JP6109760B2 - Water current generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a water current power generation apparatus.

  Attention has been focused on water current generators that generate power using the energy of ocean or river currents (sea currents, tidal currents, river flows). In the hydroelectric power generation apparatus, a bearing is installed between a blade that is a rotating part and a nacelle that is a fixed part (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 describes that bearings are provided in both the radial direction and the thrust direction. Patent Document 2 describes providing a water-lubricated bearing as a bearing.

Special table 2009-543971 JP2012-112320A

  When the vibration of the blade generated by the influence of the water flow or the like is transmitted to each part in the nacelle, the load on the rotating shaft and the transmission element becomes large. On the other hand, the bearing of patent document 1 can suppress that the vibration of a braid | blade, etc. transmit to the element in a nacelle by providing a bearing between a braid | blade and a nacelle. However, the contact surface of the bearing described in Patent Document 1 is consumed by use. Further, the water-lubricated bearing described in Patent Document 2 has a structure provided between the stator provided with the coil and the rotor, and cannot suppress the influence of the blades from being transmitted into the nacelle.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a water current power generation apparatus that can support a blade with high durability and high accuracy with respect to a nacelle and can suppress a decrease in power generation efficiency.

  The present invention is a water current power generation apparatus that generates power with the force of a water flow, the blade rotating with the force of the water flow, a rotating unit connected to the blade and rotating integrally with the blade, and connected to the rotating unit A power generation unit that generates electric power with the rotational force of the rotating portion, a space that covers the power generation unit, is a boundary between the space where the power generation unit is disposed, and underwater where the blade is disposed, and is a space where the power generation unit is disposed A nacelle having an air atmosphere, and a bearing unit that supports the rotating portion with respect to the nacelle between the nacelle and the blade in the axial direction of the rotating portion, and the bearing unit includes the nacelle A radial fixing part connected to the rotating part and extending in the axial direction of the rotating part; a radial rotating part connected to the rotating part and facing a surface extending in the axial direction of the radial fixing part; Connected to one end of the radial fixing portion in the axial direction, connected to the first thrust fixing portion extending in the radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and to the other end in the axial direction of the radial fixing portion; A second thrust fixing portion extending in a radial direction orthogonal to the axial direction; a first thrust rotating portion coupled to the rotating portion and facing a surface extending in the radial direction of the first thrust fixing portion; Water is supplied between the second thrust rotating part connected to the rotating part and facing the surface extending in the radial direction of the second thrust fixing part, and between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part. The water pressure is increased by increasing the water pressure between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part, and the water pressure is supplied between the second thrust fixing part and the second thrust rotating part. A water supply device for increasing the water pressure. .

  The power generation unit includes a speed increasing device connected to the rotating unit, a transmission shaft that transmits rotation obtained by shifting the rotation of the rotating unit by the speed increasing device, and a rotational force of the transmission shaft connected to the transmission shaft. And the speed increaser includes a cooling mechanism that acquires water from outside the nacelle and cools each part, and the water supply device is acquired by the cooling mechanism from outside. A part of the water is disposed between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part, between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part, and between the second thrust fixing part and the second thrust rotating part. It is preferable to supply between.

  In addition, the water supply device has a pump driven by the electric power generated by the power generation unit, and the pump supplies water outside the nacelle between the radial fixing unit and the radial rotation unit. In addition, it is preferable to supply between the first thrust fixing portion and the first thrust rotating portion and between the second thrust fixing portion and the second thrust rotating portion.

  Further, the water supply device has a rotating part that rotates by the force of the water flow, and a pump that feeds water by the rotating force of the rotating part, and the water that is outside the nacelle by the pump, Supplying between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part, between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part, and between the second thrust fixing part and the second thrust rotating part. Is preferred.

  In addition, the water supply device has a flow path connected to an opening formed on the front surface in the rotation direction of the blade, and the blade flows so that the water flowing into the flow path is Supplying between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part, between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part, and between the second thrust fixing part and the second thrust rotating part. Is preferred.

