Apparatus for rotating the nacelle of a wind turbine

• US 9,359,995 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2011
• Issued: 06/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Senvion SE
• Original Assignee: Senvion SE
• Inventors: Trede, Alf, Bruckner, Matthias
• Primary Examiner(s): Comley, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/821,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20130170989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 290/55, 416/1, 416/14, 416/17, 416/32, 416/41, 416/61, 416/500, 415/1, 415/4.3, 415/4.5, 415/17, 415/18, 415/51, 415/119, 415/123, 415/124.1, 415/908
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/06 Rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0204 for orientation in relation to wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0244 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/902 using frictional mechanical forces
• CPC Class Codes: F16C 2360/31 Wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for the controlled rotation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, which includes a control device and n of yaw brakes. In standstill operation, the n yaw brakes are actuated to impart a standstill holding moment M1 for holding the nacelle, and the n yaw brakes impart a substantially equal first holding moment. In tracking operation, the n yaw brakes are actuated to impart a tracking holding moment, M2, which is lower than the standstill holding moment M1 (M1>M2). The control device, in tracking operation, actuates a number m of the n yaw brakes to generate substantially the same constant holding moment M3, where M1/n>M3>M2/n, and where the other (n−m) yaw brakes are actuated to generate substantially the same constant holding moment M4, where m*M3+(n−m)*M4˜=M2, and M1/n>M2/n>M4.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the controlled rotation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, having a control device and having a plurality of azimuth motors, wherein the apparatus furthermore has a plurality, amounting to n in number, of yaw brakes, wherein the control device is configured for standstill operation and for tracking operation, wherein in standstill operation, the n yaw brakes are actuated so as to impart a standstill holding moment M1 for holding the nacelle, wherein in standstill operation, the n yaw brakes impart in each case a substantially equal first holding moment, and wherein in tracking operation, the n yaw brakes are actuated so as to impart a tracking holding moment M2, wherein the tracking holding moment M2 is lower than the standstill holding moment M1 (M1>

M2), and also lower than an overall moment generated by the azimuth motors in tracking operation, wherein the control device, in tracking operation, actuates a number m of the n yaw brakes in each case so as to generate substantially the same constant holding moment M3, wherein M1/n>

M3>

M2/n, and wherein the other (n−

m) yaw brakes are actuated in each case so as to generate substantially the same constant holding moment M4, wherein m*M3+(n−

m)*M4˜

=M2 and M1/n>

M2/n>

M4.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to actuate the m yaw brakes, which are actuated for the generation of the respective holding moment M3 in a first tracking operation, in a subsequent tracking operation for the generation of the respective holding moment M4, and to actuate the (n−

m) yaw brakes actuated in the first tracking operation to M4 in the subsequent tracking operation for the generation of the holding moment M3.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first tracking operation is followed by a standstill operation, and then the standstill operation is followed by the subsequent tracking operation.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein (n−

m) is approximately equal to m.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein M4˜

=0.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the m and/or (n−

m) yaw brakes are arranged substantially symmetrically about a rotation axis of the nacelle rotation.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality yaw brakes are hydraulic brakes with hydraulic actuation, which are arranged in a hydraulic supply circuit provided with actuating elements, and wherein the hydraulic supply circuit comprises a hydraulic unit, wherein the control device is designed so that the actuating elements are actuated for standstill operation in such a manner that all the yaw brakes are supplied with a standstill operating pressure P1, and in such a manner as to actuate the actuation elements for the tracking operation in such a manner that m yaw brakes are supplied with an operating pressure P3 and the other (n−

m) yaw brakes are supplied with an operating pressure P4.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the plurality of yaw brakes are arranged in two separate hydraulic circuits controlled by actuating elements, wherein m yaw brakes in a first hydraulic circuit are series connected with (n−

m) yaw brakes in a second hydraulic circuit.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the n yaw brakes are series connected in a double peripheral ring, wherein each ring is controlled by an actuating element.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein, in the hydraulic supply circuit, between a first and an n^th yaw brake, only actuating elements which are not actuated by the control device are arranged.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein all the yaw brakes are series connected in a hydraulic circuit, wherein, between an m^th and an (m+1)^th yaw brake, a pressure limiting valve with a parallel connected nonreturn valve is arranged as an actuating element, wherein a locking direction of the nonreturn valve corresponds to an open direction of the pressure limiting valve, and wherein, in the hydraulic circuit, the actuating element and hydraulic lines are provided and controlled by the control device in such a manner that, in standstill operation, the standstill operating pressure P1 is applied, bypassing the pressure limiting valve, through the nonreturn valve to all n yaw brakes, wherein, in tracking operation, the operating pressure P3 is applied to the m yaw brakes up to the pressure limiting valve, bypassing the nonreturn valve.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein, in addition to the hydraulic unit, a pressure reservoir is arranged in the hydraulic circuit, whose pressure input point is located in the flow direction of the tracking operation before the pressure limiting valve.