JPWO2020143888A5 - - Google Patents

Claims (27)

A generator rotor assembly (42) for a wind turbine, said generator rotor assembly (42) comprising a cylindrical ring structure (42) defining a central hollow and arranged to rotate about an axis of rotation ( 46), said cylindrical ring structure (46) comprising:
a plurality of permanent magnet packages (48) coaxially arranged about the axis of rotation, the permanent magnet packages (48) comprising:
a plurality of coaxially laminated annular segment layers (80) comprising a plurality of continuous segment sheets (82) arranged about said axis of rotation to form an annular layer, said laminated layers (80) is such that the segment separation between two consecutive segment sheets (82) in one layer is angularly offset with respect to the segment separation between two consecutive segment sheets (82) in an adjacent layer. a plurality of stacked annular segment layers arranged in a staggered fashion;
a plurality of tie rod holes (86) extending axially through the layers of the permanent magnet packages (48), wherein the tie rod holes (86) of adjacent permanent magnet packages (48) are aligned with the plurality of tie rods; a plurality of tie rod holes that are complementary in size and position such that the holes are defined;
and a plurality of tie rods (54) extending through each of the plurality of tie rod holes. All of said segment sheets (82) include a number of tie rod holes (86) spaced over the tie rod separation angle, the angular offset between two adjacent layers being a multiple of the tie rod separation angle. The generator rotor assembly of claim 1. The generator rotor assembly of claim 1 or 2, wherein the angular offset between any two adjacent layers in the permanent magnet package (48) is at least two tie rod separation angles. A generator rotor assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein for each layer of the permanent magnet packages (48), the angular offset with adjacent layers is greater than the angular offset with subsequent layers. 5. The method of any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the number of layers in said permanent magnet package (48) that are not angularly offset from each other is equal to the total number of tie rod holes (86) per segment sheet minus one. A generator rotor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims. The total number of tie rod holes (86) per said segment sheet is less than or equal to the number of layers in said permanent magnet package (48), and all layers in said permanent magnet package (48) are arranged angularly with respect to each other. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 which is offset. Each of said segment sheets further includes a number of magnet hole pairs (88) for receiving internal permanent magnets and establishing magnetic poles, the number of said magnet hole pairs (88) being equal to the number of said tie rod holes (86). 7. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6 which is equal to or a multiple of a number. 8. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the plurality of laminated annular segment layers are adhered to each other. The generator rotor of any preceding claim, further comprising a plurality of spacers (56) disposed on the tie rods (54) and between adjacent permanent magnet packages (48). assembly. a plurality of said permanent magnet packages (48) including two end packages (50) disposed at opposite ends of said cylindrical ring structure (46);
Said cylindrical ring structure (46) has an annular flange (57) including a rotor connection (58) rigidly attached to one of said end packages (50) and a drive shaft directly or indirectly. 10. A generator rotor assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a drive shaft coupling (60) configured to be connected. said end packages (50) are positioned at driving and non-driving ends of said cylindrical ring structure (46);
The non-drive end faces away from the wind turbine driveline in use and the annular flange (57) is rigidly attached to the end package (50) at the non-drive end. 11. The generator rotor assembly of claim 10, comprising: the rotor coupling portion (58) includes a plurality of tie rod holes extending axially through the rotor coupling portion (58);
A power generator according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said plurality of tie rod holes of said rotor coupling (58) are arranged for receiving said plurality of tie rods (54) and attaching said annular flange (57) thereto. machine rotor assembly. 13. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the rotor coupling (58) is mounted parallel and in direct contact with the end packages (50). 14. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the drive shaft connection (60) extends in a plane coincident with or parallel to the rotor connection (58). 15. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 14, wherein the circumference of the drive shaft connection (6) is less than the circumference of the rotor connection (58). said annular flange (57) further comprising an intermediate portion (62) connecting said rotor connection portion (58) to said drive shaft connection portion (60);
Said intermediate portion (62) is arranged at an angle of 90 to 180 degrees, preferably 105 to 165 degrees, more preferably 120 to 150 degrees to said rotor coupling portion (58), said drive shaft coupling portion 16. A generator rotor according to any one of claims 10 to 15, arranged at 90 degrees to 180 degrees, preferably 105 degrees to 165 degrees, more preferably 120 degrees to 150 degrees, relative to (60). assembly. The intermediate portion (62) includes a plurality of bridge portions (64) spaced apart along the rotor connection portion (58) and concentrically about the axis of rotation, and a bridge gap (66). is defined between adjacent bridge portions (64). The generator rotor of any one of claims 10 to 17, wherein the rotor connection (58) further comprises a plurality of clamps for clamping the rotor connection (58) to the end package (50). assembly. 19. A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 18, wherein the circumference of the annular flange (57) is substantially equal to the circumference of the end package (50). A generator rotor assembly as claimed in any one of claims 10 to 19, wherein the drive shaft connection (60) comprises an annular element. said annular flange (57) further comprising a drive shaft connection frame (68) connected to said drive shaft connection (60);
11. The drive shaft connection frame (68) extends into the central hollow, the drive shaft connection frame (68) being configured to connect the annular flange (57) to the drive shaft. 21. A generator rotor assembly according to any one of claims 1-20. 22. Any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein at least one of the end faces is at least partially open to allow cooling air flow from outside the generator rotor assembly (42) into said central hollow portion. A generator rotor assembly as described in paragraph 1 above. A cooling passageway disposed between at least a portion of the plurality of permanent magnet packages (48) and operable to create a cooling airflow from the central hollow to the exterior of the generator rotor assembly (42). 23. The generator rotor assembly of any one of claims 1-22, further comprising: 24. The power generation of any preceding claim, wherein each of said segment sheets (82) comprises at least two magnet pairs (84), such as at least three or at least four magnet pairs (84). machine rotor assembly. 2. Each of said segment sheets (80) is dimensioned such that less than 20 segment sheets (80) constitute a 360 degree annular layer (80) such that less than 10 segment sheets (80). 25. A generator rotor assembly according to any one of claims 1-24. 26. A generator rotor assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the generator rotor assembly is configured to be free standing without support from a central hub. A wind turbine comprising a generator comprising a generator rotor assembly (4) according to any one of the preceding claims.