Wind turbine

Abstract

A wind turbine, in particular an offshore wind turbine includes at least one hollow structural element, at least one cable inlet arranged in a bottom region of the hollow structural element. A first platform is arranged inside the hollow structural element, above the bottom region. At least one flow opening is arranged in the shell surface of the hollow structural element and penetrating the shell surface. At least one active control element is flow-connected to the flow opening to affect a media exchange between the interior of the hollow structural element and the exterior of the hollow structural element.

Claims

1. Wind power plant, in particular offshore wind power plant comprising: at least one hollow structural element, at least one flow opening arranged in a shell surface of the hollow structural element and breaking through the shell surface, wherein at least one active control element is flow-connected to the flow opening and influences a media exchange between the interior of the hollow structural element and the exterior of the hollow structural element wherein the flow opening is flow-connected to the interior of the hollow structural element below a platform via a ventilation tube wherein at least one cable entry is arranged, in an installed state, in a bottom region of the hollow structural element below sea water level, and the platform is a first substantially airtight platform is arranged inside the hollow structural element, above the bottom region.

2. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein at least one further flow opening is arranged above the platform in the hollow structural element and/or at least one additional flow opening is arranged below the platform in the hollow structural element.

3. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the control element is arranged directly at the flow opening.

4. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the control element is arranged between the flow opening and the ventilation tube, between the flow opening and the interior of the hollow structural element or on the outside of the flow opening.

5. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein at least one further flow opening is an outflow opening and/or that the at least one flow opening is an inflow opening.

6. Wind power plant according to claim 5, wherein the platform has a second opening, in particular in the region of the outflow opening.

7. Wind power plant according claim 6, wherein the outflow opening is flow-connected to the interior of the hollow structural element below the platform via the second opening.

8. Wind power plant according to claim 6, wherein a flow valve, in particular a 3/2 flow valve, is arranged between the second opening and the outflow opening, such that an inlet of the flow valve is flow-connected to the second opening and/or the control element, that a first outlet of the flow valve is flow-connected to the outflow opening, and that a second outlet of the flow valve is flow-connected to the interior of the hollow structural element above the platform.

9. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the control element is a fan, in particular a blower, a nozzle, a ventilator, a propeller and/or in that the control element is a controllable flap and/or shutter.

10. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the hollow structural element is a monopile.

11. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the wind power plant is a substation or a sub-station within a wind farm and/or that the wind power plant is a wind turbine.

12. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the platform is a cable support receiving cables inserted through the cable entry into the hollow structural element.

13. Wind power plant according to claim 12, wherein at least one current sensor is arranged on at least one of the cables.

14. Wind power plant according to claim 13, wherein the control element is controlled or regulated depending on an amperage measured by the current sensor.

15. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the platform has a first opening, in particular in the region of the flow opening.

16. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the flow opening is an inflow opening flow-connected to the ventilation tube via a first opening of the platform.

17. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the platform is an air tight deck.

18. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation tube extends along the longitudinal axis of the hollow structural element, in particular that the ventilation tube extends vertically in the installed state.

19. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation tube has outflow openings at intervals from one another, in particular at regular intervals from one another.

20. Wind power plant according to claim 19, wherein the outflow openings of the ventilation tube are formed as slots or bores and/or that the outflow openings of the ventilation tube are directed towards the center of the hollow structural element.

21. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation tube is open on the bottom side or that a bottom of the ventilation tube has an outflow opening.

22. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein the ventilation tube ends on a bottom side of the platform in the installed state at a distance from a sea water level.

23. Wind power plant according to claim 1, wherein at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the interior of the hollow structural element below the platform.

24. Wind power plant according to claim 23, wherein the control element is controlled or regulated depending on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the subject matter is explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing embodiments. In the drawing show:

(2) FIG. 1a-c various hollow structural elements with different foundations;

(3) FIG. 2 a hollow structural element according to an embodiment;

(4) FIG. 3 a flow valve according to an embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4a, b different supply air and exhaust air openings, respectively;

(6) FIG. 5 an arrangement of a ventilation tube according to an embodiment;

(7) FIG. 6 an ventilation tube with openings according to an embodiment;

(8) FIG. 7 a hollow structural element according to another embodiment;

(9) FIG. 8a-c a ventilation flap and/or closure according to an embodiment;

(10) FIG. 9a-c a ventilation flap and/or closure according to a further embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) FIG. 1a shows a monopile 2 as a hollow structural element. The monopile 2 is founded on the seabed 6 in open sea 4. The monopile 2 protrudes beyond LAT 4a and is connected to a turbine of a wind turbine, for example a sub-station 10, via a transition piece 8.

