WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A COOLING OF A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION

Abstract

A wind power installation in which conduits through which a cooling medium flows are passed from the interior of the wind power installation through the tower wall or through the foundation outwardly, and the cooling conduits in the heat exchanger bear externally against the tower or are arranged there and are arranged between the tower wall and a cover of the wall of the cooling system.

Claims

1. A wind power installation comprising: a foundation; a tower having a tower wall and a longitudinal axis on the foundation; a first cooling unit in a lower region of the tower having a plurality of heat exchangers; and an outer wall spaced from the lower region of the tower wall by an intermediate space, wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are arranged in the intermediate space between the tower wall and the outer wall of the first cooling unit, wherein the first cooling unit has a plurality of lower openings beneath the plurality of heat exchangers and a plurality of upper openings above the plurality of heat exchangers, and wherein the first cooling unit has a roof extending between the tower wall and the outer wall of the cooling unit and covers the intermediate space, wherein the first cooling unit has at least one cooling conduit that extends through at least one of the tower wall or the foundation, wherein a cooling medium flows through the at least one cooling conduit, and wherein the first cooling unit has at least one fan configured to draw in air through the lower openings and passes the air through the heat exchangers so that the air is provided through the upper openings.

2. The wind power installation according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of heat exchangers are arranged substantially perpendicularly or horizontally relative to the longitudinal axis of the tower of the wind power installation.

3. (canceled)

4. The wind power installation according to claim 1 further comprising: a second control unit in an interior of the tower, the second control unit having at least one fan and at least one cooling passage in at least one of the tower wall or the foundation, wherein the fan is adapted to cause air to flow along the at least one cooling passage along at least one of the tower wall and/or or the foundation for cooling purposes.

5. The wind power installation according to claim 1 and further comprising: a third cooling unit in the cellar, and a cooling control unit adapted to control at least one of the first, second or third cooling unit.

6. The wind power installation according to claim 4, further comprising: a fourth cooling unit in the foundation of the wind power installation, wherein the fourth cooling unit has at least one cooling passage in the foundation, and wherein the control unit is adapted to control operation of at least one of the first, second, third or fourth control unit.

7. A retro-fittable cooling unit for a wind power installation which has a tower with a tower wall, comprising a roof, an outer wall having a plurality of lower and upper openings, and a plurality of heat exchangers within the outer wall and between the lower and upper openings, wherein the cooling unit is configured to be arranged around the tower wall, wherein the cooling unit has at least one cooling conduit configured to extend through at least one of the tower wall or a foundation, wherein a cooling medium is configured to flow through the cooling unit, and wherein the cooling unit has at least one fan configured to draw in air through the lower openings and passes the air through the heat exchangers so that the air passes through the upper openings.

8. A method comprising: controlling cooling of a wind power installation, the wind power installation including a tower having a tower wall and a longitudinal axis, wherein the wind power installation has a first cooling unit in a lower region of the tower and externally to the tower, the first cooling unit including a plurality of heat exchangers, the wind power installation having a second cooling unit in an interior of the tower, third cooling unit in a cellar of the wind power installation, and a fourth cooling unit in a foundation of the wind power installation, wherein controlling comprises: controlling operation of the first, second, third and fourth cooling units using a cooling control unit, wherein in a first mode of operation one of first, second, third, and fourth cooling units is activated while other of the first, second, third and fourth cooling units are deactivated, wherein in a second mode of operation two of the first, second, third, and fourth cooling units are activated while the two of the first, second, third, and fourth cooling units are deactivated, wherein in a third mode of operation three of the first, second, third, and fourth cooling units are activated, and wherein in a fourth mode of operation each of the first, second, third, and fourth cooling units are activated.

9. The wind power installation according to claim 2, wherein surfaces of the plurality of heat exchangers are arranged substantially perpendicularly or horizontally relative to the longitudinal axis of the tower of the wind power installation.

