Wind Turbine Thermal Assembly Off-Grid Condensation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face damage from low temperatures and high humidity during off-grid operations, leading to condensation and corrosion on electrical components, and existing solutions like backup heaters are costly and unreliable.
Innovation Solution
A thermal assembly for wind turbines that includes a liquid-to-air heat exchanger and a control arrangement to exclude the heat exchanger during off-grid modes, allowing the coolant to store thermal energy and maintain nacelle conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a liquid-to-air heat exchanger is continuously operated to cool components, then component temperature is reduced, but thermal energy is lost and nacelle temperature drops during off-grid mode
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches the heat exchanger between included and excluded states based on operational mode. During off-grid mode, the heat exchanger is excluded to allow thermal energy accumulation; during normal operation, it is included for active cooling. This dynamic configuration resolves the contradiction by adapting the cooling function to operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the previously harmful effect of heat loss through the heat exchanger into a beneficial thermal energy storage mechanism. By excluding the heat exchanger during off-grid mode, the thermal energy that would have been lost is instead retained and accumulated in the coolant, which then serves to maintain nacelle temperature and prevent condensation.
2Temperature
If backup heaters with separate power supply are installed to prevent condensation, then nacelle temperature is maintained, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coolant circuit serves multiple functions: it cools components during normal operation and stores thermal energy during off-grid mode to prevent condensation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate backup heater systems, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining nacelle temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the cooling function and heating function into a single integrated coolant circuit system. The thermal energy accumulated in the coolant during operation is reused to maintain nacelle temperature during off-grid mode, combining what would traditionally require separate systems into one unified solution.
3Loss of energy
If the heat exchanger is excluded during off-grid mode, then thermal energy is stored in coolant, but component cooling capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic switching of the heat exchanger based on operational phases. During power generation phases, the heat exchanger operates for cooling; during off-grid phases, it is excluded for thermal storage. This periodic action allows the system to alternately prioritize cooling and thermal energy retention based on operational requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary cooling during normal operation to accumulate thermal energy in the coolant before off-grid mode begins. This preliminary thermal energy storage ensures that when off-grid mode starts, the coolant is already charged with sufficient thermal energy to maintain nacelle temperature without active cooling.
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 solution enables wind turbines to better withstand off-grid states by maintaining suitable environmental conditions inside the nacelle, potentially reducing downtime and facilitating quicker reconnection to the grid.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid-to-air heat exchanger arranged to lower the temperature of a liquid coolant in a coolant circuit
Implementation Method 2
storing thermal energy dissipated by the number of heat-dissipating components during a first off-grid mode
Implementation Method 3
the temperature of the liquid coolant will gradually rise in the absence of active cooling from the heat exchanger
Implementation Method 4
a thermal assembly control arrangement realized to exclude the heat exchanger from the coolant circuit during an off-grid mode
Data Source
AI summary
A thermal assembly of a wind turbine is provided, including an external liquid-to-air heat exchanger arranged to lower the temperature of a liquid coolant in a coolant circuit which coolant circuit is arranged to convey the liquid coolant to a number of heat-dissipating components during operation of the wind turbine; and a thermal assembly control arrangement realized to exclude the external liquid-to-air heat exchanger from the coolant circuit during an off-grid mode of the wind turbine. Also provided is a method of operating a wind turbine in an off-grid mode, the wind turbine including an embodiment of such a thermal assembly.