Wind power plant with eddy-current rotor brake - brought into operation by electronic switching circuit when speed violates margin of safety of rotor structure

摘要

The rotor (40) has radially spaced upright blades (12) supported by struts (10) at intervals around a horizontal support ring (8) which rotates w.r.t. a fixed ring (22) carrying the stator (24). Eddy-current plates (28) of Cu or Al extend downward from the moving ring (8) into a curved slot (32) between stationary magnet coils (30,36). Braking is exerted by the currents induced in the plates (28) as they move through the magnetic field produced across the slot (32) by current switched (38) from the stator windings (25). ADVANTAGE - Extremely reliable brake practically free from wear with no mechanically actuated parts.