Wind turbine and nacelle for wind turbine

Abstract

Disclosed is a base frame (40) for a nacelle (11) of a wind turbine (1), the nacelle (11) comprising a generator (15). The base frame (40) extends between a first base frame end (41) and a second base frame end (42), the first base frame end (41) is configured for connecting the base frame (40) to a tower (12) of the wind turbine (1), and the second base frame end (42) is configured for connecting the base frame (40) to a rotor (30) of the generator (15). The base frame (40) comprises at least one connection means (43, 44) for connecting a stator (20) of the generator (15) to the base frame (40) between the first base frame end (41) and the second base frame end (42).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a nacelle for a wind turbine and to a wind turbine including such a nacelle. Background Technology

[0002] The nacelle for a wind turbine typically includes a generator with a rotor that rotates about a central axis of rotation around a stator. In direct-drive wind turbines, a permanent magnet generator is used, which has a generator rotor that is directly attached to the wind turbine rotor and rotates about a stator that is fixed to the nacelle by means of a fixed shaft.

[0003] During the development phase of the largest offshore direct-drive turbines, it has been confirmed that the fixed shaft is becoming shorter proportionally to its diameter. This is, for example, due to the increasing diameter of the generator. Due to the ever-increasing diameter-to-length ratio, the fixed shaft is becoming an increasingly expensive component. A potential solution is to modify the boundary conditions of the parts involving the fixed shaft. For example, the number of bolts required between the base frame and the fixed shaft are components that are becoming, or may become, problems.

[0004] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a nacelle for wind turbines (especially direct-drive wind turbines) that includes more efficient and economical structural features for securing the generator stator to the nacelle. Utility Model Content

[0005] This objective can be achieved according to the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of this utility model are described by the dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a nacelle for a wind turbine is provided, the nacelle including a generator and a base frame. The base frame extends between a first base frame end and a second base frame end, the first base frame end being configured to connect the base frame to a tower of the wind turbine, and the second base frame end being configured to connect the base frame to a rotor of the generator, wherein the base frame includes at least one connecting device for connecting the stator of the generator to the base frame between the first base frame end and the second base frame end.

[0007] The base frame is a structural component of the nacelle, to which the stator is fixedly attached and the rotor is rotatably attached via bearings. The base frame allows for connection between the wind turbine's tower and the nacelle.

[0008] This invention allows the stator to be directly attached to the base frame between the first and second base frame ends, i.e., attached to the base frame without using any stator shaft. This results in a simpler and cheaper structure compared to the prior art.

[0009] According to this utility model, the base frame includes at least a first connecting device and a second connecting device, respectively used to connect the first stator plate and the second stator plate of the stator. The connecting device may be formed as a flange.

[0010] The generator includes a rotation axis. The first connecting device and the second connecting device are spaced apart along the rotation axis of the generator, such that the first connecting device can be used to fix a first drive end plate of the stator, and the second connecting device can be used to fix a second non-drive end plate of the stator.

[0011] According to the present invention, the first stator plate and / or the second stator plate respectively include a plurality of first and second circular sector portions.

[0012] Multiple stator modules are formed by using a plurality of first and second circular sector portions, each stator module including its own first circular sector portion and its own second circular sector portion. The respective first and second circular sector portions of each stator module are spaced apart along the axis of rotation. This modular structure of the stator can lead to a further reduction in structural costs, particularly regarding the labor time required to assemble the stator on the nacelle. Each stator module may have an angular extension range around the axis of rotation, the angular extension range being included between 20 and 90 degrees. According to one embodiment of the present invention, six stator modules may be used, each stator module having an angular extension range of 60 degrees around the axis of rotation. According to another embodiment of the present invention, eight stator modules may be used, each stator module having an angular extension range of 45 degrees around the axis of rotation.

[0013] According to this invention, at least one stator module includes a cooling fan located between the respective first and second circular sector portions. At least one of the respective first and second circular sector portions may include at least one cooling inlet and / or at least one cooling outlet. The cooling fan may be fixed to the respective first and second circular sector portions.

