Wind Turbine Data Centers to Cut Transmission Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind farms face challenges in reducing power transmission and conversion losses, installation costs, and optimizing energy production by integrating data processing centers, which are typically powered externally and incur additional energy consumption and equipment costs.
Innovation Solution
Each wind turbine generator in the farm includes a data processing center powered by its own electrical generator, with integrated heat recovery systems to utilize waste heat, and electrolyzer arrangements to produce hydrogen for energy storage and flexible power output, reducing external power transmission needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If data processing centers are powered remotely from the power transmission grid, then data processing can be performed, but power losses and transmission inefficiencies occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the data processing center with the wind turbine generator by locating the data processing center within the WTG and powering it directly from the generator's electrical output. This integration eliminates separate transmission infrastructure and reduces energy losses by consuming power at the source location.
Solution Approach 2:
Each wind turbine generator serves itself by providing electrical power directly to its own integrated data processing center. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external power transmission and reduces dependency on the broader power distribution grid.
2Productivity
If data processing centers are integrated into each wind turbine generator, then power transmission losses are reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine generator is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a power generation unit and as a self-powered data processing platform. The electrical generator performs dual roles: producing electrical power for grid transmission and simultaneously powering the integrated data processing center within the same WTG structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the data processing function from centralized locations and distributes it to individual wind turbine generators. Each WTG becomes an independent unit with its own data processing center, allowing localized operation and reducing the need for complex centralized transmission infrastructure.
3Loss of energy
If heat recovery systems are implemented, then energy efficiency increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful waste heat generated by the electrical generator into a useful resource by implementing a heat recovery system. The cooling water circuit captures thermal energy that would otherwise be lost, and this recovered heat is utilized for district heating applications, transforming an environmental liability into a valuable energy source.
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
Significantly reduces power losses and installation costs while enhancing energy production and flexibility, allowing the farm to operate as a baseload or peak load power plant, with efficient use of waste heat for district heating and hydrogen production.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical generator driven by said rotor for converting rotation thereof into electrical power
Implementation Method 2
a heat recovery arrangement for recovering waste heat from the electrical generator and from the data processing centre
Implementation Method 3
a cooling water feed pipe of the heat recovery piping system arranged for supplying cooling water to the heat recovery arrangement
Implementation Method 4
incorporating electrolyzer arrangements for hydrogen production and storage
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind farm (1) is disclosed herein comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators (2), each of which comprises a rotor (3) having one or more blades, an electrical generator (4) driven by said rotor (3) for converting rotation thereof into electrical power, and a data processing centre (20) having one or more data processing units (21) configured to be connected to a data communication network (22) and configured to receive, process, store, and transmit data over the data communication network (22), wherein the data processing centre (20) is arranged to be powered by electrical power generated by the electrical generator (4) and wherein the maximal power consumption of the data processing centre (20) constitutes at least 10%, such as at least 30% or even more than 50% of the nominal power capacity of the electrical generator (4) of said wind turbine generator (2).