Semi-Open Transformer Cooling With Double-Sided Ventilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling systems for high-power devices in closed environments, such as offshore wind generators, require separate cooling devices for the device and its environment, leading to high costs, increased power consumption, and poor ventilation uniformity, resulting in local temperature hotspots.

Innovation Solution

A semi-open high-power device structure with ventilation holes, inner radiators, and a pipeline-connected cooling system that utilizes bilateral ventilation and external cooling cycles to enhance convective heat transfer and reduce size constraints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If an enclosed water-cooled dry-type transformer is used, then the transformer windings can be cooled, but the tower environment requires a separate cooling device, leading to high total cost and increased self power consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidcooling system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the transformer cooling function with the tower environment cooling function into a single integrated cooling system. The transformer serves as the heat source, the cooling backpack as the heat exchanger, and the tower as the cooling environment, allowing one cooling system to fulfill both functions simultaneously, thereby reducing total cost and power consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Temperature

If a cooling backpack is arranged on the side surface of the transformer, then the transformer windings can be cooled, but the circumferential size of the transformer increases and arrangement in the tower becomes inconvenient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidtransformer circumferential size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the cooling backpack inside the transformer structure rather than placing it on the external side surface. The cooling backpack is positioned within the transformer's circumferential space, utilizing the internal volume to house the cooling components, thereby avoiding increase in external dimensions while maintaining cooling effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Temperature

If ventilation is implemented on only the cooling backpack side, then cooling can be provided, but flow uniformity is poor and local temperature rise hotspots are formed on the leeward side

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces asymmetric ventilation openings in the tower structure to compensate for the single-sided cooling backpack arrangement. The ventilation openings are positioned and sized asymmetrically to create balanced airflow patterns that ensure uniform cooling across the entire transformer surface, preventing hotspots on the leeward side

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

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

Reduces cooling system costs and power consumption while improving ventilation uniformity and reducing local hotspots through enhanced convective heat exchange and symmetric radiator placement.

Implementation Method 1

inner radiator fans arranged below the wind generator inner radiators; the inner radiator fans connected to the inner radiators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForced Convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 2

a pipeline connected cooling system connected to the inner radiators

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat Exchange: Heat Exchanger

Implementation Method 3

the convective heat transfer of the outer wall of the semi-open high-power device structure can be enhanced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4376032B1Semi-open high-power device cooling system and cooling method
Publication Date: 2026.03.04 ENVISION ENERGY TECHNOLOGY PTE LTD
  • EP4376032B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4376032B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to the technical field of cooling systems, and provides a semi-open high-power device cooling system and method. The system comprises a semi-open high-power device structure, a semi-open high-power device, inner heat dissipators, inner heat dissipator fans, and a pipeline connection cooling system. According the present invention, the cooling requirements of the semi-open high-power device and a closed environment can be satisfied at the same time, such that the total cost of the cooling system is greatly reduced; according to the present invention, the convective heat transfer of the outer wall of the semi-open high-power device structure can be enhanced by 5-10 kW, thereby significantly reducing self-power-consumption of the cooling system; and according to the present invention, by cancelling a cooling backpack and arranging a plurality of inner heat dissipators below the semi-open high-power device, the pressure of size restriction for a high-power device in a layout of the closed environment is effectively relieved, and localized hot spots of a heat generating element are effectively reduced using double-sided ventilation compared to single-sided ventilation.