Effects of elastic support on the dynamic behaviors of the wind turbine drive train

Abstract

The reliability and service life of wind turbines are influenced by the complex loading applied on the hub, especially amidst a poor external wind environment. A three-point elastic support, which includes the main bearing and two torque arms, was considered in this study. Based on the flexibilities of the planet carrier and the housing, a coupled dynamic model was developed for a wind turbine drive train. Then, the dynamic behaviors of the drive train for different elastic support parameters were computed and analyzed. Frequency response functions were used to examine how different elastic support parameters influence the dynamic behaviors of the drive train. Results showed that the elastic support parameters considerably influenced the dynamic behaviors of the wind turbine drive train. A large support stiffness of the torque arms decreased the dynamic response of the planet carrier and the main bearing, whereas a large support stiffness of the main bearing decreased the dynamic response of planet carrier while increasing that of the main bearing. The findings of this study provide the foundation for optimizing the elastic support stiffness of the wind turbine drive train.

Key words： wind turbine drive train; elastic support; dynamic behavior; frequency response function

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support given by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51405043 and 51575060) and the Innovation Project of the City of Chongqing (Grant Nos. cstc2015zdcy-ztzx70010 and cstc2015zdcy-ztzx70012).

References

1 Guo Y, Keller J, Lacava W. Combined Effects of Gravity, Bending Moment, Bearing Clearance, and Input Torque on Wind Turbine Planetary Gear Load Sharing: Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-55968. 2012

2 Guo Y, Bergua R, Dam J V,  Improving wind turbine drivetrain designs to minimize the impacts of non-torque loads. Wind Energy (Chichester, England), 2014, 18(12): 2199–2222 

3 Helsen J, Peeters P, Vanslambrouck K,  The dynamic behavior induced by different wind turbine gearbox suspension methods assessed by means of the flexible multibody technique. Renewable Energy, 2014, 69(3): 336–346

4 Helsen J, Vanhollebeke F, Marrant B,  Multibody modelling of varying complexity for modal behaviour analysis of wind turbine gearboxes. Renewable Energy, 2011, 36(11): 3098–3113

5 Jin X, Li L, Ju W,  Multibody modeling of varying complexity for dynamic analysis of large-scale wind turbines. Renewable Energy, 2016, 90: 336–351 

6 He Y, Huang W, Li C, Multi flexible body dynamics modeling and simulation analysis of large scale wind turbine drive train. Journal  of  Mechanical  Engineering, 2014, 50(1): 61–69  (in Chinese)

7 Ericson T M, Parker R G. Experimental measurement of the effects of torque on the dynamic behavior and system parameters of planetary gears. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2014, 74(74): 370–389

8 Zhao M, Ji J. Nonlinear torsional vibrations of a wind turbine gearbox. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 2015, 39(16): 4928–4950

9 Wei S, Zhao J, Han Q,  Dynamic response analysis on torsional vibrations of wind turbine geared transmission system with uncertainty. Renewable Energy, 2015, 78: 60–67

10 Yi P, Zhang C, Guo L,  Dynamic modeling and analysis of load sharing characteristics of wind turbine gearbox. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 2015, 7(3): 1–16 

11 Zhu C, Xu X, Liu H,  Research on dynamical characteristics of wind turbine gearboxes with flexible pins. Renewable Energy, 2014, 68(7): 724–732

12 Zhu C, Chen S, Liu H,  Dynamic analysis of the drive train of a wind turbine based upon the measured load spectrum. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2014, 28(6): 2033–2040 

13 Zhai H, Zhu C, Song C,  Influences of carrier assembly errors on the dynamic characteristics for wind turbine gearbox. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2016, 103: 138–147

14 ISO. International Standard ISO 6336-1 Second Edition, 2007

15 SIMPACK. Retrieved from http://www.simpack.com/

16 Link H, Lacava W, van Dam J,  Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Project Report: Findings from Phase 1 and Phase 2 Testing. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/TP-5000-51885. 2011

17 Keller J, Guo Y, Lacava W,  Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Phase 1 and 2: Testing and Modeling Results; Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-55207. 2012

18 LaCava W, van Dam J, Wallen R,  NREL Gearbox Reliability Collaborative: Comparing In-Field Gearbox Response to Different Dynamometer Test Conditions: Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-51690. 2011

19 Helsen J.The dynamics of high power density gear units with focus on the wind turbine application. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Louvain: Catholic University of Louvain, 2012

20 Keller J A, Guo Y, Sethuraman L.Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Investigation of Gearbox Motion and High-Speed-Shaft Loads. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/TP-5000-65321. 2016

21 Huang W. Multibody system modeling and simulation analysis and research on dynamic characteristic of wind turbine. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Chongqing: Chongqing University, 2013 (in Chinese)