Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of elastic support on the dynamic behaviors of the wind turbine drive train

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Mechanical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The reliability and service life of wind turbines are influenced by the complex loading applied on the hub, especially amidst a poor external wind environment. A three-point elastic support, which includes the main bearing and two torque arms, was considered in this study. Based on the flexibilities of the planet carrier and the housing, a coupled dynamic model was developed for a wind turbine drive train. Then, the dynamic behaviors of the drive train for different elastic support parameters were computed and analyzed. Frequency response functions were used to examine how different elastic support parameters influence the dynamic behaviors of the drive train. Results showed that the elastic support parameters considerably influenced the dynamic behaviors of the wind turbine drive train. A large support stiffness of the torque arms decreased the dynamic response of the planet carrier and the main bearing, whereas a large support stiffness of the main bearing decreased the dynamic response of planet carrier while increasing that of the main bearing. The findings of this study provide the foundation for optimizing the elastic support stiffness of the wind turbine drive train.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Guo Y, Keller J, Lacava W. Combined Effects of Gravity, Bending Moment, Bearing Clearance, and Input Torque on Wind Turbine Planetary Gear Load Sharing: Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-55968. 2012

    Google Scholar 

  2. Guo Y, Bergua R, Dam J V, et al. Improving wind turbine drivetrain designs to minimize the impacts of non-torque loads. Wind Energy (Chichester, England), 2014, 18(12): 2199–2222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Helsen J, Peeters P, Vanslambrouck K, et al. The dynamic behavior induced by different wind turbine gearbox suspension methods assessed by means of the flexible multibody technique. Renewable Energy, 2014, 69(3): 336–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Helsen J, Vanhollebeke F, Marrant B, et al. Multibody modelling of varying complexity for modal behaviour analysis of wind turbine gearboxes. Renewable Energy, 2011, 36(11): 3098–3113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Jin X, Li L, Ju W, et al. Multibody modeling of varying complexity for dynamic analysis of large-scale wind turbines. Renewable Energy, 2016, 90: 336–351

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. He Y, Huang W, Li C, et al. Multi flexible body dynamics modeling and simulation analysis of large scale wind turbine drive train. Journal of Mechanical Engineering, 2014, 50(1): 61–69 (in Chinese)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Ericson T M, Parker R G. Experimental measurement of the effects of torque on the dynamic behavior and system parameters of planetary gears. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2014, 74(74): 370–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Zhao M, Ji J. Nonlinear torsional vibrations of a wind turbine gearbox. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 2015, 39(16): 4928–4950

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  9. Wei S, Zhao J, Han Q, et al. Dynamic response analysis on torsional vibrations of wind turbine geared transmission system with uncertainty. Renewable Energy, 2015, 78: 60–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Yi P, Zhang C, Guo L, et al. Dynamic modeling and analysis of load sharing characteristics of wind turbine gearbox. Advances in Mechanical Engineering, 2015, 7(3): 1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhu C, Xu X, Liu H, et al. Research on dynamical characteristics of wind turbine gearboxes with flexible pins. Renewable Energy, 2014, 68(7): 724–732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhu C, Chen S, Liu H, et al. Dynamic analysis of the drive train of a wind turbine based upon the measured load spectrum. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 2014, 28(6): 2033–2040

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Zhai H, Zhu C, Song C, et al. Influences of carrier assembly errors on the dynamic characteristics for wind turbine gearbox. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 2016, 103: 138–147

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. ISO. International Standard ISO 6336–1 Second Edition, 2007

  15. SIMPACK. Retrieved from http://www.simpack.com/

  16. Link H, Lacava W, van Dam J, et al. Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Project Report: Findings from Phase 1 and Phase 2 Testing. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/TP-5000-51885. 2011

    Book  Google Scholar 

  17. Keller J, Guo Y, Lacava W, et al. Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Phase 1 and 2: Testing and Modeling Results; Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-55207. 2012

    Google Scholar 

  18. LaCava W, van Dam J, Wallen R, et al. NREL Gearbox Reliability Collaborative: Comparing In-Field Gearbox Response to Different Dynamometer Test Conditions: Preprint. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/CP-5000-51690. 2011

    Google Scholar 

  19. Helsen J. The dynamics of high power density gear units with focus on the wind turbine application. Dissertation for the Doctoral Degree. Louvain: Catholic University of Louvain, 2012

    Google Scholar 

  20. Keller J A, Guo Y, Sethuraman L. Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Investigation of Gearbox Motion and High-Speed-Shaft Loads. Office of Scientific & Technical Information Technical Reports NREL/TP-5000-65321. 2016

    Google Scholar 

  21. Huang W. Multibody system modeling and simulation analysis and research on dynamic characteristic of wind turbine. Dissertation for the Master’s Degree. Chongqing: Chongqing University, 2013 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful for the financial support given by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51405043 and 51575060) and the Innovation Project of the City of Chongqing (Grant Nos. cstc2015zdcy-ztzx70010 and cstc2015zdcy-ztzx70012).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The State Key Laboratory of Mechanical Transmissions, Chongqing University, Chongqing, 400030, China

    Shuaishuai Wang, Caichao Zhu & Chaosheng Song

  2. CSIC (Chongqing) Haizhuang Windpower Equipment Co., Ltd., Chongqing, 401122, China

    Huali Han

Authors
  1. Shuaishuai Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Caichao Zhu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Chaosheng Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Huali Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Caichao Zhu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Wang, S., Zhu, C., Song, C. et al. Effects of elastic support on the dynamic behaviors of the wind turbine drive train. Front. Mech. Eng. 12, 348–356 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-017-0420-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11465-017-0420-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation