A wind energy converter, a wind turbine foundation, a method and use of a wind turbine foundation (24-Jan-2012)
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Canadian Patent Publication
(Source: CIPO)
Title (French)
Convertisseur d'Energie eolienne, fondation d'Eolienne et procede d'Utilisation d'Une fondation d'Eolienne
Abstract (English)
The invention provides for a wind energy converter comprising a wind turbine, a wind turbine foundation including a strengthening structure, and temperature control means for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of the wind turbine. The wind energy converter is characterized in that at least a part of the temperature control means adjoins the strengthening structure. The invention further relates to a wind turbine foundation comprising a strengthening structure. The wind turbine foundation is characterized in that the foundation comprises at least a part of temperature control means for heat exchanging with one or more areas of a wind turbine and in that at least a part of said temperature control means adjoins said strengthening structure. Even further the invention relates to a method for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of a wind turbine and use of a wind turbine foundation.
Inventors
LARSEN, GERNER
[+3]
DK
HENRIKSEN, NIELS MARTIN
DK
CHRISTENSEN, JAN BJERRE
DK
JENSEN, SOREN P.
DK
Applicants
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
RANDERS SV, DK
Assignees
VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
RANDERS SV, DK
Priority
DK PA 2006 01430 03-Nov-2006
Classifications
International (2006.01):
F03D 9/00; F03D 11/00
PCT Filing
Filed:
DK PCT/DK2007/000471
02-Nov-2007
Published:
WO WO2008/052556
08-May-2008
PCT article 22/39 Fulfilled:
04-May-2009
Notices
Unexamined document, not printed without a grant:
CA 2668431 08-May-2008
Grant issued:
24-Jan-2012
Examination requested:
04-May-2009
Language of Filing: English
Attorney, Agent or Firm
BERESKIN & PARR LLP/S.E.N.C.R.L.,S.R.L.
CA
(Source: CIPO)
27
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. A wind energy converter, comprising:
a wind turbine; and
a wind turbine foundation including a strengthening structure formed of steel,
and
temperature control means for controlling temperature of one or more areas of
said wind
turbine in the form of one or more fluid conduits for transporting a cooling
fluid through
the foundation;
wherein at least a part of said fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to and
adjoin said
strengthening structure.
2. The wind energy converter according to claim 1, wherein said temperature
control
means further comprises:
at least one pump for creating a flow of said cooling fluid and at least one
heat
sink for giving off heat from or supplying heat to said cooling fluid.
3. The wind energy converter according to claim I or 2, wherein at least a
part of
said wind turbine foundation further constitutes part of a heat sink of said
temperature
control means.
4. The wind energy converter according to claim 3, wherein said heat sink
comprises heat transfer means for dissipating majority of excess heat of the
one or more
areas of said wind turbine to said wind turbine foundation and for absorbing
majority of
needed heat of the one or more areas of said wind turbine from said wind
turbine
foundation.
5. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
said
one or more fluid conduits is formed as one or more closed circuits making
said cooling
fluid circulate in said temperature control means.
28
6. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
said
wind turbine foundation comprises two or more separate fluid conduits of said
temperature control means.
7. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
said
fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to at least a part of said strengthening
structure by
way of separate fixing means.
8. The wind energy converter according to claim 7, wherein the fixing means
comprise clamps, strips, wire or tape.
9. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
said
fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to at least a part of said strengthening
structure by way
of fixing means integrated in said strengthening structure.
10. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
said
cooling fluid is a liquid.
11. The wind energy converter of claim 10, wherein the liquid comprises an
antifreeze and water solution, methanol, propylene glycol or potassium
acetate.
12. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
said
strengthening structure comprises one or more welded mesh reinforcements.
13. A wind turbine foundation comprising a strengthening structure at least a
main
part of which is formed of steel wherein temperature control means is provided
for heat
exchanging with one or more areas of a wind turbine in the form of a conduit
or conduits
carrying a heat exchange fluid and extending through the foundation, the
conduit or
conduits being fixed to and adjoining said strengthening structure.
14. The wind turbine foundation according to claim 13, wherein said wind
turbine
foundation is provided with two or more fluid conduits of said at least a part
of
temperature control means.
