Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Light weight design of direct-drive generator for large-scale wind turbine

  • Published:
International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A direct-drive generator for large-scale wind turbine provides higher energy density in comparison with a gear train type generator. An AFPM (Axial Flux Permanent Magnet)-type machine has been the most attractive for the direct-drive generator due to its higher torque effect per unit volume and higher power density. The electronic machine system with a very large diameter, however, has to be used due to operation at low rotational speed of main shaft. Supported structures for the electronic machine system occupy at least 80% of total weight of the direct-drive generator. The light weight design, therefore, is at issue in the industries manufacturing the AFPM-type generator for large-scaled wind turbines. In this study, a topology model of the direct-drive generator for 2.5MW wind turbine using the AFPM-type machine was proposed, which has hollow shapes of the rotor with annular disc, the stator and the main shaft mounted on coupled slew bearings. Analytic results obtained from an electro-magnetic and structural interaction analysis showed that the structural weight of the proposed model compared to conventional generator can be reduced by 30% in a condition satisfying the requirements of the structural behaviors.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

f n :

component of axial electromagnetic force

f t :

component of radial electromagnetic force

B n :

axial magnetic flux density

B t :

radial magnetic flux density

\(\vec n\) :

axial vector

\(\vec t\) :

radial vector

µ 0 :

air permeability

References

  1. Park, C. W., Kwon, K. S., Kim, W. B., Min, B. K., Park, S. J., and et al., “Energy Consumption Reduction Technology in Manufacturing-A Selective Review of Policies, Standards, and Research” Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf., Vol. 10, No. 5, pp. 151–173, 2009.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Lab-Volt Ltd., “Principles of Doubly-Fed Induction Generators (DFIG)” 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Delli Colli, V., Marignetti, F., and Attaianese, C., “Analytical and Multiphysics Approach to the Optimal Design of a 10-MW DFIG for Direct-Drive Wind Turbines” IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics, Vol. 59, No. 7, pp. 2791–2799, 2012.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zavvos, A., McDonald, A., Mueller, M., Bang, D., and Polinder, H., “Structural Comparison of Permanent Magnet Direct Drive Generator Topologies for 5MW Wind Turbines” Proc. of 6th IET International Conference on Power Electronics, Machines and Drives (PEMD 2012), pp. 1–6, 2012.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zavvos, A., McDonald, A., and Mueller, M., “Electromagnetic and Mechanical Optimisation of Direct-Drive Generators for Large Wind Turbines” Proc. of 5th IET International Conference on Power Electronics Machines and Drives, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Grauers, A., “Design of Direct-Driven Permanent-Magnet Generators for Wind Turbines” Ph.D. Thesis, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  7. McDonald, A., Mueller, M., and Polinder, H., “Structural Mass in Direct-Drive Permanent Magnet Electrical Generators” IET Renewable Power Generation, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 3–15, 2008.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Polinder, H., Mecrow, B. C., Jack, A. G., Dickinson, P. G., and Mueller, M. A., “Conventional and TFPM Linear Generators for Direct-Drive Wave Energy Conversion” IEEE Transactions on Energy Conversion, Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 260–267, 2005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Bevington, C. M., Bywaters, G. L., Coleman, C. C., Costin, D. P., Danforth, W. L., and et al., “Wind Turbine having a Direct-Drive Drivetrain” US Patent, No. US7431567B1, 2008.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bianchi, N., “Electrical Machine Analysis using Finite Elements” CRC press, pp. 11–24, 2005.

    Google Scholar 

  11. JSOL Corporation, “JMAG 11 User’s Guide” 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  12. ANSYS Inc., “ANSYS User’s Guide ver. 12.0” 2010.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electrical Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-daero 550beon-gil Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea, 604-174

    Da-Woon Choi & Yun-Hyun Cho

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dong-A University, 37 Nakdong-daero 550beon-gil Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea, 604-174

    Yun-Cheol Ro, Yang-Gyun Kim & Seung-Ho Han

Authors
  1. Da-Woon Choi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yun-Cheol Ro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yang-Gyun Kim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yun-Hyun Cho
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Seung-Ho Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Seung-Ho Han.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Choi, DW., Ro, YC., Kim, YG. et al. Light weight design of direct-drive generator for large-scale wind turbine. Int. J. Precis. Eng. Manuf. 15, 1223–1228 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-014-0460-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12541-014-0460-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation