Synchronous Generator Rotor Liquid Cooling System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines with synchronous generators face challenges in increasing rated power without enlarging the generator diameter, and existing cooling systems often require complex transitions between rotating and stationary parts.
Innovation Solution
A wind energy installation with a synchronous generator featuring a liquid cooling system integrated into the rotor, including a heat exchanger, cooling channels, a filter unit, pump unit, and expansion tank, which rotates with the generator rotor to efficiently cool the generator rotor and pole shoes, thereby avoiding complex transitions and indirect cooling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the rated power of the synchronous generator is increased, then the power output is improved, but the diameter of the synchronous generator must be significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by implementing a liquid cooling system that actively controls the temperature of the pole shoes. This allows the generator to operate at higher temperatures optimally, enabling increased rated power without proportional increase in generator diameter. The cooling system maintains optimal magnetic properties of the pole shoes even under high load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic cooling by circulating liquid through cooling channels in the rotor and pole shoes. This hydraulic cooling system efficiently removes heat from the generator components, allowing higher power density and enabling increased rated power within the same physical dimensions.
2Temperature
If a cooling system with transitions between rotating and stationary parts is used, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity is significantly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-contained cooling system where the pump, filter unit, and expansion tank are all integrated into the rotating rotor. The system serves itself by using the rotor's own rotation to drive the cooling circulation, eliminating the need for complex stationary-rotating transitions. The cooling liquid is pumped from the expansion tank through cooling channels and back, all within the rotating assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling system components (pump, filter unit, expansion tank, cooling channels) into a single integrated rotating assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate stationary-rotating interfaces, simplifying the overall system while maintaining effective cooling of the generator rotor and pole shoes.
3Device complexity
If the cooling liquid is not filtered, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability of the cooling system deteriorates due to particle and dirt accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The filter unit is integrated into the rotating cooling system, where it automatically filters the cooling liquid as it circulates through the rotor. The filtered liquid is then returned to the expansion tank, creating a self-contained filtration cycle that maintains system reliability without requiring external filtering equipment or complex stationary-rotating connections.
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 liquid cooling system effectively increases the rated power of the generator by maintaining optimal temperatures of the pole shoes, preventing damage from excessive heat, and ensuring efficient heat transfer without the need for complex stationary-rotating transitions.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling liquid flows through the at least one heat exchanger and the at least one cooling channel in the generator rotor
Implementation Method 2
A coolant flows through the channels and absorbs heat in the area of the rotor channels and transfers the heat to the stator in the area of the stator channels
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a wind energy installation having a synchronous generator which comprises a generator stator and a generator rotor for generating electrical energy. The wind energy installation further comprises a liquid cooling system (300) for cooling the generator rotor (200).