WIND TURBINE AND WIND TURBINE CONNECTION

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wind turbine and a connection of several wind turbines.

[0002] A wind turbine, also known as a wind energy plant, typically includes an electrical power transmission system that connects the turbine's generator to the power grid. Such a system usually has a circuit breaker that can quickly interrupt the current path leading to the turbine's generator if necessary. When multiple wind turbines are interconnected, a single turbine may need multiple circuit breakers, for example, to interrupt not only the current path leading to the turbine's generator but also the interconnection between the turbines themselves. The document "GE Grid Solutions F35-72.5kV GIS Gas-Insulated Substations For Wind Turbines A compact HV substation fitted in the wind turbine", 31.A gas-insulated switchgear station for wind turbines is described in December 2017. This switchgear station is adapted for both radial and ring-shaped networks. A switchgear assembly is described in section 3.4.2.6 of Josef Schachner's diploma thesis, "Power connections for offshore wind farms." A schematic diagram shows the arrangement of several switches on a busbar of a transformer and a generator. US patent application US 2012 / 0146423 A1 describes a method for commissioning a wind turbine in island operation on a wind farm. The article "Gas-Insulated Switchgear Type 8DN8" describes the construction of a switchgear panel for a three-phase encapsulated switchgear assembly.

[0003] The invention is based on the objective of specifying a wind turbine with several circuit breakers and a connection of several such wind turbines.

[0004] The problem is solved according to the invention by a wind turbine with the features of claim 1 and by a connection of such wind turbines with the features of claim 12.

[0005] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] A wind turbine according to the invention comprises a generator, a tower, and an electrical power transmission system arranged in the tower, comprising a busbar and three electrical power transmission modules arranged side by side. Each electrical power transmission module has a current path connecting the busbar to a cable termination of the electrical power transmission module. At least two electrical power transmission modules each have a circuit breaker by which the current path of the electrical power transmission module can be interrupted. The cable termination of one of the electrical power transmission modules having a circuit breaker is connected to the generator.

[0007] The invention implements a wind turbine with at least two circuit breakers by means of three electrical power transmission modules, at least two of which each have a circuit breaker. The current path of a first electrical power transmission module having a circuit breaker is connected to the generator of the wind turbine. This allows a current path connected to the generator to be interrupted, if necessary, by the circuit breaker of the first electrical power transmission module.

[0008] The other two electrical power transmission modules can be used, for example, to interconnect multiple wind turbines. For instance, the power path of a second electrical power transmission module of a first wind turbine is connected to the power path of an electrical power transmission module of a second wind turbine, and the power path of the third electrical power transmission module of the first wind turbine is connected to the power path of an electrical power transmission module of a third wind turbine. Because the electrical power transmission modules of the first wind turbine are interconnected via the busbar, the connection between the three wind turbines remains intact even if the power path of the first electrical power transmission module of the first wind turbine is interrupted by the circuit breaker of the first electrical power transmission module.Because the second or third electrical power transmission module has a circuit breaker, the connection between the three wind turbines can be interrupted by this circuit breaker if necessary.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, each electrical power transmission module has a first housing part in which a section of the busbar runs, wherein the first housing parts of adjacent electrical power transmission modules are interconnected. In other words, the busbar runs within the interconnected first housing parts of the electrical power transmission modules. This allows, in particular, a gas-tight encapsulation of the busbar to be achieved.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, each electrical power transmission module has a cable connection box arranged below its first housing part, in which the cable termination of the electrical power transmission module is located. This allows for a space-saving arrangement of the cable connection boxes below the first housing parts. This is advantageous because the tower of a wind turbine has a relatively small diameter of only a few meters, and therefore a small footprint is available for arranging the three electrical power transmission modules.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, a current transformer unit is arranged in the cable connection box of the electrical power transmission module whose cable termination is connected to the generator. This unit is configured to detect the current flowing in the current path of the electrical power transmission module and to activate the circuit breaker of the electrical power transmission module to interrupt the current path when the current exceeds a predefinable threshold. The current transformer unit enables monitoring of the current path connected to the generator and, if necessary, interrupts this current path via the circuit breaker.

[0012] In a further embodiment of the invention, each electrical power transmission module has a second housing part which is arranged offset from the first housing part and the cable connection box, and in which the current path of the electrical power transmission module runs between the first housing part and the cable connection box. This embodiment of the invention also aims at a space-saving design of the electrical power transmission system.