  The rotating unit includes a first rotating unit on the blade side, a second rotating unit on the nacelle side, and a coupling that connects the first rotating unit and the second rotating unit, In the bearing unit, it is preferable that the radial rotating portion, the first thrust rotating portion, and the second thrust rotating portion are fixed to the first rotating portion.

  Moreover, it is preferable to further have a bearing mechanism that supports the second rotating portion with respect to the nacelle.

  Further, the first thrust fixing portion protrudes radially outward from the radial fixing portion, and the second thrust fixing portion protrudes radially outward from the radial fixing portion, and the first thrust rotating portion. Protrudes radially outward from the radial rotating part, the second thrust rotating part protrudes radially outward from the radial rotating part, and the first thrust rotating part and the second thrust rotating part are In the axial direction, it is preferable that the first thrust fixing portion and the second thrust fixing portion are disposed in a range sandwiched between the first thrust fixing portion and the second thrust fixing portion.

  According to the water current generator according to the present invention, it is possible to support the blade with high durability and high accuracy with respect to the nacelle, and to suppress a decrease in power generation efficiency.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing the structure of the bearing unit and the cooling unit of the water current power generator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a second bearing of the bearing unit. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the second bearing of the bearing unit. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a second bearing of the bearing unit. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing the structure of the bearing unit and the cooling unit of the water current power generator according to the second embodiment. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the third embodiment. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generator according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current generator according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of the blade of the water current power generator according to the fifth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto. The requirements of the embodiments described below can be combined as appropriate. Some components may not be used.

  In the following description, an XYZ orthogonal coordinate system is set, and the positional relationship of each part will be described with reference to this XYZ orthogonal coordinate system. One direction in the predetermined plane is the X-axis direction, the direction orthogonal to the X-axis direction in the predetermined plane is the Y-axis direction, and the direction orthogonal to each of the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction (that is, the vertical direction) is the Z-axis direction. To do. Further, the rotation (inclination) directions around the X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are the θX, θY, and θZ directions, respectively.

<First Embodiment>
A first embodiment will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating an example of a water current power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the water current generator 1 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing the structure of the bearing unit and the cooling unit of the water current power generator according to the first embodiment. The water current power generation apparatus 1 is disposed in water and generates power with water current energy. The water current generator 1 is disposed, for example, in the sea, and generates power with ocean current energy or tidal energy. In addition, the water current power generation apparatus 1 may be disposed in a river and generate power with river flow energy.

  The water current generator 1 includes a rotor (rotating part) 14 including a rotor head 3 provided with a plurality of blades 2, a stator (fixed part) 15 including a nacelle 7 that rotatably supports the rotor 14, Power generation that is generated by the rotational energy of a drive train (power transmission mechanism) 8 that is disposed in the internal space and connected to the rotor head 3, and the rotor 14 that is disposed in the internal space of the nacelle 7 and transmitted via the drive train 8. Machine 9.

  In this embodiment, the water current generator 1 is a submarine floating current generator 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the water current generator 1 is moored to the seabed via a cable (mooring measure) 10. The inner space of the nacelle 7 is filled with a gas such as air. A plurality of blades 2 are attached to the rotor head 3. When the ocean current hits the blade 2, the rotor head 3 rotates with ocean current energy acting on the blade 2. The rotational energy (rotational torque) of the rotor 14 is transmitted to the generator 9 through the drive shaft 8 through the rotary shaft 4. The generator 9 generates power using the rotational energy of the rotor 14 transmitted through the drive train 8. The rotating shaft 4 is fixed to the rotor head 3 and rotates together with the rotor head 3 to which the blade 2 is rolled. The rotating shaft 4 is inserted into the nacelle 7. In addition, in the rotating shaft 4, a portion on the rotor head 3 side (first rotating portion) and a portion inserted in the nacelle 7 (second rotating portion) are connected by a coupling 6. In the water current generator 1, the bearing unit 5 is disposed between the rotor head 3 and the nacelle 7, and the rotor head 3 is supported by the nacelle 7 in a rotatable state. The bearing unit 5 will be described later. In the water current generator 1, a seal bearing 19 is disposed between the rotating shaft 4 and the nacelle 7. The seal bearing 19 has a fixed portion fixed to the nacelle 7, a rotating portion fixed to the rotating shaft 4, and supports the rotating shaft 4 and the nacelle 7 while being rotatably supported between the rotating shaft 4 and the nacelle 7. The space between them is sealed. Thereby, the water current generator 1 can suppress seawater from flowing into the nacelle 7 from the portion where the rotating shaft 4 of the nacelle 7 is inserted.

