on the upstream side of the first switching valve 31.

  In the event of a power failure or shutdown, the first switching valve 31 does not transmit a control signal from the control device 50 to the solenoid, so that the first switching valve 31 enables the flow of pressure oil in the oil passage 21. Is switched to the open side. By switching the first switching valve 31, pressure oil is supplied from the accumulator 41 to the hydraulic actuator 11a, and the brake device 11 is activated. As a result, the main shaft is braked by the hydraulic actuator 11a, and the rotation of the windmill 2 is stopped or suppressed.

  A return oil passage 24 is connected between the first switching valve 31 of the oil passage 21 and the brake device 11. A second switching valve 32 for releasing the main shaft braking is provided in the middle of the return oil passage 24, and the main shaft braking by the hydraulic actuator 11 a of the brake device 11 can be released by switching the second switching valve 32. .

  As described above, when the brake device 11 is in an operating state by switching the first switching valve 31, the second switching valve 32 does not transmit a control signal from the control device 50 to the solenoid. Switched to the closed side to prevent flow. By switching the second switching valve 32, the hydraulic actuator 11a is kept supplied with the pressure oil, and the main shaft braking state is maintained.

  Conversely, during normal operation, the second switching valve 32 is switched to the open side by the control device 50 so as to allow the flow of pressure oil in the return oil passage 24. By switching the second switching valve 32, the pressure oil in the hydraulic actuator 11a is drained, and the braking of the main shaft is released. In this way, the first switching valve 31 and the second switching valve 32 are switched, and the brake device 11 is controlled not to operate during normal operation but to operate during a power failure or system stop.

  The hydraulic cylinder 13 is connected to a pair of oil passages 25A and 25B, and these oil passages 25A and 25B are connected to a third switching valve 33 for controlling the pitch angle of the blade 2a. The primary side of the third switching valve 33 is connected to the oil passage 22 and the tank return oil passage 26. Then, the oil supply direction of the pressure oil is switched by switching the third switching valve 33, and the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 18 is selectively supplied to one of the oil passages 25A and 25B from the oil passage 22. The hydraulic cylinder 13 is driven to extend and contract. The pitch angle of the blade 2 a is changed by the expansion and contraction drive of the hydraulic cylinder 13.

  A fourth switching valve 34 and a fifth switching valve 35 for holding the blade position are provided in the middle of the oil passages 25A and 25B, respectively, and the expansion / contraction position of the hydraulic cylinder 13 can be held by switching the switching valves 34 and 35. Has been. When a control signal is transmitted from the control device 50 to the solenoid, the fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are switched to the open side so as to enable the flow of pressure oil in the oil passages 25A and 25B. If a control signal is not transmitted from the control device 50, the flow is switched to the closed side so as to prevent the flow of pressure oil in the oil passages 25A and 25B.

  The fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are used when the pitch angle of the blade 2a is changed by switching the third switching valve 33 according to the wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor 51 during normal operation. The control device 50 switches to the open side. When the fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are switched, pressure oil is supplied from the hydraulic pump 18 to the hydraulic cylinder 13 via the third switching valve 33, the hydraulic cylinder 13 is driven to expand and contract, and the blade 2a rotates. Is done.

  In this embodiment, when the hydraulic cylinder 13 is driven to the extension side, the blade 2a is configured to approach a pitch angle that is substantially orthogonal to the wind direction. On the other hand, when the hydraulic cylinder 13 is driven to the contraction side, the blade 2a is configured to approach a pitch angle that is substantially parallel to the wind direction.

  After the pitch angle of the blade 2a reaches a predetermined value, the fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are switched to the closed side, and the expansion / contraction position of the hydraulic cylinder 13 is maintained. That is, the blade 2a is held at a predetermined pitch angle. The fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are switched to the closed side at the time of power failure or operation stop.

