Wind Turbine Machine Parts Flashcards
What are the 5 main parts of a wind turbine?
1) Foundation: Made from concrete and rebar, supports the tower
2) Down Tower Assembly (DTA): Has control equipment, where power enters and exits
3) Tower
4) Nacelle (or machine head)
5) Rotor (Hub & Blades)
On a wind farm, what is the electrical connection from a turbine to the transformer/substation called, what is the voltage, and how many phases are in the system?
1) Feeder Lines: mean any power line that carries electrical power from one or more wind turbines or individual transformers associated with individual wind turbines to the point of interconnection with the electric power grid.
2) 32,500 volts
3) Three phase system (3 individual lines)
Does an individual wind turbine transformer step-up or step-down voltage being generated?
Why is this needed?
Steps Up
Some turbines generate power at 693 volts (like at LRSC). The individual turbine transformer steps up the voltage to 32,500 volts for transmission through the feeder lines.
- The higher the distance traveled in the feeder lines, the higher the voltage needs to be. This is because transmission of power at higher voltages enables a reduction in the conductor required for the same distance. Reduction in conductor (wire thickness) facilitates the reduction of conductor cost.
Why can a working feeder line, that has been powered off, still be dangerous for awhile.
Feeders can functions as a capacitor, posing a electrocution threat even after being powered off.
What is the DTA, where is it, and what does it do?
DTA = Down Tower Assembly
It is the bottom of the tower.
Contains:
- High voltage switch gear interface
- Wind Turbine Charge Controller
What are the 6 main systems within the Nacelle?
- Base plate
- Main shaft
- Gearbox
- High speed shart
- Generator
- Top box
What is the “Hub Adapter” and what does it do?
Hub Adapter
Rotor shaft to hub connection
Flange that receives (connects to) the main bearings and low speed shaft.
What are the “Main Bearings” and what do they do?
Main Bearings holds the main shaft to the bed plate and allow the rotor to turn the gear box.
1) What is the “Main Shaft” and what does it do?
2) Is it high or low torque and rpm?
1) The main shaft delivers rotational energy from the rotor to the gear box.
2) High torque and low RPM
1) What is the “Compression Coupling” and what does it do?
2) What is another name for this part?
1) The compression coupling holds the main shaft in the gear box.
2) “Shrink Disk”
1) What is the “High Speed Shaft” and what does it do?
2) Is it high or low torque and rpm?
1) The high speed shaft delivers energy from the gear box to the generator.
2) Low torque and high RPM
1) How does the hydraulic brake work?
2) Where is it located?
1) The hydraulic break has a large rotter and caliper with a pump/valve assembly.
2) Slows the high speed shaft
- This is different than the rotor lock.
What is the “Top Box” and what does it do?
The top box contains the control equipment that:
- Fine tunes the turbine
- Applies the hydraulic disk brake
-
What is the “Gear Box” and what does it do?
The gear box steps up the RPM from the main shaft to the high speed shaft. Commonly it is a “three stage planetary” unit that steps up the speed three times. It has it’s own cooling and lubrication system.
What is the “Yaw System” or “Yaw Drive” and what does it do?
The yaw system has pinion gears (four) that move along a ring gear to turn the nacelle.
What is the “Met Mast” and what does it do?
The meteorological mast has digital sensors (if modern) or a wind vane and anemometer (if older) used to move the turbine in order to maximize efficient power generation.
Describe the two types of filters in a gear box?
- “Main” Oil Filters
- The Desiccant Filter has silica gel that removes moisture caused by condensation that forms when turbine stops and cools
What is the “Slip Ring” and what does it do?
The slip ring allows electricity wiring to go from behind gearbox through a pipe to parts in the hub. It is composed of brush contacts (carbon) that revolve around slip rings (copper?).
The slip rings facilitate the transfer of power and data signals from the stationary nacelle to the rotary bladed in the control system
In the yaw system, name the sensors used and what they do.
- Proximity Sensors: Functions as a counting switch using and electric field to count yaw ring gear teeth
- Yaw Position Reset Sensor & Reference Target Bracket: This sensor is located at the bottom of the yaw bearing. The sensor detects the pulse when the yaw position reference target bracket (L shape) passes through it for every rotation. (Full rotation sensor: A sensor that counts a single peg rotating during a full rotation yaw.)
- Cable Twist Switch: A limit switch tied into the cable bundle that triggers when near maximum tolerance of cable rotations (less that two) occurs.
What is a tower “Bonding Strap” and what does it do?
A bonding strap is a metal woven strap bolted to the tower sections on each connecting end.
This is for grounding the tower as part of the lightning protection system.
What are the 6 levels of the wind turbine starting with the DTA?
- Basement
1) Down Tower Assembly
2) 1st Deck
3) 2nd Deck
4) Saddle Deck
5) Yaw Deck
6) Nacelle Base Plate - Atop the nacelle
What are the two generator bearings called and where are they located?
DE = Drive End near output shaft
NDE = Non-Drive End in the back
