Study on the Vibration Characteristics of Yaw Gear System for Large-Capacity Offshore Wind Turbine

Abstract

Vibration and noise must be considered to maximize the efficiency of a yaw system and reduce the fatigue load acting on a wind turbine. This study investigated a method for analyzing yaw-system vibration based on the change in the load-duration distribution (LDD). A substructure synthesis method was combined with a planetary gear train rotational vibration model and finite element models of the housing and carriers. For the vibration excitation sources, the mass imbalance, gear mesh frequency, and bearing defect frequency were considered, and a critical speed analysis was performed. The analysis results showed that the critical speed did not occur within the operating speed range, but a defect occurred in the bearing of the first-stage planetary gear system. It was found that the bearing stiffness and first natural frequency increased with the LDD load. In addition, no vibration occurred in the operating speed range under any of the LDD loads. Because the rolling bearing stiffness changed with the LDD, it was necessary to consider the LDD when analyzing the wind turbine vibration.