NL2011976C2 - Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube. - Google Patents
Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- NL2011976C2 NL2011976C2 NL2011976A NL2011976A NL2011976C2 NL 2011976 C2 NL2011976 C2 NL 2011976C2 NL 2011976 A NL2011976 A NL 2011976A NL 2011976 A NL2011976 A NL 2011976A NL 2011976 C2 NL2011976 C2 NL 2011976C2
- Authority
- NL
- Netherlands
- Prior art keywords
- tube
- restriction means
- energy
- tubes
- water
- Prior art date
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Classifications
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
- F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
- F03B13/26—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using tide energy
- F03B13/264—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using tide energy using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B11/00—Parts or details not provided for in, or of interest apart from, the preceding groups, e.g. wear-protection couplings, between turbine and generator
- F03B11/004—Valve arrangements
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
- F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
- F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
- F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- F05B2260/00—Function
- F05B2260/40—Transmission of power
- F05B2260/406—Transmission of power through hydraulic systems
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- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
- Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Oceanography (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
Description
Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube, and power conversion means for directly or indirectly converting kinematic energy in the waterflow into transportable energy.
BACKGROUND
Such a powerplant is known from the prior art and is for·instance embodied as a Venturi tube which concentrates a tidal flow passing through a turbine in the tube.
It is known that tidal energy exploits the natural ebb and flow of coastal tidal waters caused principally by the interaction of the gravitational fields of the earth, moon and sun. The fast sea currents are often magnified by topographical features, such as headlands, inlets and straits, or by the shape of the seabed when water is forced through narrow channels. The tidal stream devices, which utilise these currents, are broadly similar to submerged wind turbines and are used to exploit the kinetic energy in tidal currents. Due to the. higher density of water, this means that the blades can be smaller and turn more slowly, yet they can still deliver a significant amount of power. To increase the flow and power output from the turbine, concentrators (or shrouds) may be used around the blades to streamline and concentrate the flow towards the rotors.
Among the known power plants making use of tidal energy are further horizontal or vertical axis turbines that extract energy from moving water. The tidal stream causes the rotors to rotate around the horizontal or vertical axis and generate power.
Also known are hydrofoils attached to an oscillating arm. The tidal current flowing on either side of a wing foil results in lift. The motion of the wing drives fluid in a hy- draulic system which can be converted into electricity.
Further known is a so-called Archimedes screw which is a helical corkscrew shaped device that draws power from the tidal stream as the water moves up or through the spiral that turns the turbines.
Finally reference is made to a tidal kite card which is tethered to the seabed and carries a turbine below the wing. The kite moves in the tidal stream and increases therewith the speed of the water flowing through the turbine.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention breaks new ground in an attempt to increase the efficiency of energy conversion, and obviate the disadvantages of the prior art power plants in which the energy available in the waterflow escapes partly passed the rotors of the turbines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is embodied in a powerplant, a tube provided with restriction means for a waterflow in the tube, and a method for converting energy from a moving water mass into hydraulic and/or electric energy in accordance with one or more of the appended claims.
In a first aspect of the invention a powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube is proposed, having power conversion means for directly or indirectly converting kinematic energy in the waterflow into transportable energy, wherein the restriction means are arranged to predominantly or fully close off the tube at a preselected time or times, and wherein said restriction means are movable inside the tube subject at least to the waterflow in the tube, wherein the restriction means are connected to the conversion means so as to convert kinematic energy of the waterflow inside the tube into said transportable energy. When the tube is 'predominantly' closed in the sense of the invention, this means that the water cannot pass the restriction means except from unintended leakages or leakages that are intended to circumvent the scope of the appended claims. The restriction means can for instance be embodied as valve means, provided with fast movable shutters. One of the major advantages of the invention is that it provides the possibility to convert energy present in a small waterflow of for instance less than 2,5 m/s into usable transportable energy, such as electrical or hydraulic energy.
Preferably the powerplant of the invention has multiple tubes, each tube being provided with restriction means that are selectable so as to predominantly or fully close off the tube at a preselected time or times, wherein said restriction means are movable inside the tube subject at least to a waterflow inside the tube, wherein the said restriction means of each tube are connected to the conversion means so as to convert kinematic energy of the waterflows inside the tubes into said transportable energy.
The powerplant of the invention opens the way to employe it for converting energy from a moving water mass into hydraulic and/or electric energy, wherein the moving water mass is received into one or more tubes and subjected to said restriction means that are connected to power conversion means for the transformation of kinematic energy of the water mass into hydraulic and/or electric power, wherein periodically the one or more tubes are closed off with the restriction means which are arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the tube or tubes subject to forces of the moving water mass, and that the energy embodied in the restriction means that moves due to the moving water mass is converted into the said hydraulic and/or electric power.
