A SET OF UNITS FOR MAKING A WIND TURBINE NACELLE
20220412315 · 2022-12-29
Inventors
Cpc classification
Y02P70/50
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F03D9/19
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E70/30
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F03D13/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D80/82
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2240/14
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
F03D13/10
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D80/80
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
A set of units for assembly to form a wind turbine nacelle. The nacelle comprises a rotor-supporting assembly and generator, and a power conversion assembly and the set of units comprises a main unit arranged to be connected to a wind turbine tower and housing the rotor-supporting assembly and the generator, and at least two different auxiliary units each housing an operative component forming part of the power conversion assembly. To allow different wind turbine configurations, one of the auxiliary units can be selected from the at least two auxiliary units and assembled with the main unit to form the nacelle.
Claims
1. A set of units for assembly to form a nacelle for a wind turbine, the nacelle comprising a rotor-supporting assembly, and a power conversion assembly, the set of units comprising: a main unit arranged to be connected to a wind turbine tower and housing the rotor-supporting assembly, and at least two different auxiliary units each housing an operative component forming part of the power conversion assembly, wherein the at least two different auxiliary units have identical interfaces towards the main unit whereby one of the auxiliary units can be selected from the at least two auxiliary units and assembled with the main unit to form the nacelle.
2. The set of units according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least two auxiliary units does not form part of the nacelle.
3. The set of units according to claim 2, wherein a generator of the wind turbine is operational with the operative component in each of the auxiliary units, to deliver power from the generator in a converted form without the use of the auxiliary unit not forming part of the nacelle.
4. The set of units according to claim 1, wherein the main unit defines a first interface allowing selectively connection of one of said at least two different auxiliary units, such that each auxiliary units can be attached on the same location on the main unit.
5. The set of units according to claim 4, wherein the main unit defines a second interface on an opposite side of the main unit and allowing selectively connection of one or the other of said at least two different auxiliary units.
6. The set of units according to claim 4, wherein the identical interfaces of the at least two different auxiliary units can be assembled with the first and the second interfaces.
7. The set of units according to claim 5, comprising at least two different auxiliary units configured for the first interface and/or at least two auxiliary units configured for the second interface.
8. The set of units according to claim 1, wherein one of the at least two auxiliary units houses an operative component of a type selected from the group consisting of: transformers, converters, batteries, electrolysis cells, and switch gears, and wherein another of the at least two auxiliary units houses a different operative components of a type selected from the group consisting of: transformers, converters, batteries, electrolysis cells, and switch gears.
9. The set of units according to claim 8, wherein both auxiliary units house an operative component of the same type.
10. The set of units according to claim 9, wherein both operative components of the same type have different power rating.
11. The set of units according to claim 8, wherein the auxiliary units house an operative component of different type.
12. The set of units according to claim 11, wherein the set of units comprises a first line of auxiliary units each housing an operative component of a first type and each operative component having different capacity, and wherein the set of units comprises a second line of auxiliary units housing operative components of a second type, the operative components of the second type interacting with the operative component of the first type during operation of the wind turbine nacelle, and each operative component of the second type having a capacity matching a capacity of one of the operative components of the first type housed in one of the auxiliary units of the first line of auxiliary units.
13. The set of units according to claim 1, wherein the two different auxiliary units having identical interfaces towards the main unit facilitate attachment to at least two different locations on the main unit.
14. The set of units according to claim 13, wherein the at least two different locations on the main unit is a right side location and a left side location on opposite sides of the rotor supporting assembly.
15. The nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the wind turbine comprises a generator located outside the nacelle.
16. The nacelle according to claim 1, wherein the nacelle further houses a generator.
17. A wind turbine comprising a nacelle according to claim 1.
18. A method of making a nacelle by use of a set or units according to claim 1, the method comprising: selecting a main unit and one of the at least two different auxiliary units, and making the nacelle by connecting the selected auxiliary unit to the main unit.
19. The method according to claim 18, comprising leaving at least one of the at least two auxiliary units as an auxiliary unit which does not form part of the nacelle.
