JP7455034B2 - wind power generator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wind power generation device equipped with a brake device that brakes the rotation of a wind turbine, and more particularly to a wind power generation device that can simplify the structure of the brake device and reduce costs.

Wind turbines generate electricity or motive power using the power of the wind, but if the wind speed exceeds a certain level, the wind turbines will overspeed and malfunction, so safety is maintained by brake devices that brake the rotation of the wind turbines. There are various types of brake systems, such as those that apply braking force by operating wing flaps using centrifugal force, and those that apply brakes using electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power. The trigger for starting braking when applying the brakes is one that electrically detects the wind turbine's rotation speed, wind speed, or abnormality and activates it electrically, or automatically when the wind turbine becomes over-rotated due to centrifugal force, etc. , some are mechanically braked.

Considering various abnormality modes such as generator abnormality, disconnection of electrical wiring, power outage, or lack of storage battery capacity, automatic brake activation due to overspeeding due to centrifugal force etc. A fail-safe mechanism that brakes automatically is desirable.

As such a braking device, for example, a braking device for a vertical axis wind turbine has been proposed in which the blade of the vertical axis wind turbine is provided with a flap that opens by centrifugal force, and the movable part of this flap is provided with a torque limiter (Patent Document 1). ). In this braking device, braking force is applied when the flap opens with a centrifugal force greater than the release torque of the torque limiter, and even when the centrifugal force disappears, the flap does not return to its original position due to the action of the torque limiter, resulting in a braking force. continues.

In other vertical axis wind turbine braking devices, the weight that moves away from the rotating shaft due to centrifugal force is pressed by the upper inner wall of the passage, resulting in an increase in the pressure of the braking unit that presses the top plate. to brake the rotation of the wind turbine (Patent Document 2).

Patent No. 6216918 Patent No. 5619123

In Patent Document 1, for example, flaps are provided on the outer periphery of a plurality of non-vertical arms arranged equidistantly around the circumference through torque limiters, so the number of parts is large, the structure is complex, and the manufacturing cost is high. There is an issue with the increase in
In Patent Document 2, a weight is moved by centrifugal force and braking is performed by a downward force, but there are problems in that the number of parts is large, the mechanism is complicated, and the manufacturing cost is high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wind power generation device that can simplify the structure of a brake device that brakes the rotation of a wind turbine and reduce costs.

The wind power generation device of the present invention includes a wind turbine having a rotatably supported central rotating member and blades connected to the central rotating member, a generator that generates electricity by the rotation of the central rotating member, and a generator that generates electricity by rotating the central rotating member. A wind power generation device comprising a brake device for braking,
The brake device is a centrifugal brake device that operates by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member,
an arm that is supported by the central rotating member or a rotating body that rotates together with the central rotating member, and that opens around an axis parallel to the central rotating member due to centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member;
a spring means for restricting opening of the arm around the axis by a spring force;
a stopper that is provided on a non-rotating part that does not rotate due to the rotation of the windmill, and that brakes the rotation of the windmill by coming into contact with the arm when the arm opens against the spring force of the spring means; have

According to this configuration, under wind speeds below a certain wind speed, the generator generates electricity by rotating the central rotating member. At this time, the arm is restricted from opening around the axis by the spring force of the spring means, so the brake device does not operate.
When the wind speed exceeds the above-mentioned speed and the rotational speed of the central rotating member increases, the brake device operates due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the central rotating member. That is, the arm opens due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the central rotating member against the spring force of the spring means. As a result, the arm comes into contact with a stopper provided in the non-rotating part, thereby braking the rotation of the wind turbine. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wind turbine from over-rotating. Since the rotation of the wind turbine can be braked with a simple structure including such an arm, a spring means, and a stopper, manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to a conventional structure with a large number of parts.
The rotation speed of the central rotating member at which the brake device operates is determined by determining an appropriate rotation speed by, for example, testing and/or simulation. The number of rotations is the number of rotations per unit time, and is synonymous with "rotation speed."

The brake device may include a torque limiter that slips when an excessive torque greater than a set torque acts on the central rotating member or the rotating body on which the arm is supported.
The set torque is a torque that is arbitrarily determined based on design or the like, and is determined by finding an appropriate torque by, for example, testing and/or simulation.

If only a mechanism including an arm, a spring means, and a stopper is used, the central rotating member may become locked at once due to a high rotational speed, and the impact force may cause an abnormality in the brake device or the wind turbine.
According to this configuration, when an excessive torque greater than a set torque is applied to the central rotating member or the rotating body, the torque limiter causes the rotating body to slip. This allows only a constant braking torque to be applied to the central rotating member or rotating body. Therefore, no impact force is applied to the wind power generator, and it is possible to prevent abnormalities from occurring in the brake device and the wind turbine.

