NZ599710B - Cooling arrangement of a wind turbine - Google Patents

Abstract

599710 A wind turbine 5 is provided with a helicopter landing platform 3 on the top of the nacelle 2. At least three sides of the platform are surrounded by a barrier 4, 6, 7, at least part of which forms a radiator or heat exchanger for a cooling system for the machinery of the turbine to remove heat from within the nacelle to the ambient air. eat from within the nacelle to the ambient air.

Description

NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT, 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION COOLING ARRANGEMENT OF A WIND TURBINE We, SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, a German company of Wittelsbacherplatz 2, 80333 Miinchen, Germany, do hereby e the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the ing statement: COOLING ARRANGEMENT OF A WIND TURBINE Description The ion relates to a cooling arrangement of a wind tur— bine.

Electrical machinery produces heat and often needs a cooling system to remove the heat. The cooling system often comprises a cooling fluid that circulates in ducts or pipes. The cool— ing system further ses a cooling arrangement as a heat sink. The cooling arrangement comprises a radiator and a sup— port arrangement. The cooling fluid is then cooled by air flowing though the radiator. The radiator is therefore mounted in a way that the surrounding air can flow through the radiator.

In the case of e.g. a wind e, the cooling system re— moves the heat from the generator or a bearing. The cooling fluid is cooled in the radiator. The radiator is d out— side of the nacelle so that the surrounding air can move through the radiator.

Wind turbines are often led offshore or close to the cost and are surrounded by salty air. One aim of the instal— lation is to keep salty air out of the nacelle, as salty air will damage the installation in the e. For this the ra— diator of the g system is mounted outside of the na— celle, so no salty air has to be guided through the nacelle.

To ensure a reliable cooling by the surrounding air moving through the radiator, the radiator is mounted in a way that the surrounding air can easily flow through the radiator. The radiator is mounted mainly in the right angel of the direc— tion of the air flow when the turbine is in operation. The radiator is mounted on top of the nacelle to use the maximum of the air flow and to provide a good access for maintenance.

The same aspects apply for other arrangements where cooling systems are used. A radiator of a cooling system is often in— stalled in a higher area of a building or construction, e.g. on a roof.

As e.g. wind turbines are often led offshore they are equipped with a heli—pad, a heli—drop—zone or a heli—hoist platform. These rms are used with a helicopter to land on the platform or to drop or pick up persons or parts by the help of a hoist. It is also possible to use the platform with a crane to hoist or lower gear like technical equipment to the platform by a rope. This is to provide an easy way to de— liver or pick up parts or persons, for service or repair rea— sons .

The platform is located on top of the nacelle at the rear end of the nacelle. The rear end of the e is the end point— ing away from the hub and the rotor, to avoid interference with the rotor.

A free space of a n size is needed to deliver or pick up persons or equipment at a platform. Thus accidents and damages are avoided. A barrier is arranged around the plat— form to avoid that persons or equipment slip from the edge of the platform.

A hatch is arranged in the nacelle at the front end of the platform, to allow an easy access from the platform into the nacelle and from the nacelle to the platform. The front end 3O of the platform is the end that points towards the hub of the wind turbine.

This has the disadvantage that the radiator of the g system and the platform take up the same area on top of the wind turbine. The radiator is diminishing the space needed for the platform. At the same time the r (e.g. a rail) around the platform is shing the area of free air to move through the radiator.

The aim of at least preferred embodiments of this invention is to provide a g arrangement that provides a reliable cool— ing and is not limiting the possibilities to use a rm, or that at least provides the public with a useful choice.

The aim is reached by the features of the independent claim.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the de— pendent claims.

According to the invention a cooling arrangement of a wind tur— bine is provided with a nacelle of the wind turbine, and with a cooling device, which is arranged on top of the e and which is configured to remove heat of the wind turbine to the ambient air. A platform is located on top of the nacelle. The rm comprises a helicopter landing pad. The platform com— prises a barrier, arranged along at least three sides of the platform. The barrier ses at least a part of the cooling Thus the cooling device is a part of the barrier. Thus no sepa— rate barrier and separate cooling device is needed while extra material is avoided. Thus the weight, the costs and working time to prepare and install the separate barrier and the sepa— rate cooling device are saved.

Preferably the cooling device comprises a radiator segment and a support structure to support the radiator segment. Thus the radiator is mounted via a t structure to the nacelle or to the barrier. Thus the radiator can be exchanged easily in 3O case of a fault.

Preferably at least a part of the radiator of the wind turbine is an integral part of the r.

Preferably an internal g system of the wind turbine is connected with the cooling device or radiator. Thus at least two coupled cooling circuits are used to remove heat out of the nacelle or wind turbine. Each cooling circuit might use a specific cooling fluid like water, oil and/or air. Thus there is no need to use salty air from the outside of the nacelle for internal g purposes. ably the barrier is ed at three sides of the platform. A remaining fourth side is left free to provide access from a hatch to the platform.

