초록 ▼

A device is described for the conversion of energy from free flowing water into electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power using a submersible system of turbine propellers mounted on horizontal shafts supported by chambers, each containing switchgear and/or generators and air or water ballast. The devi

A device is described for the conversion of energy from free flowing water into electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic power using a submersible system of turbine propellers mounted on horizontal shafts supported by chambers, each containing switchgear and/or generators and air or water ballast. The device is tethered to the seabed by a cable. Free of a rigid vertical support, the device can yaw so that water flow in any direction can be used for power generation, as in a tidal basin. In response to sensing the water velocity of the water channel, the device actively seeks a nominal water velocity, ascending or descending as necessary.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. An entirely submerged power generating device comprising: two counter-rotating, water current driven turbine propellers; a plurality of frame connected chambers supporting the turbine propellers, and housing the ballast, switchgear, generating, and power transmission equipment; said dev

I claim: 1. An entirely submerged power generating device comprising: two counter-rotating, water current driven turbine propellers; a plurality of frame connected chambers supporting the turbine propellers, and housing the ballast, switchgear, generating, and power transmission equipment; said device being tethered underwater; means for setting a predetermined maximum water velocity and a predetermined minimum water velocity; means for sensing water velocity of the water channel in which said device is submerged, and; means operative in response to said means for sensing water velocity of the water channel in which said device is submerged, and; selectively invoking a protocol for adding or removing ballast to force the device to ascend or descend to seek the predetermined optimal velocity as follows: a. when water velocity is below nominal, the device will expel water ballast, climbing to a higher elevation in search of optimal water velocity, or; b. when water velocity exceeds nominal conditions, the device will take on water ballast, sinking to a lower elevation in search of optimal water velocity. 2. The submerged power generating device of claim 1, whose maximum elevation is limited by said tether, and where said maximum elevation is sufficient to avoid ice and/or vessels, and said tether further comprises a means for elongation, allowing said device to be floated on the surface of the water for maintenance purposes. 3. The submerged power generating device of claim 1, further comprising said restraining cable fixed in such a manner to allow said device to yaw to assume a propeller position perpendicular to water flow in any direction, as in a tidal basin. 4. The submerged power generating device of claim 1, further comprising a means for enabling local operation of said device at a marking buoy or remote operation at a land located position, and a means for networking said device to identical or similar devices producing electrical power transmitted by seabed cable to one or more in-stream or shore located electrical power substations. 5. The submerged power generating device of claim 1 wherein said device is capable of decoding a shutdown command, and means operative in response to said decoding of a shutdown command, for bringing the generator off line using the switchgear, and braking the turbine propeller to a standstill. 6. The submerged power generating device of claim 1, further comprising a means for recording yaw of the device, and means operative in response to recording yaw of said device, for using air or water propulsion systems to reverse yaw to alleviate cable twist should yaw in one direction continually occur; that is, excessive counter-clockwise yaw will be alleviated by clockwise motion induced by air or water propulsion systems, and excessive clockwise yaw will be alleviated by counter-clockwise motion induced by air or water propulsion systems. 7. The submerged power generating device of claim 1, wherein said turbine propeller is coupled to a shaft and bearings, said device further comprising; means for sensing rotational speed of said shaft, and; means operative in response to said sensing of rotational speed for selectively invoking a generating command or a shutdown command, and; means for braking said turbine propeller. 8. The submerged power generating device of claim 1 wherein said protocol comprises means for adjusting quantity of air or water ballast in said device either by expelling water ballast using compressed air, or by taking on water ballast by pumping water from the water channel into the ballast chambers. 9. The submerged power generating device of claim 1 further comprising means for detecting the distance from the seabed; means for setting a predetermined minimum distance from seabed, and; means operative in response to said sensing of minimum distance from the seabed for ceasing descent and issuing a shutdown command. 10. The submerged power generating device of claim 1 wherein said device is capable of decoding a generating command, and means operative in response to said decoding of a generating command in which occur the following: a. releasing the turbine propeller to freely rotate; b. means for sensing rotational speed of the shaft in claim 2, and; c. means operative in response to sensing the rotational speed of said shaft for bringing the generator on line using the switchgear.