A STUDY ON LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN AND STABILITY EVALUATION OF A HIGH SPEED SHAFT COUPLING FOR A 4MW WIND TURBINE

This study performed optimal design and a critical speed analysis based on a structural analysis for lightweight design and stability evaluation of a high speed shaft coupling for a 4MW wind turbine. Structural stability was assessed under a maximum torque of 62,700Nm, axial misalignment of 13mm, angular misalignment of 0.89°, radial misalignment of 8.7mm, and a combination of these four loads. By implementing lightweight design with the spacer diameter as a design variable, the weight was reduced by about 17.55 kg. A vibration analysis was performed to evaluate the stability of the lightweight design, and critical speed was evaluated. The Campbell diagram showed that critical speed did not exist near the operating speed of 1,200 rpm.