Wind turbine main gearbox test stand

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Wind Turbine Main Gearbox Test StandWind Turbine Main Gearbox Test StandGE Wind Energy, Erie, PAThis test stand was designed for post-overhaul testing of the 1.5mW gearbox. It determines vibration and acoustical characteristics as well as the verifying that the output speed and load requirements are within specifications. The unit under test (UUT) is connected to an identical gearbox that runs in reverse and simulates the wind turbine torque. The entire test stand is driven and loaded by four GE traction motors and controlled by a Lab View® Data System.

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Brief Description of the Project Problem Definition As GE Wind Energy expanded their wind turbine operations, they decided to locate a key gearbox assembly operation in an existing GE Transportation plant in Erie, Pennsylvania. While this plant is well suited to this purpose, no facility existed there that was capable of testing the

file:///F|/资料/风电齿轮箱/index.htm(第 2/7 页)2008-4-17 15:03:53Wind Turbine Main Gearbox Test Standfinished product.

Prior to shipment and installation atop a wind turbine tower, the gearbox’s performance must be verified. This requires gearbox operation at full power and speed. Where specific speed/torque test points and accurate data on vibration, noise, lube oil temperature and gear mesh geometry can be obtained.

The problem was further complicated by need to move the test gearboxes quickly thru the test process. Further, the test site was to be on the main manufacturing floor. Noise interference between the two activities would be an obstacle as would the lack of a dynamic block or machine base for mounting the test equipment. The plant utility system would require extensive upgrade to provide the drive power should the full 1.5 mW be required.

When complete, the test facility would be operated by skilled GE technicians but not by computer engineers. Thus, the computer controlled data acquisition and control system must be robust and user friendly.

Technical Solutions The most critical technical issue for the gearbox test stand was the problem of simulating the 578,000 lb-ft, 18 rpm input of the wind turbine. The wind turbine gearbox is one of the few devices available with this duty rating. Therefore, using another, identical gearbox (operating in reverse) proved to be an ideal source of this speed/torque combination.

The test gearbox is connected to a second, permanently mounted wind turbine gearbox at the input shaft. A 1.5 mW motor system drives the output shaft of the permanent gearbox which drives the input of the test gearbox at the desired speed and torque. A 1.5 mW generator system is connected to the test gearbox output shaft and simulates the desired load.

These motors are variable frequency, A.C. machines controlled by solid state drives. These drives generate AC power by inverting DC power, thus the DC circuits of the two drives could be connected so that the power generated as load could be returned to the motor inverters and used to simulate the wind turbine input power.

GE Transportation also manufactures the wheel motors and drives used in large open pit mining trucks and locomotives. Analysis revealed that two of the GEB-16A4 model wheel motors would provide the correct speed, torque and power required for the proposed test. Likewise, the breaking function of these motors was sufficient to simulate the generator load.

file:///F|/资料/风电齿轮箱/index.htm(第 3/7 页)2008-4-17 15:03:53Wind Turbine Main Gearbox Test StandFigure 1 illustrates this closed loop concept. The high torque is produced by the reciprocal gearbox and the power circulates from the generator to the motor thru the solid state drives. System losses are compensated by a 600 kW converter connected between the utility power line and the drive DC buss.

Figure 1 – Closed Loop Drive/Load System The two gearboxes are normally mounted in elastomeric bushings to minimize noise and vibration. The test fixture duplicates this resilient mounting feature. Unfortunately, these soft mounts created an alignment problem between the test and reciprocal gearbox.