IP Library Granted Patent US 8,975,515
Granted Patent B2
US 8,975,515 · App. 13/799,961 · Granted Mar 10, 2015

Tower of a wind energy installation with current conduction means

Inventor: Matthias Schubert (Rendsburg, DE)
Assignee: Senvion SE
H02H7/06F03D11/0058Y02E10/722
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,975,515
App. No.
13/799,961
Granted
Mar 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tubular tower ( 11 ), of a wind energy plant ( 10 ) with a current conduction means system ( 25, 35 ) for transmitting electrical power from a generator on the tower ( 11 ), to a power module at the base of the tower. The current conduction means system ( 25, 35 ) has three electrical conductors ( 27.1, 27.2, 27.3; 37.1, 37.2, 37.3; 45.1, 45.2, 45.3 ) arranged next to one another. A housing ( 26, 36, 46 ) is connected to the inner tower wall at predetermined distances using connecting devices which have electrical cross-sections conducting with the tower wall. The distances between the connecting devices in the longitudinal extent of the tower ( 11 ) and the cross-sections of the connecting devices between the housing ( 26, 36, 46 ) and the tower wall are dimensioned such that during a fault, the voltage drop between the tower wall and the housing ( 26, 36, 46 ) does not exceed a predetermined touch voltage.

Claims (23)

1. A tower ( 11 ) of a wind energy plant ( 10 ), the tower comprising:

a current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) for transmitting electrical power from a generator on the tower ( 11 ) to a power module at the at a base of the tower,

wherein the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) has three electrical conductors ( 27 . 1 , 27 . 2 , 27 . 3 ; 37 . 1 , 37 . 2 , 37 . 3 ; 45 . 1 , 45 . 2 , 45 . 3 ) arranged next to one another in a housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ),

wherein the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ) is a protective earthing conductor for the electrical conductors ( 27 . 1 , 27 . 2 , 27 . 3 ; 37 . 1 , 37 . 2 , 37 . 3 ; 45 . 1 45 . 2 , 45 . 3 ) arranged in the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ),

wherein the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ) is connected to a wall of the tower at predetermined distances using connecting devices,

wherein the connecting devices have electrical cross-sections conducting with the tower wall, and

wherein distances between the connecting devices in the longitudinal extent of the tower ( 11 ) and cross-sections of the connecting devices between the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ) and the tower wall are dimensioned such that during a fault, a voltage drop between the tower wall and the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ) does not exceed a predetermined touch voltage.

2. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) is at least one of a stator current conduction means system ( 35 ) for the stator current and a rotor current conduction means system ( 25 ), and

wherein the stator current conduction means system ( 35 ) and the rotor current conduction means system ( 25 ) are arranged in the tower ( 11 ).

3. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein an impedance of the protective earthing conductor using the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ) for the electrical conductors ( 27 . 1 , 27 . 2 , 27 . 3 ; 37 . 1 , 37 . 2 , 37 . 3 ; 45 . 1 , 45 . 2 , 45 . 3 ) is less than n-times (n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5; n≦5) an impedance of the electrical conductors ( 27 . 1 , 27 . 2 , 27 . 3 ; 37 . 1 , 37 . 2 , 37 . 3 ; 45 . 1 , 45 . 2 , 45 . 3 ) arranged within the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ).

4. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 ,

wherein electric cables (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) are outside of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ), and

wherein one of the electric cables (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) is provided for each phase of the three-phase alternating current so that each of the electric cables (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) conducts one phase of the three-phase alternating current.

5. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 4 , wherein cable feeder boxes are arranged at an upper end of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) that is arranged in the tower ( 11 ).

6. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the electric cables (L 1 , L 2 , L 3 ) are arranged in a triangular shape in cross-section, and are outside of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ).

7. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 4 , wherein cable feeder boxes are arranged at a lower end of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) that is arranged in the tower ( 11 ).

8. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 4 , wherein cable feeder boxes are arranged at an upper end and a lower end of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) that is arranged in the tower ( 11 ).

9. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductors ( 27 . 1 , 27 . 2 , 27 . 3 ; 37 . 1 , 37 . 2 , 37 . 3 ; 45 . 1 , 45 . 2 , 45 . 3 ) are arranged coaxially in the housing ( 26 , 36 , 46 ).

10. A wind energy plant ( 10 ) having a tubular tower ( 11 ), according to claim 1 .

11. A method for operating a wind energy plant ( 10 ) with a tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein during an occurrence of a fault, the short-circuit current of the current conduction means system ( 25 , 35 ) is discharged.

12. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the wall of the tower is an inner wall.

13. The tower ( 11 ) according to claim 1 , wherein the tower is a tubular tower.

Assignments (3)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034806/0074 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 4, 2014
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034525/0833 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 13, 2013
From: SCHUBERT, MATTHIAS
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
Reel/Frame 029985/0915 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2011 003 208 · Jan 26, 2011 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2012000232 · Jan 19, 2012
Related Publication 20130194705A1 · Aug 1, 2013