Wind Turbine Generator Cooling with Multi-Phase Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind power generators using air cooling face challenges with multi-phase environmental flows containing water vapor and impurities, leading to demagnetization and wear, which compromise insulation and reduce service life.

Innovation Solution

A wind power generator system with a separation device that pre-separates solid particles and liquid drops from the upwind flow, producing dry and clean air for cooling, which is then exhausted, maintaining insulation and reducing wear on the generator.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If air cooling is adopted to cool the generator and reduce cost, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but water and impurity in the multi-phase flow damage the magnetic pole and insulation mechanism

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegenerator cooling effectivenessVSAvoidinsulation performance and magnetic pole integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device performs preliminary separation of multi-phase flow before air enters the generator. Solid particles and liquid drops are removed in advance through centrifugal separation and filtration mechanisms, ensuring that only clean air reaches the generator for cooling, thus preventing damage to the magnetic pole and insulation mechanism while maintaining effective cooling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If air cooling is used with natural environment air, then cost is reduced and cooling effectiveness is improved, but solid particles cause wearing to the generator

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling system costVSAvoidgenerator service life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device acts as an intermediary between the natural environment air and the generator. It includes a separation chamber with centrifugal separation structures and filtration elements that intercept and remove solid particles from the air stream before the air contacts the generator, thus enabling the use of inexpensive natural air for cooling while protecting the generator from particle-induced wear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Power

If multi-phase flow is used for cooling, then cooling capacity is improved, but water vapor and salt mist cause demagnetization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling capacityVSAvoiddemagnetization risk
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separation device extracts and removes harmful components (liquid drops including water vapor condensation and salt mist) from the multi-phase cooling flow through centrifugal separation and filtration mechanisms. This extraction process isolates the harmful substances in a collection chamber while allowing the cleaned air to continue providing cooling capacity to the generator, thus maintaining cooling effectiveness while eliminating demagnetization risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 system effectively protects the generator from demagnetization and wear, improving cooling efficiency and extending service life by using clean air for heat exchange, while reducing environmental impact and energy consumption.

Implementation Method 1

A separation device is configured to perform multi-phase flow separation to upwind direction flow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMulti-phase flow separation: Cyclone Separation

Implementation Method 2

The cooling medium performs heat exchange in the generator cavity to cool the generator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat exchange: Heat Exchanger

Data Source

PatentEP3270492B1Wind power generator system and fluid transportation device
Publication Date: 2021.10.13 GOLDWIND SCI & TECH CO LTD
  • EP3270492B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3270492B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3270492B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Disclosed is a wind power generator system, comprising a power generator (1), a separating apparatus (3) and an exhaust fan (4), wherein the power generator comprises an electric motor cavity (11), and the separating apparatus is used for performing multiphase stream separation for a flow from the windward direction and comprises an air inlet used for introducing the flow from the windward direction and an air outlet in communication with an electric motor cavity. The exhaust fan is in communication with the electric motor cavity and is used for exhausting a hot air flow in the electric motor cavity. Disclosed is a fluid transportation device, comprising a power apparatus, a separating apparatus and an exhaust fan, wherein the power apparatus is provided with an overheat cavity, and the separating apparatus is used for performing multi-phase flow separation for a flow from the windward direction and comprises an air inlet introducing the flow from the windward direction and an air outlet in communication with the overheat cavity. The exhaust fan is in communication with the overheat cavity and is used for exhausting a hot air flow in the overheat cavity. The wind power generator system and the fluid transportation device can use air in a natural environment to cool the overheat cavity while not damaging the overheat cavity.