Lubrication heating system and wind turbine incorporating same

• US 7,997,855 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2008
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Grünwaldt, Holger, Burkett, Michael J., Klümper, Stephan, Baker, Eric A., Hidding, Edwin, Bagepalli, Bharat S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kershteyn; Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/021,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20090191060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,295 Days
• Field of Search: 415/4.1, 415/114, 415/175, 415/176, 415/177, 415/178, 415/179, 416/174, 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 415/114
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/60 Cooling or heating of wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0413 Controlled cooling or heating of lubricant; Temperature control therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2210/12 Gearings
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 2250/08 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/02 by cooling heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind turbine is provided having a gearbox containing a lubrication medium, a pump for circulating the lubrication medium, and a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting the lubrication medium from the gearbox to the pump. A heater is in thermal connection to, at least a portion of, the gearbox lubrication suction pipe. This heater is used to heat the lubrication medium contained within the gearbox lubrication suction pipe to a temperature where damage to the pump is avoided.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising:

a gearbox containing a lubrication medium;

a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;

a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;

a heater in thermal connection to, at least a portion of, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;

wherein, said heater is used to heat said lubrication medium contained within said gearbox lubrication suction pipe to a temperature where damage to said pump is avoided.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein said lubrication medium comprises oil.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein said pump transports said lubrication medium to said gearbox.

4. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature control system for monitoring the temperature of said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;

wherein, power supplied to said heater is limited if said temperature approaches a level where damage may occur to said gearbox lubrication suction pipe.

5. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature control system for monitoring at least one temperature;

wherein, power supplied to said heater is limited if said at least one temperature approaches a predetermined level.

6. The wind turbine of claim 5, wherein said at least one temperature is chosen from the group comprising, at least one of:

external ambient temperature, lubrication medium temperature, and suction pipe temperature.

7. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein said heater is comprised of a heated blanket, wherein said heated blanket covers, at least a portion of, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe.

8. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein said heater comprises heating wires, said heating wires embedded within said gearbox lubrication suction pipe.

9. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein said heater comprises a hot air jacket, said hot air jacket disposed around, at least a portion of said gearbox lubrication suction pipe.

10. A wind turbine comprising:

a gearbox containing a lubrication medium;

a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;

a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;

a heater located on, at least a portion of, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;

wherein, said heater is used to heat said lubrication medium contained within said gearbox lubrication suction pipe to a temperature where damage to said pump is avoided.

11. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein said wind turbine comprises:

a temperature control system for monitoring the temperature of said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;

wherein, power supplied to said heater is limited if said temperature approaches a level where damage may occur to said gearbox lubrication suction pipe.

12. The wind turbine of claim 10, further comprising:

a temperature control system for monitoring at least one temperature, said at least one temperature chosen from the group comprising, at least one of;

external ambient temperature, lubrication medium temperature, and suction pipe temperature;

wherein, power supplied to said heater is limited if said at least one temperature approaches a predetermined level.

13. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein said lubrication medium comprises oil.

14. A heating system for a lubrication medium used in a gearbox, said system comprising:

a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;

heating means for heating a portion of said lubrication medium;

a suction pipe connected between said gearbox and said pump, said suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;

a temperature monitoring system for monitoring a first temperature;

wherein, said temperature monitoring system activates said heating means when said first temperature is below a threshold value.

15. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said heating means comprises a heated cover, said heated cover disposed over, at least a portion of, said suction pipe.

16. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said heating means comprises heating wires, said heating wires embedded within said suction pipe.

17. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said heating means comprises a hot air jacket, said hot air jacket disposed around, at least a portion of, said suction pipe.

18. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said first temperature is chosen from the group comprising, at least one of:

external ambient temperature, lubrication medium temperature, and suction pipe temperature.

19. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said temperature monitoring system further comprises:

a suction pipe sensor for monitoring the temperature of said suction pipe;

wherein, said temperature monitoring system limits power to said heating means if the temperature of said suction pipe exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

20. The heating system of claim 14, wherein said lubrication medium comprises oil.