IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0667902
(2005-11-17)
|
등록번호 |
US-7541688
(2009-07-01)
|
우선권정보 |
GB-0425303.5(2004-11-17) |
국제출원번호 |
PCT/GB05/004432
(2005-11-17)
|
§371/§102 date |
20070516
(20070516)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO06/054084
(2006-05-26)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Ocean Flow Energy Limited
|
대리인 / 주소 |
MacMillan, Sobanski & Todd, LLC
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
23 인용 특허 :
12 |
초록
▼
A floating, semi-submerged, tethered device that supports a horizontal axis turbine and power generation equipment for extracting kinetic energy from a tidal stream or ocean current. A submerged body (1) is supported by surface piercing struts (2) of small water plane area (FIG. 6). The device is t
A floating, semi-submerged, tethered device that supports a horizontal axis turbine and power generation equipment for extracting kinetic energy from a tidal stream or ocean current. A submerged body (1) is supported by surface piercing struts (2) of small water plane area (FIG. 6). The device is tethered to the seabed by a spread of mooring lines (12) that are deployed both into and away from the direction of the tidal current. A horizontal axis turbine (4) harnesses energy from the water flow and drives a generator housed within the body. A horizontal strut hydrofoil (24) corrects the trim of the device when subject to varying loads from the mooring system and can also be used to dampen pitch motion. Rudder flaps in the struts (25) can be used to counteract roll motion. Power is exported from the device to the seabed by an umbilical (17). A thrusters (22) can be used to constrain the rotation of the device about its mooring system to prevent excessive twist building up between the mooring lines and the power export umbilical.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for extracting the kinetic energy from a tidal stream or ocean current the device comprising: a buoyant semi-submerged structure having low motion characteristics moorable by a non-rigid mooring system, the buoyant structure supporting at least one substantiall
The invention claimed is: 1. A device for extracting the kinetic energy from a tidal stream or ocean current the device comprising: a buoyant semi-submerged structure having low motion characteristics moorable by a non-rigid mooring system, the buoyant structure supporting at least one substantially horizontal axis rotor, which in use is submerged, wherein the buoyant structure comprises at least one body, and at least one substantially vertical surface-piercing strut of small waterplane area attached to the body, wherein the at least one body provides the greater portion of the buoyancy of the structure and wherein the combined buoyancy of the at least one body and the at least one substantially vertical strut is sufficient to support the total weight of the device in water plus the vertical component of load of the mooring while maintaining a certain freeboard of strut above the design waterline providing reserve buoyancy. 2. A device according to claim 1, comprising at least two surface piercing struts. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the surface piercing struts are spaced apart longitudinally. 4. A device according to claim 2, wherein at least two of the surface piercing struts are spaced apart transversely. 5. A device according to claim 1, adapted to self align about its mooring connection point on a heading such that the rotor axis is substantially parallel to the flow. 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the length of the at least one vertical strut is sufficient to ensure submergence of the axis of the rotor such that in use tips of the rotor are located sufficiently below the surface of the water to reduce the onset of cavitation. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one vertical strut is streamlined so as to generate a low drag in current flow parallel to the axis of the rotor and a high drag in current normal to the axis of the rotor. 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein, in use, the at least one vertical strut pierces the water surface and wherein the water plane area is substantially constant for a distance above and below a waterline within a region of wave action. 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one surface piercing strut has a reserve of buoyancy above a static (zero current) waterline greater than the vertical load of the mooring system at maximum current speed. 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein the center of gravity of the device is lower than the center of buoyancy of the device. 11. A device according to claim 10, including ballast, the amount and location of the ballast in the device providing for the center of gravity of the device to be lower than the center of buoyancy. 12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the center of gravity is offset longitudinally from the center of buoyancy such that the device maintains substantially a level trim when subjected to forces induced by a mooring system. 13. A device according to claim 1, wherein the centers of gravity and buoyancy are substantially aligned longitudinally. 14. A device according to claim 1, further comprising means to generate a moment counteracting a reaction torque generated by the rotor driven generator. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the surface piercing struts provide a hydrostatic stabilizing moment to resist the moment induced by the reaction torque. 16. A device according to claim 14, wherein the at least one vertical strut is asymmetric in section to generate, under the influence of the current, a hydrodynamic lift forces that increases with current speed and counteracts rotor generated torque reaction. 17. A device according to claim 14, comprising a second rotor driving a second generator, wherein the second rotor operates in a counter rotational direction to the first rotor. 18. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one substantially horizontal lift surface. 19. A device according to claim 18, wherein at least a part of the at least one lift surface is adjustable. 20. A device according to claim 18, further comprising a control system, the control system controlling the orientation of the adjustable lift surfaces. 21. A device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one adjustable vertical rudder flap. 22. A device according to claim 21, further comprising a control system for controlling the orientation of the at least one adjustable vertical rudder flap. 23. A device according to claim 1, wherein the device is moored from a single point on the structure. 24. A device according to claim 1, moored by a multi-line mooring system wherein anchor points are positioned upstream and downstream of a desired location. 25. A device according to claim 24, wherein the mooring lines are pre-tensioned. 26. A device according to claim 24, wherein the mooring lines are brought together and connected to the device via a swivel arrangement. 27. A device according to claim 24, wherein the mooring system includes an active system for controlling the rotation of the device between changes in current direction, the active system including at least one thruster. 28. A device according to claim 27, wherein the required amount of orientation is determined by a GPS heading control system. 29. A device according to claim 24, further comprising a multi-line mooring system where the connection points are longitudinally separated on the device such that the mooring system restrains the device to align with the predominant ebb and flood directions of the current. 30. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a power export umbilical. 31. A device according to claim 30, wherein the power export umbilical includes a swivel. 32. A device according to claim 30, wherein the power export umbilical is restrained within the device against rotation.
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