Wind turbine/generator set and method of making same
A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- YCX-1-30209-02
- Assignee:
- Northern Power Systems Utility Scale, Inc. (Barre, VT)
- Patent Number(s):
- 8,454,309
- Application Number:
- 13/032,182
- OSTI ID:
- 1176501
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: 2011 Feb 22
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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