EP4573284A1

EP4573284A1 - Modular plug and play container - particular for a hydrogen production plant in connection to a wind turbine

Info

Publication number: EP4573284A1
Application number: EP23790026.1A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johnny Soerensen
Original assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy AS
Current assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy AS
Priority date: 2022-11-14
Filing date: 2023-10-18
Publication date: 2025-06-25
Also published as: WO2024104693A1; EP4368829A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a linkage of ports (30) of a container (20) to outer ports (30'), where the container (20) comprises the operational parts to be powered by a wind turbine (1), and where the container ports (30) are connected to conduits for electrical and/or fluid communication to transport current, gas and/or liquids between operational parts and storages outside the container (20), wherein when linked the container and outer ports (30) are positioned in a sealed compartment (100).

Description

202218947 Subsequent Filing 1 MODULAR PLUG AND PLAY CONTAINER – PARTICULAR FOR A HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PLANT^IN CONNECTION TO A WIND TURBINE DESCRIPTION Modular plug and play container – particular for a hydrogen production plant in connection to a wind turbine Field of invention The present invention relates to connecting of a process con- tainer, the process container comprising input and/or output connections to be connected to site connections. The system is especially suitable for containers to be positioned in harsh conditions, such as at ocean and shore sites, where it would be exposed to weather and salt. The containers could comprise hydrogen production plants with electrical and fluid connections, where they are adapted to be positioned in rela- tion to a wind turbine. Background Using offshore wind turbines in power-to-X to run for example hydrogen production plants offer many benefits, such as quick supply of water, good wind conditions. The positioning of the turbines further lowers the risk of being at nuisance to in- habitants in the local area. There are however also disadvantages. One major drawback is the relatively harsh environmental conditions of the ocean. Often the production plants for generating hydrogen are posi- tioned at a platform in connection with or close to the wind turbine. The production plant is connected to means for the exchange of fluids and gasses, and for the supply of electri- cal power from the wind turbine. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 2 Exposing such connections to the environments however often makes them deteriorate, possible debris and salts will settle thereon. This reduces their lifetime and can make it diffi- cult to disconnect and reconnect when a container needs to be exchanged. A disclosure US20150108764A1 shows an electric assembly for electrically connecting at least one wind turbine being lo- cated off-shore with an electric subsea cable being connected to an on-shore power grid is provided. A plug sockets of the electric connection arrangement spatially meet with corresponding plug connectors of a second cable termina- tion arrangement. Inclined guide surfaces make sure that there is no unwanted canting between the plug sockets and the plug connectors. Summary of the invention The scope of the present invention is to overcome these prob- lems. This scope is met by the subject matter according to the in- dependent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the present in- vention are described by the dependent claims. According to the invention, a container is provided compris- ing the operational parts for hydrogen production and to be powered by a wind turbine, wherein the container comprises first ports for exchanging gas and/or liquids between the op- erational parts within the container with storages outside the container, where the first ports are formed with contact surfaces and is positioned within a compartment at a distance d to a compartment opening. By positioning the connections in the compartment and seal them from the environmental conditions ensures they are at least substantially unaffected by the environments, and thus unspoiled when to be exchanged. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 3 The first ports may be adapted to contact second ports at contact surfaces of respectively the first and second ports at the distance d to a compartment opening. The opening may be adapted for a plug interface connected to the second ports to fit into the opening such that the com- partment is sealed from the container outside externals when the second ports are connected to the first ports. By making the plug interface fit into the opening ensures a correct alignment of the first ports to the second ports, and that it ensures the first and second ports to be sealed from the outside. A cover may form part of the sealing enclosure of the com- partment, where the cover is removable or comprises openable ports allowing access from the outside to the ports. The compartment may form part the container and be positioned between the container side walls. The present invention further relate to a linkage formed of the combination of the container according to previous embod- iments and the plug interface. The plug interface may be formed with a sealing adapted to seal towards an inner surface of the opening. The plug interface may form a raised platform. The first ports and/or the second ports may be formed at sec- tions that reaches outwards from the plug interface. The ports may be formed in flanged ends of the sections. The ports may be formed in substantially plane contact sur- faces at the ends of the sections. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 4 The present invention further relates to a method to link a container in connection to a wind turbine, the container com- prising operational parts to be powered by the wind turbine where the operational parts exchange gas and/or liquids be- tween the operational parts and storages outside the contain- er, and where first ports are connected to conduits for fluid communication to transport gas and/or liquids between the op- erational parts and storages outside the container, and where linkage means including the first ports within a compartment with first port contact surfaces positioned at a distance d to a compartment opening, the method including:_ - open or remove a cover of the compartment opening, - position second ports through the opening into the compart- ment till second port contact surfaces connect the first port contact surfaces, - link, or fix, the first ports to the second ports. The method to link a container may apply to the container and/or linkage of any of the embodiments. The present invention further relates to a method to link a container in connection to a wind turbine, the container com- prising operational parts to be powered by the wind turbine, where linkage means are positioned within a compartment, and the linkage means of the container comprises first ports adapted to be linked to second ports, where the first ports are connected to conduits for electrical and/or fluid commu- nication to transport current, gas and/or liquids between op- erational parts and storages outside the container, wherein the method includes to open or remove a cover of the compart- ment, link the first ports to the second ports, and replace or close the cover to seal the compartment. The method could be using the linkage according to any of the embodiments. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 5 For either of the previous embodiments the operational parts could include a hydrogen production plant. The aspects defined above and further aspects of the present invention are apparent from the examples of embodiment to be described hereinafter and are explained with reference to the examples of embodiment. The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of embodi- ment but to which the invention is not limited. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a schematic presentation of a wind turbine in- cluding a platform and containers positioned on the platform Figure 2 shows a container lifted from the platform exposing linkage means Figure 3A,B,C shows linkage means according to an embodiment of the present invention Figure 4 shows a standard flanged and bolted linkage Figure 5 shows an embodiment with a sealed chamber inside the container Figure 6 shows and embodiment with the linkage means posi- tioned at the outside of the bottom of the container Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the method according to the present invention 202218947 Subsequent Filing 6 Detailed Description The illustrations in the drawings are schematic. It is noted that in different figures, similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference signs. Figure 1 shows an embodiment wind turbine 1 positioned in the water, such as the ocean. The wind turbine 1 comprises a tow- er 2 mounted on a non-depicted fundament. A nacelle 3 is ar- ranged on top of the tower 2. The wind turbine 1 further com- prises a wind rotor 5 having two, three or more blades 4 (in the perspective of Figure 1 only two blades 4 are visible). The wind rotor 5 is rotatable around a longitudinal rotation axis Y. The wind turbine 1 comprises an electric generator. In the illustrated embodiment a platform 10 is positioned at the tower 2. The position of the platform 10 at the tower 2 could be such that it is generally above water despite waves and tides. The platform 10 is adapted for containers 20 to be positioned and optionally fixed on its surface. In a non-exclusive man- ner the containers could comprise operational parts such as hydrogen production plant, but could be other systems, e.g., CO2 extraction machines, solar heating plants etc., in the following exampled as hydrogen producing plants each contain- er including electrolyzers etc. During use, the operational parts require a supply or ex- change of fluid, gas and/or electricity. For that purpose, the containers 20 are formed with a set of ports 30 adapted to align with a matching set of platform ports 30’ positioned at the surface of the platform 10. Figure 2 shows a platform 10 without disclosing the wind tur- bine 1 itself, and where one of the containers 20 has been lifted to expose a set of first ports 30 of the container 20 202218947 Subsequent Filing 7 disconnected from a set of second ports 30’ of the platform 10. The ports 30, 30’ in the embodiment works as ‘plug-and-play’ connections, the container 20 simply having to be positioned such that the first 30 and second 30’ ports align. To ensure correct alignment, the platform 10 and/or the container 20 may have guiding means (not seen in the figures). Such guid- ing means would be adapted to ensure a correct alignment of the ports 30, 30’. In the illustrated embodiment the first ports 30 are located between two sides of the container 20. The two sides may be the two long-sides in case the container has a longer length than width. In some embodiments the container 10 end-wall is removable allowing an installer access to the first ports 30. During or before installing or removing the container 20, the end-wall of is opened or removed to expose the first ports 30’ and al- lowing linkage when the first ports 30 are connected to the second ports 30’, and once linked, the end-wall can be rein- stalled or closed forming a compartment 100 within the con- tainer enclosing the linked ports 30, 30’. In the present, the term ‘end-wall’ refers to the one of the two end-walls connecting the two side walls being near the first ports 30. The end-wall in other embodiments is positioned between the first ports 30 and the operational parts positioned at the inside of the container 20. The ports 30 thus being posi- tioned at the outside relative to the end-wall. This enables easy contact to the ports 30, 30’ at any time, such as when there is only a little space to maneuver and open an end- wall. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 8 The first ports 30 positioned between the side walls of the container 20 is within the cover of the container side walls and roof panel. At the bottom, the container 20 is open 40 in the section of the first ports 30, to allow contact between the first ports 30 and second ports 30’. Figure 3A, 3B, 3C shows the ports 30, 30’, which may be formed at the end of sections 35, 35’ reaching out from the respectively container interface 50A and plug interface 50B. The sections 35, 35’ form conduits, and are for example formed as hollow tubes. The first ports 30 of the container 20 connected to the con- tainer interface 50A, which may be fixed to the two container 20 side walls as illustrated. The first ports 30 is seen positioned at a distance d to the compartment 100 opening 40, such as the outer edge of the opening 40. The distance d then is sufficiently large too en- sure, that when the second ports 30’ are positioned through the opening 40 till their contact surface 65 contacts the first port 30 contact surfaces 65, then both the first 30 and the second 30’ ports will be fully within the compartment 100, such as the second contact surface will fully concealed within the inner of the compartment 100. The first ports 30’ in the illustration are positioned on the plug interface 50B, which in this embodiment forms a raised section relative to the surface level of the platform 10 it- self. When installed, the cable carrier 50B then will reach into the opening 40 of the container 20 to create contact be- tween the ports 30, 30’. Similarly, the second ports 30’, and optional sections 35’, reaches through the opening 40 and in- to the compartment 100. The plug interface 50B may fit tightly into the opening 40, and together they form guiding means adapted to ensure cor- rect alignment of the first 30 and second 30’ ports. