Wind power installation with separate primary and secondary cooling circuits

• US 20050167989A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Schiller, Christian, Kruger-Gotzmann, Manfred, Zwarg, Gunter
• Granted Patent: US 7,057,305 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/40 Ice detection; De-icing means
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/60 Cooling or heating of wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/183 wherein the turbine is a wind turbine adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1838 Generators mounted in a nacelle or similar structure of a horizontal axis wind turbine
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/12 wherein the cooling medium circulates freely within the casing
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind power installation includes a nacelle for housing a generator, and a turbine having at least one rotor blade. At least the generator includes a closed primary cooing system, and the nacelle is provided with a cooling system for cooling the primary cooling system in dependence on an output of the generator or generator losses.

Claims

1. A wind power installation, comprising:

a nacelle;

a generator disposed in the nacelle; and

a turbine having at least one rotor blade,

wherein at least the generator includes a closed primary cooing system, and

wherein the nacelle has cooling means for cooling the primary cooling system in dependence on an output of the generator or generator losses.

2. The wind power installation of claim 1, wherein the cooling means is an air cooler constructed to define a secondary open cooling circuit which is thermally coupled to the primary cooling circuit.

3. The wind power installation of claim 2, wherein the primary and secondary cooling circuits define an air-air cooler.

4. The wind power installation of claim 2, and further comprising a heat exchanger disposed in a transition zone between the primary cooling circuit and the secondary cooling circuit, said heat exchanger including a tube bundle.

5. The wind power installation of claim 4, wherein the tube bundle is constructed for alignment in parallel relationship to a wind direction.

6. The wind power installation of claim 2, wherein the secondary cooling circuit has an inlet and an outlet, at least one of the inlet and outlet of the secondary cooler being disposed on the nacelle at a location which has enhanced flow dynamics.

7. The wind power installation of claim 2, wherein the nacelle has at least one handle-shaped tubular member by which the nacelle forms at least part of the secondary cooling circuit and thereby provides a heat exchanger.

8. The wind power installation of claim 7, wherein outgoing air from the primary cooling circuit exits the nacelle through an outlet at an upper portion of the nacelle and is flowed back into the nacelle at a location below the outlet.

9. The wind power installation of claim 1, and further comprising a fan for assisting a natural convection of the primary cooling circuit.

10. The wind power installation of claim 1, wherein the primary cooling circuit is constructed to allow outgoing air to heat up at least one of the nacelle and the rotor blade.

11. The wind power installation of claim 4, wherein the tube bundle has plural tubes formed with surface-enlarging structures.

12. The wind power installation of claim 7, wherein the handle-shaped tubular member of the nacelle is formed with surface-enlarging structures.

13. The wind power installation of claim 4, wherein the tube bundle is disposed on the nacelle.

14. The wind power installation of claim 4, wherein the tube bundle is disposed in the nacelle.

15. A wind power installation, comprising:

a nacelle;

energy conversion means for converting wind power into electric energy, said energy conversion means including a heat-generating source disposed in the nacelle and constructed to include a closed primary cooling system using air for dissipating generated heat; and

an open secondary cooling system using ambient air for cooling heated air from the primary cooling system.

16. The wind power installation of claim 15, wherein the secondary cooling system is thermally coupled to the primary cooling system.

17. The wind power installation of claim 15, wherein the secondary cooling system is constructed in the form of a tube bundle received in the nacelle and having tubes aligned in parallel relationship to a wind direction.

18. The wind power installation of claim 15, wherein the primary cooling circuit includes a handle-shaped tubular member which extends to an area outside the nacelle, with the secondary cooling system being realized by freely flowing ambient air.

19. The wind power installation of claim 18, wherein the tubular member has a first port, disposed in an upper portion of the nacelle for receiving heated air from the heat-generating source, and a second port, disposed at a location below the outlet, for returning cooled air into the nacelle.

20. The wind power installation of claim 18, and further comprising a fan for assisting a circulation of air through the tubular member.