LUBRICATION OF FLUID TURBINE GEARBOX DURING IDLING OR LOSS OF ELECTRIC GRID

• US 20110168495A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tiwari, Mayank, Burkett, Michael Jay, Johnson, Stephen Bertram, Subramaniam, Pradip Radhakrishnan, Hidding, Edwin
• Granted Patent: US 9,086,055 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 184/6.12
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0409 characterised by the problem to increase efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/045 Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A lubrication system for a fluid turbine is provided. The system includes a supply subsystem for providing oil via an oil tank or a hydraulic accumulator to a gearbox of the fluid turbine for lubrication during at least one of idling or loss of electric grid. The system also includes a control subsystem for controlling the flow in the lubrication system.

Claims

1. A lubrication system for a fluid turbine gearbox, the lubrication system comprising:

a supply subsystem for providing oil via an oil tank or a hydraulic accumulator to a gearbox of the fluid turbine for lubrication during at least one of idling or loss of electric grid; and

a control subsystem for controlling the flow of oil in the lubrication system.

2. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system provides lubrication by converting a dry sump gearbox to a wet sump gearbox for splash lubrication.

3. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the supply subsystem provides oil to the gearbox by gravity.

4. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid turbine gearbox comprises a wind turbine gearbox or a marine hydrokinetic energy turbine gearbox.

5. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a drain tank for collecting the oil flowing out of the gearbox.

6. The lubrication system according to claim 5, wherein the lubrication system comprises a pump for pumping the oil from the drain tank to the supply subsystem.

7. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a manifold with a plurality of nozzles in the gearbox for providing a flow of pressurized oil to the plurality of components of the gearbox.

8. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the supply subsystem comprises the oil tank at a predefined elevation above the gearbox for providing oil to the gearbox.

9. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic accumulator is provided at any convenient location and wherein the hydraulic accumulator comprises a pressure storage reservoir filled with oil and a compressed gas and provides oil by gravity or at a pressure to lubricate various components of the gearbox.

10. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a plurality of direction control valves and a plurality of drain ports for controlling the flow of oil in the lubrication system

11. The lubrication system according to claim 10, wherein the control subsystem further controls opening or closing of the plurality of drain ports in a drain manifold of the gearbox to permit storage of the oil at an optimal level in the gearbox for splash lubrication.

12. The lubrication system according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the direction control valves is situated to direct oil towards a selected component of the gearbox, and wherein the control subsystem further controls the direction of lubrication oil through the at least one of the direction control valves when initiating the flow of oil from the supply subsystem to the gearbox.

13. The lubrication system according to claim 10, wherein the control subsystem is provided with auxiliary power supply for operation of the control valves under loss of electric grid and idling condition.

14. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil includes additives comprising nano-particles.

15. The lubrication system according to claim 1 further comprising a thermal storage device for maintaining the oil supply subsystem at an appropriate temperature under grid loss or idling conditions.

16. The lubrication system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the fluid turbine and wherein the control subsystem is configured for controlling the flow of oil in the lubrication system at least in part based on the sensed temperature.

17. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the control subsystem is configured for maintaining a normally on control valve between the supply subsystem and the gearbox in a closed position during normal operating conditions.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the method comprises charging of the supply subsystem during on-grid conditions and discharging the supply subsystem during grid loss and idling.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the supply subsystem provides oil to the gearbox from an oil tank at a predefined elevation or provides oil to the gearbox from an accumulator.

18. A method for lubricating a fluid turbine gearbox, the method steps comprising:

providing a supply subsystem for supplying oil to the gearbox for splash lubrication during loss of electric grid or idling;

controlling a plurality of direction control valves and a plurality of drain ports using a control subsystem for allowing controlled flow of oil;

collecting the oil flowing out of the gearbox in a drain tank; and

recycling the oil collected in the drain tank by pumping the oil to the supply subsystem.