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 9 The conduits may connect the operational parts within the container 20 to the first ports 30, either direct, some of the conduits and ports 30, 30’ being the gas or liquid commu- nications, or indirect, the conduits operating to contain and protect the electrical conductors and/or gas/fluid tubes or pipes from the environmental condition. In one embodiment the conductors, pipes etc. may be dragged or pulled through the conduits. In another embodiment they form two parts. The first part then could be formed with a connector in the first port 30 area and the second with a connector in the second port 30’ area. In this embodiment, the connectors then would be connected when linking the ports 30, 30’. The ports 30, 30’ include the means 60 to make a stable link- age of the first ports 30 and the second ports 30’. In the embodiment of figs. 3A, 3B, 3C, the contact means 60 contact surfaces 65 is adapted to form the direct contact be- tween the first ports 30 and second ports 30’. In the illus- trated embodiment, the contact means 60 are formed as flanges of the sections 35, 35’ at the perimeter of the ports 30, 30’. The flanges are formed with openings adapted for e.g., bolts and nuts, or screws, to link and secure the first ports 30 to the second ports 30’. Such a connection is also illustrated in Fig. 4. It is to be said that other means of attaching two connections would also apply, like click-fit, threated con- nections etc. In fig. 3B, a sealing 55 is seen positioned at the circumfer- ence of the first ports 30 and/or the second ports 30’, such that they are sealed at the below from the environmental con- ditions. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 10 This for example increases the lifetime of the parts, and en- sure they are not being covered with salt and other parti- cles. Fig. 3B illustrates a different configuration of the ports 30, 30’, and shows they can have different shapes and sizes etc. The first ports 30 in the illustrated embodiment are ‘inner’ connections in the sense, they are positioned with their con- tact means 60, and/or contact surfaces 65, inside the com- partment 10 at a distance to the compartment 100 bottom or opening 40. The distance may correspond to the heigh of the second ports 30’ from the platform 10 surface. When the container 20 is installed, the second port 30’ con- tact means 60, and/or contact surfaces 65, reaches into the inside of the compartment 100 to contact the first ports 30. In fig. 3C the container 20 is lifted revealing the set of first ports 30 and set of second ports 30’, and the sealings 55 at the circumference of each of the sets, such as at the perimeter of respectively the container interface 50A and/or plug interface 50B. If the end-wall for example is positioned at the inner side of the first ports 30, then the first ports 30 will be ex- posed at the side to environmental conditions, unless shieled in some manner. Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment, where a cover 70 is positioned inside the container 20 enclosing and covering the first ports 30 and the container interface 50A. The cover 70 shields the first ports 30 e.g., during transfer and mounting of the container 20, and are optionally also positioned dur- ing the use, such as during the generation of Hydrogen. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 11 The cover 70 thus could form a seal towards externals. The cover 70 then may be removed when access to the first ports 30 is required. The cover 70 together with e.g., sealings 55 as seen in fig. 3B forms a sealed ‘plug-and-play’ compartment 100, all the connections 60, 65 and ports 30, 30’ being within the com- partment when the container 20 is installed for use of the operational parts. In either embodiment, the bottom opening 40 during e.g., transfer of the container 20 may be closed by a cover plate (not shown in the figure). The ‘plug-and-play’ compartment 100 could enclose the first ports 30 and container interface 50A within a cover 70 could alternatively be connected the outside the container 20. Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment where the connections are positioned at the outside of the bottom of the container 20 In this embodiment the second ports 30’ could be positioned at the lower side of the platform 10 surface, the container connections 20 reaching through an opening 40 in the platform surface 10. In any of the embodiments, the second ports 30’ could be cov- ered with temporary covers when not in contact with container 20 first ports 30, such as by positioning a small temporary container to cover them, or a box or by other means posi- tioned on top of the second ports 30’. This protects the in- ner parts from the environmental conditions. In any of the embodiment the compartment 100 could be moni- tored by temperature sensors, thermal camera, gas sen- sor/alarm, humidity sensor etc. In general, by any suitable means adapted to register a leakage, such as during mounting and detachment of the container 20. 202218947 Subsequent Filing 12 Figure 7 shows a flow chart of the method to link a container 20 in connection to a wind turbine 1. The method including the step: -200 provide linkage means first ports 30 within a compart- ment 100 with first port 30 contact surfaces 65 positioned at a distance d to a compartment 100 opening 40, - 210 open or remove a cover 70 of the compartment 100 open- ing 40, - 220 position second ports 30’ through the opening 40 into the compartment 100 till second port 30’ contact surfaces (65) connect the first port 30 contact surfaces 65, - 230 link, or fix, the first ports (30) to the second ports (30’).

