Thermal management system and wind turbine incorporating same

Abstract

A thermal management system and wind turbine are provided comprising a gearbox containing a lubrication medium and a pump for circulating the lubrication medium. A gearbox lubrication suction pipe is used for transporting the lubrication medium from the gearbox to the pump. At least one pump outlet pipe can be used for transporting the lubrication medium from the pump to other components of the wind turbine. A thermal wrap is in thermal connection to, at least a portion of, at least one of, the gearbox, pump, gearbox lubrication suction pipe and pump outlet pipe. The thermal wrap is used to heat or cool, at least a portion of, the lubrication medium.

1 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a gearbox containing a lubrication medium;   a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;   a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;   at least one pump outlet pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said pump;   a thermal wrap in thermal connection to, at least a portion of at least one of said gearbox, said pump, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe, and said at least one pump outlet pipe;   wherein, said thermal wrap is used to heat or cool at least a portion of said lubrication medium.   
   
   
       2 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one oil sump tank for use with said gearbox;   wherein said thermal wrap is in thermal connection to, at least a portion of said at least one oil sump tank.   
   
   
       3 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said lubrication medium comprises oil. 
   
   
       4 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature control system for monitoring the temperature of said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;   wherein, power supplied to said thermal wrap is controlled if said temperature approaches a level where damage may occur to said gearbox lubrication suction pipe or said pump.   
   
   
       5 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature control system for monitoring at least one temperature;   wherein, said at least one temperature is chosen from the group comprising at least one of ambient temperature, lubrication medium temperature, and gearbox lubrication suction pipe temperature.   
   
   
       6 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal wrap comprises a heated blanket, wherein said thermal wrap covers, at least portions of said gearbox lubrication suction pipe and said pump. 
   
   
       7 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal wrap comprises heating wire, said heating wire embedded within said gearbox lubrication suction pipe. 
   
   
       8 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal wrap comprises a hot air jacket. 
   
   
       9 . The wind turbine of  claim 1 , wherein said thermal wrap comprises thermo-electric heating or cooling means for heating or cooling said lubrication medium. 
   
   
       10 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a gearbox containing a lubrication medium, said gearbox comprising an internal or external oil sump;   a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;   a gearbox lubrication suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;   at least one pump outlet pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said pump;   a thermal wrap for heating or cooling said lubrication medium;   wherein, said thermal wrap is in thermal connection to, at least one of:
 said gearbox, said pump, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe and said at least one pump outlet pipe. 
   
   
   
       11 . The wind turbine of  claim 10 , wherein said thermal wrap covers all or portions of, at least one of:
 said gearbox, said pump, said gearbox lubrication suction pipe and said at least one pump outlet pipe.   
   
   
       12 . The wind turbine of  claim 11 , wherein said wind turbine comprises:
 a temperature control system for monitoring the temperature of at least one of said lubrication medium, ambient temperature and/or said gearbox lubrication suction pipe;   wherein, said thermal wrap is controlled to heat or cool said lubrication medium if said temperature approaches one or more predetermined temperature levels.   
   
   
       13 . The wind turbine of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of said predetermined temperature levels corresponds to a temperature of said lubrication medium about which said lubrication medium becomes viscous, and where damage to said pump could occur if said pump attempted to pump viscous lubricating medium. 
   
   
       14 . A thermal management system for a lubrication medium used in a gearbox, said gearbox comprising an internal or external oil sump, said thermal management system comprising:
 a pump for circulating said lubrication medium;   a suction pipe connected between said gearbox and said pump, said suction pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said gearbox to said pump;   at least one pump outlet pipe for transporting said lubrication medium from said pump;   thermal transfer means for heating or cooling at least a portion of said lubrication medium;   wherein said thermal transfer means is in thermal connection to, at least a portion of at least one of said gearbox, said pump, said suction pipe and said at least one pump outlet pipe.   
   
   
       15 . The thermal management system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a temperature monitoring system for monitoring at least one temperature, said at least one temperature chosen from the group comprising at least one of external ambient temperature, lubrication medium temperature, and suction pipe temperature;   wherein, said thermal management system controls said thermal transfer means when said at least one temperature is equal to, above or below one or more predetermined threshold values.   
   
   
       16 . The thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said thermal transfer means is comprised of a thermal wrap, said thermal wrap comprised of, at least one of:
 a thermoelectric device, a peltier device, electrically conductive wire, a hot or cold air jacket, a refrigeration device, and thermally conductive conduit connected to a heat exchanger.   
   
   
       17 . The thermal management system of  claim 16 , wherein said thermal transfer means is, at least partially, embedded within, at least one of, said gearbox, said suction pipe, said at least one pump outlet pipe and said sump of said gearbox. 
   
   
       18 . The thermal management system of  claim 16 , wherein said thermal transfer means externally covers at least portions of, one or more of, said gearbox, said suction pipe, said at least one pump outlet pipe and a oil sump tank of said gearbox. 
   
   
       19 . The thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said thermal transfer means is comprised of one or more thermal wraps. 
   
   
       20 . The thermal management system of  claim 14 , wherein said thermal transfer means is comprised of two or more thermal wraps.