Modular Wind Turbine Cooler Top Scaling Cooling Capacity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooler top designs for wind turbines are limited in their ability to scale cooling capacity beyond two dimensions, restricting their effectiveness as power production increases.
Innovation Solution
A modular cooler top design that includes multiple cooling modules and units, each with a heat exchanger and deflector plate, allowing for scalability in multiple directions (longitudinal, traverse, and vertical) to enhance cooling capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the cooling capacity is increased by scaling the panel height and width in conventional designs, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the structural limitations (nacelle width and support strength) are reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional scaling approach (increasing panel height and width) to a three-dimensional modular configuration. Multiple cooling units are arranged in longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions, allowing cooling capacity to be scaled in three dimensions. This enables continued expansion of cooling capacity without being constrained by single-plane structural limitations of the nacelle.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent cooling units that can be individually configured and assembled. Each cooling unit contains its own panel assembly, and these units are arranged in modular configurations (e.g., 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3 arrays). This segmentation allows flexible scaling of cooling capacity by adding or removing units without requiring complete redesign of the entire cooling structure.
2Area of stationary object
If the panel width is increased to provide more cooling area, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the width is limited by the nacelle width
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent cooling units that can be individually configured and assembled. Each cooling unit contains its own panel assembly, and these units are arranged in modular configurations (e.g., 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3 arrays). This segmentation allows flexible scaling of cooling capacity by adding or removing units without requiring complete redesign of the entire cooling structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional scaling approach (increasing panel height and width) to a three-dimensional modular configuration. Multiple cooling units are arranged in longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions, allowing cooling capacity to be scaled in three dimensions. This enables continued expansion of cooling capacity without being constrained by single-plane structural limitations of the nacelle.
3Area of stationary object
If the panel height is increased to provide more cooling area, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the height is bound by strength limitations in the support structure
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is divided into multiple independent cooling units that can be individually configured and assembled. Each cooling unit contains its own panel assembly, and these units are arranged in modular configurations (e.g., 2x2, 2x3, or 3x3 arrays). This segmentation allows flexible scaling of cooling capacity by adding or removing units without requiring complete redesign of the entire cooling structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a conventional two-dimensional scaling approach (increasing panel height and width) to a three-dimensional modular configuration. Multiple cooling units are arranged in longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions, allowing cooling capacity to be scaled in three dimensions. This enables continued expansion of cooling capacity without being constrained by single-plane structural limitations of the nacelle.
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 modular design enables increased cooling capacity without structural limitations, effectively managing heat generated by wind turbines and maintaining efficient power generation.
Implementation Method 1
a deflector plate to direct the incoming wind through the heat exchanger by diverting the flow of the incoming wind by an angle that is less than 180° relative to the longitudinal direction
Implementation Method 2
The air flowing past the wind turbine cools a second fluid flowing through the panels, the second fluid being directed to other heat exchangers within the nacelle to remove heat from generator components and the nacelle
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine (10) includes a nacelle (14) with a longitudinal axis (LA) aligned with the flow of the incoming wind during operation. When so aligned, the nacelle defines a longitudinal direction (X). The wind turbine (10) includes one or more heat-generating components (22) and a modular cooler (24) operatively coupled to the one or more heat-generating components (22). The modular cooler (24) includes one or more cooling modules (30) with each including one or more cooling units (32). Each cooling unit (32) includes a heat exchanger (40) defining a cooling area (38), which defines a normal axis (NA) and a deflector plate (42) to divert the flow of the incoming wind by an angle less than 180° relative to the longitudinal direction (X). Each cooling unit (32) is oriented such that the normal axis (NA) is non-parallel to the longitudinal axis (LA). The modular cooler (24) is scalable in multiple dimensions to increase the cooling capacity of the cooler (24). A method of assembling the modular cooler (24) is also disclosed.