NACELLE COOLING SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE

• US 20110221204A1
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction Company Limited
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun Tae, Kim, Jeong Il, Park, Jong Po, Lee, Byung Kyu, Lee, Jin Hyung
• Granted Patent: US 8,640,478 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/00 Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor controlling thereof F03D7/02
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/60 Cooling or heating of wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/80 Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/208 using heat pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

Provided is a nacelle cooling system of a wind turbine. The disclosed nacelle cooling system of a wind turbine comprises cooling blocks which are arranged in order to respectively surround one or more heating devices installed inside a nacelle, a passage pipe line which is connected to the cooling blocks for coolant to flow, a primary heat exchanger which is connected to the passage pipe line and arranged on the outer lateral surface of the nacelle, and a secondary heat exchanger which is capable of absorbing heat generated inside the nacelle and discharging the heat. The nacelles of the primary and secondary heat exchangers are sealed from the outside. Therefore, when the nacelle of the wind turbine is operated in a coastal environment, the present invention can prevent performance of turbine facilities from lowering caused by erosion because the nacelle is completely sealed from external salt.

Claims

1. A nacelle cooling system for a wind turbine including a nacelle which has a gearbox and a generator to perform wind power generation, a blade which is mechanically coupled to the gearbox, and a tower which is provided such that the nacelle is seated on a top thereof, the nacelle cooling system comprising:

cooling blocks placed, respectively, to surround one or more heat generating devices which are provided in the nacelle;

a passage pipe coupled to the cooling blocks so that coolant flows through the passage pipe;

a primary heat exchanger coupled to the passage pipe, and disposed on an outer surface or a rear end of the nacelle; and

a secondary heat exchanger absorbing heat generated in the nacelle, and discharging the heat to an outside of the nacelle,

wherein the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger are constructed to seal the nacelle from the outside.

2. The nacelle cooling system according to claim 1, wherein the heat generating devices comprise at least one selected from a group including a generator, a gearbox, and an inverter.

3. The nacelle cooling system according to claim 2, wherein the primary heat exchanger performs a heat exchange process between the coolant flowing through the passage pipe and external air.

4. The nacelle cooling system according to claim 3, wherein the secondary heat exchanger comprises a duct, a heat generating member, and a heat transfer medium, the heat transfer medium discharging internal heat of the nacelle to the outside using a refrigerant which is contained therein.

5. The nacelle cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the heat transfer medium comprises a heat pipe.

6. The nacelle cooling system according to claim 4, wherein the secondary heat exchanger further comprises a fan on an end of the duct, with the fan forcibly introducing air into the duct.