STARTING METHOD FOR ROTATING MACHINE AND STARTING METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR

• US 20110204633A1
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takayanagi, Kazufumi
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,868 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/026 for starting-up
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/20 Heat transfer, e.g. cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/31 Wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 33/6659 Details of supply of the liquid to the bearing, e.g. passages or nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/025 Wind Turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/14 Bearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2270/20 Amount of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2270/56 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 29/02 for influencing the supply of lubricant
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/02 by cooling heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/04 by heating heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A starting method is provided for a rotating machine which includes a main shaft, a main bearing rotatably supporting the main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through the main bearing. The starting method includes steps of: rotating the main shaft to raise a temperature of the main bearing in a state in which the main bearing lubricant pump is not operated; and operating the main bearing lubricant pump to start supplying the lubricant to the main bearing after the step of raising the temperature of the main bearing.

Claims

1-15. -15. (canceled)

16. A starting method of a rotating machine which includes a main shaft, a main bearing rotatably supporting said main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through said main bearing, said method comprising steps of:

rotating said main shaft to raise a temperature of said main bearing in a state in which said main bearing lubricant pump is not operated; and

operating said main bearing lubricant pump to start supplying the lubricant to said main bearing after the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.

17. The starting method according to claim 16, wherein a number of rotations of said main shaft is controlled in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.

18. The starting method according to claim 16, wherein said main bearing is lubricated in an oil bath in rotating said main shaft to raise the temperature of said main bearing.

19. The starting method according to claim 16, wherein the temperature of said main bearing is measured using a temperature sensor in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing, and

wherein said main bearing lubricant pump is operated in response to the temperature of said main bearing measured by said temperature sensor.

20. A starting method of a rotating machine which includes a main shaft, a main bearing rotatably supporting said main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through said main bearing, said method comprising steps of:

rotating a main shaft to raise a temperature of a main bearing in a state in which lubricant is supplied to the main bearing at a first flow rate by using a main bearing lubricant pump; and

supplying lubricant to said main bearing by using said main bearing lubricant pump at a second flow rate higher than said first flow rate.

21. The starting method according to claim 20, wherein a number of rotations of the main bearing is controlled in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.

22. A starting method of a wind turbine generator which includes a main shaft connected to a wind turbine rotor, a main bearing rotatably supporting said main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through said main bearing, said method comprising steps of:

rotating said main shaft to raise a temperature of said main bearing in a state in which said main bearing lubricant pump is not operated; and

operating said main bearing lubricant pump to start supplying the lubricant to said main bearing after the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.

23. The starting method according to claim 22, wherein a number of rotations of said main shaft is controlled in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.

24. The starting method according to claim 23, wherein the control of the number of rotations of said main shaft is achieved by controlling a pitch angle of wind turbine blades of said wind turbine rotor.

25. The starting method according to claim 23, wherein the control of the number of rotations of said main shaft is achieved by controlling a generator torque of a generator driven by said main shaft.

26. The starting method according to claim 22, wherein said main bearing is lubricated in an oil bath in rotating said main shaft to raise the temperature of said main bearing.

27. The starting method according to claim 22, wherein the temperature of said main bearing is measured using a temperature sensor in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing, and

wherein said main bearing lubricant pump is operated in response to the temperature of said main bearing measured by said temperature sensor.

28. The starting method according to claims 22, wherein generation of electric power is started after a supply of the lubricant to said main bearing is started.

29. A starting method of a wind turbine generator which includes a main shaft connected to a wind turbine rotor, a main bearing rotatably supporting said main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through said main bearing, said method comprising steps of:

rotating a main shaft to raise a temperature of a main bearing in a state in which lubricant is supplied to the main bearing at a first flow rate by using a main bearing lubricant pump; and

supplying lubricant to said main bearing by using said main bearing lubricant pump at a second flow rate higher than said first flow rate.

30. The starting method according to claim 29, wherein a number of rotations of the main bearing is controlled in the step of raising the temperature of said main bearing.