General Electric Company

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Aaron Janicz

Ryan Spencer Close

Joseph Edward Birkenstock

Peter Joseph Rock, Jr

Matteo Bellucci

Trevor Allen Montre

Anand Nakka

Arati Ajay Bhattu

Siva Ram Surya Sanyasi Adavikolanu

Peter Joseph Rock

A system and method are configured to monitor changes associated with an air gap in a brake assembly of a wind turbine yaw drive by: (1) receiving one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors that are indicative of changes associated with the air gap; and (2) comparing the changes associated with the air gap to certain thresholds to determine if the air gap is in need of attention. The system includes at least one proximity sensor arranged adjacent to the air gap, to monitor the air gap, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal(s) indicative of the changes associated with the air gap. The controller also is configured to compare the changes associated with the air gap to one or more air gap thresholds, and to implement a control action based on this comparison.

System and method for actively monitoring an air gap in a wind turbine brake assembly

A yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine is presented. Accordingly, the yaw braking assembly includes a bedplate support frame having an annular flange defining a plurality of recesses formed into a lower-most annular surface of the annular flange and extending at least partially through an axial thickness of the annular flange. Each of the plurality recesses define an open exterior circumferential side. The yaw braking assembly also includes a plurality of brake pads which are positioned within the plurality of recesses and configured to engage at least one race of an adjacent yaw bearing. The yaw braking assembly further includes a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of brake pads to engage the yaw bearing.

Yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine

A method for customizing bedplates for a plurality of wind turbines having different loading requirements. The method includes forming a plurality of baseline bodies for the bedplates that includes a near net shape of one of the bedplates. Further, the method includes determining a loading requirement of the bedplates of each of the wind turbines. Moreover, the method includes applying additional material to an exterior surface of the plurality of baseline bodies via an additive manufacturing process so as to customize a structural capacity of each of the bedplates such that the structural capacity of each of the bedplates can withstand the loading requirement for each of the wind turbines. Accordingly, the structural capacity of each of the plurality of baseline bodies may be the same or may be different.

Method of customizing a wind turbine bedplate via additive manufacturing

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Greenville, SC, United States of America

Aaron Janicz