[0014] According to a third aspect of the present invention, the nacelle described above can be implemented in a direct-drive wind turbine. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The aspects defined above and other aspects of this invention will be apparent from the examples of embodiments described below, and will be explained with reference to these examples. This invention will be described in more detail below with reference to examples of embodiments, but the invention is not limited to these examples.

[0016] Figure 1A cross-sectional schematic diagram of a wind turbine according to the present invention is shown, the wind turbine including a nacelle having a base frame and a generator.

[0017] Figure 2 A longitudinal cross-sectional view of the cabin according to the present invention is shown.

[0018] Figure 3 Another longitudinal cross-sectional view is shown, which illustrates... Figure 2 Enlarged components in the middle cabin.

[0019] Figure 4 A partial axonometric view of the cabin according to the present invention is shown.

[0020] Figure 5 Another partial axonometric view is shown, which shows Figure 4 Enlarged components in the middle cabin. Detailed Implementation

[0021] The illustrations in the figures are exemplary. It should be noted that similar or identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals in different figures.

[0022] Figure 1 A partial cross-sectional view of a wind turbine 1 is shown. The wind turbine 1 includes a tower 12 mounted on a foundation. A nacelle 11 is rotatably mounted on top of the tower 11. The nacelle 11 includes a generator 15. The generator 15 may be a permanent magnet generator. The wind turbine 1 also includes at least a wind turbine rotor 5, which has a hub and at least one blade 4 (in... Figure 1 In one embodiment, the wind turbine rotor includes three blades 4 (only two of which are visible). The wind turbine rotor 5 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of rotation Y. The terms axial, radial, and circumferential refer to the axis of rotation Y relative to the rotation of the generator 15. The blades 4 extend substantially radially relative to the axis of rotation Y. The wind turbine rotor 5 provides a torque input that is transmitted to the generator 15. The generator 15 includes a stator 20 and a rotor 30. The rotor 30 is rotatable relative to the stator 20 about the axis of rotation Y. The wind turbine rotor 5 is rigidly coupled to the rotor 30. The wind turbine rotor 5 rotates together with the rotor 30 such that the wind force impacting the blades 4 is transmitted to the generator 15 for the generation of electricity.

[0023] The nacelle 11 also includes a base frame 40 extending between a first base frame end 41 and a second base frame end 42. The first base frame end 41 is configured to connect the base frame 40 to the tower 12, allowing the nacelle 11 to rotate about a yaw axis. The second base frame end 42 is configured to connect the base frame 40 to the rotor 30, allowing the rotor 30 to rotate about a rotation axis Y.

[0024] Figure 2and Figure 3 An embodiment of the nacelle 11 is shown, illustrating the connection between the base frame 40 and the generator 15. A first base frame end 41 provides an interface for connecting the base frame 40 to the tower 12. The first base frame end 41 is connectable to a rotating mechanism (not shown in the figures), which is movable on the base frame 40 for rotating the nacelle 11 about a yaw axis. A bearing 47 can be mounted at a second base frame end 42 for providing a rotatable connection between the base frame 40 and the rotor 30. The bearing 47 extends between two axial ends 47a, 47b. The rotor 30 is connected to the bearing 47 by means of two rotor plates 31, 32, which are respectively connected to the two axial ends 47a, 47b of the bearing 47. The base frame 40 includes at least one connecting device for connecting the stator 20 between the first base frame end 41 and the second base frame end 42 to the base frame 40. Figure 2 and Figure 3 In one embodiment, the base frame 40 includes a first connecting device 43 and a second connecting device 44, which are spaced apart along the rotation axis Y. The first connecting device 43 is closer to the first base frame end 41 than the second connecting device 44. The first connecting device 43 is also therefore closer to the drive end of the generator 15 than the second connecting device 44, which is defined as the axial end of the generator 15 closer to the wind turbine rotor 5. The connecting devices 43 and 44 may be formed as respective flanges, protruding radially from the body of the base frame 40. The stator 20 may include a first stator plate 21 and a second stator plate 22, respectively connected to the first connecting device 43 and the second connecting device 44. The first stator plate 21 and the second stator plate 22 have an annular shape around the rotation axis Y. According to different embodiments of the present invention, the first stator plate 21 and the second stator plate 22 may be flat or cylindrical. The stator plates 21 and 22 may be attached to the connecting devices 43 and 44 by means of their respective connections. Such connections may be bolted or welded.

