Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind power plant having a tower that has at least one bottom tower segment and a pre-manufactured fire protection module for fireproof receiving of a transformer. The fire protection module is placed within the bottom tower segment.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention concerns a wind power installation. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A wind power installation typically has in the lower region of the pylon or around the pylon a power cabinet having a converter and a transformer. The power cabinets and the transformers need suitable fire protection. 
         [0005]    The German Patent and Trade Mark Office in the application from which priority is claimed searched DE 103 10 036 A1. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY 
       [0006]    One or more embodiments of the present invention is to provide a wind power installation having improved fire protection. 
         [0007]    One embodiment provides a wind power installation comprising a pylon having at least one lower pylon segment and a previously manufactured fire protection module for receiving a transformer in fire-resistant relationship. The fire protection module is placed within the lower pylon segment. 
         [0008]    The fire protection module serves to limit a fire which has occurred in the module at least for a time, within the module. In that way it is possible to provide that the module is thermally decoupled at least at times from the rest of the wind power installation. 
         [0009]    In an aspect of the present invention the fire protection module has a first opening for the service personnel and a second opening for replacement of the transformer. 
         [0010]    In a further aspect of the invention the fire protection module has at least one fire protection termination means for electric cables and/or an electric bus bar system. 
         [0011]    In a further aspect of the invention the fire protection module has a transformer transport rail system for replacement of the transformer. 
         [0012]    In a further aspect of the invention the fire protection module has a transport securing system for securing the transformer during a transport operation. 
         [0013]    The fire protection module is preferably made from concrete and is preferably produced in the form of a precast concrete component. 
         [0014]    Thus there is provided a wind power installation having a pylon, wherein provided in the region of the pylon is a previously manufactured fire protection module for accommodating a transformer, wherein openings or doors in the module can be closed in such a way that the required fire protection can be ensured. 
         [0015]    The module is in particular in the form of a fire protection module and serves to accommodate a transformer. The transformer has an output voltage of greater than 1000 volts, that is to say a medium voltage. The fire protection module optionally has two doors which are fire-protected. The doors can also optionally be pressure-resistant so that they still hold up in the case of an explosion in the interior of the fire protection module. The fire protection module is preferably previously manufactured in the factory together with the transformer and is transported as a unit to the location for erection. The fire protection module preferably has a door for service personnel and a door for replacement of the transformer. A rail system for replacement of the transformer can be provided in the fire protection module. The rail system can have a transformer transport securing means which is activated upon transport of the fire protection module. Optionally the fire protection module can have an oil sump beneath the transformer. 
         [0016]    Additionally or alternatively to the transformer an electronic power unit can be provided in the fire protection module. 
         [0017]    Further configurations of the invention are subject-matter of the appendant claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    Advantages and embodiments by way of example are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of a wind power installation according to one embodiment of the invention, 
           [0020]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  respectively show various views of a lower portion of a pylon of a wind power installation as shown in  FIG. 1 , 
           [0021]      FIGS. 3 and 4  each show a diagrammatic sectional view of a fire protection module according to one embodiment of the invention, 
           [0022]      FIGS. 5 and 6  each show a sectional view of a fire protection module according to one embodiment of the invention, and 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of a fire protection termination of a fire protection module according to one embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]      FIG. 1  shows a wind power installation  100  comprising a pylon  102  (with a lower pylon segment  102   a ) and a pod  104 . Arranged on the pod  104  is a rotor  106  with, for example, three rotor blades  108  and a spinner  110 . In operation the rotor  106  is caused to rotate by the wind and thereby drives an electric generator in the pod  104  to generate electric energy. The pylon  102  with the lower pylon segment  102   a  stands on a foundation  200 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 2A to 2D  show various diagrammatic views of the lower portion of a pylon of a wind power installation according to  FIG. 1 . The lower pylon segment  102   a  of a pylon  102  of a wind power installation  100  is provided on a (concrete) foundation  200 . The lower pylon segment  102   a  can have a first and a second door  102   b,    102   c  as well as cables  10  and a ladder  20  as best shown in  FIG. 2A . A fire protection module  300  can be provided in the interior of the lower pylon segment  102  as best shown in  FIG. 2B . Various power cabinets  400  can be provided on the roof of the fire protection module  300  as best shown in  FIG. 2C . The power cabinets  400  can have at least one converter and further electronic power units. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2D  shows a perspective view of the lower pylon segment of the wind power installation. The lower segment  102   a  of the pylon of the wind power installation is provided on a foundation  200  and has a first and a second door  102   b,    102   c.  A fire protection module  300  is provided in the interior of the lower pylon segment  102   a.  Power cabinets  400  with converters and further electronic power units can be provided on the roof of the fire protection module. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a diagrammatic view of a fire protection module according to one embodiment. The fire protection module  300  has a first and a second door  320 ,  330 . The first door  320  can be used to replace a transformer disposed in the fire protection module  300 . The second door  330  can be used by the service personnel to access the switching installation in the fire protection module  300 . At its bottom the fire protection module  300  optionally has transformer guide rails  350 , a deflection roller  370  and transformer transport securing means  360 . A plurality of fire protection termination means  390  can also be provided in the walls of the fire protection module. The fire protection termination means  390 , such as the through holes shown in  FIG. 3 , serve to provide an opening for providing an electric connection between the interior and the exterior of the fire protection module  300 . The transformer guide rails  350  serve to provide that a transformer can be moved along the rails, for example, for replacement thereof. The transformer transport securing means  360 , such as the locking devices, may be fixed to the transformer  500  during transport of the fire protection module  300 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a diagrammatic view of the fire protection module  300  together with a transformer  500  in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. The transformer  500  is placed on the rails  350 . The transformer  500  has a plurality of electric connections  510  which are respectively electrically coupled to a first end  710  of a bus bar system  700 . 
         [0029]    A first and a second door  320 ,  330  are provided within the fire protection module  300 , wherein the transformer  500  can be dismantled or is transported away through the first door  320 . 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  shows a sectional view of a lower end of a pylon of a wind power installation with a fire protection module according to a third embodiment which can be based on the first or second embodiment. The lower end  102   a  of a lower pylon segment  102  is placed on a foundation  200 . Two openings  102   e  and  102   f  are provided in the lower pylon segment  102   a.  The first opening  102   f  serves to be able to transport a transformer  500  therethrough and the second opening  102   e  serves for access by service personnel. The fire protection module  300  can be placed on an upper end  210  of the foundation  200 . The fire protection module  300  can have a first and a second door  320 ,  330 , a transformer guide rail  350 , a deflection roller  370  and optionally a transformer rolling locking means  375 , such as a stopper as shown in  FIG. 5 . A transformer  500  is placed on the rail system  350 . The transformer can be held by way of the transformer securing means  360  during transport thereof. 
         [0031]    Optionally the transformer rolling locking means  375  can be mounted fixedly (except upon transport). The transformer can be pulled into the interior of the fire protection module by means of a deflection roller  370  and a corresponding cable. 
         [0032]    A switching installation  600  is also provided in the fire protection module  300 . 
         [0033]    The fire protection module  300  can optionally have a fan  800  which sucks in feed air for transformer cooling and discharges warm air again. 
         [0034]      FIG. 6  shows a further sectional view of the fire protection module  300  of the third embodiment. Provided on the bottom of the fire protection module is a rail system  350  which can receive rollers  520  of a transformer  500 . Provided at the top side of the transformer  500  are electric connections  510  which serve to be electrically coupled to a bus bar  700 . The bus bar  700  then passes out of the fire protection module. 
         [0035]      FIG. 7  shows a schematic representation of a fire protection termination means of a fire protection module according to one embodiment of the invention. The fire protection termination means  340 ,  390  serves to pass the electric cables and/or the electric bus bar system  700  outwardly from the interior of the fire protection module. In this respect the fire protection termination means  340 ,  390  is of such a configuration that at least at times it can provide for thermal decoupling between the interior and the exterior of the fire protection module. That is achieved by the provision of a fire protection casting sealant  391  comprising a thermally insulating material in the region of the fire protection termination means  390 . The material of the fire protection casting sealant  391  surrounds the electric cables and/or the electric bus bar system  700  and seals off the fire protection termination means  390 . Thus the fire protection casting sealant  391  surrounds a portion  701  of the bus bar system which is passed through the fire protection termination means  390 . A portion  702  of the bus bars  700  projects above or outside the fire protection module. The mutually spaced bus bars  701  are brought together or lie against each other in a portion  703 . 
         [0036]    The material of the fire protection casting sealant can represent, for example, Flammadur 430. 
         [0037]    Optionally besides the two openings  102   e  and  102   f  a further opening can be provided in the pylon wall. A ventilation passage can be provided between the further opening and the fire protection module. That passage and the further opening serve in particular to dissipate outwardly an increased pressure caused, for example, by virtue of an explosion in the fire protection module. Preferably the height of the further opening is, for example, at least at the height of three meters above the ground. That can ensure that even if a person is in the proximity of the further opening that person is not injured by gases suddenly issuing from the further opening. The safety of the fire protection module can be further improved in that way. 
         [0038]    In addition a fire extinguishing unit can optionally be provided within the fire protection module. That unit can serve to extinguish a fire occurring within the fire protection module. 
         [0039]    The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application Data Sheet are incorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. 
         [0040]    Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and publications to provide yet further embodiments. 
         [0041]    These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.