  The electric power generated by the generator 9 is sent to the ground via a power transmission cable. The underwater floating type water current generator 1 floats in the sea by the cable 10 and thus has an advantage that it is hardly affected by wind and waves.

  In the present embodiment, the drive train 8 is a hydraulic drive train. The drive train 8 includes a brake 80 connected to the rotating shaft 4, a hydraulic pump 81 connected to the rotating shaft 4, a hydraulic motor 82 operated by the hydraulic pump 81, pipes 83 and 84, a cooling unit 85, It has. The water current generator 1 may include the rotating shaft 4 in the drive train 8. The brake 80 is driven when stopping the rotation of the blade 2. The brake 80 stops the rotation of the rotor 14, such as the blade 2, by fixing the rotating shaft 4 and preventing the brake 80 from rotating. The hydraulic pump 81 pressurizes and discharges the working oil by the rotation of the rotating shaft 4. The hydraulic motor 82 rotates the rotor by the supplied high-pressure hydraulic oil. The pipe 83 connects the oil discharge port of the hydraulic pump 81 and the oil suction port of the hydraulic motor 82. The pipe 84 connects the oil discharge port of the hydraulic motor 82 and the oil suction port of the hydraulic pump 81. The working oil of the drive train 8 can flow through the pipe 83 and the pipe 84. The cooling unit 85 is provided in the pipe 84 and cools the working oil supplied from the hydraulic motor 82 to the hydraulic pump 81. The cooling unit 85 will be described later. In the drive train 8, when the rotor head 3 rotates, the rotating shaft 4 also rotates. The hydraulic pump 81 is operated by the rotational energy of the rotor head 3 transmitted through the rotary shaft 4. The hydraulic pump 81 supplies hydraulic oil to the hydraulic motor 82 and drives the hydraulic motor 82. The hydraulic motor 82 operates the generator 9.

  Next, the cooling unit 85 will be described. The cooling unit 85 is a mechanism that cools the working oil by exchanging heat between the working oil and seawater taken from outside the nacelle 7. The cooling unit 85 of the present embodiment also has a function of a water supply device 53 of the bearing unit 5 described later. The cooling unit 85 includes an oil cooler 100, a water supply pump 102, filters 104 and 110, valves 106 and 108, an accumulator 112, and pipes 120, 122, 124, and 126. In the cooling unit 85, the oil cooler 100, the water supply pump 102, the filters 104 and 110, the valves 106 and 108, and the accumulator 112 are disposed inside the nacelle 7. In the cooling unit 85, a combination of the water supply pump 102, the filter 104, the valve 108, the filter 110, the accumulator 112, and the pipes 120 and 126 becomes the water supply device 53 of the bearing unit 5.

  The pipes 120, 122, 124, and 126 penetrate the nacelle 7, and one end thereof is disposed outside the nacelle 7, that is, in a space filled with seawater. In the cooling unit 85, the pipe 120 serves as a water intake pipe for taking seawater into the interior, and the pipes 122, 124, and 126 are connected thereto. The pipes 122, 124, and 126 discharge the seawater acquired by the pipe 120 through a predetermined path, and then discharge the seawater to the outside from the end portion that is not connected to the pipe 120.

  The oil cooler 100 is a heat exchanger and is installed in the pipe 84. The oil cooler 100 is also connected to the pipe 122. The oil cooler 100 brings the working oil flowing through the pipe 84 and the seawater flowing through the pipe 122 into contact via a pipe or the like, and performs heat exchange between the working oil and the seawater.

