Wind power generation system

• US 9,926,915 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2014
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Funabashi, Shigehisa, Shigenaga, Yasushi, Inamura, Shingo, Oda, Masaru
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Dwayne J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pruitt, Justin A
• Application Number:
  US14/445,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20150091307A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,337 Days
• Field of Search: 415220
• 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 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2213 and with the rotor downwind from the yaw pivot axis
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wind power generation system includes: blades configured to be rotated by wind; a generator configured to be driven by the rotation of the blades to generate power; a nacelle supporting the blades; and a tower supporting the nacelle rotatably. The wind power generation system is configured to receive the wind at a side opposite to a side of the nacelle on which the blades are provided. The system includes a radiator configured to dissipate heat in the nacelle through a cooling medium. The radiator is provided outside the nacelle on an upwind side of the nacelle. The radiator is provided with an intake surface thereof facing an upwind direction. A path is formed downstream of the radiator to guide the wind that has passed the radiator.

Claims

1. A wind power generation system including:

blades configured to be rotated by wind;

a generator configured to be driven by the rotation of the blades to generate power;

a nacelle supporting the blades; and

a tower supporting the nacelle rotatably,

the wind power generation system being configured to receive the wind at a side opposite to a side of the nacelle on which the blades are provided,

the system comprising a radiator configured to dissipate heat in the nacelle through a cooling medium, wherein

the radiator is provided outside the nacelle on an upwind side of the nacelle,

the radiator is provided with an intake surface thereof facing an upwind direction,

a path is formed downstream of the radiator to guide the wind that has passed the radiator,

the path is formed with a surface including an exterior wall of the nacelle on the upwind side of the nacelle,

the nacelle includes a bent portion located at the outlet of the path in which the nacelle receives a flow of air that does not pass through the radiator.

2. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

a curved portion is provided at an exit from the path.

3. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

the radiator is enclosed by a member supporting the radiator on the nacelle.

4. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

the radiator is provided in a manner such that the radiator is within a projected surface of the nacelle observed in a direction perpendicular to the intake surface of the radiator.

5. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

exits from the path have a total area greater than that of a core of the radiator.

6. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

the radiator is provided in a manner such that a joining portion between an exterior wall, forming the path, of the nacelle and a flank of the nacelle is at a similar height to an end of the radiator.

7. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

the cooling medium inside the radiator flows in a vertical direction.

8. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

the radiator is provided in a manner such that a direction perpendicular to the intake surface of the radiator is inclined upward from a horizontal direction at the upwind side.

9. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

a measuring device configured to measure the wind is provided on the nacelle at a top thereof.

10. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

air outlets from the path are provided in flanks of the nacelle.

11. The wind power generation system according to claim 10, wherein

the radiator is achieved by one of a radiator having a recessed shape in the upwind direction of the nacelle and two radiators inclined to form a recess in the upwind direction of the nacelle.

12. The wind power generation system according to claim 1, wherein

an intake opening for ventilation of the nacelle is provided upstream of the radiator.

13. The wind power generation system according to claim 12, wherein

a salt damage prevention filter is provided in a path connected to the ventilation intake opening.

14. A wind power generation system including:

blades configured to be rotated by wind;

a generator configured to be driven by the rotation of the blades to generate power;

a nacelle supporting the blades; and

a tower supporting the nacelle rotatably,

the wind power generation system being configured to receive the wind at a side opposite to a side of the nacelle on which the blades are provided,

the system comprising a radiator configured to dissipate heat in the nacelle through a cooling medium, wherein

the nacelle has a shape with one end thereof protruding farther than another end thereof in an upwind direction, the radiator is provided on the protrusion,

the radiator is provided with an intake surface thereof facing an upwind direction of the nacelle,

a path is formed with a surface including an exterior wall of the nacelle on the upwind side of the nacelle, and

the nacelle includes a bent portion located at the outlet of the path in which the nacelle receives a flow of air that does not pass through the radiator.

15. The wind power generation system according to claim 14, wherein

a path is formed with a wall surface including an exterior wall of the nacelle to guide the wind that has passed the radiator, the exterior wall of the nacelle being on the protrusion on which the radiator is provided.