[0013] In a further embodiment of the invention, the first housing part and the second housing part of each electrical power transmission module are designed to be gas-tight. This advantageously enables a gas-insulated design of the electrical power transmission system.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the invention, the circuit breaker of each electrical power transmission module containing a circuit breaker is arranged in the second housing part of the electrical power transmission module. This particularly enables a gas-insulated design of the circuit breakers.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the invention, each electrical power transmission module comprising a circuit breaker has a combined disconnect and grounding switch arranged in its first housing part, with which the current path of the electrical power transmission module can be interrupted and a section of the current path connected to the circuit breaker can be grounded. This makes it possible, in particular, to ground a connection of the respective circuit breaker before the circuit breaker is closed again after being opened.

[0016] In a further embodiment of the invention, each electrical power transmission module containing a circuit breaker has a circuit breaker drive for the circuit breaker, which is arranged above the first housing part of the electrical power transmission module. This embodiment of the invention also aims at a space-saving design of the electrical power transmission system.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, one of the electrical power transmission modules does not have a circuit breaker. The electrical power transmission module without a circuit breaker can also have a combined disconnect and grounding switch arranged in its first housing part, with which the current path of the electrical power transmission module can be interrupted and a section of the current path can be grounded. The design of the electrical power transmission system with one electrical power transmission module that does not have a circuit breaker is more cost-effective than the design with three electrical power transmission modules, each with a circuit breaker. This design is therefore preferred when a third circuit breaker is not required. Otherwise, each electrical power transmission module has a circuit breaker with which the current path of the electrical power transmission module can be interrupted.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the invention, the wind turbine has a control cabinet arranged next to the first housing part of an electrical power transmission module. This embodiment of the invention also aims at a space-saving design of the electrical power transmission system. .

[0019] In a further embodiment of the invention, all operating elements and display elements of the electrical power transmission system are arranged on the same side of the electrical power transmission system. This enables simple operation and control of the electrical power transmission system.

[0020] In an inventive interconnection of several wind turbines according to the invention, cable terminations of the electrical energy transmission modules of the wind turbines are connected by electrical connections, wherein at least one cable termination of two interconnected cable terminations is the cable termination of an electrical power transmission module having a circuit breaker, each wind turbine is connected to exactly one other wind turbine or exactly two other wind turbines, at least one wind turbine is connected to exactly one other wind turbine, at least one wind turbine is connected to exactly two other wind turbines, and each cable termination of an electrical power transmission module of each wind turbine that is connected to two other wind turbines is connected either to the generator of the wind turbine or to a cable termination of an electrical power transmission module of one of the two other wind turbines.

[0021] Such an interconnection of wind turbines according to the invention allows the connection between two wind turbines to be interrupted by the circuit breaker of one of these wind turbines, for example in the event of a defect requiring such an interruption. At the same time, however, the connection and operation of other wind turbines can be maintained, which are, for example, electrically arranged between the two separated wind turbines and an energy collection station to which the wind turbines are connected (see [reference to be added]). Figure 4 below).

[0022] The properties, features, and advantages of this invention described above, as well as the manner in which they are achieved, will become clearer and more readily understandable in connection with the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are explained in more detail in conjunction with the drawings. These drawings show: FIG 1 a wind turbine, FIG 2 a perspective view of an electrical power transmission system of an embodiment of a wind turbine, FIG 3 a block diagram of an electrical power transmission system of an embodiment of a wind turbine, FIG 4 a connection of several wind turbines.

[0023] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in the figures.

[0024] Figure 1 (FIG 1 Figure 1 shows a wind turbine 1. The wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 2, a nacelle 3, a rotor hub 4, and rotor blades 5. The nacelle 3 is mounted on the tower 2. The rotor hub 4 is rotatably mounted on the nacelle 3. The rotor blades 5 are mounted on the rotor hub 4.

[0025] A generator 6 of the wind turbine 1 is located in the nacelle 3. An electrical power transmission system 7 is located in the tower 2.

[0026] Wind turbine 1, for example, is a turbine in an offshore wind farm.

[0027] Figure 2 (FIG 2 ) and Figure 3 (FIG 3 Figures ) show an electrical power transmission system 7 of a wind turbine 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The figures show Figure 2 a perspective view of the electrical power transmission system 7 and Figure 3 Figure 7 shows a block diagram of the electrical power transmission system 7 with a circuit diagram of the electrical power transmission system 7. The circuit diagram is simplified as a single-line diagram, in which three-phase current paths are represented by a single line.

[0028] The electrical power transmission system 7 has a busbar 8 and three electrical power transmission modules 9, 10, 11 arranged side by side. Each electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 has a first housing part 12, a second housing part 13 and a cable connection box 14.

[0029] The first housing sections 12 of adjacent electrical power transmission modules 9, 10, 11 are connected to each other. A section of the busbar 8 runs in each first housing section 12, meaning that the busbar 8 runs within the connected first housing sections 12.

