Wind turbine drivetrain component with low friction radial shaft seal

A method for cooling a wind turbine drivetrain component, the wind turbine drivetrain component comprising:

• a rotating shaft with a radial seal, the radial seal including a stationary part and a rotating part,
• the stationary part including a ring with an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for contactlessly surrounding the shaft,
• the rotary part comprising a disc, coaxially connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and comprising a flange that wraps around the outer edge of the ring, and
• the radial seal further comprising an annular air lock gap for containing an amount of lubrication fluid and thereby closing off the air lock gap when the rotary part rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined threshold speed, the annular air lock gap being formed by an inner surface of the flange, an outer part of the opposing parallel surface of the disc and the outer edge of the ring,
• the method comprising the steps of:
• checking if the annular air lock gap is closed,
• only if the annular air lock gap contains the amount of lubrication fluid, turning on a cooling fan for cooling the wind turbine drivetrain component.

A wind turbine drivetrain component comprising a rotating shaft with a radial seal, the radial seal comprising a stationary part and a rotating part,

• the stationary part comprising a ring with an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for contactlessly surrounding the shaft,
• the rotary part comprising a disc, coaxially connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and comprising a flange that wraps around the outer edge of the ring, and
• the radial seal further comprising an annular air lock gap for containing an amount of lubrication fluid and thereby closing off the air lock gap when the rotary part rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined threshold speed, the annular air lock gap being formed by an inner surface of the flange, an outer part of the opposing parallel surface of the disc and the outer edge of the ring,
• wherein the radial seal further comprises an overflow volume, provided below a rotational axis of the disc and downstream the annular air lock gap.

A wind turbine drivetrain component comprising a rotating shaft with a radial seal, the radial seal comprising a stationary part and a rotating part,

• the stationary part comprising a ring with an inner edge and an outer edge, the inner edge being configured for contactlessly surrounding the shaft,
• the rotary part comprising a disc, coaxially connected to the shaft for rotation therewith and comprising a flange that wraps around the outer edge of the ring, and
• the radial seal further comprising an annular air lock gap for containing an amount of lubrication fluid and thereby closing off the air lock gap when the rotary part rotates at a rotational speed above a predetermined threshold speed, the annular air lock gap being formed by an inner surface of the flange, an outer part of the opposing parallel surface of the disc and the outer edge of the ring,
• wherein the radial seal further comprises a labyrinth seal, provided downstream the annular air lock gap and between the stationary part and the rotary part.