Wind turbine nacelle with cooler top

• US 9,039,368 B2
• Filed: 01/29/2010
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Sivalingam, Krishnamoorthi, Bahuguni, Anand, Kandasamy, Ravi, Narasimalu, Srikanth, Grevsen, John K., Nyvad, Jesper, Tietze, Paul T.
• Primary Examiner(s): EDGAR, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US13/146,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063890A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 415/177
• US Class Current: 416/95
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/30 Lightning protection
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/60 Cooling or heating of wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/64 Aeration, ventilation, dehumidification or moisture removal of closed spaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover. A first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 30 mm.

Claims

1. A wind turbine nacelle having a first exterior face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area, and extending outwardly from the first face of the nacelle, and being directly exposed to ambient wind flow, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm.

2. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the distance is at least 50 mm.

3. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cover has two side inner faces and an upper inner face, and the cooling device is enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the two side inner faces and the upper inner face of the cover.

4. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 3, wherein the distance between the upper inner face and the cooling area is different from the distance between the side inner face and the cooling area.

5. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device extends substantially perpendicular to the first face of the nacelle.

6. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the inner face of the cover extends in the longitudinal extension of the nacelle and substantially perpendicular to the cooling device.

7. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein more than one face has a distance to the cooling area.

8. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area constitutes a gap.

9. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cover has a front edge and the cooling device is placed at a front distance of at least 440 mm from the front edge.

10. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cooling device is a free flow cooling device.

11. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cover is fastened to the nacelle so that the cover extends perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the nacelle and partly along the nacelle creating a space between the nacelle and the cover.

12. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of cooling devices arranged with a mutual distance, wherein the distance between two cooling devices is between 20 and 200 mm.

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

14. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the cover has two side inner faces and an upper inner face, and the cooling device is enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the two side inner faces and the upper inner face of the cover, wherein the cooling device extends substantially perpendicular to the first face of the nacelle, and wherein the inner face of the cover extends in the longitudinal extension of the nacelle and substantially perpendicular to the cooling device.

15. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the cooling device has a blocked area which is unable to constitute a part of the cooling area.

16. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 15, wherein the distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area constitutes the blocked area.

17. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 15, wherein the blocked area is adjustable.

18. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 15, wherein the blocked area constitutes at least 20% of an overall area of the cooling device.

19. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 15, wherein the blocked area is constituted by a plate, sheet, fabric, or awning.

20. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 15, wherein the blocked area is blocked from circulating cooling fluid by means of valves.

21. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area constitutes a gap,

wherein the gap is adjustable.

22. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the cooling area is adjustable.

23. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the cover at least on its inside has a front part tapering from the front edge towards the cooling device so as to guide air in through the cooling area.

24. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein at least one part of the cover is movable in relation to another part of the cover, the cooling device or the first face of the nacelle.

25. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 24, wherein the movable part of the cover is a hatch in the top of the cover.

26. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 24, wherein the movable part of the cover is the whole cover which is pivotably connected to the nacelle or is a hatch in the top of the cover.

27. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the cover has a flange projecting in an angle from the inner face, decreasing an opening defined by the first face and the inner face.

28. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

further comprising a plurality of cooling devices arranged with a mutual distance, wherein the distance between two cooling devices is between 20 and 200 mm,

wherein a hinge connection is arranged between at least two cooling devices.

29. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 28, wherein the hinge connection is arranged at a top and at a bottom of the cooling devices.

30. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 28, wherein the hinge connection comprises at least two corrugated metal pipes, the corrugated metal pipes being connected to and extending between the cooling devices, and the corrugated metal pipes preferably being made of stainless steel.

31. A wind turbine nacelle having a first face with a longitudinal extension in a wind direction, comprising:

a cooling device having a cooling area and extending from the first face of the nacelle, and

a cover having at least one inner face, the cooling device being enclosed by the first face of the nacelle and the inner face of the cover, wherein a first distance between at least one of the faces and the cooling area is at least 20 mm,

wherein the cooling device is connected to the cover and the first face of the nacelle via at least two connection points, the first connection point being a rigid connection and the second connection point being a flexible connection.

32. The wind turbine nacelle according to claim 31, wherein the at least two connection points are made of conductive material.