The present invention relates to a tether for connecting a moving device submerged in liquid to a support structure, e.g. a submersible power plant comprising a stream-driven vehicle provided with at least one turbine for generation of electrical energy. The tether extends in a main direction, and a
The present invention relates to a tether for connecting a moving device submerged in liquid to a support structure, e.g. a submersible power plant comprising a stream-driven vehicle provided with at least one turbine for generation of electrical energy. The tether extends in a main direction, and at least a tether portion of the tether comprises a tensile force bearing portion extending in the main direction of the tether, wherein the tether portion is arranged to strive to self-align in relation to a relative flow direction of the liquid during use.
대표청구항▼
1. A tether for connecting a moving stream-driven device submerged in liquid to a fixed support structure arranged at a seabed, which tether extends in a main direction (MD) and where the tether comprises a plurality of separate tether portions which are connected together to form the whole tether,
1. A tether for connecting a moving stream-driven device submerged in liquid to a fixed support structure arranged at a seabed, which tether extends in a main direction (MD) and where the tether comprises a plurality of separate tether portions which are connected together to form the whole tether, wherein the tether portions of the tether comprise, an outer shape having a leading edge and a trailing edge, each edge extending in the main direction,at least one tensile force bearing portion extending in the main direction of the tether, andpower cables that are separate from the tensile force bearing portion and are configured to distribute electrical energy generated by the stream-driven device to an electric grid,wherein the tether portions are arranged to strive to self-align in relation to a relative flow direction of the liquid, by rotating around a rotational axis that is located in the tensile force bearing portion and is essentially parallel with the main direction of the tether when the tether portions are moving through the liquid, and where the tether is configured to allow for twisting at least partly at different tether portions along the main direction in order to self-align locally,wherein at least some of the tether portions are connected at portions thereof other than the tensile force bearing portion, andwherein the tether comprises a support structure end portion extending in the main direction and attached to the support structure, and a chord length of the tether increases in a direction towards the support structure end portion of the tether so that the chord length increases toward the seabed. 2. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the rotational axis is located in front of a hydrodynamic center point of pressure of the tether portion, in a forward direction (f) from the trailing edge to the leading edge essentially perpendicular to the main direction. 3. The tether according to claim 2, wherein a resulting center point of the tensile force bearing portion, during use, is located in a leading third part, or in a leading fourth part, or in a leading fifth part, or in a leading tenth part, or in a leading twentieth part of the tether portion. 4. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether portion comprises a forward portion comprising the leading edge, and a rear portion comprising the trailing edge, wherein the forward portion comprises the tensile force bearing portion. 5. The tether according to claim 4, wherein the rear portion is at least partly separated from, and arranged behind, the forward portion in a forward direction (f) of the tether, wherein the trailing portion forms a fin arranged for aligning the tether with the relative flow direction of the liquid, when the tether is moving through the liquid. 6. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the tensile force bearing portion comprises at least one tensile member comprising fiber, synthetic fiber, carbon fiber, steel, or combinations thereof. 7. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether portion comprises at least one shell member which forms the outer shape of the tether portion, which shell member comprises at least one of an elastomeric material, a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, a carbon fiber laminate, a glass fiber laminate, a composite material, a material comprising or being formed of polyurethane, or combinations thereof. 8. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the leading edge of the outer shape of the tether portion is formed as a leading edge of a hydrofoil. 9. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether portions are consecutively arranged along the main direction of the tether. 10. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the support structure end portion is essentially circular. 11. A tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether is arranged such that it is neutrally or essentially neutrally buoyant in the liquid. 12. A tether according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one moving vehicle configured to generate electrical energy, wherein the power cables further distribute the generated electrical energy from the moving vehicle to the support structure. 13. A tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether portion is flexible in order to allow for coiling or winding. 14. A tether according to claim 1, wherein the tether is arranged to support at least one submerged moving vehicle generating a tensile force up to 6 MN, 4 MN, 2 MN, 1 MN, 100 kN, 10 kN, or 3.5 kN. 15. The tether according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional profile of the tether is asymmetrical. 16. A submersible plant for generating electrical energy comprising a stream-driven vehicle provided with a turbine, which vehicle is connected to a support structure by the tether according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is provided with at least one stream-driven wing which is arranged to generate a relative vehicle speed in relation to a liquid stream speed, which relative vehicle speed is at least 2 times, or 4 times, or 10 times, the liquid stream speed.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.