Lubrication of fluid turbine gearbox during idling or loss of electric grid

• US 9,086,055 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Subramaniam, Pradip Radhakrishnan, Hidding, Edwin, Burkett, Michael Jay, Johnson, Stephen Bertram, Tiwari, Mayank
• Primary Examiner(s): Dondero, William E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Reese, Robert T
• Application Number:
  US12/977,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20110168495A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 184/6.4, 184/6.12, 184/6.22, 184/4, 416/146.A, 416/170.R, 416/174, 290/44, 508/128, 508/391, 251/77, 251/129.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0409 characterised by the problem to increase efficiency, e.g. by reducing splash losses
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0447 Control of lubricant levels, e.g. lubricant level control dependent on temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/045 Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0457 Splash lubrication characterised by the problem reducing losses, e.g. splash losses F16H57/0409
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/12 Detecting malfunction or potential malfunction, e.g. fail safe in control of hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4192; Circumventing or fixing failures
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A lubrication system for a fluid turbine is provided. The system includes a supply subsystem for providing oil via an oil tank or a hydraulic accumulator to a gearbox of the fluid turbine for lubrication during at least one of idling or loss of electric grid. The system also includes a control subsystem for controlling the flow in the lubrication system.

Claims

1. A lubrication system for a fluid turbine gearbox, the lubrication system comprising:

a supply subsystem for providing oil via an oil tank or a hydraulic accumulator to a gearbox of the fluid turbine for lubrication during at least one of idling or loss of electric grid; and

at least one solenoid valve for allowing oil to flow from the supply subsystem to the gearbox in the absence of electricity being supplied to the at least one solenoid valve for converting a dry sump gearbox to a wet sump gearbox and providing splash lubrication;

a control subsystem for providing electricity to the at least one solenoid valve to maintain the at least one solenoid valve in a closed position when no idling or loss of electric grid conditions are occurring.

2. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the supply subsystem provides oil to the gearbox by gravity.

3. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the fluid turbine gearbox comprises a wind turbine gearbox or a marine hydrokinetic energy turbine gearbox.

4. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a drain tank for collecting the oil flowing out of the gearbox.

5. The lubrication system according to claim 4, wherein the lubrication system comprises a pump for pumping the oil from the drain tank to the supply subsystem.

6. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a manifold with a plurality of nozzles in the gearbox for providing a flow of pressurized oil to the plurality of components of the gearbox.

7. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the supply subsystem comprises the oil tank at a predefined elevation above the gearbox for providing oil to the gearbox.

8. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubrication system comprises a plurality of drain ports for controlling the flow of oil in the lubrication system.

9. The lubrication system according to claim 8, wherein the control subsystem further controls opening or closing of the plurality of drain ports in a drain manifold of the gearbox to permit storage of the oil at an optimal level in the gearbox for splash lubrication.

10. The lubrication system according to claim 1 further comprising at least one drain control valve for allowing oil to leave the gearbox when electricity is supplied to the at least drain control valve and further for preventing oil from leaving the gearbox in the absence of the electricity being supplied to the at least one drain control valve.

11. The lubrication system according to claim 1, wherein the lubricating oil includes additives comprising nano-particles.

12. The lubrication system according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the fluid turbine and wherein the control subsystem is configured for controlling the flow of oil in the lubrication system at least in part based on the sensed temperature.