20. The method according to claim 18, comprising the step of attaching the nacelle to a wind turbine tower by assembling the main unit and the wind turbine tower.
21. The method according to claim 20, comprising a subsequent step of assembling the auxiliary unit and the main unit after the main unit is attached to the wind turbine tower.
22. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining for each auxiliary unit, constraints defining other auxiliary units configured for interaction with the auxiliary unit in question, or defining other auxiliary units not capable of interaction with the auxiliary unit in question.
23. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining: a desired nacelle configuration; determining a plurality of combinations between at least one main unit and different auxiliary units; defining, for each combination, the resulting nacelle configuration; and selecting a combination based on a comparison of the resulting nacelle configuration and the desired nacelle configuration.
24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the defined desired nacelle configuration and the defined resulting nacelle configuration comprises at least one of a desired grid frequency, an output rated power, and a specific desired climate condition.
25. The method according to claim 18, comprising selecting a combination between a main unit and an auxiliary unit based on a generator power and mean wind speed defined for the main unit and a total rated power of a conversion assembly defined for the auxiliary unit.
26. The method according to claim 18, wherein the main unit and the auxiliary unit is selected to provide a nacelle which produces a chemical substance based on power from the generator.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the main unit and the auxiliary unit is selected to provide a nacelle which produces electrical power for a grid in addition to the chemical substance which is produced based on power from the generator.
28. The method according to claim 18, wherein the main unit and the auxiliary unit is selected to provide a nacelle which produces electrical power based on an airborne unit.
29. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining a plurality of combinations of a main unit with different auxiliary units for the left side of the main unit.
30. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining a plurality of combinations of a main unit with different auxiliary units for the right side of the main unit.
31. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining a plurality of combinations of different main units with one or more auxiliary units for the right side of the main unit.
32. The method according to claim 18, comprising defining a plurality of combinations of different main units with one or more auxiliary units for the left side of the main unit.
Description
LIST OF DRAWINGS
[0094] In the following, embodiments of the disclosure will be described in further details with reference to the drawing in which:
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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0111] The detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
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[0115] The auxiliary unit 22 accommodates a transformer unit 34, and a converter unit 35 which herein constitute two different operative components being accommodated in the auxiliary unit. In alternative embodiments, the operative component could be an electrolysis cell stack, or a battery.
[0116] Each auxiliary unit 21, 22 is mounted along a side of the main unit 20 via an interface. In the disclosed embodiment, they are mounted in such a manner that one auxiliary unit 21 is mounted along a right side of the main unit 20 and the other auxiliary unit 22 is mounted along a left side of the main unit 20, as seen in a direction along a rotational axis of the hub 4 from the hub 4 towards a rear wall of the main unit 20.
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[0122] The set of units additionally comprises a number of drivetrains 74 configured differently, e.g. with respect to main bearing, drive shaft, or gearbox etc. e.g. to provide a desired nacelle configuration, e.g. for a particular climatic condition etc., i.e. e.g. to match a specific wind condition.
[0123] The set of units further comprises several hubs 75 matching rotors of different sizes, e.g. to match different power requirements or climatic conditions. The set further comprises different heat exchangers 76 for matching different needs for cooling and/or different climatic conditions.
[0124] By means of an example, the following units and combinations of units may be defined:
[0125] RX=Right side mount auxiliary unit number X, example: R1 is an auxiliary unit for mounting on the right side of the main unit and having identification number 1 in the set of units.