Preferably the radiator is arranged at the rear part of the platform as barrier. Thus the wind, which moves along the na— celle to cool the or when the turbine is in operation, moves easily along the platform and reaches the cooling de— vice. Thus the surface of the cooling device is arranged frontal to the direction of the ambient air when the wind turbine is in operation. ably the radiator is arranged at the front part of the platform as barrier. Thus the wind can easily flow through 2O the rotor and directly to the cooling device when the turbine is in operation. Thus the wind is not blocked before it reaches the radiator.

Preferably the support structure comprises a triangular shaped side t, which is prepared to absorb the wind load of the ambient air passing through the radiator. Thus forces, being generated by the wind load, are transferred from the radiator over the support structure to the nacelle of the wind turbine. In addition the use of material and the 3O weight is optimized.

Preferably the cooling device is arranged with a n spacing to the nacelle. Thus air is allowed to move between the cooling device and the nacelle. Thus low turbulence air— flow is provided. The w of the ambient air around the radiator is zed and a congestion of the airflow is avoided.

Preferably the cooling device is partially arranged in a groove of the nacelle to achieve a predefined distance be— tween the level of the platform and the top edge of the cool— ing device. Thus a limitation of the maximum height of the r in respect to the platform is observed. In addition a large radiator area can be provided while mandatory construc— tional dimensions are kept.

In another embodiment the rm is elevated in respect to the cooling device to achieve a predefined distance between the level of the platform and the top edge of the cooling de- vice. Thus a limitation of the maximum height of the barrier in respect to the platform is ed. In addition a large radiator area can be ed while mandatory uctional dimensions are kept.

Preferably the barrier comprises a metal grid. Thus the air of a hovering pter can move through the barrier. Thus congestion of the air is prevented. Thus complex turbulent airflow and ground effects are prevented for the helicopter.

Preferably the metal grid comprises openings of a certain size, which prevents that a grounding hook or a grounding conductor of a helicopter, which is hovering over the plat— form, is entangled or gets entangled. Thus the hook gets not entangled and moves freely. Dangerous situations for the hel— icopter are d.

Preferably a floor of the platform ses a hole to drain water. Thus the danger of slipping of persons or ent on the wet surface is minimized. ably a grid is prepared as floor of the platform. Thus friction of equipment and shoes of persons is higher then on a plane metal surface. Thus sliding and slipping of equipment and persons is minimized.

The invention is shown in more detail by help of figures.

The figures show preferred configurations and do not limit the scope of the invention.

FIG 1 shows a nacelle of a wind turbine according to the in— FIG 2 shows a wind turbine according to the invention, FIG 3 shows a platform according to the invention in a first view, FIG 4 shows the platform of FIG 3 in a second view, FIG 5 shows another embodiment of the solution invented, FIG 6 shows a detail of the solution invented.

FIG 1 shows a nacelle 2 of a wind turbine according to the invention. The nacelle 2 comprises a platform 3 that is sur— rounded by a barrier 4. The rear end of the platform is the part pointing away from the hub 5.

A cooling device 6 is provided on to of the nacelle 2. This cooling device 6 is an integral part of the rear part of the 2O barrier 4. The barrier 4 surrounds the platform 3 at three sides. At the right and left side the barrier comprises a metal grid 7, so that the air flow of a hovering helicopter can move through the barrier 4.

FIG 2 shows a wind turbine 1 according to the invention. The wind turbine 1 is ed with a platform 3 on top of the nacelle 2. The platform 3 is surrounded by a barrier 4.

The rm 3 can be approached by a helicopter. The plat— 3O form 3 can be prepared to land on it with the helicopter. Or it is prepared to be used as a rop zone or a heli—hoist platform to deliver or pick up equipment and personal to and from the platform.

A cooling device 6 is provided at the rear end farthest away from the hub 5 of the wind turbine 1. This cooling device 6 is ated in the barrier 4 and forming a part of the bar— rier 4.

FIG 3 shows a platform 3 according to the invention in a first view. The nacelle 2 is equipped with a platform 3.

Around the platform 3 is a barrier 4.

At the rear part of the barrier 4 a cooling device 6 is ar— ranged as a part of the barrier 4. The cooling device 6 com— prises a radiator 8 and a support structure 9. The radiator 8 can be ucted of several or elements.

The barrier 4 comprises metal grids 7. The metal grids 7 al— low air to flow and thus avoids a congestion of air e.g. from a helicopter hovering above the rm 3.

The barrier 4 is surrounding the platform 3 at three sides.

The side in the direction of the hub, the front side, is just equipped with a railing. Thus personal and equipment can eas— ily reach the platform 3 through the hatch 10. 2O The cooling device 6 is equipped with a triangular shaped side support 9. This side support 9 is taking in the wind load of the ambient air moving trough the radiator 8 and is leading the forces into the nacelle 2.

