Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
integrating large utility-scale wind power presents unique challenges. These
challenges call into questions such as: How to ensure system controllability? How
to manage new kinds of variability and uncertainty [70]? The detailed analysis
regarding the impacts of wind power on power systems can be found in [71].
6.4 Thermal management of wind turbines
Large wind turbines are usually installed far away from urban areas and often
operate under severe climate conditions, thus experiencing large variations in
environmental temperatures. As a consequence, there is a need for a wind turbine
to have a robust thermal control system for maintaining temperature levels inside
the nacelle within specifi ed limits.
During turbine operation, heat is generated from electric/electronic devices and
rotating mechanical components (e.g. gearboxes and bearings) as a result of vari-
ous power losses. For ensuring safe and reliable operation and preventing failure
of the turbine, heat generated in the wind turbine must be dissipated effi ciently.
Wind turbine cooling includes:
Wind generator cooling
Electronic and electric equipment cooling
Gearbox cooling
Other components/subsystems cooling
New cooling techniques have continuously been innovated in all cooling modes.
A method was proposed to utilize incoming wind to cool the wind turbine. This
wind assisted cooling system sucks in wind fl ow from an air inlet port on the top of
the nacelle, fi lls the received airfl ow into the generator and fi nally exhausts at the
front of the nacelle [72]. Some large wind generators use water or oil cooling for
dealing with high thermal loads [73]. While the turbine benefi ts high cooling effi -
ciency, it also suffers lower reliability and higher cost for adding such a complex
cooling system.
The main challenge for electronic devices in a wind turbine is that they must
withstand a wide range of ambient temperatures, usually from -40 to +55°C. In
addition, they must be protected from dusts and moisture, as well as electrical
shocks from lightning. There are several cooling modes in electronic cooling,
including passive or active air cooling, forced single- or multi-phase liquid cool-
ing, and phase change cooling. Under high ambient temperature conditions, a
cooling or ventilation system is necessary to prevent overheating of electronic
devices.
In cold climates, heating may be required for
Warming up the lubrication oil in gearboxes
Heating blades and hub to prevent them from icing over
Raising the temperature inside the control cabinets toward a desired temperature
range to prevent electronic devices from malfunctioning
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