WIND TURBINE HAVING A HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM

• US 20130236308A1
• Filed: 08/17/2011
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Tietze, Poul T., Nyvad, Jesper, Andersen, Jesper Lykkegaard, Roed, Carsten, Nielsen, Jacob Hviid
• Granted Patent: US 9,482,205 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 416/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/026 for starting-up
• 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 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/20 Heat transfer, e.g. cooling
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A method of starting up wind turbine (10) comprises heating first and second components, the first component (32) having a first minimum operating temperature and the second component (42) having a second minimum operating temperature. Heat loss is generated after the second component has been heated to the second minimum operating temperature. The heat loss is transferred to the first component to assist heating the first component to the first minimum operating temperature. The first and second components are cooled after reaching the first and second minimum operating temperatures.

Claims

1. A method of starting up wind turbine, comprising:

heating a first component, the first component having a first minimum operating temperature;

heating a second component, the second component having a second minimum operating temperature, and wherein heat loss is generated after the second component has been heated to the second minimum operating temperature;

transferring heat loss from the second component to the first component to assist heating the first component to the first minimum operating temperature; and

cooling the first and second components after reaching the first and second minimum operating temperatures.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein transferring heat loss from the second component to the first component comprises:

circulating heat transfer medium between the first and second components.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein cooling the first and second components comprises:

circulating heat transfer medium between the first and second components and a cooling device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the heat transfer medium is glycol, water, oil, or a combination thereof.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first component includes a first circulating fluid, and wherein transferring heat loss from the second component to the first component further comprises transferring heat between the first circulating fluid and the heat transfer medium.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the first component includes a heat exchanger, and wherein the heat transfer medium is passed through the heat exchanger to transfer heat.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the first component is a gearbox and first circulating fluid is a lubricant.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the second component includes a second circulating fluid, and wherein transferring heat loss from the second component to the first component further comprises transferring heat between the second circulating fluid and the heat transfer medium.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the second component includes a heat exchanger, and wherein the heat transfer medium is passed through the heat exchanger to transfer heat.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the first component is a gearbox and the second component is a hydraulic system.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the hydraulic system includes one or more offline filter(s), pump(s), valve(s), or combinations thereof configured to generate heat in the second circulating fluid.

12. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:

operating the hydraulic system to pitch blades of the wind turbine before the first component is heated to the first minimum operating temperature.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein heating the first component or second component comprises operating one or more heating devices.