초록 ▼

A power generator includes at least one underwater turbine unit providing a housing having a flow channel therethrough and at least one turbine means mounted in the flow channel for rotation in response to water flow through the flow channel. The turbine unit provides a turbine unit part releasably

A power generator includes at least one underwater turbine unit providing a housing having a flow channel therethrough and at least one turbine means mounted in the flow channel for rotation in response to water flow through the flow channel. The turbine unit provides a turbine unit part releasably mountable in the turbine unit. The turbine unit part includes at least one of the at least one turbine means and a pump means. The turbine unit part is releasably mountable through an aperture in a side wall of the housing.

대표청구항 ▼

The invention claimed is: 1. A power generator comprising at least one underwater turbine unit, the at least one underwater turbine unit providing: a housing having a liquid flow channel therethrough, at least one turbine means mounted in the flow channel for rotation in response to liquid flow thr

The invention claimed is: 1. A power generator comprising at least one underwater turbine unit, the at least one underwater turbine unit providing: a housing having a liquid flow channel therethrough, at least one turbine means mounted in the flow channel for rotation in response to liquid flow through the flow channel, and a pump means mounted in the flow channel, the pump means being operatively coupled to the at least one turbine means, such that, in use, liquid flow through the flow channel causes rotation of the at least one turbine means, which drives the pump means which pumps a fluid, and wherein the fluid comprises the liquid, wherein the power generator further comprises a generator means driven by the turbine means and located separately from the at least one underwater turbine unit, and a fluid supply means coupling the pump means to the generator means for supplying fluid from the pump means to the generator assembly for generating power, wherein the fluid supply means comprises a conduit extending between the pump means and the generator means, and the fluid supply means is releasably coupled to at least one of the pump means and the turbine means to allow separation and removal of at least one of the pump means and the turbine means for recovery to a surface of a body of water. 2. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein an aperture extends through a side wall of the housing. 3. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one underwater turbine unit is adapted to be located at least one of on and adjacent to a bottom of a body of water. 4. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power generator comprises an electrical power generator. 5. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flow channel defines a flow restriction. 6. A power generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flow restriction comprises a venturi. 7. A power generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the venturi comprises a divergent-convergent-divergent venturi, which tapers from openings at either end of the flow channel toward an inner part of the flow channel. 8. A power generator as claimed in claim 6, wherein the venturi comprises one first body, a cylindrical body, and at least one second body, and the first and second bodies are each at least one of a frusto-conical body, a frusto-pyramidal body, and a horn-shaped body. 9. A power generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein a gap is provided between a divergent end of a chosen first or second body and an adjacent convergent end of another first or second body, the divergent end of the chosen first or second body being smaller in diameter than the convergent end of the another first or second body. 10. A power generator as claimed in claim 8, wherein a divergent end of a chosen first or second body is substantially longitudinally coincident with a convergent end of another first or second body. 11. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially longitudinally and transversely symmetrical about a mid-point location of the at least one turbine means. 12. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one underwater turbine unit is adapted to be located in a body of water and the generator means is adapted to be located outside the body of water. 13. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an outer housing sleeve and an inner housing sleeve, and the inner housing sleeve defines the flow channel. 14. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turbine means is at least one of a single stage rotor and stator combination; a rotor only; a multiple stage rotor and stator combination; and a number of turbine bodies coupled together, each including at least one of a single stage and a multiple stage rotor and stator combination. 15. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump means is coupled to the at least one turbine means by an output shaft of the at least one turbine means. 16. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pump means is coupled directly to the turbine means. 17. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generator means is provided at a surface of a body of water. 18. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the generator means comprises a generator unit and a single generator turbine means fed by the at least one underwater turbine unit, the generator turbine means driving the generator unit. 19. A power generator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the generator unit produces electrical power as at least one of alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC). 20. A power generator as claimed in claim 18, wherein the generator turbine means comprises a pelton wheel operatively coupled to the generator, and the generator turbine means is driven by the same liquid as drives the turbine means of the underwater turbine unit. 21. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein power generated by the generator means is at least one of stored by the generator means, stored separately from the generator means, and fed directly into a power system. 22. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is secured to an underwater surface by a mounting structure so as to substantially align the housing with a direction of tidal flow. 23. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the turbine unit comprises a turbine part releasably mountable in the turbine unit, the turbine part including at least one of the turbine means and the pump means. 24. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one turbine means is adapted such that, in use, liquid flow through the flow channel in either direction through the housing causes rotation of the at least one turbine means, which drives the pump means which pumps the fluid. 25. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises first and second ends, and the first and second ends each flare outwards from the housing. 26. A power generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is substantially symmetrical about a mid-point whereof, the housing comprises first and second ends, which first and second ends each flare outwards from the housing, wherein the at least one turbine means is located at the mid-point of the housing, and the at least one turbine means is adapted such that, in use, water flow through the flow channel in either direction causes rotation of the at least one turbine means, which drives the pump means which pumps the fluid.