(12) Another hollow structure element is shown in FIG. 1b. Here, too, a monopile 2 is provided, which, however, is floating and is founded in the seabed 6 via anchors 12. By way of example, it is shown that another tower 14 is attached to the transition piece 8, for example supporting a wind turbine.

(13) Another possible foundation of a hollow structural element is shown in FIG. 1c. Here, a tripile 16 serves as a support for a sub-station 10 and is founded in the ground 6.

(14) These and other hollow structural elements as supports for wind turbines, for example wind turbines or substations, are suitable for the present arrangement of a cooling system.

(15) FIG. 2 shows a monopile 2 which is founded in the ground 6. Above a scour protection 18, approximately at a distance of 1 m to 5 m above the bottom 6, there are cable entries 20. Submarine cables 22 are guided through the cable entries 20 into the interior of the monopile 2. The submarine cables 22 are armored cables, for example with a steel reinforcement. They are guided inside the monopile from the cable entries 20 to a first platform 24. The submarine cables 22 are suspended from the platform 24 via cable hangers (not shown). The platform 24 is also referred to as an air tight deck, as the submarine cables 22 are routed from the bottom of the platform 24 to the top of the platform 24 in a substantially isolated manner. On the top of the platform 24, the submarine cables 22 can be interconnected as needed, for example with a transformer station not shown.

(16) Due to the cable routing inside the monopile 2, more than two, for example five, six, eight or ten submarine cables 22 may be routed inside the monopile 2 at the same time. Due to ohmic losses, joule heat is generated at the submarine cables 22, which must be dissipated. Unlike previous installations where the submarine cables 22 were routed outside the monopile 2 in J-tubes where they could be cooled by the ambient air, this option is only available to a limited extent in a present arrangement. The exchange of air inside the monopile 2 with the outside air is almost non-existent, so that, especially at high outside temperatures, the submarine cables 22 could exceed their nominal conductor temperature of, for example, 90° C.

(17) To prevent this, it is proposed that the submarine cables are cooled within the monopile 2 below the platform 24 via a ventilation tube 26. For this purpose, a flow opening 28 is provided in the monopile 2 above the platform 24. The flow opening 28 breaks through the outer skin of the monopile, allowing air to flow from the outside to the inside. A blower 30 is arranged at the flow opening 28. This blower 30 has its inlet flow-connected to the flow opening 28 and its outlet flow-connected to the ventilation tube 26 via a first opening in the platform 24. The blower 30 draws in air from the outside via the flow opening 28 and blows it into the interior of the monopile 2 under the platform 24 via the ventilation tube 26. This achieves a cooling effect on the cables 22.

(18) In order to increase the cooling effect, it is proposed that a flow opening is provided as an exhaust air opening 32 also penetrating the outer skin of the monopile 2. A blower 34 is provided at the exhaust opening 32. The blower 34 is connected to the interior space below the platform 24 via a second opening in the platform 24 having an inlet. The outlet of the blower 34 is at least flow-connected to the exhaust air opening 32, so that air is drawn in from the interior of the monopile 2 below the platform 24 via the blower 34 and is blown outward via the exhaust air opening 32. This achieves an air flow in the interior of the monopile 2 below the platform 24, which is used to remove heated air. Thus, an optimized cooling of the submarine cable 22 is achieved.

(19) The blowers 30, 34 may be controlled by a processor 36. The processor may be connected to temperature sensors 38 located within the monopile 2 below the platform 24 (not shown). The connection may be wired or wireless. Depending on the temperature measured by the temperature sensors 38, the processor 36 may also control the blowers 30, 34. In particular, P, PI, or PID control may be performed to adjust the output of the blowers 30, 34. The processor 36 may also effect control of the blowers 30, 34 via a current intensity measured by a current sensor (exemplarily shown in FIG. 7).