10. The wind power installation according to claim 5, wherein the third cooling unit is a heat storage means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a wind power installation according to the invention,

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a lower region of a tower of a wind power installation according to a first embodiment,

[0033] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic partial section of a tower of a wind power installation according to the first embodiment,

[0034] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of a cooling unit of a wind power installation according to a second embodiment,

[0035] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a lower region of a tower of a wind power installation according to a first or a second embodiment,

[0036] FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a lower region of a tower of a wind power installation according to the first or second embodiment,

[0037] FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a wind power installation according to a third embodiment, and

[0038] FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a wind power installation according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a wind power installation according to the invention. The wind power installation 100 has a tower 102 having a longitudinal axis 102b and a pod 104 on the tower 102. The tower 102 can have a plurality of tower segments which are placed one upon the other to constitute the tower 102. Provided at the pod 104 is an aerodynamic rotor 106 with for example three rotor blades 108 and a spinner 101. The aerodynamic rotor 106 is caused to rotate by the wind in operation of the wind power installation and thus also rotates a rotor member of an electric generator which is directly or indirectly coupled to the aerodynamic rotor 106. The electric generator is arranged in the pod 104 and generates electrical energy. The pitch angle of the rotor blades 108 can be changed by pitch motors at the rotor blade roots of the respective rotor blades 108.

[0040] A first cooling unit 200 is provided in the region of a lower tower segment. In this case the first cooling unit 200 is provided externally at the lower or around the lower tower segment or the tower base.

[0041] The cooling unit can be in the form of a continuous ring or alternatively also not continuous, but segment-wise, for example in the form of a half-segment, quarter-segment, eighth-segment and so forth around the tower of the wind power installation.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic view of a lower region of a tower of a wind power installation according to a first embodiment. The first cooling unit 200 has a wall 202 and a roof 203 and preferably completely surrounds the tower 102. As an alternative thereto however the first cooling unit 200 may also only partially surround the tower 102. The first cooling unit 200 has a plurality of lower openings 204 and a plurality of upper openings 205 in the wall 202. The upper openings can also be provided in the roof 203 of the first cooling unit. The first cooling unit also has at least one door 201.

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic partial section of a tower of a wind power installation according to the first embodiment. The first cooling unit 200 has a wall 202 having a plurality of lower openings 204 and a plurality of upper openings 205. The wall 202 is at a spacing relative to the wall 102a of the tower 102. A plurality of heat exchangers 210 is provided between the tower wall 102a and the wall 202 of the first cooling unit 200. The heat exchangers 210 can have for example a cooling conduit or a plurality of cooling conduits. Optionally the heat exchangers 210 can be arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal direction 102b of the tower 201.

[0044] Cool air can be sucked in through the lower openings 204, guided past the heat exchangers 210, and the heated air can then be discharged outwardly by way of the upper openings 205.

[0045] A cooling agent can be present in the heat exchangers 210, the cooling agent being passed through the tower wall 102a to cool the components of the wind power installation.

[0046] In particular the heat exchangers 210 can have a heat exchanger surface 211 which represents the active heat-exchanging surface 211. The heat-exchanging surface 211 can have for example a plurality of walls of the cooling conduits so that the cool air flowing through the heat-exchanging surface 211 cools the cooling agent in the cooling conduits.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows a diagrammatic view of a first cooling unit of a wind power installation according to a second embodiment. FIG. 4 in particular shows only the first cooling unit 200. The first cooling unit 200 has a wall 202, a plurality of lower openings 204, a plurality of upper openings 205 and a plurality of heat exchangers 210. Optionally fans 220 can be respectively arranged under the heat exchangers 210. Accordingly cool air can be sucked in by the fans 220 by way of the lower openings 204, guided past the heat exchanger 210 (being heated there) and discharged by way of the upper openings 205. A cooling agent in the heat exchangers 210 can be cooled by that air flow.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section of a lower region of a tower of the wind power installation. The wall 202 of the first cooling unit 200 is disposed at a spacing relative to the wall 102a of the tower segment 102. A plurality of heat exchangers 210 can be provided in the region between the tower wall 102a and the wall 202 of the first cooling unit 200.

