Cooling device
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorJacob Nies
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cooling device for a wind turbine is provided, the cooling device including at lease one liquid-tight tube which is partially filled with a liquid coolant, wherein one end of the tube is located in a first area and another end of the tube is located in a second area, the first and second areas having different temperatures when operating the wind turbine.
Claims18
A cooling device for a wind turbine including a rotating hub, said cooling device comprising:
- at least one liquid-tight tube which is partially filled with a liquid coolant, wherein a first end of the tube is located in a first area of the hub and a second end of the tube is located in a second area of the hub, the first and second areas having different temperatures when operating the wind turbine, the first area defining an inner space of a cabinet in the hub and the second area defining an interior of the hub outside said cabinet.
A heat exchanger for a wind turbine rotor including a rotating hub, said heat exchanger comprising:
- one or more conduits which are partially filled with a liquid and extend from a cool area of the hub to a relatively hotter area of the hub, the liquid being adapted to absorb and dissipate heat,
- wherein the liquid can be agitated within said one or more conduits by rotating the wind turbine rotor, said one or more conduits extending in a circumferential direction of the wind turbine rotor.
A method for cooling at least one selected part inside a wind turbine rotor hub, said method comprising:
- (a) providing at least one duct being partially filled with a liquid coolant and extending between the at least one selected part of the hub and a reservoir within the hub having a lower temperature than the at least one selected part;
- and
- (b) moving the liquid coolant between the at least one selected part and the reservoir having the lower temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.