Optimizing Thermal Management in Wind Turbines

Wind turbine generators that use superconducting coils for higher efficiency and power. The superconducting rotor is thermally insulated from the back iron by support elements made of insulating material.

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Controlling the blade temperature of a wind turbine in a way that prevents ice formation without using temperature sensors. The technique involves setting a target temperature and using physics modeling along with ambient conditions to calculate the minimum energy needed to reach that target. The energy provided to the blade heating elements is then adjusted to meet this minimum requirement and maintain the target temperature.

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Heat dissipation techniques for wind turbine towers and cabins to prevent overheating of electrical equipment during hot summer months. These techniques involve applying specialized coatings to the tower and cabin walls. A thermal radiation absorption coating is applied to the sunny side to absorb solar radiation and reduce heat transfer inside. A thermal radiation dissipation coating is applied to the shady side to enhance radiative heat loss. Inside the enclosure, the heat-generating device is coated with a high-emissivity heat dissipation coating on the side facing the shady wall, creating a heat dissipation channel from the device to the shady wall.

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A wind turbine equipped with a system for mechanically removing ice from the blades. This method involves inducing vibrations in the blades to break up and detach the ice, generated by adjusting the blade pitch and rotor speed. The system also includes heating elements in the blades to thaw the ice, controlled by sensors and algorithms to minimize energy use. It estimates when heating is effective and when mechanical removal should be performed. The turbine can detect ice, estimate its thickness, and determine the conditions for effective ice removal.

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A method for predicting ice accumulation on wind turbine blades using historical data to forecast future icing. This method involves defining upper and lower thresholds for a variable related to blade and ice mass. Curve fitting is used to project future values based on partial periods of historical data. If the upper threshold is exceeded or the lower threshold is undershot, future icing is predicted. This prediction can then be used to schedule blade de-icing.

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A thermal energy storage system that uses vapor transport under evacuated or low-pressure conditions for efficient heat transfer. The system includes a storage tank of molten salt and vaporizes a volatile fluid, such as sodium, to extract heat when needed. The vapor then condenses to release the stored heat. This method enables efficient heat transfer through small, naturally occurring pressure differences. The evacuated vaporized subsystems prevent the inhibiting effects of non-condensing gases, allowing for high-temperature heat storage and extraction. This stored heat can be used for power generation using a Brayton cycle turbine.

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Improved cooling system for ram air turbines (RATs) used in aircraft that enables cooling the generator without impeding the airflow to the turbine. This is achieved by adding an external set of blades downstream from the housing that is thermally coupled to the rotor shaft, in addition to the internal turbine blades. The external blades are exposed to the airstream and provide additional cooling by transferring heat from the rotor to the passing air.

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A thermal energy storage system that uses vapor transport under evacuated or low-pressure conditions to achieve high heat transfer rates through flows generated by small, naturally occurring pressure differences. The system uses a working fluid, such as sodium, that can evaporate and condense to transfer heat efficiently. The vaporization and condensation occur in separate, evacuated subsystems to extract and inject heat into the thermal storage material. This allows for high-temperature operation and efficient power generation.

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Wind turbine sensors can prevent ice accretion on the sensors, thus avoiding issues with accuracy. The sensors are equipped with a heating system using optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to heat the sensor. This prevents or reduces ice from forming on the sensor. By irradiating the sensor with light, ice formation is prevented.

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Distributed compressed air energy storage system for wind farms that improves the capacity factor of intermittent wind power. The system uses multiple small air storage tanks and compressor-expander trains at each wind turbine, rather than large consolidated underground storage. The tanks are connected by a thermal interchange network to share heating and cooling to improve efficiency. The distributed storage and thermal exchange overcome the limitations of centralized compressed air storage systems.

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Heating assembly for wind turbine blades to remove ice build-up during freezing conditions and improve performance. A heat reservoir inside the blade cavity is connected to a heat source and has vents to release hot air onto the blade surface. The hot air heats the blade to melt ice and prevent re-freezing. Hot air is directed at the leading edge where ice accumulates, and also at the trailing edge to prevent migrating ice from re-forming.

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A passive cooling system for wind turbine nacelles and towers that reduces heat without using fans or active cooling. A set of angled open panels is installed outside the nacelle and tower. Heat-producing components inside the nacelle send fluid to the panels via pipes. Airflow along the tower naturally cools the panels and dissipates the heat.

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Extracting heat energy from compostable material and converting this energy to electricity with the aid of an updraft tower. The tower provides a segmented collector region to receive compost material that heats air. The heated air rises up a hollow tower to drive turbines that generate electricity. The tower is also designed for easy turbine maintenance and swapping.

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Wind power generator system with improved power cable cooling and lifespan in hot climates. The system uses an enclosed tower with the power cables laid in a vertical bend on the shady side. This leverages the cooler wall to help dissipate heat from the cables. The shady wall is coated to enhance heat absorption from the cables. This lowers cable temperatures and reduces overheating risk compared to conventional vertical cable runs.

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Permanent magnet direct-drive wind power generator with internal airflow to dry and cool the generator components. The generator has air holes in the stator support, tooth pressing plates, and an airflow passage through the iron core. The holes and passage allow an internal air source to flow through the stator interior. This creates a positive pressure environment to resist external airflow intrusion and protect insulation. An internal air source system can be connected to the holes for drying and cooling.

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