Wind Turbine Cable Routing for Heat Dissipation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional power transmission cable layouts in wind power generator sets fail to effectively manage heat dissipation, leading to overheating issues that can impair the operation and shorten the lifespan of the cables, especially in high-temperature environments.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a heat transfer and dissipation system that utilizes the 'shady side' inner wall of the tower barrel as a cold source, employing a bending shape for the power transmission cables to increase the surface area for natural convection heat exchange and incorporating heat radiation absorption coatings to enhance heat dissipation, thereby reducing the surface temperature of the cables.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If power transmission cables are laid in a conventional fixed position on the inner wall of the tower barrel, then the cable layout is simple and easy to install, but the heat dissipation efficiency is poor leading to overheating issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable surface temperatureVSAvoidcable layout complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature by routing the power transmission cables in a bent shape rather than a straight line, allowing the cables to follow a curved path along the inner wall of the tower barrel. This curved layout increases the surface area in contact with the cooler inner wall, improving heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining installation feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from a two-dimensional flat cable layout to a three-dimensional curved routing along the tower barrel inner wall. By utilizing the vertical and circumferential dimensions of the tower barrel, the cable path is optimized to maximize exposure to cooler surfaces and improve thermal management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Temperature

If power transmission cables are laid close to the inner wall of the tower barrel, then the cable routing is simplified, but the heat dissipation capability is reduced due to lack of airflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable surface temperatureVSAvoidcable routing simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bent cable routing follows the curvature of the tower barrel inner wall, creating an optimized path that maintains close proximity to the cooling surface while allowing natural airflow to circulate around the cable bends, enhancing convective heat transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different routing characteristics to different sections of the cable system, with cables routed to follow specific curved paths in regions where heat dissipation is most critical, optimizing thermal performance in key areas while maintaining overall routing simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Power

If the cable diameter and weight increase to handle higher current capacity, then the power transmission capability is improved, but the heat accumulation problem becomes more severe

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmission capabilityVSAvoidcable temperature
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the three-dimensional space within the tower barrel to route larger diameter cables along curved paths, increasing their surface area for heat dissipation. The vertical and circumferential routing allows thick cables to maintain better thermal contact with the cooler inner wall surfaces

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The curved routing of larger diameter cables along the tower barrel inner wall maximizes the surface area exposed to cooler environments, improving convective and conductive heat transfer from the cable surfaces, which is particularly important for high-current cables with larger cross-sections

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 approach effectively reduces the surface temperature of power transmission cables, prolongs their service life, and ensures safe operation by improving heat dissipation efficiency without energy consumption, even in high-temperature conditions.

Implementation Method 1

employing a bending shape for the power transmission cables to increase the surface area for natural convection heat exchange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNatural convection: Free Convection

Implementation Method 2

incorporating heat radiation absorption coatings to enhance heat dissipation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat radiation absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentEP3258559B1Vertical axis wind turbine
Publication Date: 2021.04.21 GOLDWIND SCI & TECH CO LTD
  • EP3258559B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3258559B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3258559B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A retaining structure-based heat transfer and dissipation system and a wind generator set. The heat transfer and dissipation system comprises a retaining structure (5) and a power transmission cable (1) that is laid along the vertical direction of the inner wall of the retaining structure. The power transmission cable is laid in a shady surface region of the retaining structure. The system effectively lowers the surface temperature of the power transmission cable in the retaining structure, prolongs the service life of the power transmission cable, and ensures the operation safety of power transmission. The over-temperature problem of the power transmission cable in a tower drum of the wind generator set in a high-temperature natural geographical environment is resolved in a "green" and "zero-energy consumption" manner, and the system safety of power transmission is improved.