[0025] The base frame 40 provides a structural connection between the tower 12 and the generator 15 through the connection between the rotor 30 and the bearing 47 located at the second base frame end 42, and the connection between the stator 20 and the connecting devices 43, 44.

[0026] Figure 4 and Figure 5 An embodiment of the cabin 11 is shown, illustrating the details of the stator 20. The first stator plate 21 and the second stator plate 22 each include a plurality of first and second circular sector portions 26, 27.

[0027] The stator 20 includes a plurality of stator modules 25, each module 25 including a respective first circular sector 26 and a respective second circular sector 27 spaced apart along the rotation axis Y. Each stator module 25 is hollow and includes an internal volume 23. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the stator 20 includes eight stator modules 25, each stator module 25 having an angular extension range of 45 degrees. According to other embodiments of the present invention (not shown), each stator module 25 may have an angular extension range around the rotation axis Y, the angular extension range being included between 20 degrees and 90 degrees. For example, the stator 20 may include six stator modules 25, each stator module 25 having an angular extension range of 60 degrees. At least one stator module 25 may include a cooling fan 50, the cooling fan 50 being located between the respective first circular sector 26 and second circular sector 27. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the stator module 25 may include a cooling fan 50, the cooling fan 50 being located between the respective first circular sector 26 and second circular sector 27. Cooling fan 50 provides air circulation within internal volume 23 for cooling stator 20. In each stator module 25, at least one of the respective first and second circular sector portions 26, 27 may include at least one cooling inlet 28 and / or at least one cooling outlet 29 for circulating cooling air to and from internal volume 23, respectively. One or more cooling inlets 28 may be connected to the inlet of cooling fan 50. One or more cooling outlets 29 may be connected to the outlet of cooling fan 50. Cooling fan 50 may be fixed to the respective first circular sector portion 26 and second circular sector portion 27.

Claims

1. A nacelle (11) of a wind turbine (1) comprising a generator (15) and a base frame (40) extending between a first base frame end (41) and a second base frame end (42), the first base frame end (41) being configured to connect the base frame (40) to a tower (12) of the wind turbine (1), and the second base frame end (42) being configured to connect the base frame (40) to a rotor (30) of the generator (15), wherein, The base frame (40) includes at least one connecting device (43, 44) for connecting the stator (20) of the generator (15) to the base frame (40) between the first base frame end (41) and the second base frame end (42). The base frame (40) is characterized in that it includes at least a first connecting device (43) and a second connecting device (43), which are respectively used to connect the first stator plate (21) and the second stator plate (22) of the stator (20). The first stator plate (21) and / or the second stator plate (22) each include a plurality of first and second circular sector portions (26, 27). The stator (20) includes multiple stator modules (25), each module (25) including its own first circular sector portion (26) and its own second circular sector portion (27), the respective first and second circular sector portions (26, 27) being spaced apart along the rotation axis (Y). At least one stator module (25) includes a cooling fan (50) located between the respective first circular sector (26) and second circular sector (27).

2. The cabin (11) according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one connecting device (43, 44) is formed as a flange.

3. The cabin (11) according to claim 2, wherein, The stator (20) is connected to the at least one connecting device (43, 44) by means of bolts or welding.

4. The cabin (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The first connecting device (43) and the second connecting device (44) are spaced apart along the rotation axis (Y) of the generator (15), with the first connecting device (43) being closer to the first base frame end (41) than the second connecting device (44).

5. The cabin (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, At least one of the respective first and second circular sector portions (26, 27) includes at least one cooling inlet (28).

6. The cabin (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, At least one of the respective first and second circular sector portions (26, 27) includes at least one cooling outlet (29).

7. The cabin (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, Each stator module (25) has an angular extension range around the rotation axis (Y), the angular extension range being included between 20 and 90 degrees.

8. A wind turbine (1), characterized in that, The wind turbine (1) includes a nacelle (11) according to any one of the preceding claims.

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