The powerplant is then preferably so configured that the restriction means of each tube are arranged to repeatedly and at preselected times close off and open its concerning tube and are movable between a first starting position and a second end position in said tube while the restriction means predominantly or fully close off said tube, wherein at the second end position the restriction means are arranged to open the said tube and are movable so as to return from said second end position to the first starting position where the restriction means are arranged to close off the said tube.
Beneficially the restriction means are connected to an hydraulic and/or electric system so as to convert the motion energy of the waterflow or waterflows driving the restriction means into hydraulic and/or electric power.
Another notable aspect of the invention is that each tube is arranged to float below the water surface and adjust its orientation to the actual tidal flow.
This can be conveniently arranged by ensuring that the tube or tubes are only at one of their extremities anchored to the bottom of the sea.
To support uninterrupted power a control system is provided to subsequently and serially activate one or more of the tubes to have their restriction means move within said tubes for deriving energy from the moving water mass in said tubes .
The invention is also embodied in a loose tube provided with restriction means for a waterflow in the tube, wherein the restriction means are selectable so as to predominantly or fully close off the tube at a preselected time or times, and wherein said restriction means are movable inside the tube or in an extension of the tube, subject to a waterflow inside the tube.
As already mentioned the invention is also embodied in a method for converting energy from a moving water mass into hydraulic and/or electric energy, wherein the moving water mass is received into one or more tubes and subjected to restriction means that are connected to power conversion means for the transformation of kinematic energy of the water mass into hydraulic and/or electric power, wherein periodically the one or more tubes are closed off with the restriction means which are arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the tube or tubes subject to forces of the moving water mass, and that the energy embodied in the restriction means that moves due to the moving water mass is converted into hydraulic and/or electric power.
Preferably when there are more tubes, the subjection of the water masses in the respective tubes to closing off with the respective restriction means of the tubes is organized so as to provide an uninterrupted conversion of energy from the moving water masses in said tubes into hydraulic and/or electric power.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will hereinafter be further elucidated with reference to a schematic drawing showing in exemplary embodiments of the powerplant of the invention which is not limiting as to the appended claims: -in figure 1 a powerplant according to the invention·, provided with a single tube; -in figure 2-a top view of a powerplant according to the invention provided with multiple tubes; and -in figure 3 a schematic of movements by restriction means in one tube of a powerplant according to the invention.
Whenever in the figures the same reference numerals are applied, these numerals refer to the same parts.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Making first reference to figure 1 a powerplant 1 is depicted comprising a submerged or submersible tube 2 and restriction means 3 for a waterflow in the tube 2. Power conversion means 4, 5 are arranged for directly or indirectly converting kinematic energy of the waterflow inside the tube 2 into transportable energy.
The restriction means 3 are embodied in this exemplary embodiment as valve means, provided with fastly operable slats. Such valve means are commonly known by skilled persons and require no further elucidation. The restriction means 3 are arranged to predominantly or fully close off the tube 2 at a preselected time or times. An important aspect of the invention is that said restriction means 3 are movable inside the tube 2 subject at least to the waterflow enclosed in the tube 2. Specifically the restriction means 3 are movable inside the tube 2 or tubes in its or in the tube's longitudinal direction. The restriction means 3 are connected to the conversion means 4, for instance a hydraulic piston, so as to convert kinematic energy embodied in the waterflow inside the tube 2 into transportable energy, as discussed in the following paragraph.
The hydraulic piston 4 is connected through lines with a vessel 7 which may be floating or mounted on a pile or piles, onto which are several parts of an hydraulic system, notably a low-pressure hydraulic bassin 8, a high pressure hydraulic accumulator 9, an hydraulic pump 10, and an hydraulic management and control system 11 to control the cooperation of the respective parts of the hydraulic system. The high-pressure hydraulic accumulator 9 connects to a power generator 12 which provides electrical energy to a power transformer 13. The power transformer 13 connects to a power line 14 to transfer electrical energy to shore. Thus the restriction means 3 are connected to an hydraulic system 8, 9, 10, 11 and/or electric system 12, 13, 14 so as to convert the motion energy of the waterflow or waterflows in the tube 2 driving the restriction means 3 and convert it into hydraulic and/or electric power.
Referring now to figure 2 a schematic top view is provided of a series of tubes 2 that are adjacent to each other 2. Each tube 2 is provided with restriction means 3 as discussed with reference to figure 1 that are selectable so as to predominantly or fully close off the tube 2 at a preselected time or times, wherein said restriction means 3 are movable inside the tube 2 subject at least to a waterflow inside the tube 2, wherein the said restriction means 3 of each tube 2 are connected to conversion means so as to convert kinematic energy of the waterflows inside the tubes 2 into said transportable energy.