The torque limiter includes a pair of disc-shaped friction plates provided on the central rotating member or the rotating body and coaxial with the rotating body and spaced apart in the axial direction, and a pair of friction plates coaxial with the friction plates. and a disk plate sandwiched between the friction plates and extending radially outward from the friction plates, and the arm and the spring means may be supported on the outer periphery of the disk plate. In this case, the pair of friction plates and the disk plate can be installed in a compact manner at the rotation axis of the wind turbine.

The structure equipped with the torque limiter allows a constant braking torque to be applied to the central rotating member or rotating body, but after the wind turbine stops rotating, the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the central rotating member disappears, and the arm is moved by the spring force of the spring means. It will be returned to its original position and the lock will be released.
Normally, this problem does not occur because wind turbines can be kept stopped by braking due to a short circuit in the generator. However, if an abnormality occurs in the generator or the wiring is broken, the wind turbine cannot be maintained in a stopped state, and the wind turbine repeatedly over-speeds and stops, and the braking force decreases due to abnormal wear of the friction plates. There is a risk.

A shaft member and the arm are rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the disk plate via a one-way clutch around an axis parallel to the central rotating member, and the one-way clutch allows rotation when the arm opens. However, when the arm returns to its original position due to the spring force, rotation may be restrained. Since such a one-way clutch is provided, once the centrifugal brake is activated due to over-rotation, the arm is restrained from rotating in the direction of returning to its original position even if the wind turbine stops and the centrifugal force disappears. Therefore, the arm does not return to its original position and can maintain the braking state. Even if an abnormality occurs in the generator or the like or the wiring is broken, the wind turbine can be maintained in a stopped state, and abnormal wear of the friction plates can be prevented.

The wind turbine may be a vertical axis type wind turbine. In this case, rotation is likely to occur even at low wind speeds, and power generation can be performed efficiently.

The wind power generation device of the present invention includes a wind turbine having a rotatably supported central rotating member and blades connected to the central rotating member, a generator that generates electricity by the rotation of the central rotating member, and a generator that generates electricity by rotating the central rotating member. A wind power generation device equipped with a brake device that performs braking, wherein the brake device is a centrifugal brake device that operates by centrifugal force due to rotation of the central rotating member, and rotates with the central rotating member or the central rotating member. an arm that is supported by a rotating body and opens around an axis parallel to the central rotating member due to centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member; and a spring means that uses a spring force to restrict opening of the arm around the axis. a stopper that is provided on a non-rotating part that does not rotate with the rotation of the windmill, and that brakes the rotation of the windmill by coming into contact with the arm when the arm opens against the spring force of the spring means; has. Therefore, the structure of the brake device that brakes the rotation of the wind turbine can be simplified and costs can be reduced.

FIG. 1 is a front view of a wind power generator according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the wind power generation device. It is an enlarged front view of the brake device etc. of the same wind power generator. It is an enlarged sectional view of the brake device etc. of the same wind power generator. It is a perspective view of the same brake device in a non-operating state. It is a perspective view of the operating state of the same brake device. FIG. 3B is an end view taken along the line V-V in FIG. 3B. It is a bottom view of the same brake device etc. FIG. 3B is a partially enlarged view of section VII in FIG. 3B. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a wind power generation device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[First embodiment]
A wind power generator according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
<Schematic configuration of wind power generator>
As shown in FIG. 1 , this wind power generation device 1 includes a wind turbine 4 having a rotatably supported central rotating member 2 and blades 3 connected to the central rotating member 2. It includes a generator 5 that generates electricity and a brake device Bk that brakes the rotation of the windmill 4.

<About windmill 4>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the wind turbine 4 has a central rotating member 2, which is a main shaft installed at the top of a support column 6 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis. It is a vertical axis type wind turbine 4 in which a plurality of extending blades 3 are connected to a central rotating member 2 via an arm 7. The plurality of blades 3 and the arm 7 constitute a rotary blade. The number of blades 3 is, for example, two, and each blade 3 is provided at a position 180 degrees out of phase with respect to the central rotating member 2. Note that the number of blades 3 may be three or more.

As shown in FIG. 1, the column 6 is made of a round steel pipe or the like, and a rotation support member is provided at the upper end of the column 6. The rotation support member includes a short cylindrical case 8 that is coaxial with the support column 6 and the central rotation member 2, and a double-row rolling bearing 9 provided within the case 8. A lower end portion of the central rotating member 2 is rotatably supported by the double row rolling bearing 9.

