Wind turbine cooling arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11060510-B2
Application number	US-201916276918-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2019
Priority date	Feb 20, 2018
Publication date	Jul 13, 2021
Grant date	Jul 13, 2021

Abstract

Provided is a wind turbine cooling arrangement, including a first cooling circuit arranged to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a first component group; and a second cooling circuit arranged to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a second component group, which second cooling circuit includes a primary heat exchanger arranged to dissipate heat from the cooling medium of the second cooling circuit; and a secondary heat exchanger arranged to heat the cooling medium of the first cooling circuit. A wind turbine including a cooling arrangement, and a method of cooling components of a wind turbine is also provided.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A wind turbine cooling arrangement, comprising:
a first cooling circuit arranged to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a first component group;
a second cooling circuit arranged to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a second component group, the second cooling circuit including:
a primary heat exchanger arranged to dissipate heat from the fluid cooling medium of the second cooling circuit, and
a secondary heat exchanger arranged to heat the fluid cooling medium of the first cooling circuit; and

a three-way valve arranged to regulate a flow rate of cooling medium through the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger.

2. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid cooling medium of the first cooling circuit comprises air.

3. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the fluid cooling medium of the second cooling circuit comprises a circulating liquid.

4. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the secondary heat exchanger is arranged in an air intake assembly of the first cooling circuit.

5. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a mist eliminator arranged in an air intake assembly of the first cooling circuit.

6. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a filter arranged in an air intake assembly of the first cooling circuit.

7. The cooling arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein the filter comprises a convoluted form with an area exceeding an area of the air intake assembly.

8. The cooling arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a shutter assembly configured to inhibit air intake through an air intake assembly.

9. A wind turbine comprising a cooling arrangement according to claim 1 for cooling components of the wind turbine.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 9 , wherein the first cooling circuit is arranged to guide a cooling airflow through the generator air-gap.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 9 , wherein the second cooling circuit is configured to cool at least one of a converter, a transformer, and a bearing lubricant.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 9 , wherein the wind turbine is a direct-drive wind turbine.

13. A method of cooling components of a wind turbine, comprising:
providing a first cooling circuit to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a first component group;
providing a second cooling circuit to transport a fluid cooling medium to absorb heat from a second component group;
arranging a primary heat exchanger in the second cooling circuit to dissipate heat from the fluid cooling medium of the second cooling circuit;
arranging a secondary heat exchanger in the second cooling circuit to heat the fluid cooling medium of the first cooling circuit; and
providing a three-way valve arranged to regulate a flow rate of cooling medium through the primary heat exchanger and the secondary heat exchanger.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a shutter assembly in an air intake assembly of the first cooling circuit and controlling the shutter assembly to inhibit air intake.

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Airoldi Giovanni
• Munk-Hansen Thorkil

Classifications

• F05B2220/7066

  via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission · CPC title

• F03D80/60 Primary

  Cooling or heating of wind motors · CPC title

• F03D80/55

  Cleaning (F03D80/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F05B2260/64

  Aeration, ventilation, dehumidification or moisture removal of closed spaces · CPC title

• Y02E10/72

  Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction · CPC title