(20) FIG. 3 shows a variant in which the heated air from the interior of the monopile 2 is not necessarily blown out via the exhaust opening 32, but can be used for heating purposes during the winter months, for example, An inlet 32a of the blower 34 may be connected to the interior of the monopile 2 below the platform 24. An outlet 32b of the blower 34 may be connected to a flow valve 42. The flow valve 42 may be a 3/2 valve having an inlet 42a and two outlets 42b. A first outlet 42b may be flow connected to the exhaust opening 32, and a second outlet 42b may be connected to the interior of the monopile 2 above the platform 24 via an opening 40. Depending on the valve position of the flow valve 42, the heated air drawn in via the inlet 32a can thus either be blown out via the exhaust air opening 32 or blown into the interior of the monopile 2 via the opening 40 and protect technical equipment there from frost damage.

(21) FIGS. 4a, b show a wide variety of shapes for flow openings 28. Exhaust openings 32 can be designed accordingly. It can be seen that the flow openings 28 are arranged above the platform 24 on the outer skin of the monopile 2. The flow openings 28 may be formed by a plurality of openings as shown in FIG. 4a, or may be a single opening as shown in FIG. 4b.

(22) To distribute the sucked-in outside air inside the monopile 2, the ventilation tube 26 is preferably arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis of the monopile 2 on an inner wall of the outer skin of the monopile 2. According to FIG. 2, the ventilation tube 26 extends vertically in the installation position. Another arrangement is shown in FIG. 5, where the ventilation tube 26 is arranged helically circumferentially on the inner wall of the outer skin of the monopile 2. This enables a more uniform distribution of the intake supply air within the monopile 2.

(23) Openings 26a may be provided in the ventilation tube 26, as shown in FIG. 6. The openings 26b may, for example, be slot-shaped at regular intervals from one another. The openings 26a may be shaped facing the central axis of the monopile 2. The air drawn in from the ventilation tube flows into the interior of the monopile 2 via the openings 26a.

(24) FIG. 7 shows an embodiment example in which instead of the ventilation tube, a flow of cooling medium through the monopile 2 takes place directly via the flow openings 28, 32. It can be seen that flow openings 28, 32 can be arranged below the platform 24 in the outer skin of the monopile 2 above LAT 4a and/or below LAT.

(25) In the case where the flow openings are arranged above LAT 4a, a blower 30, 34 may be arranged inside the monopile 2 and/or outside the monopile 2, as shown. In this case, the blower 30, 34 may be arranged directly at a flow opening 28, 30.

(26) In case the flow openings are arranged below LAT 4a, a propeller or nozzle 30a, 34a may be arranged inside the monopile 2 and/or outside the monopile 2, as shown. In this regard, the fan 30a, 34a may be arranged directly at a flow opening 28, 32.

(27) A current sensor 44 may be arranged on one or more cables 22. This may be, for example, a Rogowski coil. This can be used to measure a current in the cables 22 and use this to drive control devices such as fans 30, 34, propellers 30a, 34a or fan flaps and/or shutters 30b, 34b (shown below), via the processor 36.

(28) FIGS. 8a-c show various positions of laterally pivotable fan flap and/or shutter 30a pivotably arranged on the inside or outside of the monopile 2 at a flow opening 28, 32. FIG. 8a shows a closed position, FIG. 8b shows an intermediate position, and FIG. 8c shows an open position. Depending on the position, the flow cross-section in the flow opening 28, 32 changes so that a flow of medium (air and/or water) can be influenced. The position can be adjusted by the processor 36, in particular controlled by the measured temperature or the measured current intensity.

(29) FIGS. 9a-c show various positions of forwardly pivotable fan flap and/or shutter 30a arranged on the inside or outside of the monopile 2 at a flow opening 28, 32. FIG. 9a shows a closed position, FIG. 9b shows an intermediate position, and FIG. 9c shows an open position. Depending on the position, the flow cross-section in the flow opening 28, 32 changes so that a flow of medium (air and/or water) can be influenced. The position can be adjusted by the processor 36, in particular controlled by the measured temperature or the measured current intensity.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(30) 2 Monopile 4 Lake 4 LAT 6 Seabed 8 Transition Piece 10 Substation 12 Anchor 14 Tower 16 Tripile 18 Scour protection 20 Cable entry 22 Submarine cable 24 Platform 26 Air inlet or outlet tube 28 Flow opening 30 blower 30a Propeller 30b Fan flap and/or shutter 32a Exhaust air opening 34 blower 34b Fan flap and/or shutter 34a Propeller 36 Processor 38 Temperature sensor 40 Opening 42 Flow valve 44 current sensor

(31) All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.

(32) The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

(33) Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.