Wind turbine direct drive airgap control method and system
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsRandy S. LONGTIN, Patrick L. JANSEN
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A deflection resistant wind turbine generator having a stator arranged about an axis and a rotor operably mounted with respect to the stator to generate electricity. The rotor is rotatably communicating with wind turbine blades rotating substantially about the axis and the rotor and the stator are configured to maintain an airgap therebetween. The stator and the rotor have selectively engageable surfaces that maintain a substantially stable airgap and permit rotation of the rotor during engagement. The engageable surfaces engage when the rotor deflects to a predetermined amount of deflection.
Claims19
A wind turbine generator, comprising:
- a stator arranged about an axis;
- a rotor operably mounted with respect to the stator to generate electricity and rotatably communicating with wind turbine blades rotating substantially about the axis, the rotor and the stator being configured to maintain an airgap therebetween;
- and
- wherein the stator and the rotor have selectively engageable surfaces that maintain the airgap as substantially stable and permit rotation of the rotor during engagement, the engageable surfaces engaging when the rotor deflects to a predetermined amount of deflection.
A method for maintaining a stable airgap in a wind turbine generator, comprising:
- providing the wind turbine generator, comprising:
- a stator arranged about an axis;
- a rotor operably mounted with respect to the stator to generate electricity and rotatably communicating with wind turbine blades rotating substantially about the axis, the rotor and the stator being configured to maintain the airgap therebetween;
- and
- engaging selectively engageable surfaces to maintain the airgap as substantially stable and permit rotation of the rotor when the rotor deflects to a predetermined amount of deflection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.