摘要 |
A rotatable drive mechanism is disclosed for a power generating apparatus 5. The drive mechanism provides a link between an electrical generator 20 and a turbine 10, for example a wind or water turbine. In use the turbine 10 rotates at variable speed and the rotatable drive mechanism produces a fixed speed output to generator 20. The drive mechanism includes a differential gearbox 16 which has two output shafts; one driving the generator 20 via shaft 26 and another driving an electric machine 30 via gearing 18. In use, a varying reaction torque provided by the electric machine 30 can be used to control the torque and speed at the output shaft 26. The input torque from the turbine 10 is measured at a reaction point of the gearbox 16 and this measurement is used to alter the reaction torque provided by the electric machine 30. In use the electric machine 30 is operated so that the inertia in the gearbox 18 and the inertia of the electric machine 30 is negated, to provide an almost instantaneous change in the reaction torque and thereby to more effectively control the speed of the output shaft 26.
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