IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0564490
(2004-07-12)
|
등록번호 |
US-7713020
(2010-06-03)
|
국제출원번호 |
PCT/AU2004/000937
(2004-07-12)
|
§371/§102 date |
20060111
(20060111)
|
국제공개번호 |
WO05/005820
(2005-01-20)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Davidson, Aaron
- Hill, Craig Colin
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
11 인용 특허 :
2 |
초록
▼
A method and apparatus (10) for extracting energy from flowing fluids using a diffuser (11) which has side walls (14) formed from a series of aerofoil section members (15) with gaps (29) provided between the leading and trailing ends of the members (15) to allow introduction of fluid from outside of
A method and apparatus (10) for extracting energy from flowing fluids using a diffuser (11) which has side walls (14) formed from a series of aerofoil section members (15) with gaps (29) provided between the leading and trailing ends of the members (15) to allow introduction of fluid from outside of the diffuser (11) into the diffuser flow passage (16) such that increased energy can be extracted from the flowing fluid by a prime mover (20) located in the flow passage (16).
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A diffuser for use in apparatus for extracting energy from a flow of liquid, said diffuser comprising a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a side wall or walls between said inlet and said outlet, said flow passage having a decreasing cross sectional area inw
The invention claimed is: 1. A diffuser for use in apparatus for extracting energy from a flow of liquid, said diffuser comprising a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a side wall or walls between said inlet and said outlet, said flow passage having a decreasing cross sectional area inwardly from the inlet to a constricted region between the inlet and the outlet and having an increasing cross sectional area rearwardly and away from the constricted region towards the outlet, said side wall or walls being defined by a plurality of members of an aerofoil cross-section arranged in series between said inlet and said outlet such that other than at the inlet and outlet, the trailing portion of one aerofoil member is adjacent the leading portion of the immediately adjacent trailing aerofoil member and defines a gap or slot therewith whereby a plurality of gaps or slots are provided serially from said inlet to said outlet through which fluid from outside of said diffuser can pass into said flow passage. 2. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one said aerofoil member is forwardly of said constricted region relative to said inlet. 3. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, further including support means for rotatably supporting said diffuser whereby said diffuser may adjust to the direction of the flow of fluid. 4. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said aerofoil members are arranged along a parabolic curve between the inlet and outlet. 5. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow passage is of a substantially rectangular cross section, said diffuser having a pair of opposite spaced apart planar walls and a pair of opposite side walls defined by said aerofoil members. 6. A diffuser as claimed in claim 5, wherein said spaced apart planar walls comprise upper and lower walls and wherein said aerofoil members are oriented such that the leading and trailing ends of the aerofoil members are substantially vertical and extend between the upper and lower walls. 7. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow passage is substantially circular in cross section and wherein said members comprise annular members of aerofoil cross section. 8. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flow passage is of multi-sided cross section wherein said flow passage is defined by a plurality of said aerofoil members which are angled to each other. 9. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein respective said aerofoil members from the constricted region rearwardly are angled at an increasing angle to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser. 10. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the leading end of the diffuser adjacent said inlet, the aerofoil members of the side walls are angled outwardly from the constricted region at 10 to 12 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser. 11. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein at the trailing end of the diffuser adjacent said outlet, the aerofoil members of the side walls are angled outwardly from the constricted region at 40 to 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the diffuser. 12. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the aerofoil members comprise asymmetric aerofoil members. 13. A diffuser as claimed in claim 1, and including means for adjusting the aerofoil members to adjust the gap between the aerofoil section members. 14. A diffuser as claimed in claim 13, wherein said aerofoil members are mounted for pivotal movement about their longitudinal axes and further including means for adjusting the pivotal position of the members. 15. A method of generating energy, the method comprising the steps of providing a diffuser in a naturally occurring fluid flow, said diffuser comprising a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a side wall or walls between said inlet and said outlet, said side wall or walls being defined by a plurality of members of an aerofoil cross-section arranged in series between said inlet and said outlet and there being a gap or slot between adjacent said members whereby a plurality of gaps or slots are provided serially from said inlet to said outlet through which fluid may pass from outside of said diffuser into said flow passage, and said flow passage having a constricted region between said inlet and said outlet, and driving an energy take-off means with a prime mover positioned in the constricted region, the prime mover being configured to move in response to the flow of fluid through the constricted region. 16. An apparatus for generating energy comprising a diffuser defining a flow passage having an inlet and an outlet and a side wall or walls between said inlet and said outlet, said side wall or walls being defined by a plurality of members of an aerofoil cross-section arranged in series between said inlet and said outlet such that other than at the inlet and outlet, the trailing portion of one aerofoil member being adjacent the leading portion of the immediately adjacent trailing aerofoil member to define a gap or slot therewith whereby a plurality of gaps or slots are provided serially from said inlet to said outlet through which fluid may pass from outside of said diffuser into said flow passage, said flow passage having a constricted region between said inlet and outlet, and a prime mover positioned in the constricted region to drive an energy take-off means, the prime mover being configured to move in response to the flow of fluid through the constricted region. 17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said prime mover comprises a turbine having a rotatably mounted shaft and blades supported on or to the shaft, said blades being spaced radially from, and extending parallel to, the shaft and being of an aerofoil cross section, said blades being mounted so as to be capable of limited pivotal movement about their longitudinal axes. 18. Apparatus as claimed in claim 17, further comprising damping means to damp pivoting movement of the blades. 19. Apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said damping means comprises an arm fixed to at least one blade for pivotal movement therewith, and a hydraulic piston and cylinder coupled to said arm. 20. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said cylinder includes an opening to allow limited flow of fluid to and from the cylinder upon movement of the piston therein in opposite directions. 21. Apparatus as claimed in claim 19, further including stop means in the path of movement of the arm to limit pivotal movement of the arm and said at least one blade in a first direction, said damping means limiting the pivotal movement of the arm and said at least one blade in the opposite direction. 22. Apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further including means for sensing the output of said prime mover and means for adjusting said aerofoil section members to vary the size of said gaps between said aerofoil section members in accordance with the sensed output.
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