Offshore Wind Turbine Desalinator with Electrostatic Salt Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Offshore wind turbines face challenges with corrosion and heat management due to salt and moisture penetration, requiring effective control of relative humidity, salinity, and temperature, while existing desalination solutions are complex and require frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A desalinator with a mechanically simple design, comprising a heat exchanger and salt filter in a partially open circulation circuit, which circulates interior air for heat exchange and filters out salt particles from exterior air, creating an overpressure to reduce moisture and salt ingress, and enhances cooling by exchanging heat with the wind turbine's structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a desalinator with many mechanical parts is used to effectively filter salt particles and control humidity, then the desalination and dehumidification effectiveness is improved, but the maintenance frequency and complexity increase due to the harsh offshore environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of salt particle removal from complex mechanical filtration systems and implements it through a simple electrostatic precipitation mechanism. The electrostatic precipitator uses electric fields to charge and collect salt particles without requiring complex moving mechanical parts, thereby maintaining high desalination effectiveness while minimizing maintenance needs in the harsh offshore environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical filtration systems with electrostatic precipitation technology. Instead of using mechanical filters that require frequent cleaning and replacement in the salty offshore environment, the system uses electric fields to remove salt particles from the air, significantly reducing maintenance requirements while maintaining effective desalination
2Temperature
If exterior air is supplied to cool the wind turbine interior, then the cooling capacity is improved, but the corrosion rate increases due to salt and moisture penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an electrostatic precipitator as an intermediary device between the exterior marine environment and the wind turbine interior. This intermediary removes salt particles from the incoming air through electrostatic charging and collection, allowing cool exterior air to be supplied for thermal management while preventing salt-induced corrosion of internal components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by removing harmful salt particles from the exterior air before it enters the wind turbine interior. The electrostatic precipitator pre-treats the incoming air by charging and collecting salt particles, preventing them from causing corrosion inside the turbine while still allowing the cooling function to operate
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 desalinator effectively reduces corrosion and heat within the wind turbine by efficiently filtering salt particles and cooling the interior, minimizing maintenance needs and extending the lifespan of components, while maintaining a simple and cost-effective construction.
Implementation Method 1
whereby is defined an exterior and an interior of said offshore wind turbine wherein in said offshore wind turbine's interior a stream of interior air circulating in a partially open circulation circuit between at least one intake and at least one outtake of said desalinator can heat exchange by contact with said outer construction
Implementation Method 2
at least one salt filter, and flow paths for permitting interior air and exterior air to flow through said desalinator
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Desalinator (1) for an offshore wind turbine having a mechanically simple construction and at the same time a good desalting capacity comprising at least one heat exchanger, at least one salt filter (3) and flow paths (4a,4b,5,6a,6b) for permitting interior air (4a,4b) and exterior air (5) to flow through said desalinator, and wherein said heat exchanger (2) is arranged upstream to said salt filter (3).