Gearbox Modeling and Load Simulation of a Baseline 750-kW Wind Turbine Using State-of-the-Art Simulation Codes

This report discusses the causes for premature wind turbine gearbox failure and determining a method for revealing the missing loading conditions relevant to the gearbox design process

Progressive Dynamical Drive Train Modeling as Part of NREL Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (Poster)

The Gearbox Reliabiity Collaborative seeks to integrate several numerical models into the wind turbine drive train design process. This paper decribes these models

Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) Description and Loading

This document describes simulated turbine load cases in accordance to the IEC 61400-1 Ed.3 standard, which is representative of the typical wind turbine design process. The information presented herein is intended to provide a broad understanding of the gearbox reliability collaborative 750kW drivetrain and turbine configuration. In addition, fatigue and ultimate strength drivetrain loads resulting from simulations are presented. This information provides the bases for the analytical work of the gearbox reliability collaborative effort

Progressive Dynamical Drive Train Modeling as Part of NREL Gearbox Reliability Collaborative: Preprint

The Gearbox Reliabiity Collaborative seeks to integrate several numerical models into the wind turbine drive train design process. This paper describes these models

Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) Description and Loading

This document describes simulated turbine load cases in accordance to the IEC 61400-1 Ed.3 standard, which is representative of the typical wind turbine design process. The information presented herein is intended to provide a broad understanding of the gearbox reliability collaborative 750kW drivetrain and turbine configuration. In addition, fatigue and ultimate strength drivetrain loads resulting from simulations are presented. This information provides the bases for the analytical work of the gearbox reliability collaborative effort

Estimation of Blade and Tower Properties for the Gearbox Research Collaborative Wind Turbine

This report documents the structural and modal properties of the blade and tower of a 3-bladed 750-kW upwind turbine to develop an aeroelastic model of the wind turbine

Wind Energy's New Role in Supplying the World's Energy: What Role Will Structural Health Monitoring Play?

Wind energy installations are leading all other forms of new energy installations in the United States and Europe. In Europe, large wind plants are supplying as much as 25% of Denmark's energy needs and 8% of the electric needs for Germany and Spain, who have more ambitious goals on the horizon. Although wind energy only produces about 2% of the current electricity demand in the United States, the U.S. Department of Energy, in collaboration with wind industry experts, has drafted a plan that would bring the U.S. installed wind capacity up to 20% of the nation's total electrical supply. To meet these expectations, wind energy must be extremely reliable. Structural health monitoring will play a critical role in making this goal successful

NREL Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Experimental Data Overview and Analysis: Preprint

Most turbines in the market today follow a modular configuration comprised of a main shaft, gearbox, high speed shaft, and generator. The gearbox has the important task of increasing the slow rotor speeds to meet the electromechanical requirements of the electromechanical. These gearboxes are commonly composed of a planetary stage and several parallel shaft stages. The planetary, or epicyclical, design of the gearbox is a feature of the design that has many advantages compared to the traditional parallel shaft arrangement. Among these are that higher gear ratios can be achieved in a single stage, they are capable to carrying higher loads, and they require less space than the traditional parallel shaft arrangement. For this reason, planetary gearboxes they are commonly used in the first stage of the wind turbine gearboxes. However, planetary stages are more complex than the typical parallel shaft arrangement, and can be affected by deflection in the planet carrier, annulus deformations and bearing clearances. Unanticipated levels of these motions can reduce their life expectancy. This paper gives a brief overview of a subset of the experimental efforts, data, and analysis of the GRC project focusing on the planet carrier deformation

Gearbox Reliability Collaborative Experimental Data Overview & Analysis

This presentation details how wind turbine gearboxes fail to meet 20-year design life and how the Gearbox Reliability Collaborative (GRC) is addressing the challenges