[0049] FIG. 6 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a lower region of a tower of a wind power installation according to the first or second embodiment. The first cooling unit 200 has a wall 202 at a spacing relative to the tower wall 102a, a plurality of lower openings 204 and a plurality of upper openings 205. A plurality of heat exchangers 210 is provided between the tower wall 102a and the wall 202 of the first cooling unit 200, for example being arranged perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the tower. Optionally a fan 220 can be provided beneath each heat exchanger 210.

[0050] In an alternative embodiment the first cooling unit 200 does not have any ventilators or fans 220 but at least one pump to convey a cooling agent through the heat exchangers 210.

[0051] FIG. 7 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a wind power installation according to a third embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a wind power installation as is described in EP 1 200 733. In addition thereto provided in the lower region of the tower is a first cooling unit 200 according to the first or second embodiment. The wind power installation of the third embodiment thus has two cooling systems or cooling units. FIG. 7 shows a cross-section through a wind power installation having a pod 104 at the head end of a tower 102. The pod 104 can accommodate a main drive train of the wind power installation. That main drive train substantially comprises an aerodynamic rotor 106 and rotor blades 108 mounted thereto. The aerodynamic rotor 106 is connected to a generator 130 which has a generator rotor member 160 and a generator stator 170. When the aerodynamic rotor 106 and therewith the generator rotor member 160 rotate electrical energy, for example in the form of ac current or dc current, is generated. A transformer 180 and a power cabinet 190 having an inverter can be provided in the lower region of the tower 102.

[0052] In addition the wind power installation has a second cooling unit which for example in the lower region of the tower 102 has at least one fan 100a which can drive air from the region of the transformer 180 and the power cabinet or inverter 190 through a passage 112 along the wall of the tower 102 upwardly into the pod 104. There the air flow flows through or past the generator 130 and flows downwardly again along the wall 102a of the tower 102. Thus the air is cooled and a closed cooling circuit is obtained, which is highly advantageous in particular in the offshore region because in that way no external air or only greatly limited external air can enter. The cooling passages 112, 111 can be in the form of hoses or conduits. As an alternative thereto the wall of the tower 102 can be of a double-wall structure. Because the heated air flows upwardly from the lower region of the tower 102 through the passage 111 and thus flows past the wall of the tower 102 the wall of the tower 102 acts as a heat exchanger so that the air is cooled down within the passages.

[0053] Optionally the power cabinet 190 and a transformer 180 can be cooled by the air flow through the cooling passages 111, 112 of the second cooling unit.

[0054] As already described above a cooling unit 200 is additionally provided in the lower region of the tower 102.

[0055] Thus the wind power installation of the third embodiment has a cooling system comprising two cooling units. The second cooling unit is provided by the passages 111, 112 at the wall of the tower 102 and by the fan 100a. The first cooling unit 200 corresponds to the cooling unit of the first or second embodiment.

[0056] In the case of a combination of both cooling units, each of the cooling units can then be controlled in such a way as to achieve optimum cooling of the wind power installation on the one hand and also optimum operation of the individual cooling units on the other hand.

[0057] The wind power installation of the third embodiment has a cooling control unit 300. The cooling control unit 300 is coupled both to the first cooling unit 200, 210 and also to the second cooling unit (fan 100a). The control unit 300 can also receive operating parameters of the wind power installation like for example the temperature of the generator, a temperature of the transformer, a temperature of the power cabinet, an outside temperature and so forth, and appropriately control operation of the first and second cooling units. In a first mode of operation of the cooling control unit 300 only the second cooling unit is controlled, by controlling the speed of rotation of the fan 100a. The first cooling unit 200 can be deactivated in that case. In a second mode of operation only the first cooling unit 200 is activated but not the second cooling unit 100a. In a third mode of operation both the first and also the second cooling units 100a, 200 are activated. The cooling control unit 300 is adapted to control operation of the first and second cooling units 100a, 200 in such a way as to achieve optimum cooling, having regard to the cooling properties of the first and second cooling units.