[0030] A cable termination 15 of each electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 is arranged in the cable connection box 14. An electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 can be electrically contacted or electrically connected to other devices via its cable termination 15. The cable connection box 14 of an electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 is arranged below the first housing part 12 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11.

[0031] The second housing part 13 of an electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 is essentially circular-cylindrical and is arranged offset from the first housing part 12 and the cable connection box 14 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11.

[0032] The first housing parts 12 and the second housing parts 13 are, for example, designed to be gas-tight in order to realize a gas-insulated electrical power transmission system 7.

[0033] Each electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 has a current path 22 that connects the busbar 8 to the cable termination 15 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11. The current path 22 runs from the busbar 8 in the first housing part 12 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 to the second housing part 13 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 and through the second housing part 13 to the cable junction box 14 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11. In the cable junction box 14, the current path 22 runs to the cable termination 15 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11. The current path 22 of each electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 thus has a C-shape (corresponding to the letter C).

[0034] The cable termination 15 of a first electrical power transmission module 9 is connected to the generator 6. In other words, a power line for each phase of the generator 6 runs from the cable termination 15 of the first electrical power transmission module 9 through the tower 2 to the generator 6.

[0035] The cable terminations 15 of a second electrical power transmission module 10 and of the third electrical power transmission module 11 are each connectable to or connected to a power grid in which the wind turbine 1 is located. For example, the power grid is the power grid of a wind farm in which several wind turbines 1 are electrically interconnected; see the example below. Figure 4 .

[0036] Each electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 has a combined disconnect and earthing switch 16 arranged in its first housing part 12, with which the current path 22 of the electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11 can be interrupted.

[0037] The first electrical power transmission module 9 and the second electrical power transmission module 10 each have a circuit breaker 17, which is arranged in the second housing part 13 of the respective electrical power transmission module 9, 10. The current path 22 of the respective electrical power transmission module 9, 10 can be interrupted by the circuit breaker 17.

[0038] The first electrical power transmission module 9 and the second electrical power transmission module 10 each have a circuit breaker drive 18 for the circuit breaker 17 of the respective electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11. The circuit breaker drive 18 is arranged in a drive housing 19 above the first housing part 12 and the second housing part 13 of the respective electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11.

[0039] A current transformer unit 20 is arranged in the cable connection box 14 of the first electrical power transmission module 9. The current transformer unit 20 is configured to detect the current intensity of a current flowing in the current path 22 of the first electrical power transmission module 9 and to activate the circuit breaker 9 of the first electrical power transmission module 9 to interrupt the current path 22 when the current intensity exceeds a predefinable threshold value.

[0040] The electrical power transmission system 7 also has a switch cabinet 21, which is arranged next to the first housing part 12 of the first electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11.

[0041] All operating elements and display elements of the electrical power transmission system 7 are arranged on the same side of the electrical power transmission system 7. Figure 2Figure 1 shows, by way of example, switching position indicators 23 for displaying one switching position of a circuit breaker 17, manually operated emergency stop switches 24 for emergency switching off one circuit breaker 17, switching position indicators 25 for displaying one switching position of a disconnect and earthing switch 16, gas density indicators 26 for displaying a gas density in the housing parts 12, 13 of one electrical power transmission module 9, 10, 11, voltage indicators 27 for displaying a voltage applied to a current path 22, and manually operated drives 28 for one disconnect and earthing switch 16.

[0042] The third electrical power transmission module 11 exhibits the following characteristics in the Figure 2 and 3In the illustrated embodiment, the third electrical power transmission module 11 does not have a circuit breaker 17, but only serves to conduct current. However, other embodiments may provide that the third electrical power transmission module 11 also has a circuit breaker 17 and is designed like the second electrical power transmission module 10.

[0043] Figure 4 (FIG 4Figure 1 shows an interconnection of several wind turbines 1 by electrical connections 29 of the cable terminations 15 of the electrical power transmission modules 9, 10, 11 of the wind turbines 1. An example interconnection of four wind turbines 1 is shown. The wind turbines 1 are each represented abstractly by a circuit diagram. Each wind turbine 1 comprises a first electrical power transmission module 9, which has a circuit breaker 17 and whose cable termination 15 is connected to the generator 6 of the wind turbine 1; a second electrical power transmission module 10, which also has a circuit breaker 17; and a third electrical power transmission module 11, which does not have a circuit breaker 17.