  A tank return oil passage 27 is connected between the fourth switching valve 34 and the hydraulic cylinder 13 in one oil passage 25 </ b> A, and a sixth switching valve 36 is provided in the middle of the tank return oil passage 27. . An oil passage 28 is connected between the fifth switching valve 35 and the hydraulic cylinder 13 of the other oil passage 25B, and the oil passage 21 is connected to the oil passage 28 via a check valve 43. Connected downstream.

  At the time of a power failure or operation stop, the sixth switching valve 36 is switched to the open side so that the pressure oil can be circulated in the tank return oil passage 27 because the control signal is not transmitted from the control device 50 to the solenoid. By switching the sixth switching valve 36, the pressure oil is released from the extension side oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 13. At this time, as described above, the first switching valve 31 is also switched to the open side, and pressure oil can be supplied to the contraction side oil chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 13 through the oil passages 21 and 28.

  Further, in contrast to the first switching valve 31, the fourth switching valve 34 and the fifth switching valve 35 are switched to the closed side, and pressure oil is transferred from the oil passages 25A and 25B to the contraction and expansion side oil chambers of the hydraulic cylinder 13. It will not be supplied. Such switching control of the switching valve is detected when the wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor 51 becomes equal to or higher than the set wind speed due to a storm blowing even during normal operation or by the rotation speed sensor 55. This is performed by the control device 50 when the blade rotational speed is equal to or higher than the set rotational speed.

  Therefore, at the time of a power failure or when the operation is stopped, and when the wind speed is higher than the set wind speed, the hydraulic cylinder 13 can be driven to the contraction side, and each blade 2a of the windmill 2 receives the wind and is a pitch angle that is substantially parallel to the wind direction. It is rotated so as to have a pitch angle to receive wind. Thereby, the load of the wind which acts on the braid | blade 2a can be reduced and it can prevent that a windmill 2 and the nacelle 5 produce a failure | damage.

  The hydraulic motor 15 is connected to a pair of oil passages 29A and 29B, and these oil passages 29A and 29B are connected to the secondary side of the seventh switching valve 37 for controlling the turning direction of the nacelle. On the other hand, the primary side of the seventh switching valve 37 is connected to the oil passage 23 and the tank return oil passage 30. The oil supply direction of the pressure oil is switched by the switching of the seventh switching valve 37, and the pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 18 is selectively supplied from the oil passage 23 to one of the oil passages 29A and 29B. 15 is driven to rotate leftward or rightward. The turning angle of the nacelle 5 is changed by the drive rotation of the hydraulic motor 15 via the drive mechanism 16.

  A locking circuit is provided in the middle of the oil passages 29A and 29B. The locking circuit includes pilot check valves 44 and 44, and the nacelle 5 can turn only when pressure oil is fed to the oil passages 29A and 29B by the pilot check valves 44 and 44.

  That is, when the seventh switching valve 37 is switched to the neutral position, the oil connected to the hydraulic motor 15 by the pilot check valves 44 and 44 serving as a locking circuit disposed on the secondary side of the seventh switching valve 37. The pressure oil is not circulated through the paths 29A and 29B, and the nacelle 5 cannot turn. Thus, during normal operation, the nacelle 5 is prevented from turning with the windmill 2 facing upward.

  In this state, when the seventh switching valve 37 is switched and pressure oil is fed to either one of the oil passages 29A and 29B, one pilot check valve 44 is opened and the hydraulic motor 15 is pressurized. , The other pilot check valve 44 is opened by the pilot hydraulic pressure, and the return oil from the hydraulic motor 15 is returned to the oil tank 19. Thereby, the hydraulic motor 15 is rotationally driven, and the nacelle 5 can be turned. However, the locking circuit can be provided at the neutral position of the seventh switching valve 37.

  The nacelle 5 is controlled (yaw control) by the control device 50 so as to turn to an arbitrary turning position according to the wind direction. After the nacelle 5 is turned by such yaw control, the motor 17 is stopped, the supply of pressure oil from the hydraulic pump 18 to the hydraulic motor 15 is stopped, and the seventh switching valve 37 is set to the neutral position. Thus, the nacelle 5 is fixed so as not to turn by the locking circuit, and is held at an arbitrary turning position.