[0058] Thus according to an aspect of the invention it is possible that it is not both cooling units that always and constantly contribute to cooling the overall assemblies of the wind power installation to the same individually and maximum possible extent, but that when a first cooling effect for the wind power installation is required, firstly the first cooling unit in accordance with the first or second embodiment is operated and that with a further increase in the demand for cooling the second cooling unit in the interior of the tower, that is to say with the closed cooling circuit, is switched on.

[0059] It will be appreciated that it is also possible for the individual systems to be switched on in precisely the reverse fashion, therefore for example in the low part-load range of the wind power installation, firstly operation is to be implemented only with the first cooling unit of FIG. 7, and it is only when there is a higher demand for cooling that the second cooling unit is added.

[0060] Switching-on of the individual cooling units can be controlled in target-oriented fashion by means of the control unit 300 and the respective proportion of cooling of the individual cooling units can be adjusted in target-oriented fashion in order thereby to provide for optimum cooling of the components in the wind power installation on the one hand, and on the other hand to operate overall cooling of the wind power installation with the lowest possible level of energy expenditure.

[0061] Finally it is preferably also possible for the closed cooling circuit arranged in the interior of the tower of the wind power installation to be connected into the cooling circuit provided at the outside wall of the tower wall but within the cover.

[0062] A gas, for example air, but also liquid, for example water, oil or the like can be used as the cooling medium.

[0063] When using a gas as the cooling medium it is provided by means of a fan device that the cooling medium is moved through the conduits/pipes. When using a liquid cooling medium forced convection is implemented by means of a pump or a plurality of pumps.

[0064] The fans on the one hand and/or the pumps on the other hand are in that case controlled by the control unit 300 and connected thereto.

[0065] FIG. 8 shows a diagrammatic sectional view of a wind power installation according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 8 shows in particular only a lower part of the wind power installation and the foundation thereof. The wind power installation has a tower 102 and a foundation 600. A first cooling unit 200 according to the first or second embodiment is provided around the lower region of the tower. Provided in the interior of the tower of the wind power installation is at least one fan 101 as well as cooling passages 111, 112 which provide a second cooling unit according to the third embodiment shown in FIG. 7. Optionally a third cooling unit like for example a heat storage means 400 can be provided in a cellar 100b beneath the tower 102. That heat storage means 400 can represent for example a water tank of for example 20 m.sup.3 or more. The heat storage means 400 thus represents a third cooling unit and can be connected to the first and/or second cooling unit 200, 100a. As in the third embodiment there is provided a cooling control unit 300 which can be coupled to the first, second and/or third cooling unit and can control operation of the respective cooling units.

[0066] In addition thereto a fourth cooling unit 500 can optionally be provided in the foundation 600 of the wind power installation. The fourth cooling unit 500 can be in the form of a heat exchanger with cooling passages 501 in the foundation 600. The fourth cooling unit 500 can be coupled to the first, second and/or third cooling unit.

[0067] The wind power installation can have a concrete tower or a steel tower or a combination thereof.

[0068] Air conditioning or climate control of the cellar 100b can be made possible with the heat storage means 400 or the third cooling unit 400 in the cellar 100b. That is advantageous if for example clamping anchors are provided for example in the case of a concrete tower in the cellar 100b. Accordingly rusting of the anchors can be at least reduced by operation of the third cooling unit 400.

[0069] Optionally the transformer 180 and/or the power cabinet 190 with the power electronics as shown in FIG. 7 can be provided in the cellar 100b. Operation of the third cooling unit 400, namely the heat storage means 400, can thus be controlled by the control unit 300 in such a way that the power cabinet 190 and/or the transformer 180 in the cellar 100b are cooled or the cellar 100b can be air-conditioned or climate-controlled by operation of the third cooling unit 400. In regard to control of the first, second, third or fourth cooling unit the control unit 300 can optionally detect the temperature in the cellar 100b, in the foundation 600 and outside the tower 102 and take that into account in its control.