[0044] The cable termination 15 of the third electrical power transmission module 11 of a in Figure 4The first wind turbine 1, shown on the left, is connected to an energy collection station 30. The cable termination 15 of the second electrical power transmission module 10 of the first wind turbine 1 is connected to the cable termination 15 of the third electrical power transmission module 11 of a second wind turbine 1, which is located in Figure 4 shown to the right of the first wind turbine 1.

[0045] The cable end closure 15 of the second electrical power transmission module 10 of the second wind turbine 1 is connected to the cable end closure 15 of the third electrical power transmission module 11 of a third wind turbine 1, which is shown to the right of the second wind turbine 1 in Figure 4.

[0046] The cable termination 15 of the second electrical power transmission module 10 of the third wind turbine 1 is connected to the cable termination 15 of the third electrical power transmission module 11 of a Figure 4connected to the fourth wind turbine shown on the right.

[0047] Furthermore, the situation is shown as an example where, due to a defect, the circuit breaker 17 and the disconnect and earthing switch 16 of the second electrical power transmission module 10 of the third wind turbine 1 are open. This interrupts the connection between the third wind turbine 1 and the fourth wind turbine 1. The first wind turbine 1 and the second wind turbine 1 can still continue to operate. This illustrates the usefulness of designing the wind turbines 1 with (at least) two circuit breakers 17 each for connecting multiple wind turbines 1.

[0048] Although the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by means of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples and other variations can be derived from them by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A wind turbine system (1) comprising - a generator (6), - a tower (2), - and an electric energy transmission system (7) arranged in the tower (2) and having a busbar (8) and three electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) arranged adjacent to one another, wherein - each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) has a current path (22) connecting the busbar (8) to a cable termination (15) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11), - at least two electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) each have a power switch (17) with which the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) can be interrupted, and - the cable termination (15) of one of the electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) having a power switch (17) is connected to the generator (6), wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) has a first housing part (12), in which a section of the busbar (8) extends, characterized in that the first housing parts (12) of adjacent electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) are connected to one another, wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) has a cable terminal box (14) arranged below its first housing part (12), in which the cable termination (15) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) is arranged, and wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) having a power switch (17) has a power switch drive (18) for the power switch (17) arranged above the first housing part (12) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11).

2. The wind turbine system (1) according to claim 1, wherein a current transducer unit (20) is arranged in the cable terminal box (14) of that electric power transmission module (9, 10, 11), the cable termination (15) of which is connected to the generator (6), and configured to detect a current intensity of an electric current flowing in the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) and to activate the power switch (17) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) to interrupt the current path (22) when the current intensity exceeds a predefinable threshold.

3. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) has a second housing part (13) which is arranged offset to the first housing part (12) and the cable terminal box (14) and in which the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) extends between the first housing part (12) and the cable terminal box (14).

4. The wind turbine system (1) according to claim 3, wherein the first housing part (12) and the second housing part (13) of each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) are gas-tight.

5. The wind turbine system (1) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the power switch (17) of each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) having a power switch (17) is arranged in the second housing part (13) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11).

6. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) having a power switch (17) has a combined disconnect and grounding switch (16) arranged in its first housing part (12), with which the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) can be interrupted and a section of the current path (22) connected to the power switch (17) can be grounded.

7. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) has no power switch (17).

8. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 7, wherein the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) having no power switch (17) has a combined disconnect and grounding switch (16) arranged in its first housing part (12), with which the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) can be interrupted and a section of the current path (22) can be grounded.

9. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 8, wherein each electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) has a power switch (17) with which the current path (22) of the electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) can be interrupted.

10. The wind turbine system (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 9 having a switch cabinet (21) arranged adjacent to the first housing part (12) of an electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11).

11. The wind turbine system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein all operating elements (24, 28) and display elements (23, 25, 26, 27) of the electric energy transmission system (7) are arranged on the same side of the electric energy transmission system (7).

12. An interconnection of a plurality of wind turbine systems (1), each formed according to any one of the preceding claims, by electric connections (29) of cable terminations (15) of the electric energy transmission modules (9, 10, 11) of the wind turbine systems (1), wherein - at least one cable termination (15) of any two interconnected cable terminations (15) is the cable termination (15) of an electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) having a power switch (17), - each wind turbine system (1) is interconnected to exactly one other wind turbine system (1) or exactly two other wind turbine systems (1), - at least one wind turbine system (1) is interconnected to exactly one other wind turbine system (1), - at least one wind turbine system (1) is interconnected to exactly two other wind turbine systems (1), and - each cable termination (15) of an electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) of each wind turbine system (1) interconnected to two other wind turbine systems (1) is connected to either the generator (6) of the wind turbine system (1) or a cable termination (15) of an electric energy transmission module (9, 10, 11) of one of the two other wind turbine systems (1).