WIND TURBINE

Abstract

A wind turbine is provided, including multiple wind turbine blades fixed to a rotor hub, a nacelle to which the rotor hub is mounted, and a tower carrying the nacelle, wherein wind turbine components are housed in a housing of the nacelle, wherein a mounting device is provided inside the nacelle, the mounting device providing at least two module receivers, wherein at least two first modules each including at least one of the wind turbine components are each detachably mounted in a respective module receiver, and wherein the housing includes, for each module receiver, a closable access opening.

Claims

1. A wind turbine, comprising multiple wind turbine blades fixed to a rotor hub, a nacelle to which the rotor hub is mounted, and a tower carrying the nacelle, wherein wind turbine components are housed in a housing of the nacelle, wherein a mounting device is provided inside the nacelle, the mounting device providing at least two module receivers, wherein at least two first modules each comprising at least one of the wind turbine components are each detachably mounted in a respective receivers, and wherein the housing comprises, for each module receivers, a closable access opening.

2. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein each first module comprises at least one module connector for establishing a power connection and/or data connection and/or fluid connection and each module receiver comprises at least one nacelle connector such that, upon inserting a first module into the nacelle using the respective module receiver, associated connector are automatically connected.

3. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein all first modules comprise identical coupler for coupling to a least one hoist.

4. The wind turbine according to claim 3, wherein the wind turbine comprises a crane and/or a winch in the nacelle as at least one of the at least one hoist.

5. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the mounting device comprises at least one frame defining mounting positions for the first modules received by each module receiver.

6. The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the first modules are attached to the frame by detachable attachment, comprising bolts.

7. The wind turbine according to claim 6, wherein the frame is configured to hold a first module before attaching it using the detachable attachment, such that at least one bearing surface of the first module rests against a bearing surface of the frame.

8. The wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the frame has upper frame openings for first each module receiver and each first module has a body of smaller dimensions than the frame openings and an upper flange of dimensions larger than the frame openings, such that the first modules rest suspended in the mounting position with the flange resting on the rim of one of the frame openings.

9. The wind turbine according to claim 8, wherein a detachable guide for guiding a first module into a frame opening is provided.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein each module receiver comprises a telescopic mounting arm which is prolonged in a telescopic manner to a receiving or removing position outside the nacelle and shortened to move a first module into the nacelle.

11. The wind turbine according to claim 10, wherein the closable access opening is provided at a side of the nacelle or a back of the nacelle opposite the rotor hub.

12. The wind turbine according to claim 10, wherein the wind turbine further comprises at least one second module mounted to the outside of the nacelle.

13. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the module receiver are located in an upper part of the nacelle, wherein at least one third module, a gearbox module and/or a generator module, are placed below the first modules supported by a bedframe of the nacelle.

14. The wind turbine according to claim 13, wherein the access opening is at the top of the nacelle such that the third modules are insertable and removable through the access opening when at least a part of the first modules are removed.

15. The wind turbine according to claim 1, wherein the access opening is closed by an outer surface of the first modules.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0040] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0041] FIG. 1 shows a general schematic view of a wind turbine according to embodiments of the invention;

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional detail of a first embodiment of a nacelle of the wind turbine;

[0043] FIG. 3 shows a view from above onto the nacelle area in the first embodiment;

[0044] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a frame part and three first modules in the first embodiment;

[0045] FIG. 5 shows a second perspective view of the frame part and the three first modules;

[0046] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional detail view of a rim of a frame opening and a flange of a first module;

[0047] FIG. 7 shows a schematical view of a nacelle according to a second embodiment;

[0048] FIG. 8 shows a schematical view from above onto a third embodiment of a nacelle; and

[0049] FIG. 9 shows a schematical view from above onto a fourth embodiment of a nacelle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] FIG. 1 is a schematical view of a wind turbine 1 according to embodiments of the invention. The wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 2 carrying a rotatably mounted nacelle 3. Via a rotor hub 4, in this case, three blades 5 are mounted.

[0051] In the nacelle 3 and in this case partly also on the nacelle 3, components of the wind turbine 1 are mounted in first modules 6, second modules 7 and optional third modules 8, as further explained below. Furthermore, an internal crane 9 as a hoisting means is also provided in the nacelle 3.