  The water supply pump 102 is installed in the pipe 120 and forms a flow for sucking seawater outside the nacelle 7 in the pipe 120. The filter 104 is arranged on the end side in the seawater outside the nacelle 7 with respect to the water supply pump 102 of the pipe 120, collects foreign matters contained in the seawater flowing into the pipe 120, and flows into the water supply pump 102. Suppress.

  The valve 106 is installed in the pipe 124, and adjusts the opening and closing of the pipe 124 and the flow rate by adjusting the opening degree. The pipe 124 is a relief pipe that is connected to the pipe 120 and discharges the seawater supplied from the pipe 120 to the outside of the nacelle 7 as it is. The cooling unit 85 can discharge unused seawater by providing the pipe 124. Thereby, the feed water pump 102 can always be operated and the responsiveness of the supply of seawater can be enhanced.

  The valve 108 is installed in the pipe 126, and adjusts the opening and closing of the pipe 126 and the flow rate by adjusting the opening degree. The pipe 126 is a pipe that supplies water to a first bearing 51 and a second bearing 52 described later of the bearing unit 5 disposed between the rotor head 3 and the nacelle 7. The filter 110 is disposed on the bearing unit 5 side of the valve 108, that is, on the downstream side in the seawater flow direction. The filter 110 flows into the pipe 126 and collects foreign matters contained in seawater supplied to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52. The accumulator 112 stores seawater at a predetermined pressure. The accumulator 112 supplies the stored seawater to the pipe 126 and supplies the seawater to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 when seawater is not properly supplied to the pipe 126, such as when the feed water pump 102 is stopped.

  The cooling unit 85 drives the water supply pump 102 and supplies seawater from the pipe 120 to the pipe 122 to cool the working oil passing through the oil cooler 100. The cooling unit 85 supplies seawater pressurized by the water supply pump 102 to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 by supplying seawater from the pipe 120 to the pipe 126.

  Next, the bearing unit 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6 in addition to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a second bearing of the bearing unit. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of the second bearing of the bearing unit. FIG. 6 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a second bearing of the bearing unit.

  The bearing unit 5 includes a first bearing 51, a second bearing 52, and a water supply device 53. The first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are disposed on the surface of the nacelle 7 facing the rotor head 3. The second bearing 52 is disposed closer to the drive train 8 than the first bearing 51 (side closer to the inner space of the nacelle 7). Here, the nacelle 7 is provided with a cylindrical portion that protrudes toward the rotor head 3 from a box that forms a space therein. The first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion of the nacelle 7. The cylindrical portion of the nacelle 7 has a rotating shaft 4 disposed therein, a coupling 6 disposed therein, and an outer peripheral surface facing an inner peripheral surface of the rotor head 3.

  The first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are formed of a resin such as rubber. The first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are symmetrical between the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 and have a plane orthogonal to the rotation shaft 4 as an axis. Hereinafter, the structure will be described using the second bearing 52.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, in the second bearing 52, a ring 150 extending in the radial direction of the rotating shaft 4 and a cylinder 152 extending in the axial direction of the rotating shaft 4 are connected. That is, the second bearing 52 has a shape in which a radially extending flange is formed at one end of the cylinder 152. In the second bearing 52, the cylinder 152 is fixed to the radially inner end of the ring 150, and the ring 150 is fixed to the end of the cylinder 152 on the side far from the first bearing 51.

  The ring 150 has a surface facing the first bearing 51 facing a surface 170 extending in the radial direction of the rotor head 3. The ring 150 is formed with a discharge hole 140 at a predetermined interval in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft 4. The ring 150 has a pocket 160 that is recessed from other positions on the surface facing the surface 170. The discharge hole 140 is connected to the pocket 160.

  The cylinder 152 has a radially outer surface facing a surface 172 extending in the axial direction of the rotor head 3. The cylinder 152 is formed with a discharge hole 142 that is spaced apart by a predetermined distance in the rotation direction of the rotary shaft 4. The cylinder 152 has a pocket 162 that is recessed from another position on the surface facing the surface 172. The discharge hole 142 is connected to the pocket 162.