29
15. A method for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of a wind
turbine
comprising the step of: heat exchanging between said one or more areas of the
wind
turbine and at least a part of a foundation for said wind turbine,
wherein said heat exchanging is performed by means of one or more fluid
conduits at least partly fixed to and adjoining a steel strengthening
structure of said
foundation.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein majority of heat transferred
from said
areas to said foundation is dissipated in said foundation and wherein majority
of said heat
transferred from said foundation to said areas is absorbed in said foundation.
17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said heat is exchanged by
establishing a flow of cooling fluids in and between said one or more areas of
the wind
turbine and at least a part of said foundation.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said cooling fluids flow in one
or
more closed circuits making said cooling fluids circulate between said areas
and said
foundation.
19. Use of a wind turbine foundation as defined in any one of claims 13 or 14
in a
wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said wind
energy
converter is land based.
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. A wind energy converter, comprising:
a wind turbine; and
a wind turbine foundation including a strengthening structure formed of steel,
and
temperature control means for controlling temperature of one or more areas of
said wind
turbine in the form of one or more fluid conduits for transporting a cooling
fluid through
the foundation;
wherein at least a part of said fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to and
adjoin said
strengthening structure.
2. The wind energy converter according to claim 1, wherein said temperature
control
means further comprises:
at least one pump for creating a flow of said cooling fluid and at least one
heat
sink for giving off heat from or supplying heat to said cooling fluid.
3. The wind energy converter according to claim I or 2, wherein at least a
part of
said wind turbine foundation further constitutes part of a heat sink of said
temperature
control means.
4. The wind energy converter according to claim 3, wherein said heat sink
comprises heat transfer means for dissipating majority of excess heat of the
one or more
areas of said wind turbine to said wind turbine foundation and for absorbing
majority of
needed heat of the one or more areas of said wind turbine from said wind
turbine
foundation.
5. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
said
one or more fluid conduits is formed as one or more closed circuits making
said cooling
fluid circulate in said temperature control means.
28
6. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
said
wind turbine foundation comprises two or more separate fluid conduits of said
temperature control means.
7. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein
said
fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to at least a part of said strengthening
structure by
way of separate fixing means.
8. The wind energy converter according to claim 7, wherein the fixing means
comprise clamps, strips, wire or tape.
9. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein
said
fluid conduit or conduits are fixed to at least a part of said strengthening
structure by way
of fixing means integrated in said strengthening structure.
10. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein
said
cooling fluid is a liquid.
11. The wind energy converter of claim 10, wherein the liquid comprises an
antifreeze and water solution, methanol, propylene glycol or potassium
acetate.
12. The wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein
said
strengthening structure comprises one or more welded mesh reinforcements.
13. A wind turbine foundation comprising a strengthening structure at least a
main
part of which is formed of steel wherein temperature control means is provided
for heat
exchanging with one or more areas of a wind turbine in the form of a conduit
or conduits
carrying a heat exchange fluid and extending through the foundation, the
conduit or
conduits being fixed to and adjoining said strengthening structure.
14. The wind turbine foundation according to claim 13, wherein said wind
turbine
foundation is provided with two or more fluid conduits of said at least a part
of
temperature control means.
29
15. A method for controlling the temperature of one or more areas of a wind
turbine
comprising the step of: heat exchanging between said one or more areas of the
wind
turbine and at least a part of a foundation for said wind turbine,
wherein said heat exchanging is performed by means of one or more fluid
conduits at least partly fixed to and adjoining a steel strengthening
structure of said
foundation.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein majority of heat transferred
from said
areas to said foundation is dissipated in said foundation and wherein majority
of said heat
transferred from said foundation to said areas is absorbed in said foundation.
17. The method according to claim 15 or 16, wherein said heat is exchanged by
establishing a flow of cooling fluids in and between said one or more areas of
the wind
turbine and at least a part of said foundation.
18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said cooling fluids flow in one
or
more closed circuits making said cooling fluids circulate between said areas
and said
foundation.
19. Use of a wind turbine foundation as defined in any one of claims 13 or 14
in a
wind energy converter according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein said wind
energy
converter is land based.
(Source: CIPO)
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