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EP-4741273-A1 - HYDRODYNAMIC CONVERTER FOR A WIND TURBINE

EP4741273A1EP 4741273 A1EP4741273 A1EP 4741273A1EP-4741273-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel hydrodynamic converter for a wind turbine (100) for generating electrical energy, comprising a pump (1) with a pump shaft (23) which can be mechanically connected to a rotor shaft (120a) of the wind turbine (100), a turbine (11) with a turbine shaft (45) which can be mechanically connected to a drive shaft (140) of a generator (130), and which is fluidically connected to the pump (1), wherein the hydrodynamic converter is configured to circulate hydraulic fluid in a circuit between the pump (1) and the turbine (11) and thereby transmit drive quantities of the pump shaft (23) to the turbine shaft (45).

Inventors

  • FEHMI, Mustafa

Assignees

  • Air Innovation SH.P.K.

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250131

Claims (14)

  1. Hydrodynamic converter for a wind turbine (100), comprising - a pump (1) with a pump shaft (23) which can be mechanically connected to a rotor shaft (120a) of the wind turbine (100); - a turbine (11) with a turbine shaft (45) which can be mechanically connected to a drive shaft (140) of a generator (130) and is fluidically connected to the pump (1), wherein the hydrodynamic converter is designed to circulate hydraulic fluid in a circuit between the pump (1) and the turbine (11) and thereby transmit drive quantities of the pump shaft (23) to the turbine shaft (45).
  2. Hydrodynamic converter according to claim 1, wherein the pump (1) has a circulation channel (4) concentric to the pump shaft (23) which connects an inlet (21) and an outlet (6) of the pump (1), and a blocking channel (29) which is arranged between the inlet (21) and the outlet (6) of the pump (1) and is closed by means of a valve (25).
  3. Hydrodynamic converter according to claim 2, wherein the inlet (21) of the pump (1) is configured to introduce the hydraulic fluid in a tangential direction to a circle concentric with the pump shaft (23) into the circulation channel (4), and the outlet (6) of the pump (1) is configured to discharge the hydraulic fluid from the circulation channel (4) in a tangential direction to the circle concentric with the pump shaft (23).
  4. Hydrodynamic converter according to claim 2 or 3, wherein a section (29a) of the barrier channel (29) which is arranged between the valve (25) and the outlet (6) of the pump (1) is connected to the outlet (6) of the pump (1) by means of a bypass channel (28).
  5. Hydrodynamic converter according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4, wherein the pump (1) has a rotor (2) which is arranged on the pump shaft (23) and on the outside of which one or more vanes (3) are attached.
  6. Hydrodynamic converter according to claim 5, wherein a rear side (47) of each wing (3) extends radially outwards perpendicular to the outside of the rotor (2) and a front side (41) of each wing (3) extends at an angle of inclination from the outside of the rotor (2) to an outer edge of the rear side (47).
  7. Hydrodynamic converter claim 6, wherein a diameter of the bypass channel (4) and a diameter of the barrier channel (29) is substantially equal to a length of the rear side (47) of the vanes (3).
  8. Hydrodynamic converter according to one of claims 5 to 7, wherein each vane (3) is configured to open the valve (25) when a vane (3) passes through the locking channel (29).
  9. Hydrodynamic converter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the turbine (11) is identical in design to the pump (1).
  10. Hydrodynamic converter according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein a first hydraulic connection (7) is arranged between the outlet (6) of the pump (1) and the inlet (10) of the turbine (11) and a second hydraulic connection (20) is arranged between the outlet (18) of the turbine (11) and the inlet (21) of the pump (1).
  11. Use of a hydrodynamic converter according to one of claims 1 to 10 for driving a generator (130) in a wind turbine (100).
  12. Wind turbine (100), comprehensive - a tower (170) which has an upper and a lower end; - at least one rotor (110a, 110b) arranged at an upper end of the tower (170) and comprising one or more rotor blades (160a, 160b) and a rotor shaft (120a); - a generator (130) with a generator shaft (140); and - a hydrodynamic converter according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, wherein a pump shaft (23) of a pump (1) of the hydrodynamic converter is mechanically connected to the rotor shaft (120a) and a turbine shaft (45) of a turbine (11) of the hydrodynamic converter is mechanically connected to the generator shaft (140).
  13. Wind power plant (100) according to claim 11, wherein the generator (130) is arranged at a lower end of the tower (170).
  14. Wind power plant (100) according to claim 11 or 12, wherein two rotors (110a, 110b) are arranged on a common rotor shaft (120a) at the upper end of the tower (170).

