IP Library Granted Patent US 8,390,140
Granted Patent B2
US 8,390,140 · App. 12/742,566 · Granted Mar 5, 2013

Wind energy installation with a heating device

Inventors: Soenke Bolln (Heide/Holstein, DE); Oliver Sievers (Fockbek, DE); Michael Scheffner (Rickert, DE)
Assignee: REpower Systems AG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,390,140
App. No.
12/742,566
Granted
Mar 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wind energy installation connected to a network. The installation includes a tower and a pod having a wind rotor and a generator driven by the wind rotor. The installation further includes a converter configured to output electrical power, a control device provided with a temperature sensor and a heating device, and a preheating module. The preheating module includes a thermal switch configured to monitor a temperature of at least one component of the wind energy installation and a monitoring unit having an output device. The monitoring unit operates the heating device until the thermal switch reaches a threshold, whereupon the output device transmits an enable signal to start the wind energy installation. Operational reliability of the wind energy installation in low ambient temperatures can be thus improved.

Claims (26)

1. A wind energy installation connected to a network, comprising:

a tower;

a pod arranged on the tower, the pod comprising a wind rotor and a generator driven by the wind rotor;

a converter configured to output electrical power generated by the generator;

a control device provided with a temperature sensor and a heating device; and

a preheating module comprising a thermal switch configured to monitor a temperature of at least one component of the wind energy installation and a monitoring unit comprising an output device,

wherein the monitoring unit operates the heating device until the thermal switch reaches a threshold, whereupon the output device transmits an enable signal, and

wherein the preheating module has a network status detector configured to interact with the monitoring unit such that the heating device is operated when determined that the network has returned.

2. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , wherein the enable signal acts directly or indirectly on a switching unit, which produces the electrical power supply for at least one component of the wind energy installation.

3. The wind energy installation of claim 2 , further comprising a UPS unit which has the switching unit, wherein the monitoring unit is configured to switch on the UPS unit only when other components of the wind energy installation have been heated to a specific temperature.

4. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , further comprising a timer configured to preset a minimum switched-on duration for heating elements and to block the output device until this time has elapsed.

5. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of heating devices for different areas of the wind energy installation.

6. The wind energy installation of claim 5 , wherein the heating devices are provided for at least one of a top box, a bottom box, and a UPS unit.

7. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , further comprising a dedicated temperature sensor provided in a heating device on a pitch module of the wind energy installation.

8. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , further comprising a timing relay connected in parallel with the temperature sensor and triggered after an adjustable time.

9. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , wherein the monitoring unit is configured to operate the heating device only when at least one temperature limit value has been undershot in at least one component of the wind energy installation.

10. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , further comprising an ambient temperature sensor configured to interact with a bypass module and to switch on the output device directly when a specific external temperature is exceeded.

11. The wind energy installation of claim 10 , further comprising a reheating module configured to provide reheating as a function of the external temperature even after the enable signal has been output.

12. The wind energy installation of claim 11 , wherein the reheating module comprises a temperature monitor configured to interact with the monitoring unit such that the heating device is operated when a limit temperature is undershot during operation.

13. The wind energy installation of claim 12 , further comprising an internal temperature sensor applied as an input signal to the temperature monitor.

14. A method for operation of a wind energy installation connected to a network, the wind energy installation having a tower, a pod arranged on the tower and having a wind rotor and a generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter configured to output electrical power generated by the generator, and a control device, wherein at least some of the components of the wind energy installation are heated, the method comprising:

monitoring a signal for the start of operation;

operating a heating device configured to heat at least one of the components of the wind energy installation when determined that the network has returned;

monitoring a temperature that is reached for the at least one of the components;

triggering a switching signal on reaching a specific threshold; and

transmitting an enable signal to the control device to start up the wind energy installation.

Assignments (8)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 31, 2023
From: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
Reel/Frame 064834/0873 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2022
From: SENVION DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
Reel/Frame 064371/0624 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 16, 2022
From: SENVION GMBH
To: SENVION DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 061462/0567 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: SENVION AG
To: SENVION GMBH
Reel/Frame 061068/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: SENVION SE
To: SENVION AG
Reel/Frame 060692/0328 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034806/0074 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 27, 2013
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
Reel/Frame 031088/0222 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2011
From: BOLLN, SOENKE; SIEVERS, OLIVER; SCHEFFNER, MICHAEL
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
Reel/Frame 026046/0712 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2007 054 215 · Nov 12, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20100253079A1 · Oct 7, 2010