Wind turbine with a nacelle having an offset center of gravity

1 . A wind turbine comprising, a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, and a rotor defining a rotor axis extending in a vertical center plane and configured for harvesting wind energy by rotation of blades in a rotor rotation direction about the rotor axis, the nacelle comprising:

a rotor-supporting assembly including a main frame, forming a load path from the rotor to the tower, and receiving a degree of torque induced by the rotation of the rotor,

wherein the nacelle has a center of gravity (COG) which is offset from the center plane in a direction relative to the rotor rotation direction to counteract the torque induced by the rotation of the rotor, and

wherein one or more operative components forming part of a power conversion system of the wind turbine are arranged to offset the COG from the center plane.

2 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor rotation direction is clockwise when seen from a wind side of the rotor, and wherein the COG is offset to a left side of the center plane.

3 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the operative components comprise a transformer and/or a converter.

4 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the nacelle comprises a main unit comprising the rotor-supporting assembly and a first auxiliary unit attached to the main unit and housing one or more operative components.

5 . The wind turbine according to claim 4 , wherein the first auxiliary unit houses a first transformer and a first converter.

6 . The wind turbine according to claim 5 , wherein a distance from the first converter to the center plane is larger than a distance from the first transformer to the center plane.

7 . The wind turbine according to claim 5 , comprising a second auxiliary unit, the first and second auxiliary units being attached to the main unit on opposite sides of the center plane.

8 . The wind turbine according to claim 7 , wherein the second auxiliary unit houses operative components, and wherein the operative components of the first and second auxiliary units are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the center plane.

9 . The wind turbine according to claim 7 , wherein the second auxiliary unit houses a second transformer and a second converter, and, wherein the distance from the first converter to the center plane is larger than the distance from the second converter to the center plane.

10 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the nacelle is rotationally connected to the wind turbine tower for rotation about a yaw axis extending in a vertical transverse plane perpendicular to the vertical center plane, and wherein the transverse plane is between the COG and the rotor.

11 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein a first of the operative components for power conversion is attached to the rotor-supporting assembly such that a first center of gravity (1 st -COG) of the first component is upwind relative to the nacelle COG.

12 . The wind turbine according to claim 11 , wherein a second of the operative components for power conversion is attached to the rotor-supporting assembly such that a second center of gravity (2 nd -COG) of the second component is downwind relative to the nacelle COG.

13 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor-supporting assembly comprises a main frame and a main bearing housing attached to the main frame, the main bearing housing comprising a main bearing for rotational suspension of a rotor shaft relative to the main frame, and wherein the main bearing housing forms part of a load path from the operative component to the tower.

14 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the operative component is attached directly to the rotor-supporting assembly.

15 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the operative component is attached indirectly to the rotor-supporting assembly.

16 . A wind turbine comprising, a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, and a rotor defining a rotor axis extending in a vertical center plane and configured for harvesting wind energy by rotation of blades in a rotor rotation direction about the rotor axis, the nacelle comprising:

a rotor-supporting assembly including a main frame, forming a load path from the rotor to the tower, and receiving a degree of torque induced by the rotation of the rotor, and

a first operative component and a second operative component of the wind turbine,

wherein the nacelle has a center of gravity (COG), and wherein a distance from the first operative component to the center plane is larger than a distance from the second operative component to the center plane to offset the COG in a direction relative to the rotor rotation direction to counteract the reaction torque induced by the rotation of the rotor.

17 . The wind turbine according to claim 16 , wherein the first operative component comprises either a transformer or a converter, and the second operative component comprises the other of the transformer and the converter.

18 . A method of constructing a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, and a rotor defining a rotor axis extending in a vertical center plane and configured for harvesting wind energy by rotation of blades in a rotor rotation direction about the rotor axis, the nacelle comprising a center of gravity (COG) and a rotor-supporting assembly including a main frame that forms a load path from the rotor to the tower and receives a degree of torque induced by the rotation of the rotor, the method comprising:

arranging an operative component that forms part of a power conversion system of the wind turbine within the nacelle to offset the center of gravity (COG) from the center plane in a direction relative to the rotor rotation direction, and

selecting the offset in the COG of the nacelle to counteract torque generated by rotation of the rotor during operation of the wind turbine.