Wind energy installation

Abstract

The present invention concerns a wind power installation, in particular a wind power installation having an apparatus for the dehumidification of a gaseous medium in a substantially closed space within the wind power installation. In order to keep down the personnel and logistical expenditure for attaining proper operability of the apparatus, to simplify the structure and to permit very substantially maintenance-free operation, the apparatus includes a first air exposed element and a cooling device for cooling the first element to a temperature below the ambient temperature.

1 . A wind power installation comprising a pylon and a machine housing arranged at the top of the pylon, having a generator, optionally a transformer and a rectifier coupled to the transformer, wherein provided in the proximity of the generator or the transformer and/or the rectifier and/or in the region of the base of a pylon of the wind power installation is a device for dehumidifying the air, wherein the dehumidification device has a first air exposed element and a cooling device coupled thereto for cooling the first element to a temperature below the temperature in the proximity of the generator or the transformer and/or the rectifier and/or in the region of the base of the tower.  
   
   
       2 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised in that the dehumidification device is characterised by a first air exposed element and a cooling device coupled thereto for cooling the first element to a temperature below ambient temperature, wherein the air humidification device is arranged substantially in the interior of the wind power installation.  
   
   
       3 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised in that a second element is connected to a wall or is formed by the wall.  
   
   
       4 . The wind power installation according to  claim 3  characterised in that the cooling device is arranged between the first element and the second element and preferably connects them.  
   
   
       5 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised by a cooling device which utilises the Peltier effect.  
   
   
       6 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised in that there is provided a catch unit and/or a duct for removal of the liquid extracted from the gaseous medium.  
   
   
       7 . The wind power installation according to  claim 6  characterised in that the liquid caught with the first surface element is passed out of the space by way of a suitable device, preferably the duct.  
   
   
       8 . The wind power installation according to  claim 7  characterised in that the duct is arranged in the region, near the ground, of the space, in the base region of the pylon in the case of a wind power installation.  
   
   
       9 . The wind power installation according to  claim 6  characterised in that provided for catching the liquid extracted from the gaseous medium is a catch space in which the liquid is collected.  
   
   
       10 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised in that there are provided a first temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of the first element and a second temperature sensor for detecting the ambient temperature, that the temperatures are preferably detected and processed by a control device, and the control device sets the temperature of the first element by variations in the cooling power of the cooling device.  
   
   
       11 . The wind power installation according to  claim 10  characterised in that the control device is controlled in such a way that the temperature of the first element is a predeterminable amount below the ambient temperature and/or does not exceed a predeterminable temperature.  
   
   
       12 . The wind power installation comprising a pylon and a machine housing arranged at the top of the pylon for accommodating various machine assemblies of the wind power installation, characterised in that arranged in the pylon and/or the machine housing is a device according to one of the preceding claims.  
   
   
       13 . The wind power installation according to  claim 12  characterised in that the device is arranged approximately in the region of the base of the pylon of the wind power installation.  
   
   
       14 . The wind power installation according to  claim 1  characterised in that a plurality of air dehumidification devices in accordance with one of the preceding claims are arranged in the wind power installation.  
   
   
       15 . The wind power installation according to  claim 6  characterised in that in the range of approximately one to ten litres of water and per day are extracted from the air with each air dehumidification device and the total electrical power of the air humidification device is approximately in the range between 50 and 500 W.  
   
   
       16 . A device for dehumidifying a gaseous medium, preferably air, in a substantially closed space, preferably the interior of a wind power installation, characterised by a first air exposed element and a cooling device coupled thereto for cooling the first element to a temperature below ambient temperature, and by a second element for cooling the heat which is extracted from the first element and which is preferably added into the space, and that the second element is connected to a pylon wall of a wind power installation or is formed by the pylon wall.  
   
   
       17 . A device comprising: 
 a generator having rotor blades attached thereto exposure to the wind to generate electric power from the wind;    a pylon coupled to and supporting the generator, the pylon having an internal open space;    electrical equipment that receives the electrical power generated by the generator, the electrical equipment being located inside the internal space of the pylon;    a dehumidifier positioned within the. internal space of the pylon, the dehumidifier being positioned adjacent to the electrical equipment to provide ambient air around the electrical equipment that has a reduced water content below that of air external to the pylon.    
   
   
       18 . The device according to  claim 17  wherein the dehumidifer comprises: 
 a first element positioned inside the pylon, within the internal open space;    a heat transfer element coupled to the first element and removing heat from the first element;    a second element coupled to the heat transfer element that receives the heat removed from the first element.    
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein the heat transfer element is a Peltier element.  
   
   
       20 . The device according to  claim 18  wherein the second element includes a main wall of the pylon that supports the generator.  
   
   
       21 . The device according to  claim 17  wherein in the electrical equipment includes a rectifier.