An innovative transmission mechanism applicable to variable speed wind turbines

Abstract

An innovative transmission mechanism, named as independently  controllable  transmission  (ICT),  is  proposed  inthis  study.    While  being  applied  to  the  variable  speed  windturbines,  the  proposed  ICT  mechanism  can  transmit  a  steady-speed   output,   which   is   independently   manipulated   by   acontroller and completely not affected by the fluctuant speed ofthe  rotor,  to  the  generator  to  generate  the  electric  power  withconstant  frequency.The  ICT  mechanism  is  fundamentallycomposed  of two  sets of planetary gear trains and  two  sets oftransmission-connecting members.   Two prototypes of the ICTmechanisms   are   assembled   to   examine   their   kinematicalcharacteristicsandtodemonstratetheirfeasibilityinengineering applications.