  An oil passage 39 is connected to a pair of oil passages 29A and 29B between the pilot check valves 44 and 44 and the hydraulic motor 15, and the oil passages 29A and 29B communicate with each other. An eighth switching valve 38 is provided in the middle of the oil passage 39, and switching to the eighth switching valve 38 enables a transition from a state in which the nacelle 5 is held at an arbitrary turning position to a state where it can freely turn. Has been.

  The eighth switching valve 38 is switched to the closed side so as to prevent the flow of pressure oil in the oil passage 39 by the control device 50 during normal operation. By the switching of the eighth switching valve 38, as described above, the pressure oil is not circulated through the oil passages 29A and 29B connected to the hydraulic motor 15 by the locking circuit, and the nacelle 5 is held at an arbitrary turning position. . At this time, the windmill 2 is in a state facing the windward direction.

  At the time of a power failure or operation stop, the eighth switching valve 38 is switched to the open side so that pressure oil can be circulated in the oil passage 39 because no control signal is transmitted from the control device 50 to the solenoid. By switching the eighth switching valve 38, the oil passage 29A and the oil passage 39 are communicated, and the hydraulic motor 15 is allowed to idle. Such switching control of the eighth switching valve 38 is performed by the control device 50 when the wind speed detected by the wind speed sensor 51 becomes equal to or higher than the set wind speed due to a storm blowing even during normal operation. .

  Therefore, the nacelle 5 turns freely from the state held at an arbitrary turning position when a power failure or operation is stopped, or when the wind speed is higher than the set wind speed, so that the windmill 2 receives the wind so that it faces the leeward direction. It is turned. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the wind load acting on the blade 2a and prevent the windmill 2 and the nacelle 5 from being damaged.

  Further, a throttle 45 is further provided in the middle of the oil passage 39, and the flow rate of the pressure oil in the oil passage 39 is adjusted when the oil passages 29A and 29B are communicated by switching of the eighth switching valve 38. It is configured to be able to.

  Therefore, when the nacelle 5 is in a state of freely turning when a power failure or operation is stopped, or when the wind speed is higher than the set wind speed, the turning speed can be adjusted with a simple configuration, and sudden turning can be prevented. . Further, since the means for adjusting the turning speed of the nacelle 5 does not use friction braking, there is no wear of the members, and maintenance can be reduced.

The front view of the wind power generator concerning one example of the present invention. Hydraulic circuit diagram. Block Diagram.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Wind power generator 2 Windmill 2a Blade 5 Nacelle 6 Tower 13 Hydraulic cylinder 15 Hydraulic motor 29A / 29B Oil passage 33 Third switching valve 37 Seventh switching valve 39 Oil passage 45 Restriction 50 Control device 51 Wind speed sensor 52 Wind direction sensor

Claims (2)

  In a wind turbine generator including a windmill, a generator coupled to the main shaft of the windmill, a nacelle that accommodates the generator, and a tower that rotatably supports the nacelle, means for detecting a wind direction, wind speed Detecting means, a hydraulic cylinder that changes the pitch angle of each blade of the windmill according to the wind speed, a hydraulic motor that changes the turning position of the nacelle according to the wind direction, and hydraulic oil to the hydraulic cylinder and the hydraulic motor A solenoid valve for controlling the pitch angle of the blade and a solenoid valve for controlling the turning direction of the nacelle, and a control device for controlling them, and at the time of power failure and at a set wind speed or higher, A pair of oil passages connecting the valve and the hydraulic motor are communicated with each other, and the hydraulic cylinder has a pitch angle that allows the blade to receive wind. Wind power generator, characterized in that the dynamic. The wind turbine generator according to claim 1, wherein a throttle is provided in the middle of an oil passage connecting a pair of oil passages connecting the hydraulic motor and the turning direction control electromagnetic valve.

Images