FIG 4 shows the rm of FIG 3 in a second view. A Cooling device 6 is arranged on top of a nacelle 2 of a wind turbine.

The cooling device 6 comprises a support structure 9 and a radiator 8. The cooling device 6 is a part of the r 4 that surrounds the platform 3.

The barrier 4 surrounds the rm 3 at three sides. Thus the wind, that cools the or when the turbine is in op- eration, can blow through the rotor along the nacelle 2 over the platform 3 and through the radiator 6 without being dis— turbed by a barrier in front on the platform 3.

Also personal can easily reach the platform 3 through the hatch 10 and handle equipment in and out of the nacelle 2. At the side of the hatch 10 the platform 3 is equipped with a g. On top of this railing onal equipment is in— stalled.

The barrier 4 comprises a metal grid 7 that allows the air to flow through it. Thus the congestion of the air is minimized and complex turbulent air flow and ground effects are pre- vented for the helicopter hovering above the platform 3.

The metal grid has openings that are small enough so that the grounding hook or the grounding conductor of the helicopter can not get entangled in the grid.

FIG 5 shows another embodiment of the solution invented. On top of the nacelle 2 of a wind turbine l a platform 3 is in— d to be used with a helicopter. The platform is sur— d by a barrier 4. At the front end of the platform, at the end that is pointing towards the hub 5, the barrier 4 is connected to a cooling device 6. Thus the cooling device 6 is 2O a part of the barrier 4 at the front end of the platform. The cooling device is equipped with a triangular shaped support structure 9.

In this embodiment the cooling device 6 is mounted in the front end of the rm 3. When the wind turbine l is in operation, the wind can easily flow through the rotor and along the nacelle 2 to the cooling device 6 that comprises the radiator 8. The or 8 is arranged mainly fontal to the wind. So the wind provides an optimized cooling effect.

FIG 6 shows a detail of the solution invented. The figure shows a radiator 8 of the cooling device in a side view. Be— tween the radiator 8 and the nacelle 2 is a certain spacing that leads to an air gap 12. This air gap allows the air flow 13 to flow between the radiator 8 and the nacelle 2. Thus the air flow 13 is not blocked in front of the radiator 8. Thus a congestion of air is prevented and the g effect is op— timized.

The radiator 8 is arranged in a certain level on top of the nacelle 2. In this case the platform 3 is arranged in a high— er level on the e 2. The rm 2 is elevated in re- spect to the cooling device 6. Thus the distance between the upper end of the cooling device 6 and the level of the plat- form floor can be arranged to have a predetermined maximum distance. Thus requirements ing the height of the bar— rier 4 surrounding the platform 3 can be met.

The term. 'comprising' as used in this specification and claims means 'consisting at least in part of'. When inter— preting statements in this specification and claims which in- clude the term 'comprising', other features besides the fea— tures prefaced by this term in each statement can also be present. Related terms such as 'comprise' and 'comprised' are to be interpreted in similar manner.

Claims (1)

1. What we claim is: 1. Cooling arrangement of a wind turbine, - with a nacelle of the wind turbine, - with a g device, which is arranged on top of the nacelle and which is configured to remove heat of the wind turbine to the ambient air, - with a platform, which is located on top of the nacelle and which comprises a helicopter landing pad, 10 — wherein the platform comprises a barrier arranged along at least three sides of the platform, — wherein the barrier comprises at least a part of the cooling device. 15 Cooling arrangement ing to claim 1, where the cooling device comprises a radiator segment and a support structure to t the radiator segment. Cooling arrangement ing to claim 1, where at least a 20 part of the radiator of the wind turbine is an al part of the barrier. Cooling ement according to claim 2 or claim 3, where an internal cooling system of the wind turbine is 25 connected with the cooling device or radiator. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, where the radiator is arranged at the rear part of the platform as barrier. Cooling arrangement ing to any one of the preceding , where the radiator is arranged at the front part of the platform as barrier. 35 Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, where the support structure comprises a ular shaped side support, which is prepared to absorb the wind load of the ambient air passing through the radiator. 8. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the ing claims, where the cooling device is arranged with a certain spacing to the nacelle thus air is allowed to move between the cooling device and the e. 9. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding — where the cooling device is partially arranged in a 10 groove of the e to achieve a predefined distance between the level of the platform and the top edge of the cooling device, or — where the platform is elevated in respect to the cooling device to achieve a predefined distance between 15 the level of the platform and the top edge of the g device. 10. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, where the barrier comprises a metal grid. 11. Cooling arrangement according to claim 10, where the metal grid comprises openings of a certain size, which prevents that a ing hook or a grounding conductor of a helicopter, which is hovering over the platform, is 25 or gets entangled. 12. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, where a floor of the platform ses a hole to drain water. 13. Cooling arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims, where a grid is prepared as floor of the platform. 35 14. Cooling arrangement according to claim 1, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment disclosed. l5. Cooling ement of a wind turbine, substantially as herein described with reference to any embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.