Wind Turbine Active Smoke Extraction Using Fan-Based Suction Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines face challenges in effectively removing smoke during maintenance or fire situations, as traditional smoke protection covers are expensive and inadequate for ensuring personnel safety.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine design incorporating smoke detectors, fans with uninterruptible power supply, and a control unit that activates fans to suck away smoke externally, potentially eliminating the need for expensive smoke protection covers, and includes features like an evacuation platform and access door control for enhanced safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If smoke protection covers or fire protection covers are provided in the tower, then fire and smoke spread is prevented, but manufacturing and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the smoke removal function from passive protective covers and implements it through active fans that suction smoke away from critical areas. The fans are positioned to create negative pressure zones that actively draw smoke away from electrical components and personnel areas, replacing the need for expensive protective enclosures.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses pneumatic principles by employing fans to create air pressure differentials. The fans generate negative pressure zones around critical equipment and positive pressure zones in exhaust areas, using air flow dynamics to redirect smoke away from sensitive areas without requiring physical barriers.
2Reliability
If traditional smoke protection covers are used, then smoke containment is achieved, but smoke removal effectiveness for personnel safety is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects smoke early through smoke detectors and immediately activates fans to create negative pressure zones around critical equipment and personnel areas. This preliminary action prevents smoke from reaching hazardous concentrations before personnel can be affected, rather than merely containing smoke after it has spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements a feedback control system where smoke detectors continuously monitor air quality and automatically trigger fan activation when smoke is detected. The control unit adjusts fan operation based on real-time smoke detection data, ensuring smoke is removed effectively while maintaining safe air quality for personnel.
3Productivity
If fans are activated to suck away smoke, then smoke removal effectiveness increases, but system complexity and power supply requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The fans serve multiple functions: they provide cooling for electrical equipment during normal operation and activate as smoke extraction devices when fire or smoke is detected. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated smoke extraction equipment, simplifying the overall system while maintaining high smoke removal efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own existing cooling infrastructure and power distribution network to provide smoke extraction capabilities. The fans are already connected to the turbine's power system and control architecture, allowing them to be repurposed for smoke removal without requiring entirely separate systems, thereby reducing overall complexity.
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
This solution effectively reduces the risk of smoke inhalation poisoning for maintenance personnel by efficiently extracting smoke, allowing for quicker evacuation and potentially dispensing with the need for costly smoke protection covers.
Implementation Method 1
a fan which is arranged in the tower and/or in the pod... activates the fans disposed in the tower and/or in the pod to suck away to the exterior the smoke produced
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine comprising a tower, a pod, at least one smoke detector in the region of the tower and/or in the region of the pod, at least one fan arranged in the tower and/or in the pod, and a control unit which detects a fire situation or smoke development in the wind turbine by means of the smoke detectors and activates the fans disposed in the tower and/or in the pod in order to suck away the smoke produced.