System for contactless power transfer between nacelle and tower of a windturbine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a transformer ( 100 ) for the transfer of electrical power from a nacelle ( 250 ) of a horizontal-axis wind turbine to a turbine tower ( 350 ) of said wind turbine whereby the nacelle ( 250 ) is in revolute attachment to the tower ( 350 ), comprising: a primary winding ( 200 ) adapted for attachment to the nacelle ( 250 ), and a secondary winding ( 300 ) adapted for attachment to the turbine tower ( 350 ), which windings ( 200, 300 ) are in revolute alignment with each other, and configured for transfer of electrical power by induction from the primary winding ( 200 ) to the secondary winding ( 300 ). It also relates to a method for assembly or disassembly of a wind turbine.

1 . A horizontal-axis wind turbine comprising turbine tower ( 350 ) and a nacelle ( 250 ) in revolute attachment to the tower ( 350 ), comprising a transformer ( 100 ) for the transfer of electrical power from the nacelle ( 250 ) to the turbine tower ( 350 ), which transformer comprises:
 a primary winding ( 200 ) adapted for attachment to the nacelle ( 250 ), and   a secondary winding ( 300 ) adapted for attachment to the turbine tower ( 350 ),   which windings ( 200 ,  300 ) are in revolute alignment with each other, and configured for transfer of electrical power by induction from the primary winding ( 200 ) to the secondary winding ( 300 ),   wherein the revolute attachment comprises a mounting ( 150 ) into which the transformer ( 100 ) is integrated, which mounting comprises a nacelle part ( 230 ) and a tower part ( 330 ) that couple together, and the primary ( 200 ) winding is integrated into the nacelle part ( 230 ) and the secondary ( 300 ) winding is integrated into the tower part ( 330 ).   wherein one of said mounting parts ( 230 ,  330 ) comprising a cylindrical pin, the other of said mounting parts comprising a cylindrical cavity configured to slidably receive the cylindrical pin.   
     
     
         2 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary ( 200 ) and secondary ( 300 ) windings are in essentially concentric alignment. 
     
     
         3 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the primary ( 200 ) winding is outside of the secondary ( 300 ) winding. 
     
     
         4 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 3 , wherein the primary winding ( 200 ) comprises an annular inductive coil ( 210 ) and an annular magnetically permeable member ( 220 ,  222 ), whereby the annular magnetically permeable member ( 222 ) is disposed around the outside of the coil ( 210 ). 
     
     
         5 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 3  wherein the secondary winding ( 300 ) comprises an annular inductive coil ( 310 ) and a cylindrical magnetically permeable member ( 320 ,  322 ), whereby the coil ( 310 ) is disposed around the outside of the cylindrical magnetically permeable member ( 322 ). 
     
     
         6 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein the secondary ( 300 ) winding is outside of the primary ( 200 ) winding. 
     
     
         7 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said turbine tower ( 350 ) is at least partially hollow. 
     
     
         8 . Horizontal-axis wind turbine according to  claim 1 , wherein said nacelle ( 250 ) is dismountably attached to the tower ( 350 ). 
     
     
         9 . A method of assembling a horizontal-axis wind turbine which horizontal-axis wind turbine comprising a turbine tower ( 350 ) and a nacelle ( 250 ) in revolute attachment to the tower ( 350 ), and a transformer ( 100 ) for the transfer of electrical power from the nacelle ( 250 ) to the turbine tower ( 350 ), which transformer comprises:
 a primary winding ( 200 ) adapted for attachment to the nacelle ( 250 ), and   a secondary winding ( 300 ) adapted for attachment to the turbine tower ( 350 ),   which windings ( 200 ,  300 ) are in revolute alignment with each other, and configured for transfer of electrical power by induction from the primary winding ( 200 ) to the secondary winding ( 300 ),   
       comprising the steps:
 installing the wind turbine tower ( 350 ) comprising a secondary winding ( 300 ) on a site, and 
 mounting the nacelle ( 250 ) comprising a primary winding ( 200 ) on said tower ( 350 ), such that primary winding ( 200 ) and said secondary winding ( 300 ) form the transformer ( 100 ) when said nacelle and said tower are assembled. 
 
     
     
         10 . A method of disassembling a horizontal-axis wind turbine which horizontal-axis wind turbine comprising a turbine tower ( 350 ) and a nacelle ( 250 ) in revolute attachment to the tower ( 350 ), and a transformer ( 100 ) for the transfer of electrical power from the nacelle ( 250 ) to the turbine tower ( 350 ), which transformer comprises:
 a primary winding ( 200 ) adapted for attachment to the nacelle ( 250 ), and   a secondary winding ( 300 ) adapted for attachment to the turbine tower ( 350 ), which windings ( 200 ,  300 ) are in revolute alignment with each other, and configured for transfer of electrical power by induction from the primary winding ( 200 ) to the secondary winding ( 300 ),   comprising the step of lifting the nacelle comprising a primary winding ( 200 ) from the wind turbine tower comprising the secondary winding ( 300 ).   
     
     
         11 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the primary ( 200 ) and secondary ( 300 ) windings are in essentially concentric alignment. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 9 , wherein the primary ( 200 ) winding is outside of the secondary ( 300 ) winding. 
     
     
         13 . Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the primary winding ( 200 ) comprises an annular inductive coil ( 210 ) and an annular magnetically permeable member ( 220 ,  222 ), whereby the annular magnetically permeable member ( 222 ) is disposed around the outside of the coil ( 210 ). 
     
     
         14 . Method according to  claim 12 , wherein the secondary winding ( 300 ) comprises an annular inductive coil ( 310 ) and a cylindrical magnetically permeable member ( 320 ,  322 ), whereby the coil ( 310 ) is disposed around the outside of the cylindrical magnetically permeable member ( 322 ). 
     
     
         15 . Method according to any  claim 11 , wherein the secondary ( 300 ) winding is outside of the primary ( 200 ) winding.