Patent ID: 7111668

Claim:
A cooling arrangement for an offshore wind energy installation, having a heat-absorbing device ( 10 ) for absorbing heat generated by at least one of electronic devices and mechanical devices ( 11 ) of the offshore energy installation, and a heat-dissipating device ( 12 ) coupled with the at least one of the electronic devices and the mechanical devices ( 11 ) for dissipating the heat to the surrounding ambient water ( 14 ), wherein the heat-absorbing device ( 10 ) has a first cooling circuit ( 18 ) operated by a fluid coolant ( 16 ) which in a heat exchanger device ( 20 ) transfers absorbed heat to the heat-dissipating device ( 12 ) having an open second cooling circuit ( 22 ) operated with the ambient water ( 14 ) as the coolant, the cooling arrangement comprising: a first opening ( 24 ) formed in the second cooling circuit ( 22 ) of the heat-dissipating device ( 12 ) as an inlet for the ambient water ( 14 ) and a second opening ( 26 ) as an outlet for the ambient water ( 14 ) heated by the heat to be removed, wherein the ambient water ( 14 ) flows through the first opening ( 24 ) to the heat exchanger device ( 20 ) and following absorotion of heat from the heat exchanger device ( 20 ) flows back into the ambient water ( 14 ) through the second opening ( 26 ); and a plurality of electrodes ( 36 a , 36 b , 36 c , 36 d , 36 e , 36 f ) arranged on inner walls of conduits ( 30 ) of the second cooling circuit ( 22 ) and spaced apart from each other in an extension direction, each of the electrodes ( 36 a , 36 b , 36 c , 36 d , 36 e , 36 f ) connected with a voltage supply device ( 38 ) for generating an alternating high voltage and a weak current between at least two of the electrodes ( 36 a , 36 b , 36 c , 36 d , 36 e , 36 f , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of electrodes are arranged in an area of the first opening ( 24 ) and a corresponding portion of the plurality of electrodes are arranged in an area of the second opening ( 26 ).