Integrated Motor Cooling Module for Compact Wind Turbine Nacelles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience significant heat loss due to electromagnetic and iron losses, leading to reduced motor efficiency and lifespan, and existing cooling systems are inefficient in harsh environments, requiring complex structures and increased maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A compact cooling device integrated within the motor, featuring a housing with a heat exchanger and circulation fan, and ventilation chambers, which allows for modular design and efficient heat dissipation, reducing the nacelle size and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a water cooling system is adopted to ensure winding temperature limit, then temperature control is improved, but the structure becomes complicated with too many circuits and joints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooling device with the motor structure by integrating the housing, heat exchanger, and circulation fan into a unified assembly that forms part of the motor housing. This merging eliminates the need for separate cooling system components and reduces the number of circuits and joints required in water cooling systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the motor, contains the cooling device components, and acts as part of the cooling system itself. The heat exchanger is integrated into the housing structure, allowing the housing to simultaneously serve as both structural element and thermal management component.
2Device complexity
If air-air cooling system is used in harsh environments, then structure is simple, but dust accumulation occurs and cooling air volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger acts as an intermediary between the motor internal environment and external cooling air. It transfers heat from the motor to the cooling air externally, preventing dust and contaminants from entering the motor interior while maintaining effective heat dissipation. The circulation fan moves cooling air through the heat exchanger without direct contact with internal motor components.
3Loss of energy
If cooling system occupies larger space in nacelle, then cooling capacity is improved, but nacelle size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling device is nested within the motor structure, with the housing containing the heat exchanger and circulation fan as integral parts. This nesting allows the cooling system to occupy space that would otherwise be unused, eliminating the need for separate cooling system volume in the nacelle.
Solution Approach 2:
By merging the cooling device with the motor housing and making the housing part of the cooling system, the patent eliminates the need for separate cooling system components. This integration significantly reduces the total volume occupied by cooling systems in the nacelle while maintaining adequate cooling capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides uniform heat dissipation, reduces the nacelle size, lowers maintenance costs, and enhances the reliability and maintainability of wind turbines by integrating a compact cooling system within the motor.
Implementation Method 1
a heat exchanger located in the receiving cavity and provided close to the air outlet
Implementation Method 2
a circulation fan provided in the receiving cavity along the axial direction of the motor
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a cooling device, a motor, and a wind turbine set. The cooling device is integrated inside the motor and includes a housing extending along an axial direction of the motor, wherein the housing has a receiving cavity and an air inlet and an air outlet in communication with the receiving cavity, and the housing is in communication with an interior of the motor through the air inlet and in communication with the ventilation chambers at two axial ends of the motor through the air outlet; a heat exchanger located in the receiving cavity and provided close to the air outlet; and a circulation fan provided in the receiving cavity along the axial direction of the motor. The cooling device can realize a modular design of the cooling device, has a simple and compact structure, and occupies a small space.