ELECTROLYTIC UNIT HOUSING WITH PRESSURE-RELIEF AREA

Abstract

A wind turbine includes a generator, a base, a nacelle, a tower having a first end mounted to the base and a second end supporting the nacelle, and an electrolytic unit electrically powered by the generator to produce hydrogen from an input fluid, in particular water, wherein the electrolytic unit is electrically coupled to the generator by an electric connection, wherein the electrolytic unit is housed in a housing, wherein the housing includes a pressure-relief section configured to detach from the housing in the event of an explosion inside the housing or when the pressure inside the housing exceeds a predetermined pressure.

Claims

1. A wind turbine comprising a generator, a base, a nacelle, a tower having a first end mounted to the base and a second end supporting the nacelle, and an electrolytic unit electrically powered by the generator to produce hydrogen from an input fluid, wherein the electrolytic unit is electrically coupled to the generator by an electric connection, wherein the electrolytic unit is housed in a housing, wherein the housing comprises a pressure-relief section configured to detach from the housing in the event of an explosion inside the housing or when the pressure inside the housing exceeds a predetermined pressure.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief section is located in the radially outer region of the housing in relation to the tower's longitudinal axis.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief section is located on top of the housing.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a releasable retainer for holding the pressure-relief area attached to the housing, the releasable retainer comprising pressure-sensitive means configured to release the retainer in the event of an explosion or when the pressure inside the housing exceeds the predetermined pressure.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the releasable retainer is configured to be held in the housing by gravity.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the releasable retainer is glued to the housing.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the releasable retainer is a hinge.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief section is a panel, a wall, a door, a hatch or a plate.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a duct, wherein the pressure-relief section is located at an end of the duct.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the pressure-relief section is made of an anti-splintering material, such as copper.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a pressure-resistant section configured to resist blasts, explosions and/or pressures above the predetermined pressure.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing is painted with fire-proof paint.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of pressure-relief sections.

14. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the tower comprises shielding means for protecting the tower in case of debris caused by an explosion.

15. A method of relieving the pressure of an explosion in a housing of an electrolytic unit of the wind turbine according to claim 1 by conducting the pressure released by the explosion through the pressure-relief section of the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0052] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0053] FIG. 1 shows an electrolytic unit housing comprising a pressure-relief section and a pressure-resistant section;

[0054] FIG. 2 shows another electrolytic unit housing comprising a pressure-relief section and a pressure-resistant section;

[0055] FIG. 3 shows another electrolytic unit housing comprising a pressure-relief section and a pressure-resistant section;

[0056] FIG. 4 shows another electrolytic unit housing comprising a pressure-relief section and a pressure-resistant section located at an end of the duct;

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a similar embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, with a pressure-relief section at the tower; and

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a nacelle comprising a plurality of pressure-relief sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] FIG. 1 shows a plurality of containers arranged on an electrolytic unit platform of a wind turbine 1. Two of the containers are the housing 11 of two electrolytic units 3 and are equipped with a pressure-relief section 12 as an outer wall of the container and a pressure-resistant section 15 as the rest of the walls of the container. The pressure-relief section 12 is located in the radially outer region of the housing 11 in relation to the tower's longitudinal axis. The rest of the housing is the pressure-resistant section 15.

[0060] In case of an explosion, the expanding gas will be conducted through the pressure-relief section 12, thereby protecting the tower 4 and the nearby containers, as well as workers which might be on the electrolytic unit platform.

[0061] The walls of the pressure-relief section 12 can be attached with releasable retainers, such as hinges or bolts designed only to withstand a certain pressure before breaking, to the rest of the container, so that they open with ease from the rest of the container in case of an explosion.

[0062] FIG. 2 shows a plurality of containers arranged on an electrolytic unit platform of a wind turbine 1. In contrast to FIG. 1, in FIG. 2 the side walls of the container are also pressure-relief sections 12 designed to open when the pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure. This enables a bigger pressure relief area.

[0063] FIG. 3 shows a plurality of containers arranged on an electrolytic unit platform of a wind turbine 1. In contrast to FIG. 2, in FIG. 3 a part of the top wall of the container is also a pressure-relief sections 12 designed to open when the pressure exceeds the predetermined pressure. This enables a bigger pressure relief area.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows a plurality of containers arranged on an electrolytic unit platform of a wind turbine 1. In contrast to FIG. 2, in FIG. 4 the housing further comprising a pressure-relief section 12 located at the end of a duct 14. This allows to guide the explosion away from the tower 4 in the direction of the duct 14. The pressure-relief section 12 located at the end of a duct 14 can be arranged at a specific angle to further guide the explosion away from the tower 4.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a similar embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, with a pressure-relief section 12 at the tower 4. This measure is helpful for the case when the hydrogen is transported and/or stored within the tower 4, to mitigate the damage of a blast caused by a buildup of hydrogen leak in the tower 4. This can be for example the case when the electrolytic unit 3 is arranged inside or in proximity of the nacelle 4.

[0066] The pressure-relief section 12 at the tower 4 can be arranged for example as a duct 14 or as a blast door.

[0067] FIG. 6 shows a nacelle 6 comprising a plurality of pressure-relief sections 12. This measure is helpful for the case when the hydrogen is transported and/or stored within the nacelle 6, to mitigate the damage of a blast caused by a buildup of hydrogen leak in the nacelle 6. This can be for example the case when the electrolytic unit 3 is arranged inside or in proximity of the nacelle 6.

[0068] The pressure-relief section 12 at the nacelle 6 can be arranged for example as a duct 14 or as a blast door.

[0069] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0070] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.

REFERENCE LIST

[0071] 1 Wind turbine [0072] 2 Generator [0073] 3 Electrolytic unit [0074] 4 Tower [0075] 5 Base [0076] 6 Nacelle [0077] 11 Housing [0078] 12 Pressure-relief section [0079] 14 Duct [0080] 15 Pressure-resistant section