<Generator 5>
The generator 5 is fixed to a cover member 6a at the upper end of the support column 6, and generates electricity by receiving the rotation of the central rotating member 2 of the windmill 4 . In this example, a case 5a (FIG. 3A) of the generator 5 is fixed to the lower end surface of the lid member 6a. The upper end of the generator shaft 5b (FIG. 3A) is inserted into the short cylindrical case 8 through the central opening of the lid member 6a, and is connected to the lower end of the central rotating member 2 coaxially with the central rotating member 2. has been done. The generator 5 is, for example, a three-phase alternating current generator. Electric power generated by the generator 5 is sent to an external power system via wiring not shown.

<Brake device Bk>
As shown in FIGS. 3B, 4A, and 4B, the brake device Bk is a centrifugal brake device that operates by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member 2 (FIG. 2). The brake device Bk includes an arm 10, a torsion spring (torsion coil spring) 11 (FIG. 5) as a spring means, a stopper 12 (FIG. 6), a torque limiter 13, and a one-way clutch 14 (FIG. 7). , these components are provided inside the column 6 (FIG. 1).

The arm 10 is supported by a generator shaft 5b, which is a rotating body that rotates together with the central rotating member 2 (Fig. 1), and is rotated by the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the central rotating member 2 (Fig. 1). Opens around parallel axes. A cylindrical member 15 and a pilot cylindrical portion 16, which will be described later, are provided at the lower end of the generator shaft 5b, and an arm 10 and a torsion spring 11 are attached to a disk plate 17, which will be described later, which is fixed to the cylindrical member 15 and the pilot cylindrical portion 16. Supported. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the torsion spring 11 restricts the arm 10 from opening around the axis.

As shown in FIG. 7, a shaft member 18 is rotatably supported on the outer peripheral portion of the disk plate 17 via a one-way clutch 14 about an axis parallel to the central rotating member 2 (FIG. 1). The shaft member 18 is composed of a hinge pin having an axis parallel to the central rotating member 2 (FIG. 1). The arm 10 is fixed to the shaft member 18 by disposing the hinge pin penetrating the pair of parallel plate parts 10a, 10a (described later) of the arm 10, and by screwing a nut 19 into the tip of the hinge pin. be done. The one-way clutch 14 allows rotation when the arm 10 opens due to the centrifugal force, and restricts rotation when the arm 10 returns to its original position due to the spring force of the torsion spring 11.

The arm 10 has a pair of parallel plate parts 10a, 10a that are provided in parallel with a predetermined interval apart, and a connecting part 10b that connects these parallel plate parts 10a, 10a, and these parts are integrally made of thin steel plates or the like. It is formed. The above-mentioned "formed integrally" means that the pair of parallel plate parts 10a, 10a and the connecting part 10b are not formed by combining a plurality of elements, but are made of a single material, for example, by machining, etc., into a single piece. It means shaped as a part or whole. The pair of parallel plate portions 10a, 10a form planes perpendicular to the axis, and the predetermined interval is appropriately set depending on the thickness of the disk plate 17, the dimension of the torsion spring 11 in the axis direction, and the like.

A torsion spring 11 is provided on the outer periphery of the hinge pin between the pair of parallel plate parts 10a, 10a. As shown in FIG. 5, a torsion spring stopper 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the disk plate 17 in parallel with the shaft member 18 at a predetermined distance from the shaft member 18. The torsion spring 11 is arranged so that one end of the coil of the torsion spring 11 comes into contact with the torsion spring stopper 20, and the other end of the coil of the torsion spring 11 comes into contact with the connecting portion 10b of the arm 10. The spring force of this torsion spring 11 restricts the arm 10 from opening around the axis.

As shown in FIGS. 4B and 6, the stopper 12 is provided at a non-rotating portion that does not rotate due to rotation of the windmill. In this example, the case 5a of the generator 5 is used as the non-rotating part. However, the non-rotating part is not limited to the case 5a of the generator 5, and includes, for example, the inner circumferential surface of the support column 6 (FIG. 1) or a fixed portion fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the support column 6 (FIG. 1). It may be a member or the like. The stopper 12 is made of, for example, a steel plate. The stopper 12 brakes the rotation of the windmill 4 (FIG. 1) by coming into contact with the tip of the arm 10 when the arm 10 opens against the spring force of the torsion spring 11 (FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 3B, the torque limiter 13 slips when a torque greater than a set torque is applied to the generator shaft 5b that rotates together with the central rotating member 2 (FIG. 1). The torque limiter 13 includes a cylindrical member 15, a pilot cylinder portion 16, a pair of friction plates 21, 21 (FIG. 7), and a disk plate 17. The cylindrical member 15 is fitted and fixed to the lower end of the generator shaft 5b via a key 22 so as not to be relatively rotatable. This cylindrical member 15 has a cylindrical portion 15a and a flange portion 15b extending radially outward from one longitudinal end of the cylindrical portion 15a.

