Starting method for rotating machine and starting method for wind turbine generator

• US 8,887,868 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
• Inventors: Takayanagi, Kazufumi
• Primary Examiner(s): LIU, HENRY Y
• Application Number:
  US12/846,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20110204633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.22, 184/4, 184/5, 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 184/4
• 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. 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:

rotating said main shaft and raising a temperature of said main bearing in a state in which said main bearing lubricant pump is not operated, wherein a rotational velocity of said main shaft is controlled in a state in which a generator connected to said main shaft is placed into a no-load state in the raising of the temperature of said main bearing; and

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

wherein the no-load state is a state in which a generator torque of the generator is zero and a rotor of the generator remains connected to the main shaft.

2. The starting method according to claim 1, wherein the control of the rotational velocity of said main shaft is achieved by controlling a pitch angle of wind turbine blades of said wind turbine rotor.

3. The starting method according to claim 1, wherein said main bearing is lubricated in an oil bath in rotating said main shaft to raise the temperature of said main bearing.

4. The starting method according to claim 1, wherein the temperature of said main bearing is measured with 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.

5. The starting method according to claim 1, wherein generation of electric power is started after a supply of the lubricant to said main bearing is started.

6. The starting method according to claim 1, wherein the operating of said main bearing lubricant pump to start supplying the lubricant to said main bearing starts when a predetermined standby time elapses after the rotating of the main shaft.

7. The starting method according to claim 1, further comprising

supplying power to warm a main bearing lubricant tank heater and a speed-up gear, and heating a lubricant tank, a speed-up gear, and a hydraulic pump.

8. The starting method according to claim 7, further comprising

operating the hydraulic pump to control a pitch of wind turbine blades.

9. The starting method according to claim 8, further comprising

adjusting a pitch angle of the wind turbine bladed by a pitch control mechanism from a feather state to a pitch angle at which the wind turbine blades receive wind power energy thereby starting rotation of the wind turbine rotor.

10. The starting method according to claim 9, further comprising

operating the main bearing lubricant pump when the main bearing is heated to a predetermined temperature thereby placing the wind turbine generator into a standby state in which the wind turbine generator is ready to generate electric power.

11. 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 and raising a temperature of a main bearing in a state in which lubricant is supplied to the main bearing at a first flow rate with a main bearing lubricant pump, wherein a rotational velocity of said main shaft is controlled in a state in which a generator connected to said main shaft is placed into a no-load state in the raising of the temperature of said main bearing; and

supplying lubricant to said main bearing with said main bearing lubricant pump at a second flow rate higher than said first flow rate,

wherein the no-load state is a state in which a generator torque of the generator is zero and a rotor of the generator remains connected to the main shaft.