[0052] The wind turbine 1 may be an onshore wind turbine or an offshore wind turbine. If the wind turbine 1 is configured to provide electrical power, components in the nacelle 3 may, for example, comprise a gear box, a generator, switch gear, a converter, a transformer, at least one hydraulic power pack for blade tilting hydraulics, at least one control device and/or control cabinet, a power source, an elevator, a cooling device and/or a service unit. If hydrogen is to be produced using the wind turbine 1, components may further comprise an electrolyzer device and/or electrolyzer support equipment. Such components are in principle known and do not need to be further discussed here.

[0053] A first concrete embodiment of the nacelle 3 is shown in FIG. 2. Here, the nacelle 3 comprises a housing 10 having multiple cover elements. Access openings are provided at the top of the housing 10, wherein, in each of the here three access openings, a first module 6a, 6b, 6c has been inserted such that it rests suspended on a frame 11, which may be the main frame of the nacelle 3. That is, the frame 11 is configured to provide frame openings aligned with the access openings such that module receiving a mounting device are formed, wherein the modules 6a, 6b and 6c are received and mounted in a mounting position shown in FIG. 2. As can be seen, the outer surface 12 of the first modules 6a, 6b and 6c are level with the housing 10 and hence form part of the housing 10.

[0054] A second module 7 is mounted to the housing 10 on top of the nacelle. Third modules 8, if present, may rest below the first modules 6a, 6b, 6c, for example on the bedframe of the nacelle 3.

[0055] Each of the modules 6a, 6b, 6c, 7, and optionally 8 comprises at least one respective component 13a, 13b, 13c, 14, wherein, in this case, the component 13a is a converter, the component 13b is a transformer and the component 13c is a control cabinet with multiple control devices. Hence, the first module 6a may be termed converter module, the first module 6b may be termed transformer module and the first module 6c may be termed control module. It is noted that, generally, the first modules 6a, 6b and 6c may have the same size such that each first module 6a, 6b and 6c may be used with each module receiving means. In other embodiments, module receiving means may be configured to receive a special type of first modules 6, 6a, 6b, 6c.

[0056] The at least one component 14 is one or more cooling devices, such that the second module 7 may also be called the cooling module. If the at least one component 14 comprises fans, ambient air can be sucked in and/or cooling air can be exhausted easily.

[0057] Components of third modules 8 may in particular comprise a gear box, if provided, and/or a generator. These components may also be located below the first modules 6a, 6b and 6c without being part or forming a third module 8 themselves.

[0058] In the first embodiment and all further embodiments, although for simplicity not shown there, each module 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7, and optionally 8 comprises module connection means 15 for establishing a power connection and/or a data connection and/or a fluid connection, wherein the respective connection means 15 automatically connect with corresponding nacelle connection means 16 of the nacelle 3. That is, when a module 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, 7, and optionally also 8 is inserted or mounted into or at, respectively, their associated mounting position, the necessary connections are automatically established. In the case of the first modules 6, 6a, 6b, 6c, these connections are automatically established upon insertion into the respective module receiving means. The resulting system may be called plug-and-connect system. Connection guiding means (not shown) may be employed, for example, in the nacelle 3.

[0059] As can be seen from FIG. 2, at least the first modules 6, 6a, 6b, 6c and the second modules 7 each comprise coupling means 17, for example a hook and/or a loop, to connect to hoisting means, for example the crane 9, such that they can be lifted from and to the nacelle 3 and/or to the ground/sea level, respectively.

[0060] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view from above onto the nacelle area of the first embodiment. As can be seen, all modules 6a, 6b, 6c and 7 can be accessed from the top.