  Next, the water supply device 53 includes a configuration for supplying water to the pipe 126 of the water supply device 53 described above, a branch pipe 130, a ring pipe 132, and a supply pipe 134. The branch pipe 130 has one end connected to the pipe 126 and the other end branched into a plurality of branches. The other end of the branch pipe 130 is connected to the ring pipe 132. The ring tube 132 is disposed so as to surround the rotating shaft 4. The ring pipe 132 becomes a manifold and holds the seawater supplied from the branch pipe 130 in a state where the pressure distribution is small in the circumferential direction. The supply pipe 134 has one end connected to the ring pipe 132 and the other end connected to one of the discharge holes 140 and 142. The supply pipe 134 is connected to the end opposite to the end where the pockets 160 and 162 of the discharge holes 140 and 142 are formed. The water supply device 53 supplies water toward the surface where the pockets 160 and 162 are formed in the discharge pipes 140 and 142, that is, the surface facing the surfaces 170 and 172.

  Thus, in the bearing unit 5, the ring 150 of the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 serves as a thrust bearing fixing portion (thrust fixing portion), and the surface 170 serves as a thrust bearing rotating portion (radial rotating portion). In the bearing unit 5, the cylindrical portion 152 of the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 is a radial bearing fixing portion (radial fixing portion), and the surface 172 is a radial bearing rotating portion (radial rotating portion).

  The bearing unit 5 supplies pressurized seawater between the ring 150 and the surface 170 from the discharge hole 140 by the water supply device 53. As a result, a pressure is applied between the ring 150 and the surface 170, and a force in a direction in which the ring 150 and the surface 170 do not contact each other acts. Here, the bearing unit 5 is arranged with the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 as targets. As a result, the bearing unit 5 exerts forces opposite to each other in the axial direction between the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52. Thereby, the axial (thrust force) force acting between the nacelle 7 and the rotor head 3 can be received by the bearing unit 5. Further, the bearing unit 5 can suppress contact between the ring 150 and the surface 170 by supplying pressurized seawater between the ring 150 and the surface 170. Thereby, it can suppress that the bearing unit 5 is consumed.

  The bearing unit 5 supplies pressurized seawater between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172 from the discharge hole 142 by the water supply device 53. As a result, a pressure is applied between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172, and a force in a direction in which the cylinder 152 and the surface 172 do not contact each other acts. As a result, a radial force (a force perpendicular to the rotation axis, a radial force) acting between the nacelle 7 and the rotor head 3 can be received by the bearing unit 5. Further, the bearing unit 5 can suppress contact between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172 by supplying pressurized seawater between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172. Thereby, it can suppress that the bearing unit 5 is consumed.

  Thus, the bearing unit 5 has a structure in which the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are connected to the ring 150 and the cylinder 152, and receive both forces in the thrust direction and the radial direction. The rotor head 3 can be held with respect to the nacelle 7, and the force concerning the rotating shaft 4 can be reduced. Further, by providing the bearing unit 5 outside the nacelle 7, that is, outside the inside of the nacelle 7 of the rotating shaft, it is possible to suppress the vibration of the blade 2 from being transmitted to each element of the drive train 8.

  Moreover, since the water current generator 1 can suppress the wear of the bearing unit, the occurrence of malfunctions (failures, etc.) of the water current generator 1 is suppressed. In addition, since the structure is simple, maintenance is easy, and maintenance frequency and maintenance cost can be suppressed. When the water current generator 1 is installed in, for example, an offshore sea area, frequent maintenance may be difficult. According to this embodiment, the frequency of maintenance is suppressed.

  Moreover, the water current generator 1 effectively uses the mechanism of the water current generator 1 by using the seawater circulated by the cooling unit 85 that cools the working oil of the drive train 8 as the water supply device 53 that supplies the bearing unit 5. Can be used.

  In addition, the water current generator 1 is preferably provided with the pocket 160 on the surface facing the surface 170 of the ring 150 and the pocket 162 on the surface facing the surface 172 of the cylinder 152, so that the water supplied by the water supply device 53 is suitable. Can be held between the ring 150 and the surface 170 and between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172. Thereby, it is possible to easily maintain a pressurized state between the ring 150 and the surface 170 and between the cylinder 152 and the surface 172.

