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US 6,676,122 B1Granted
Wind energy facility with a closed cooling circuit
OwnerAloys Wobbeninventor
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OwnerAloys Wobbeninventor
Estimating the term…
The conversion of energy regularly results in losses in the form of heat. This applies both for the conversion of kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy in the generator of a wind energy facility, where these losses regularly occur in the main driving line of the wind energy facility, and also for the electrical feeding of energy generated by the wind energy facility into a medium voltage network. For this purpose, regular devices of power electronics, e.g., rectifiers, and/or transformers, are necessary. In the main driving line, which is mounted in the nacelle for a wind energy facility, the losses occur overwhelmingly in the gears, at the bearings, and in the generator or at other control units, such as, e.g., in the hydraulic systems or similar control and regulation units, which adjust the rotor blades or turn the wind energy facility into the wind. For gearless wind energy facilities, e.g., model E-66 of Enercon, the main losses occur at the main driving line in the generator, i.e., in the nacelle (head) of the wind energy facility. The task of the invention is to prevent the previously mentioned disadvantages and to provide a cooling device for a wind energy facility, which reduces the losses of the wind energy facility. Wind energy facility with a completely closed or at least partially closed cooling circuit, with which the heat to be dissipated from the cooling circuit is dissipated by the tower or the nacelle of the wind energy facility.
Wind energy facility (1) with a completely closed or at least partially closed cooling circuit, with which the heat to be dissipated from the cooling circuit is dissipated by the tower (3) or the nacelle (2) of the wind energy facility (1).
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that both the driving line (3, 4) of the wind energy facility or parts of the driving line and/or the electrical devices (8, 9) for converting the electrical energy are connected to the cooling circuit.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tower (3) is configured with two walls over at least two sections along its longitudinal axis (FIG. 4) and a double-walled region forms a cooling channel (12, 11), with which the heated air introduced into the cooling channel dissipates its heat to the outer wall of the tower (3).
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the same air is used essentially continuously for cooling the main driving line (3, 4), as well as the devices (8, 9) of the power electronics.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling channel is supplied by at least one fan (10) that serves to circulate air within the cooling circuit.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wind energy facility can be kept in operation even for outside temperatures of approximately −20° C. to −40° C., and the tower can be heated by the cooling circuit.
Use of the tower of a wind energy facility as a cooling element and/or a heat exchanger for cooling air heated by devices that generate heat, e.g., the driving line and/or electrical device for converting electrical energy, of the wind energy facility.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wind energy facility has at least two completely closed or at least partially closed cooling circuits, wherein one cooling circuit serves for cooling the driving line of the wind energy facility, and the other cooling circuit serves for cooling the electrical device for conversion of electrical energy.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is at least one air line that serves to transport heated air.
Wind energy facility according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nacelle is completely or partially made out of a metal, preferably aluminum.
A wind energy apparatus comprising:
A heat transfer system comprising:
A method for supplying heat exchange to a wind energy apparatus comprising:
A method for supplying heat exchange to a wind energy apparatus comprising:
A method for supplying heat exchange to a wind energy apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.