A substantially cylindrical pilot cylinder part 16 is fixed to the outer periphery of the cylinder part 15a so as to be movable and adjustable in the axial direction, and a pair of friction plates 21, 21 (FIG. 7 ) and a disk plate 17 are provided. A pair of friction plates 21, 21 (FIG. 7) are provided coaxially with the generator shaft 5b in the shape of a disk, and are spaced apart from each other in the axial direction. One friction plate 21 (FIG. 7) is fixed to the flange portion 15b, and the other friction plate 21 (FIG. 7) is fixed to the pilot cylinder portion 16. The disk plate 17 is coaxial with the friction plates 21, 21 (FIG. 7), is sandwiched between the friction plates 21, 21 (FIG. 7), and extends radially outward from each friction plate 21 (FIG. 7).

<Effect>
According to the wind power generation device 1 described above, the generator 5 generates power by rotating the central rotating member 2 when the wind speed is less than a certain wind speed. At this time, the arm 10 is restricted from opening around the axis by the spring force of the torsion spring 11, so the brake device Bk does not operate.

When the wind speed exceeds the above-mentioned speed and the rotational speed of the central rotating member 2 increases, the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the central rotating member 2 causes the brake device Bk to operate. That is, the arm 10 opens due to the centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the central rotating member 2 against the spring force of the torsion spring 11. As a result, the arm 10 comes into contact with a stopper 12 provided on the case 5a of the generator 5, thereby braking the rotation of the windmill 4. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wind turbine 4 from over-rotating. Since the rotation of the wind turbine 4 can be braked with a simple structure including the arm 10, the torsion spring 11, the stopper 12, etc., manufacturing costs can be reduced compared to the conventional structure with a large number of parts. Moreover, since each component of the brake device Bk is provided inside the support column 6, deterioration can be suppressed without being exposed to wind and rain.

Particularly in the following cases, there are great advantages in adopting this centrifugal brake device Bk.
In the system of the wind power generator 1, the brake is set to apply a load by controlling the generator 5 as a normally used brake for braking the rotation of the wind turbine 4. When the centrifugal brake device Bk of this embodiment is used as a fail-safe in the event of an abnormality in the generator 5 or the controller that controls the generator 5, or a break in the wiring, the centrifugal brake device Bk operates independently and the wind turbine 4 is The rotation can be stopped, and it is advantageous in terms of cost as it can be applied using commercially available products and is inexpensive.

When an excessive torque greater than a set torque is applied to the generator shaft 5b, which is a rotating body, the torque limiter 13 causes the generator shaft 5b to slip. This allows only a constant brake torque to be applied to the generator shaft 5b. Therefore, no impact force is applied to the wind power generator 1, and it is possible to prevent abnormalities from occurring in the brake device Bk and the wind turbine 4.

The torque limiter 13 includes a pair of friction plates 21, 21 coaxially provided on the generator shaft 5b in a disc shape and spaced apart in the axial direction, and a pair of friction plates 21 coaxially attached to the friction plates 21, 21. , 21 and extends radially outward from the friction plate 21. Therefore, the pair of friction plates 21, 21 and the disk plate 17 can be installed in a compact manner around the rotation axis of the wind turbine 4.

A shaft member 18 and an arm 10 are rotatably supported on the outer periphery of the disk plate 17 via a one-way clutch 14 about an axis parallel to the central rotating member 2, and the one-way clutch 14 rotates when the arm 10 opens. is allowed, and rotation is restrained when the arm 10 returns to its original position due to the spring force. Since such a one-way clutch 14 is provided, once the centrifugal brake is activated due to over-rotation, the arm 10 is restrained from rotating in the direction of returning to its original position even if the wind turbine 4 stops and the centrifugal force disappears. Therefore, the arm 10 does not return to its original position and can maintain the braking state. Even if an abnormality occurs in the generator or the like or the wiring is broken, the wind turbine 4 can be maintained in a stopped state, and abnormal wear of the friction plate 21 can be prevented.

<About other embodiments>
In the following description, parts corresponding to those previously described in each embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted. When only part of the configuration is described, other parts of the configuration are the same as those previously described unless otherwise specified. The same structure provides the same effects. It is not only possible to combine the parts specifically described in each embodiment, but also to partially combine the embodiments, as long as the combination does not cause any problems.

