System and method for controlling temperature of gear box for wind power generator

• US 8,866,324 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Heavy Industries Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Heavy Industries Company Limited (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Ha, Inchul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US13/991,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257052A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 290/55, 416/93.R
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/04 Automatic control; Regulation
• 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 2270/3032 excessive temperatures, e.g. caused by overheating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

Provided is a system for controlling temperature of a gear box for a wind power generator gear box. The system for controlling a temperature according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the gear box; a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust the temperature of the gear box in accordance with the temperature of the gear box which is measured by the temperature sensor; a pitch adjustment unit configured to adjust a pitch angle of the blade; and a control unit configured to control the pitch adjustment unit so that the blade is rotated at a rotating speed for heating when the measured temperature of the gear box is lower than a range of a normal operating temperature of the gear box.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a temperature of a gear box for a wind power generator, in which the gear box connects a blade and a generator of the wind power generator, the system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the gear box;

a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust the temperature of the gear box in accordance with the temperature of the gear box which is measured by the temperature sensor;

a pitch adjustment unit configured to adjust a pitch angle of the blade; and

a control unit configured to control the pitch adjustment unit so that the blade is rotated at a rotating speed for heating when the measured temperature of the gear box is lower than a range of a normal operating temperature of the gear box,

wherein the rotating speed for heating is a rotating speed of blade which is needed to heat the gear box to the range of the normal operating temperature of the gear box within a predetermined time.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a speed sensor configured to measure a rotating speed of the blade,

wherein the control unit controls the rotating speed of the blade,

by controlling the pitch adjustment unit so as to decrease the pitch angle of the blade when the rotating speed of the blade is lower than the rotating speed for heating, and

by controlling the pitch adjustment unit so as to increase the pitch angle of the blade when the rotating speed of the blade is higher than the rotating speed for heating.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein

the temperature adjustment unit includes a heater configured to increase the temperature of the gear box when the temperature of the gear box is lower than a heating necessary temperature that is necessary to rotate the blade in a stop state.

4. A method for controlling a temperature of a gear box for a wind power generator, in which the gear box connects a blade and a generator of the wind power generator, the method comprising:

measuring a temperature of the gear box; and

heating the gear box by rotating the blade when the temperature of the gear box is lower than the range of the normal operating temperature of the gear box.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein

in the heating of the gear box,

the blade is rotated by controlling a pitch angle of the blade.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

in the heating of the gear box,

a rotating speed of the blade for heating the gear box is lower than a rotating speed for generating electricity at which the blade is rotated to produce electricity from the generator.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein

the rotating speed of the blade for heating the gear box is 20 to 30% of the rotating speed for generating electricity.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein

the heating of the gear box includes:

commanding a rotating speed for heating that is a rotating speed which is needed to heat the gear box within a predetermined time;

measuring the rotating speed of the blade; and

controlling the rotating speed of the blade by decreasing the pitch angle of the blade when the rotating speed of the blade is lower than the rotating speed for heating, and increasing the pitch angle of the blade when the rotating speed of the blade is higher than the rotating speed for heating.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

before the heating of the gear box,

increasing the temperature of the gear box by using a heater connected to the gear box when the temperature of the gear box is lower than a heating necessary temperature that is necessary to rotate the blade that is stopped.