[0126] LX=left side mount auxiliary unit number X, example: L3 is an auxiliary unit for mounting on the left side of the main unit and having identification number 3 in the set of units
[0127] Main unit/Auxiliary configuration example with Asynchronous or synchronous generator and full converter AC/DC to DC/AC
TABLE-US-00001 Transformer and Rotor Gener- Mean Converter Converter/ dia- Main ator wind- module auxiliary meter unit power speed total units 100 1 3 high 3 MW L1 110 1 2.5 MW medium 2.5 MW L2 120 1 2.0 MW low 2 MW L3 150 2 6 MW high 2 × 3 MW L1 + R1 160 2 5 MW medium 2 × 2.5 MW L2 + R2 165 2 4 MW low 2 × 2 MW L3 + R3 180 3 5.5 MW medium 3 MW + 2.5 MW L1 + R2 170 3 7 MW high 3 + 4 MW L1 + R4
[0128] Main unit/auxiliary units configuration example with a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) Generator and partly power converter AC/DC DC/AC:
TABLE-US-00002 Rotor Gener- Converter Converter/ Trans- dia- Main ator module auxiliary former meter unit power total units power 100 1 3 0.6 MW L5 3 MW 110 1 2.5 MW 0.5 MW L6 2.5 MW 120 1 2.0 MW 0.4 MW L7 2 MW 150 2 .sub. 6 MW 2 × 0.6 MW MW L1 + R5 2 × 3 MW
[0129] Main unit/auxiliary units configuration example with AD/DC( ) converter(generator side) and Hydrogen
TABLE-US-00003 Hydrogen AC/DC auxiliary Rotor Gener- Converter Converter/ units With dia- Main ator module auxiliary electrolysis meter unit power 3 MW units cell 100 1 3 MW 3 MW R5 L
[0130] Main unit/auxiliary units configuration example with AD/DC( ) converter(generator side) and storage
TABLE-US-00004 AC/DC Rotor Gener- Converter Converter/ dia- Main ator module auxiliary Flow meter unit power 3 MW units battery 100 1 3 MW 0.6 MW L8 R7
[0131] Main unit/Auxiliary configuration example with Asynchronous or synchronous generator and full converter AC/DC to DC/AC and Kite unit
TABLE-US-00005 AC/DC to Rotor Gener- DC/AC Converter/ dia- Main ator Converter auxiliary Airborne meter unit power module 3 MW units unit 100 1 3 MW 3 MW R1 L9
[0132] The Module L9 is an auxiliary module hosting an airborne unit which is an energy harvesting system where an airborne unit, e.g. a kite or foil, can harvest energy while being airborne, e.g. connected by a cable to the auxiliary unit.
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[0134] At least one of the two auxiliary units 72′ is an auxiliary unit which does not form part of the nacelle but which allows replacement with a different auxiliary unit.
[0135] The two auxiliary units 72′, 72″ each make the main unit operational and therefore provides two alternative configurations. The upper auxiliary unit 72′ comprises essentially the same components included in auxiliary unit 73 and can therefore be used for changing the power rating. The lower auxiliary unit 72″ contains a different power conversion module, e.g. a fuel cell for converting electric power from the generator into other forms of energy such as hydrogen etc.
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[0139] At least 50 percent of the weight of the transformer 104 is thereby carried by the main unit 101 and the remaining weight is carried by the auxiliary unit 102, which is again carried by the main unit 101. That remaining part of the weight is thereby not carried directly by the main unit 101.
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[0147] In addition to the hook and bracket interface illustrated in
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[0149] Such a gap may increase thermal convection and thus cooling of the space inside the main and auxiliary units.
[0150] The gap is not limited to the embodiment with the hinge structure but could be combined with any other assembly method.
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[0157] The hook could be moved between the open position (
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DEFINITIONS
[0164] Herein, the term “nacelle” means the generally accepted term describing the machine house for a wind turbine, i.e. that part which carries the rotor and drivetrain, and which is carried by the wind turbine tower.
[0165] The terms “main unit” and “auxiliary unit” herein refers to units which can be transported separately, and which can be assembled with one or more other units to form the nacelle.
[0166] Herein, the term “rotor-supporting assembly” refers to those parts of the nacelle which carries the rotor, typically a drivetrain, a main bearing and a main frame. The drivetrain may include different components depending on the type of wind turbine, e.g. a rotor shaft, the generator, and optionally a gearbox between the rotor shaft and the generator.