A Review Analysis on Performance and Classification of Wind Turbine Gearbox Technologies

ABSTRACT

This review article summarizes the previously published studies on horizontal axis wind turbine gearbox system and their advantages. From the available literature, the gearbox technology is classified into three major types such as Planetary Gearbox (PG), Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), and Magnetic Gearbox (MG). Other gearbox types are installed and successfully running under prototype mode. The mechanical gear box types are normally used in large size wind turbines and they have some drawbacks such as high maintenance cost, gearbox failures, less reliable. The mechanical variable ratio gearbox is more appropriate type for the extraction of maximum power with reduce the use of power electronic devices. The outcome of the review suggests that the variable ratio gear box system is more suitable to extract the maximum energy and also recommend for high service loads, and harsh operating conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Continuously variable transmission
• Gearbox
• Horizontal axis wind turbine
• Magnetic gearbox
• Planetary gearbox
• Variable ratio gearbox

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R. Bharani

R Bharani received her BE degree from St Peters Engineering College, Chennai, India, in 2007 and her ME from Prathyusha Institute of Technology and Management, Chennai, India, in 2014. She is currently pursuing her doctoral research in electrical and electronics engineering at CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai, India. Her research interests include renewable energy, control strategies.

A. Sivaprakasam

A Sivaprakasam received his BE from Madurai Kamaraj University, India, in 2001, and his ME from the PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India, in 2003. He completed his PhD from Anna University, Chennai, India in 2014. He is currently an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai. His current research interests include the analysis of electrical machines, power electronics, and sensorless and high-performance control of special electrical machines. E-mail: [email protected]