Wind turbine generator having an eddy current brake, wind turbine having such a generator, and associated methods

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a tower;
• a nacelle disposed adjacent a top of the tower;
• a rotor including a hub and at least one wind turbine blade extending from the hub;
• and
• a generator disposed in the nacelle, comprising:
• an outer housing;
• a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing;
• a stator assembly positioned within the outer housing;
• a rotor assembly positioned within the outer housing, wherein the stator assembly is coupled to the outer housing so as to be stationary and the rotor assembly is operatively coupled to the drive shaft so as to be rotated with rotation of the drive shaft;
• a heat exchanger for removing heat from the generator;
• a blower positioned within the outer housing, the blower generating a first fluid flow circuit within the generator configured to transport heat from at least one of the stator and rotor assemblies to the heat exchanger, the blower including a first rotating plate;
• and
• a first eddy current brake positioned within the outer housing, the first eddy current brake including a first rotating member,
• wherein the first rotating member of the first eddy current brake is positioned in the first fluid flow circuit established by the blower such that fluid moving in the first fluid flow circuit passes over the first rotating member so as to cool the first rotating member.

A method of operating a wind turbine generator having an outer housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing, a stator assembly positioned within the outer housing, a rotor assembly positioned within the outer housing, and a heat exchanger, comprising:

• driving the drive shaft of the generator using a rotor of a wind turbine;
• rotating the rotor assembly relative to the stator assembly to generate electricity;
• establishing within the outer housing a first fluid flow circuit configured to transport heat to the heat exchanger, the first fluid flow circuit being established by a blower having a first rotating plate;
• positioning a first eddy current brake within the outer housing such that a first rotating member of the first eddy current brake is positioned in the first fluid flow circuit;
• using the first eddy current brake to apply a braking force;
• and
• cooling the first rotating member by passing fluid moving in the first fluid flow circuit over the first rotating member.