WIND TURBINE NACELLE COMPRISING A HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY

• US 20120235421A1
• Filed: 12/01/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Kandasamy, Ravi, Narasimalu, Srikanth, Larsen, Gerner, Wong, Voon Hon, Abeyasekera, Tusitha, Knudsen, Peter C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,829,700 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/20 Gearless transmission, i.e. direct-drive
• 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: F28D 15/0275 Arrangements for coupling heat-pipes together or with other structures, e.g. with base blocks; Heat pipe cores
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 15/04 with tubes having a capillary structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A heat exchanger assembly for cooling a heat-generating component, such as a generator or power electronics module, within a wind turbine nacelle comprises a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element, having a first section arranged in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, and a second section arranged in a second region of a relatively low temperature. The thermoelectric element is configured to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature with consumption of electrical energy. A source of electrical energy is provided for the thermoelectric element, and a control unit may be provided for controlling the energy supply in order to control the temperature of the component or surface area cooled by the thermoelectric element. A further cooling element including a so-called heat pipe may be provided to enhance cooling efficiency.

Claims

1. A wind turbine nacelle, comprising:

at least one heat-generating component housed within the nacelle;

at least one heat exchanger assembly for cooling said at least one heat-generating component;

wherein the at least one heat exchanger assembly comprises a first cooling assembly comprising;

at least one thermoelectric element having a first section arranged in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, the thermoelectric element further having a second section arranged in a second region of a relatively low temperature, the thermoelectric element being configured to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature with consumption of electrical energy;

and wherein the first cooling assembly further comprising a source of electrical energy connected to the thermoelectric element.

2. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat exchanger assembly further comprises a second cooling assembly comprising a container which contains a working fluid, and wherein the container is arranged such that a first section of the container is in a third region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, and such that a second section of the container is in a fourth region of relatively low temperature remote from the heat-generating component;

and

the working fluid is capable of evaporating at the first section of the container due to heat exchange with the high temperature region through a first wall of the first section of the container;

the evaporated working fluid is capable of being conveyed within the container from the first region thereof to the second region and of condensing at the second section of the container due to heat exchange with the low temperature region through a second wall of the second section of the container;

the second cooling assembly further comprises a structure allowing the condensed working fluid to be conveyed back from the second section of the container to the first section thereof.

3. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 2, wherein the container containing said working fluid is arranged to transfer heat away from the thermoelectric element, with the first section of the container being arranged in contact with or in the vicinity of the second section of the thermoelectric element.

4. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the first cooling assembly further comprises a control system configured to control the supply of electrical energy to the thermoelectric element, so as to control its heat pumping capacity.

5. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 4, wherein the control system comprises a unit for determining an operating condition of the wind turbine, the control system being configured to control the supply of electrical energy to the thermoelectric element in response to said operating condition.

6. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one heat-generating component comprises a generator for converting mechanical energy of a rotational shaft of the wind turbine nacelle into electrical energy.

7. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 6, wherein the generator comprises a control module having at least one printed circuit board (PCB), and wherein the at least one heat exchanger assembly is arranged to transfer heat away from the at least one PCB.

8. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 4, wherein the supply of electrical energy to the thermoelectric element is controllable to maintain a surface temperature of the PCB below 50 degrees Celsius.

9. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 2, wherein the heat exchanger assembly further comprises a heat sink thermally connected to the thermoelectric element and/or to the container containing said working fluid, the heat sink being arranged to transfer heat to its surroundings by convection and/or radiation heat transfer.

10. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the heat exchanger assembly is arranged within a housing or chassis, and wherein the wind turbine nacelle further comprises a cooling system for cooling the housing or chassis.

11. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 10, wherein said cooling system comprises a closed cooling circuit comprising:

a pump for circulating a cooling medium in the cooling circuit along or across the housing or chassis; and

a heat exchanger for transferring heat away from the cooling medium in the circuit.

12. A wind turbine nacelle according to claim 9, wherein the heat sink is arranged in contact with or in the vicinity of a conduit of the closed cooling circuit, so as to allow heat from the heat sink to be transferred to the cooling medium by conduction.

13. A wind turbine comprising a wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1.

14. A method of cooling at least one heat-generating component housed within a wind turbine nacelle, the method comprising:

providing at least one heat exchanger assembly for cooling said at least one heat-generating component, wherein the at least one heat exchanger assembly comprises a first cooling assembly with at least one thermoelectric element, the method further comprising;

arranging a first section of the at least one thermoelectric element in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof; and

arranging a second section of the at least one thermoelectric element in a second region of a relatively low temperature;

supplying electrically energy to the thermoelectric element, so as to cause it to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature.