초록 ▼

A hydro-electric power apparatus including an electrical generator is mounted in a combination power house and crew housing disposed at or above the surface of a current of ocean or other water current and a hydraulic turbine for driving the electrical generator is suspended into the water from a su

A hydro-electric power apparatus including an electrical generator is mounted in a combination power house and crew housing disposed at or above the surface of a current of ocean or other water current and a hydraulic turbine for driving the electrical generator is suspended into the water from a supporting platform on which the power house and crew housing are mounted. The power house and crew housing and the supporting platform are anchored to the floor of the ocean or like body of water without the use of walls, ramps or the like. The supporting platform provides a helipad landing for a helicopter transporting food and supplies for the maintenance crew and repair and replacement parts for the electrical generator and other parts of the apparatus. A water inlet or intake nozzle is suspended from the supporting platform to direct a maximum hydraulic force of the ocean or other water current in the area into the hydraulic turbine. A fluid pressure responsive water direction and velocity control device is provided in association with the water inlet or intake nozzle for sensing the direction of flow of the water current in the area so as to direct the water current having the highest available fluid velocity into the water inlet or intake nozzle and then into the hydraulic turbine. Power transmission cable means are provided for transmitting the electrical energy developed by the turbine-driven electrical generator to on-shore positions of use. All of the components of the apparatus, other than the hydraulic turbine and the water inlet or intake nozzle, and parts of the water current direction flow and velocity sensing device are located in the power house and hence are not submerged in the salt or other water and hence are not subject to the corrosive and other adverse effects of submergence in salt or other water.

대표청구항 ▼

Hydro-electric power generating apparatus for utilization of the hydraulic force of ocean or other water currents for driving a hydraulic turbine and an electrical generator operated thereby for generating electrical power comprising: (a) a combination supporting platform and housing having therein

Hydro-electric power generating apparatus for utilization of the hydraulic force of ocean or other water currents for driving a hydraulic turbine and an electrical generator operated thereby for generating electrical power comprising: (a) a combination supporting platform and housing having therein (1) an electrical generator; (b) means for securing the said combination supporting platform and housing above the surface of an ocean or other body of water; (c) a hydraulic turbine disposed below the said combination supporting platform and submergible in the said ocean or other body of water; (d) mounting means for rotatably mounting the said hydraulic turbine on and suspending it below the said combination supporting platform and housing; (e) electrical generator driving means coacting with the said hydraulic turbine mounting means and with the said hydraulic turbine for driving the said electrical generator; (f) a water intake or inlet nozzle suspended from the said combination supporting platform and housing and submergible in the said body of ocean or other water and having (1) an inlet for the intake of water from the water current in the area of the said body of water in which the said nozzle is submerged; and having (2) a water outlet for directing the said water current from the said nozzle into the said hydraulic turbine to rotate the said hydraulic turbine and the said electrical generator and thereby generate electrical power; (g) means for suspending the said water intake or inlet nozzle from and below the said combination supporting platform and housing; (h) means for transmitting the said electrical power from the said electrical generator to a point of use of the said electrical power; (i) water current flow direction and fluid velocity sensing means for sensing the direction of flow and the velocity of the water current in the area of the said body of water in which the said water intake or inlet nozzle is submerged having the maximum velocity and resulting hydraulic force; and (j) means cooperating with the said water current flow direction and velocity sensing means for positioning the said water intake or inlet nozzle for the reception of the said water current having the maximum velocity and hydraulic force in the said area in which the said water intake or inlet nozzle is submerged and directing the said water current having the maximum velocity and hydraulic force from the said water intake or inlet nozzle into the said hydraulic turbine.