- #1
myperfectworld
- 23
- 0
I have often wondered why conventional large wind turbines have evolved with their generators and gearboxes in the nacelle at the top of the tower where they are hard to reach and maintain. Despite this fact, I wish to believe that there may be benefits to a conventional horizontal shaft wind turbine that utilized some form of line shaft down to a ground based gearbox and generator in a small enclosure next to the base of the tower.
I understand that the weight of the generator and gearbox only adds a fraction of the forces to the tower that the large blades do - but still feel the whole "giant crane" requirement is a big negative to the existing standard design.
What ideas do others have for a large wind turbine with ground based generator and gearbox if applicable? I am mostly interested in ideas on horizontal shaft machines because I think they have more potential than vertical shaft units. If a large turbine pump can have a line shaft between the ground mounted vertical shaft motor and multistage vertical shaft pump several hundred feet below the ground, why can't a tall wind turbine utilize a line shaft arrangement (somewhat) efficiently? Isn't there a way around the tower bending and flexing?
I understand that the weight of the generator and gearbox only adds a fraction of the forces to the tower that the large blades do - but still feel the whole "giant crane" requirement is a big negative to the existing standard design.
What ideas do others have for a large wind turbine with ground based generator and gearbox if applicable? I am mostly interested in ideas on horizontal shaft machines because I think they have more potential than vertical shaft units. If a large turbine pump can have a line shaft between the ground mounted vertical shaft motor and multistage vertical shaft pump several hundred feet below the ground, why can't a tall wind turbine utilize a line shaft arrangement (somewhat) efficiently? Isn't there a way around the tower bending and flexing?