Preferably with the arrangement shown in figure 2 the restriction means 3 of a specific tube 2 are arranged to repeatedly and at preselected times close off and open this tube 2. This is schematically shown in figure 3 wherein it is depicted that the restriction means 3 are movable between a first starting position (see figure 3a) and a second end position (see fig. 3c) in the tube 2 of the concerning restriction means 3, during which movement (fig. 3b) the restriction means predominantly or fully close off the tube such that (virtually) no water can escape passed the restriction means 3. Having arrived at the second end position (fig. 3c) the restriction means 3 are arranged to open the tube 2 (fig. 3d) so as to release the water from the tube 2, and are moved backwards (fig. 3e) so as to return from said second end position (fig. 3c) to the first starting position (fig. 3f=fig.3a) where the restriction means are arranged to close off the tube again. Having arrived back at the first starting position (fig. 3f) the motion of the restriction means 3 starting from figure 3a (which equates with figure 3f), as explained above can be repeated.
Making reference to both figure 1 and figure 2 it is remarked that each tube 2 is arranged to float below a water surface 15 and adjust its orientation to the general water flow, which may be a tidal flow. For this purpose of adjusting its orientation to the general water flow, the tube or tubes 2 are at one of their extremities 2' anchored to the bottom 16 of the sea.
Although it is not shown in the figures it is preferable that a control system is provided to subsequently and serially activate one or more of the tubes 2 to have their restriction means 3 move within said tubes 2 for deriving energy from the moving water mass in said tubes 2. The manner in which such a control system is to be implemented is entirely known to the skilled person and requires no further elucidation .
The control system should preferably devised so as to implement a method for converting energy from a moving water mass into hydraulic and/or electric energy, wherein the ' moving water mass is received into one or more tubes 2 and subjected to restriction means 3 that are connected to power conversion means 4, 5 for the transformation of kinematic energy of the water mass into hydraulic and/or electric power, wherein periodically the one or more tubes 2 are closed off with the restriction means 3 which are arranged to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the tube or tubes 2 subject to forces of the moving water mass, and that the energy em bodied in the restriction means 3 that is moved due to the moving water mass is converted into hydraulic and/or electric power in the manner as explained here above. When the method is employed when there are more tubes 2, the subjection of the water masses in the respective tubes 2 to closing off with the respective restriction means 3 of the tubes 2 is then preferably organized so as to provide a uninterrupted conversion of energy from the water masses moving in the tubes 2 into hydraulic and/or electric power.
Although the invention has been discussed in the foregoing with reference to an exemplary embodiment of the power plant and tube of the invention, the invention is not restricted to this particular embodiment which can be varied in many ways without departing from the gist of the invention and the scope of the appended claims. The discussed exemplary embodiment shall therefore not be used to construe the appended claims strictly in accordance therewith. On the contrary the embodiment is merely intended to explain the wording of the appended claims without intent to limit the claims to this exemplary embodiment. The scope of protection of the invention shall therefore be construed in accordance with the appended claims only, wherein a possible ambiguity in the wording of the claims shall be resolved using this exemplary embodiment.
Claims (11)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2011976A NL2011976C2 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NL2011976 | 2013-12-17 | ||
NL2011976A NL2011976C2 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube. |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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NL2011976C2 true NL2011976C2 (en) | 2015-06-18 |
Family
ID=50190669
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
NL2011976A NL2011976C2 (en) | 2013-12-17 | 2013-12-17 | Powerplant comprising a submerged or submersible tube and restriction means for a waterflow in the tube. |
Country Status (1)
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NL (1) | NL2011976C2 (en) |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005038241A2 (en) * | 2003-10-18 | 2005-04-28 | Ibes Baugrundinstitut Freiberg Gmbh | Small water power plant |
WO2007123583A1 (en) * | 2006-04-21 | 2007-11-01 | Van Huffel Phillip L | A power generator and method for generating power |
US20130177456A1 (en) * | 2010-06-21 | 2013-07-11 | Frederick Philp Selwyn | Fluid pressure amplifier |
-
2013
- 2013-12-17 NL NL2011976A patent/NL2011976C2/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2005038241A2 (en) * | 2003-10-18 | 2005-04-28 | Ibes Baugrundinstitut Freiberg Gmbh | Small water power plant |
WO2007123583A1 (en) * | 2006-04-21 | 2007-11-01 | Van Huffel Phillip L | A power generator and method for generating power |
US20130177456A1 (en) * | 2010-06-21 | 2013-07-11 | Frederick Philp Selwyn | Fluid pressure amplifier |
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Date | Code | Title | Description |
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MM | Lapsed because of non-payment of the annual fee |
Effective date: 20170101 |