Description

The present invention relates to a novel hydrodynamic converter for a wind turbine. Automatic transmissions for motor vehicles are known in the prior art, which have a hydrodynamic torque converter that is usually arranged between the engine and transmission of a motor vehicle. For example, it shows EP 2 146 115 A1 A hydrodynamic torque converter comprising a fluid-filled casing, a pump impeller mounted on the casing, a turbine impeller opposite the pump impeller and mounted in an interior cavity of the casing, and a guide vane arranged between the pump impeller and the turbine impeller. In converter operation of the torque converter, guide vane blades are arranged between the blades of the pump and turbine impellers such that fluid circulation between the turbine impeller and the pump impeller flows around the guide vane blades. The present invention aims to provide a hydrodynamic converter for a wind turbine, which can extend the service life of the wind turbine and increase its efficiency. The hydrodynamic converter according to the invention comprises a pump with a pump shaft and a turbine with a turbine shaft. The pump shaft is mechanically connectable to a rotor shaft of the wind turbine, and the turbine shaft is mechanically connectable to a drive shaft of a generator of the wind turbine. At least one rotor with one or more rotor blades can be arranged on the rotor shaft of the wind turbine, onto which wind force can be applied to drive the rotor. The generator can be an asynchronous or synchronous generator with a fixed or variable speed. The mechanical connections between the individual shafts can be achieved, for example, by means of suitable couplings, such as rigid couplings, flexible couplings, or articulated couplings. It is also possible to arrange a gearbox, such as a mechanical gearbox, between the rotor shaft and pump shaft and/or between the turbine shaft and generator shaft. Furthermore, the turbine is fluidically connected to the pump, i.e., an output of the pump is connected to an input of the turbine and an output of the turbine is connected to an input of the pump. The hydrodynamic converter is designed to circulate hydraulic fluid in a circuit, particularly a closed circuit, between the pump and the turbine, thereby transmitting drive variables from the pump shaft to the turbine shaft. These drive variables include, for example, the pump shaft's rotational speed, torque, and power. The hydraulic fluid can be, for instance, a hydraulic fluid such as a mineral oil-based or water-based fluid. In particular, the pump shaft can be driven by the rotor shaft of the wind turbine at a specific speed and torque, whereupon the pump delivers hydraulic fluid to the turbine at a specific pressure. As a result, the turbine performs a rotary motion and drives the generator shaft via the turbine shaft. The closed hydraulic fluid circuit can be formed by the pump conveying the hydraulic fluid from the pump outlet, through the turbine inlet, into the turbine, and from there back through the turbine outlet and pump inlet to the pump. The pump and the turbine can each have a housing in which the corresponding inlets and outlets are located. Furthermore, the pump and turbine shafts can be supported in their respective housings by means of suitable bearings. The housings can be designed in two parts, in particular, to facilitate easy assembly of the pump and turbine. To enable the turbine. The two housing parts of the pump or turbine housing can, for example, be screwed together. Any other suitable connection of the two housing parts is also possible. In one embodiment of the hydrodynamic converter, a first hydraulic connection can be arranged between the pump outlet and the turbine inlet, and a second hydraulic connection between the turbine outlet and the pump inlet. The two hydraulic connections can be designed, for example, as lines and/or pipes. In another embodiment of the hydrodynamic converter, the pump can have a rotor mounted on the pump shaft, with one or more vanes attached to its outer surface. Preferably, the rotor has two vanes; however, it is equally possible for only one vane or more than two vanes to be attached to the outer surface of the rotor. The outer surface of the rotor refers to its radial outer surface, the side facing away from the pump shaft. The rotor can be rigidly connected to the pump shaft, for example, by means of a suitable shaft-hub connection. It is also possible for the pump shaft and the rotor to be formed as a single piece. In a preferred embodiment of the hydrodynamic converter, a rear (upstream) side of each vane can extend radially outward perpendicular to the outside of the rotor, and a front (downstream) side of each vane can extend at an angle from the outside of the rotor to an outer edge of the rear side. This allows each vane to have the shape of a right-angled triangle in a longitudinal section through the pump. In one embodiment of the hydrodynamic conv