Abstract
Epicyclic gear transmissions are intensively used in wind turbines for driving the electric generators. To maximise the efficiency and minimise the rate of failure, it is essential to gain a full and precise understanding of the power flow inside the epicyclic gear systems. An algorithm based on constraint analysis and virtual power ratio is applied to a one-degree-of-freedom, four-stage gearbox of a wind turbine for prediction of efficiency. Power flow diagrams are constructed to obtain the power flow patterns and validate the prediction, by means of balance in normal and virtual power of the system. The analytical solution is derived for the efficiency of the gearbox. The analytical solution reveals that all loss factors are inversely proportional to the efficiency. Further, assuming equal loss factors on all gear meshes, the maximum loss factor is 0.147 to yield a positive efficiency, i.e. no self-locking of the gearbox.
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Hu, N., Liu, S., Zhao, D., Chen, C. (2019). Power Analysis of Epicyclic Gear Transmission for Wind Farm. In: (Chunhui) Yang, R., Takeda, Y., Zhang, C., Fang, G. (eds) Robotics and Mechatronics. ISRM 2017. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 72. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17677-8_20
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-17677-8_20
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