<Propeller type>
As shown in FIG. 8, the above-described brake device Bk may be applied to a wind power generation device 1A including a horizontal axis type (so-called propeller type) wind turbine 4. In this wind power generator 1A, a generator 5 is connected via a speed increaser 23 to a main shaft (central rotating member) 2A that is rotatably supported in a horizontal direction. In the casing 24a of the nacelle 24, for example, the main parts of the brake device Bk except the stopper are provided at the end of the main shaft 2A on the speed increaser side, and the stopper 12 is provided in the case 23a (non-rotating part) of the speed increaser 23. is fixed. In this case as well, the same effects as in the embodiment described above are achieved. Alternatively, the main parts of the brake device Bk except the stopper are provided at a position where the shaft on the end side of the generator 5 is extended, and the stopper 12 is fixed to the case 5a (non-rotating part) of the generator 5. In this case, the braking force can be made smaller than when it is provided at the end on the speed increaser 23 side, and in addition to achieving the same effects as the above-described embodiment, it is possible to further reduce costs and make it more compact.

The arm may be supported by a central rotating member.
A generator may be connected to the vertical axis type wind turbine in the first embodiment via a speed increaser.
It is also possible to exclude the torque limiter and the one-way clutch from the first embodiment. In this case, for example, a shaft member is rotatably supported around an axis parallel to the central rotating member via a bearing or the like on the outer circumference of a disk plate that is integrated with the cylindrical member. An arm is fixed to the shaft member. Other than that, the configuration is similar to that of the first embodiment. In this case, the number of parts can be reduced and the structure can be simplified compared to the first embodiment. Therefore, manufacturing costs can be further reduced.

Although the mode for carrying out the present invention has been described above based on the embodiments, the embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of this invention is indicated by the claims rather than the above description, and it is intended that all changes within the meaning and range equivalent to the claims are included.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 1A... Wind power generation device, 2... Central rotating member, 2A... Main shaft (central rotating member), 3... Blade, 4... Wind turbine, 5... Generator, 5a... Case (non-rotating part), 5b... Generator shaft ( Rotating body), 10... Arm, 11... Torsion spring (spring means), 12... Stopper, 13... Torque limiter, 14... One-way clutch, 17... Disc plate, 18... Shaft member, 21... Friction plate, Bk... Brake device

Claims (4)

A windmill having a central rotating member rotatably supported on the upper part of a support and blades connected to the central rotating member, a generator that generates electricity by the rotation of the central rotating member, and a brake that brakes the rotation of the windmill. A wind power generation device comprising:
The brake device is a centrifugal brake device that operates by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member,
an arm that is supported by the central rotating member or a rotating body that rotates together with the central rotating member, and that opens around an axis parallel to the central rotating member due to centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member;
a spring means for restricting opening of the arm around the axis by a spring force;
a stopper that is provided on a non-rotating part that does not rotate with the rotation of the windmill, and that brakes the rotation of the windmill by coming into contact with the arm when the arm opens against the spring force of the spring means ;
a torque limiter that slips when an excessive torque greater than a set torque acts on the central rotating member or the rotating body on which the arm is supported;
These arms, spring means, stoppers, and torque limiters are provided inside the support column . A windmill including a rotatably supported central rotating member and blades connected to the central rotating member, a generator that generates electricity by rotation of the central rotating member, and a brake device that brakes rotation of the windmill. A wind power generation device,
The brake device is a centrifugal brake device that operates by centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member,
an arm that is supported by the central rotating member or a rotating body that rotates together with the central rotating member, and that opens around an axis parallel to the central rotating member due to centrifugal force caused by rotation of the central rotating member;
a spring means for restricting opening of the arm around the axis by a spring force;
a stopper that is provided on a non-rotating part that does not rotate with the rotation of the windmill, and that brakes the rotation of the windmill by coming into contact with the arm when the arm opens against the spring force of the spring means;
a torque limiter that slips when an excessive torque greater than a set torque acts on the central rotating member or the rotating body on which the arm is supported;
The torque limiter includes a pair of disc-shaped friction plates provided on the central rotating member or the rotating body and coaxial with the rotating body and spaced apart in the axial direction, and a pair of friction plates coaxial with the friction plates. and a disk plate sandwiched between friction plates and extending radially outward from the friction plates, the arm and the spring means being supported on the outer periphery of the disk plate. 3. The wind power generation device according to claim 2 , wherein a shaft member and the arm are rotatably supported on an outer peripheral portion of the disk plate via a one-way clutch about an axis parallel to the central rotating member, and the one-way The clutch allows rotation when the arm opens, and restricts rotation when the arm returns to its original position due to the spring force. The wind power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the wind turbine is a vertical axis type wind turbine.

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