US-12624729-B2 - Wind turbine and bearing arrangement therefor

US12624729B2US 12624729 B2US12624729 B2US 12624729B2US-12624729-B2

Abstract

A bearing arrangement for a wind turbine includes a bearing and a bearing housing. The bearing housing defines an interior space wherein the bearing is accommodated. A discharge opening is provided for discharging lubricant from the interior space. A pipe system includes a fluidic connection with the discharge opening. The pipe system includes a first part inclining upwardly to a predetermined height relative to the discharge opening to throttle a lubricant flow out of the interior space.

Inventors

Matthias Kohlrusch
Arno Dahnke

Assignees

NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240521
Priority Date: 20230523

Claims (16)

1 . A bearing arrangement for a wind turbine, the bearing arrangement comprising: a bearing; a bearing housing defining an interior space for accommodating said bearing therein; a discharge opening for discharging lubricant from said interior space; a pipe system providing a fluidic connection with said discharge opening; said pipe system including a first part inclined upwardly to a predetermined height relative to said discharge opening to throttle a lubricant flow out of said interior space; and, said bearing arrangement defining a second opening arranged above said discharge opening.
2 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said bearing housing and said pipe system defines said discharge opening.
3 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said pipe system is arranged at least partly outside of said interior space and/or inside said interior space.
4 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said pipe system includes a second part; and, said second part is inclined downwardly and includes an outlet port.
5 . The bearing arrangement of claim 4 , wherein each of said first part and said second part includes a hose.
6 . The bearing arrangement of claim 4 , wherein said first part has a first diameter and said second part has a second diameter greater than said first diameter.
7 . The bearing arrangement of claim 4 , wherein said second part defines an open drain channel.
8 . The bearing arrangement of claim 4 , wherein said pipe system includes a transition part connecting said first part and said second part at said predetermined height.
9 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said pipe system defines an interior surface; and, said interior surface has a predetermined coefficient of friction and/or a predetermined roughness to throttle the lubricant flow out of said discharge opening.
10 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said bearing housing defines a vertical height and said predetermined height of said first part is at least one eighth of said vertical height of said bearing housing.
11 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , wherein said discharge opening is located at a lower hemispherical portion of said bearing housing.
12 . The bearing arrangement of claim 8 , wherein said pipe system includes a valve disposed at said transition part and/or a throttle valve to throttle the lubricant flow out of said interior space.
13 . The bearing arrangement of claim 12 , wherein said valve is a breather valve.
14 . The bearing arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal control module for regulating a temperature of said pipe system.
15 . The bearing arrangement of claim 12 , further comprising a control unit operatively coupled to at least one of said valve, said throttle valve and a heating arrangement.
16 . A wind turbine, comprising: a nacelle; a bearing arrangement arranged within said nacelle; said bearing arrangement including: a bearing; a bearing housing defining an interior space for accommodating said bearing therein; a discharge opening for discharging lubricant from said interior space; a pipe system providing a fluidic connection with said discharge opening; said pipe system including a first part inclined upwardly to a predetermined height relative to said discharge opening to throttle a lubricant flow out of said interior space; and, the bearing arrangement defining a second opening arranged above said discharge opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority of European patent application no. 23174821.1, filed May 23, 2023, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The disclosure relates to a bearing arrangement for a wind turbine, in particular to a rotor bearing arrangement. The disclosure further relates to a wind turbine, in particular to a wind turbine which includes a bearing arrangement as described herein. BACKGROUND A wind turbine may include a rotor that includes a rotatable rotor assembly having multiple rotor blades. The rotor blades transform wind energy into a drive torque that drives the generator via a drive train. SUMMARY It is an object of the disclosure to provide a bearing arrangement which provides a reliable operation. It is a further object of the disclosure to provide a wind turbine exhibiting a reliable operation. Embodiments of the disclosure provide a bearing arrangement for a wind turbine. The bearing arrangement includes a bearing. The bearing arrangement includes a bearing housing. The bearing housing houses an interior space in which the bearing is arranged. The bearing arrangement includes an opening configured to discharge lubricant from the interior surface. The bearing arrangement includes a pipe system. The pipe system includes a fluidic connection with the opening. The pipe system includes a first part. The first part inclines upwards to a predetermined height relative to the opening to throttle a lubricant flow out of the interior space. For example, the bearing arrangement is a rotor bearing arrangement of a wind turbine. In an embodiment, the rotor bearing arrangement may correspond to both the rotor side bearing and the gearbox side bearing. The bearing arrangement, and in particular the bearing, is for example lubricated with grease or another lubricant, like an oil. It is important to contain a desired amount of lubricant inside the bearing housing in the interior space. An insufficient amount of lubricant in the bearing leads to higher wear and premature failure. On the other hand, high splashing losses lead to temperature increase and therefore reduce base viscosity which leads to lower film thickness, and eventually to premature failure. Thus, it is important to ensure sufficient lubrication and to avoid lubricant starvation and to keep splashing losses low. An uncontrolled lubricant leakage should be avoided, in particular a leakage through a sealing of the bearing arrangement. Therefore, the opening is provided to allow a controlled draining and discharging of the lubricant. The pipe system with the first part that inclines upwards acts like a choke or a throttle to dampen, limit or control the outflow of the lubricant. During operation, the lubricant loses its momentum and/or energy as it flows through the first part. The inclining first part leads to a higher friction resistance to the flow of the lubricant, in particular due to at least one of the geodetic height to be overcome and the length of the first part, among other characteristics of the pipe system. Thus, the pipe system with the first part that inclines upwards allows an outflow of the lubricant in a controlled manner, wherein an undesirably high outflow of lubricant can be avoided. The amount of lubricant inside the bearing can be reliably kept within given thresholds. In particular, the predetermined height is predetermined dependent on, but not limited to the given thresholds, overall dimensions of the bearing housing, and/or an angle of inclination of the first part. The bearing arrangement makes a lubricant level up to 100% possible in the bearing housing. Insufficient lubrication of the bearing can be reliably avoided. The arrangement of the pipe system with the first part inclining upwards functions as an overflow and/or pressure relief valve. For example, if lubricant is added even though the interior space is already 100% full, excess lubricant flows out through the pipe system. The pipe system can be easily and reliably retrofitted to existing bearings and configurations without costly reconfiguration. The need for expensive conversion parts can be avoided. According to an embodiment, the bearing housing may include the opening. The opening is configured to drain lubricant from the interior space. The opening reaches from the interior space through the bearing housing, in particular a bearing cover, to the outside of the bearing housing. The pipe system is arranged outside of the interior surface. The pipe system is arranged outside of the bearing housing. Lubricant from the interior space flows through the opening first before it enters the pipe system located outside of the bearing housing. After flowing through the opening, the lubricant is guided in the pipe system outside the bearing housing. This enables an easy retrofitting of the pipe system to the existing bearings to effect discharge of the lubricant when required. Furthe