FAULT-TOLERANT FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM

• US 20140083723A1
• Filed: 03/16/2012
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Danielsen, Niels Erik
• Application Number:
  US14/008,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20140083723A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 169/45
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 2/00 Fire prevention or containment A62C3/00 takes precedence; flame traps A62C4/00
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 3/16 in electrical installations, e.g. cableways
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/845 Redundancy

Abstract

The present invention relates to a redundant fire protection system for a wind turbine adapted to feed power into an associated power supply grid, the redundant fire protection system comprising a fire protection control unit, a first group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor a first wind turbine component, and a second group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor the first wind turbine component, wherein the fire protection control unit is operatively connected to the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors via a redundant power supply and data communication network. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine applying such a redundant fire protection system, and an associated method.

Claims

1. A redundant fire protection system for a wind turbine adapted to feed power into an associated power supply grid, the redundant fire protection system comprising

a fire protection control unit,

a first group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor a first wind turbine component, and

a second group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor the first wind turbine component,

wherein the fire protection control unit is operatively connected to the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors via a redundant power supply and data communication network.

2. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection control unit comprises a first control module and a second control module.

3. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 2, wherein the first and the second control modules are operatively connected to the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors, respectively.

4. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the fire protection control unit is operatively connected to a controllable switch gear arrangement.

5. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 4, wherein the fire protection control unit is adapted to activate the controllable switch gear arrangement so as to disconnect the wind turbine from the associated power supply grid if demands so require.

6. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 3, wherein the fire protection control unit is arranged to monitor the state of the controllable switch gear arrangement.

7. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 6, wherein the fire protection control unit is arranged to prevent reconnection in case the wind turbine has been disconnected from the associated power supply grid and in case the switch gear monitoring indicates that it is not safe to reconnect.

8. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors comprise one or more fire detectors.

9. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors comprise one or more smoke detectors.

10. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply network comprises a first and a second supply path.

11. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, wherein the data communication network comprises a first and a second communication path.

12. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, further comprising a redundant current detection arrangement being operatively connected to the fire protection control unit.

13. A redundant fire protection system according to claim 1, further comprising a controllable fire suppression arrangement operatively connected to the fire protection control unit, wherein the controllable fire suppression arrangement comprises one or more units arranged for dispersing one or more of the following:

water, powder, foam, and inert gasses.

14. A system, comprising:

a wind turbine; and

a fire redundant protection system operably connected to the wind turbine and adapted to feed power into an associated power supply grid, the redundant fire protection system comprising;

a fire protection control unit,

a first group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor a first wind turbine component, and

a second group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor the first wind turbine component,

wherein the fire protection control unit is operatively connected to the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors via a redundant power supply and data communication network.

15. A method for fire protecting a wind turbine adapted to feed power into an associated power supply grid, the method comprising:

providing a first group of fire protection related detectors for monitoring a first wind turbine component,

providing a second group of fire protection related detectors for monitoring the first wind turbine component, and

performing a predetermined protection act if a detector of the first and/or the second group of fire protection related detectors detects an abnormal working condition.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined protection act comprises tripping a switch gear so as to disconnect the wind turbine from an associated power supply grid.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the predetermined protection act comprises activating a controllable fire suppression arrangement operatively connected to the fire protection control unit, wherein the controllable fire suppression arrangement comprises one or more units arranged for dispersing one or more of the following:

water, powder, foam, and inert gasses.