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Title: Gearbox high-speed-stage bearing slip induced by electric excitation in a test facility

Journal Article · · Wind Energy
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/we.2223· OSTI ID:1465648
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Vrije Univ. Brussel (VUB), Brussels (Belgium)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
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Abstract The goal of this paper is to investigate the behaviour of the high‐speed stage of a wind turbine gearbox during transient grid‐loss events triggered at different power levels in a full‐scale nacelle dynamometer test. The gear mesh behaviour and the bearing roller slip during these events are characterized by strain measurements placed in the gear teeth roots and embedded in the outer rings of the tapered roller bearing locating pair. From our experiments, we conclude that the high‐speed stage experiences a multidimensional loading consisting of bending and torsional deformation during the transient event. This loading propagates throughout the gearbox and results in unfavourable loading conditions at the bearing that have the potential to go beyond the preload during the torque reversals that occur during the grid‐loss event. During the torque reversal, roller slip can occur in the bearings. It is observed that the slip behaviour is directly linked to the initial power level of the generator. Electrically induced excitation that typically leads to dynamic torque events can therefore cause mechanical gearbox degradation.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Wind and Water Technologies Office (EE-4W)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; DE‐AC02‐05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1465648
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1460904
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-5000-70713
Journal Information:
Wind Energy, Vol. 21, Issue 11; ISSN 1095-4244
Publisher:
WileyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 6 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

References (7)

Material wear and fatigue in wind turbine Systems journal April 2013
An analytical model to investigate skidding in rolling element bearings during acceleration journal August 2012
Experimental investigation of bearing slip in a wind turbine gearbox during a transient grid loss event: High-speed stage bearing slip during grid loss event journal March 2016
Dynamic behaviour of rolling bearings: Simulations and experiments journal June 2001
Dynamic modelling of wind turbine gearbox bearing loading during transient events journal September 2015
Nonlinear dynamic model for skidding behavior of angular contact ball bearings journal October 2015
Experimental dynamic identification of modeshape driving wind turbine grid loss event on nacelle testrig journal January 2016

Cited By (1)

Powering the 21st century by wind energy—Options, facts, figures journal September 2019

Figures / Tables (11)

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Related Subjects

17 WIND ENERGY
42 ENGINEERING
wind energy
bearing
slip
dynamics
high-speed-stage
electric excitation