[0061] FIGS. 4 and 5 show perspective views of a part of the frame 11 and the first modules 6a, 6b and 6c, while FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional detail. In FIG. 5, the first module 6b is shown above the corresponding frame opening 18, in particular still attached to a hoisting means via the coupling means 17. It is hence ready to be inserted. To guide the insertion process, a detachable guiding means 19 indicated in FIG. 2 may be provided, for example comprising guide rails and/or guide surfaces, which can, for example, be mounted to the housing 10 adjacent the access opening 20 indicated in FIG. 6. To insert the first module 6b into its mounting position, it is lowered through the access opening 20 and the frame opening 18 into the nacelle 3. As can be seen, each module 6a, 6b and 6c has a lower body 21 having smaller dimensions than both the frame opening 18 and the access opening 20 and an upper flange 22 having larger dimensions than the frame opening 18, but smaller dimensions than the access opening 20. Hence, when the first module 6b is lowered to its mounting position, the flange 22 comes to rest on the rim 23 of the frame opening 18, such that the frame 11 supports the first module 6b (as the other first modules 6a, 6c) suspendedly. To provide sealing and damping, a sealing and damping means 24 is provided on the rim 23 of the frame opening 18, for example a sealing tape, strip or cord.

[0062] Once the first module 6b is supported by the frame 11, the hoisting means may be decoupled from the coupling means 17, in particular before attachment means 25, as indicated in FIG. 2 and in this case comprising bolts 26, may be used to secure the first module 6b to the frame 11 and hence the nacelle 3.

[0063] In the following embodiments, attachment means 25, sealing and damping means 24, coupling means 17 and connection means 15, 16 will not be shown again for simplicity, but may, of course, also be provided. Additionally, at least for the third and fourth embodiment, components will not be explicitly indicated, but are of course present in the respective modules 6, 7, 8. For simplicity, corresponding numerals will be used for corresponding technical features.

[0064] FIG. 7 schematically shows a second embodiment of a nacelle 3. As in the case of the first embodiment, a single second module 7 is mounted to the top of the nacelle housing 10, again comprising at least one cooling device as component 14. In other embodiments, larger numbers of second modules 7 may be provided. Furthermore, in this case, six first modules 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 6f comprising components 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e and 13f are provided, in particular again suspended in the frame 11, as discussed with respect to FIGS. 2 to 6. Below the first modules 6a to 6f, two third modules 8a, 8b having respective components 27a, 27b and a drive train/main shaft arrangement 28, comprising a drive train/main shaft 29, are located. The third modules 8a, 8b may be supported by the bedframe of the nacelle 3. In this case, the component 27a comprises or is a gear box, the component 27b a generator.

[0065] The first modules 6a to 6f are located and dimensioned such that a person may stand underneath the first modules 6a to 6f. A staircase or ladder to a platform and/or walkway on one side of the nacelle 3 (not shown in FIG. 7) may be provided, in particular along a nacelle sidewall, for easy access to the first modules 6a to 6f and their components 13a to 13f through respective access holes in the modules 6a to 6f.

[0066] It is further noted that the third modules 8a, 8b may also be lifted up through the access opening 20 in the top of the nacelle housing 10 by first removing the respective group of first modules 6b, 6c and 6d, or 6d, 6e and 6f, respectively.

[0067] A third embodiment of the nacelle 3 is shown in a schematic view from above in FIG. 8. In this case, the first modules 6a, 6b, 6c are held in their respective mounting positions by telescopic mounting arms 30, which may be secured to the frame 11. Exemplarily, the access opening 20 is, in this case, not closable by an outer surface 12 of the first modules 6a, 6b, 6c, but by a hatch 31 only schematically indicated. Of course, the embodiment may also be modified such that an outer surface 12 closes the access opening 20 by a bearing surface 32 of the module 6a, 6b, 6c resting against a bearing surface 33 of the rim of the access opening 20 or frame opening 18, in particular via a sealing and/or damping means 24.

[0068] In FIG. 8, the access opening 20 of the first module 6b is shown open such that the telescopic arms can be extended to move the first module 6b into the receiving or removing position shown. Here, the first module 6b can be detached and lowered to the ground using a hoisting means, for example the internal crane 9. The telescopic mounting arms 30 may remain in the extended position to later receive a replacement first module 6b and can then be retracted such that the replacement first module 6b is moved into the nacelle 3 into the mounting position. The access opening 20 can then be closed by the hatch 31.

[0069] While in FIG. 8, the access openings 20 are provided at a side of the nacelle 3, in the slightly modified fourth embodiment of FIG. 9, the access openings 20 are provided at the back of the nacelle 3, that is, opposite to the rotor hub 4.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.