Magnetically geared wind generator technologies: Opportunities and challenges
2014
Wang, Rong-Jie | Gerber, Stiaan
In the past decade, wind power generation has taken center stage in renewable energy development. Currently, the mainstream power-train of a wind turbine system consists of mechanically geared doubly-fed induction generator with a partially rated converter. However, gearbox failures account for the largest amount of downtime, maintenance and loss of power generation. Recently, magnetic gears emerged as an alternative technology to mechanical gears as they offer distinct advantages, such as high torque density, reduced acoustic noise and vibration, lower maintenance and improved reliability, inherent overload protection and contact-less power transfer. In this paper, magnetic gear technologies for wind power applications are investigated in some detail. The distinct merits of magnetic gear technologies are explored together with the challenges associated with this technology for wind energy applications.
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