Claims

202218947 Subsequent Filing 13 CLAIMS 1. A container (20) comprising the operational parts for hydrogen production and to be powered by a wind turbine (1), wherein the container (20) comprises first ports (30) for exchanging gas and/or liquids between the operational parts within the container (20) with storages outside the container (20), where the first ports (30) is formed with contact sur- faces (65) and is positioned within a compartment (100) at a distance d to a compartment (100) opening (40). 2. A container (20) according to claim 1, wherein the first ports (30) are adapted to contact second ports (30’) at con- tact surfaces (65) of respectively the first (30) and second (30’) ports at the distance d to a compartment (100) opening. 3. A container (20) according to claim 1 or 2, where the opening (40) is adapted for a plug interface (50B) connected to the second ports (30’) to fit into the opening (40) such that the compartment (100) is sealed when the second ports (30’) are connected to the first ports (30). 4. A container (20) according to any of the previous claims, wherein a cover (70) forms part of the sealing enclo- sure of the compartment (100) where the cover is removable or comprise openable ports allowing access from the outside to the ports (30). 5. A container (20) to any of the previous claims, wherein the compartment (100) forms part the container (20) and is positioned between the container (20) side walls. 6. A container (20) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the operational parts include a hydrogen pro- duction plant 8. A linkage formed of the combination of the container (20) according to claim 3 and the plug interface (50B). 202218947 Subsequent Filing 14 9. A linkage according to claim 8, and the plug interface (50B), where the plug interface (50B) is formed with a seal- ing (55) adapted to seal towards an inner surface of the opening (40). 10. A linkage according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the plug interface (50B) forms a raised platform. 11. A linkage according to any of the previous claims 8, 9 or 10, wherein the first ports (30) and/or the second ports (30) are formed at sections (35, 35’) that reaches outwards from the plug interface (50B). 12. A linkage according to 11, wherein the ports (30, 30’) are formed in flanged ends of the sections (35, 35’). 13. A linkage according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the ports (30, 30’) are formed in substantially plane contact surfaces (65) at the ends of the sections (35, 35’). 14. A method to link a container (20) in connection to a wind turbine (1), the container (20) comprising operational parts to be powered by the wind turbine (1) where the operational parts exchange gas and/or liquids between the operational parts and storages outside the container (20), and where first ports (30) are connected to conduits for fluid communi- cation to transport gas and/or liquids between the operation- al parts and storages outside the container (20), and where (200) linkage means including the first ports (30) within a compartment (100) with first port (30) contact surfaces (65) positioned at a distance d to a compartment (100) opening (40), the method including:_ - (210) open or remove a cover (70) of the compartment (100) opening (40), - (220) position second ports (30’) through the opening (40) into the compartment (100) until second port (30’) contact 202218947 Subsequent Filing 15 surfaces (65) connect the first port (30) contact surfaces (65), - (230) link, or fix, the first ports (30) to the second ports (30’). 15. A method to link a container (20) according to claim 14, using the container of any of claims 1-6 or linkage according to any of the claims 7-13.