  Moreover, it is preferable that the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 have 4 or more and 8 or less discharge holes provided in the ring 150 and the cylinder 152, respectively. Thereby, seawater can be suitably supplied, maintaining the intensity | strength of the ring 150 and the cylinder 152. FIG.

  Here, as the power of the water supply pump 102, power generated by the generator 9, external power, a part of the drive train 8 and the force transmitted by the drive train 8 can be used.

Second Embodiment
The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing the structure of the bearing unit and the cooling unit of the water current power generator according to the second embodiment. In the water current generator 1, a hydraulic circuit is used for the drive train 8 and power is transmitted by hydraulic pressure, but power may be transmitted mechanically.

  The water current generator 1a shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 has a drive train 8a. The drive train 8a is a gear type drive train. The drive train 8 a includes a brake 80 connected to the rotating shaft 4 and a gear type gearbox 190 connected to the rotating shaft 4. The gear type gearbox 190 increases the rotation transmitted from the rotary shaft 4 and transmits it to the generator 9. Further, the drive train 8 a includes a lubricating oil pump 194 that supplies lubricating oil to the gear type gearbox 190 and a lubricating oil line 196. In addition, a cooling unit 85a for cooling the lubricating oil is connected to the lubricating oil line 196. The cooling unit 85a has the same structure as the cooling unit 85 except that the object to be cooled is changed from working oil to lubricating oil. The bearing unit 5a includes a first bearing 51, a second bearing 52, and a water supply device 53a. The water supply device 53a has a configuration of a part of the cooling unit 85a, and supplies a part of the seawater that has flowed into the nacelle 7 by the cooling unit 85a to the first bearings 51 and 52.

  As described above, even when the gear train type gearbox is used for the drive train 8a, the water current generator 1a uses the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 to circulate a part of the seawater to be circulated to cool the lubricating oil. By supplying, the pressurized water can be supplied to the bearing unit 5a using the existing drive source.

<Third Embodiment>
The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generation apparatus according to the third embodiment. The hydroelectric power generation apparatus 1b shown in FIG. 9 is the same as the hydroelectric power generation apparatus 1a except for the drive source of the feed water pump that circulates the seawater of the cooling unit 85b.

  9 is driven by a motor 202 that is driven by electric power supplied from a generator 9 to a water supply pump of a cooling unit 85a. The water supply device 53 b of the bearing unit 5 b supplies seawater sent by a water supply pump driven by the motor 202 to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52.

  Thus, as the drive source of the pump that supplies seawater to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52, the power generated by the generator 9 may be used. Thereby, it can drive, without obtaining electric power from the outside. Moreover, the freedom degree of arrangement | positioning in the nacelle 7 can be made high by driving a water supply pump with electric power.

<Fourth embodiment>
The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted. FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current power generator according to the fourth embodiment. A pump may be separately provided as a drive source for supplying water from the bearing unit.

  10, the water supply device 53c is connected to the pump 220, the pump 220, the rotating shaft 222 penetrating the nacelle 7, and the propeller 224 connected to the rotating shaft 222 outside the nacelle 7. The pipe 225 is connected to the pump 220 and has an end disposed outside the nacelle 7, and the pipe 226 connecting the pump 220 to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52. Like the blade 2, the propeller 224 rotates in response to the ocean current. The pump 220 is driven by the rotational force of the propeller 224 transmitted through the rotating shaft 222, sucks seawater from the pipe 225, and supplies the seawater to the pipe 226. The cooling unit 85c that cools the lubricating oil of the gear type gearbox 190 of the drive train uses seawater only for cooling the lubricating oil.

  As with the water current generator 1c, the pressurized seawater can be supplied to the bearing by separately providing a pump for supplying pressurized seawater to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 of the bearing unit 5c. Moreover, the water current generator 1c of the fourth embodiment can drive the pump 220 without using electric power or the force generated by the blades by driving the pump 220 with the force of the ocean current. Thereby, electric power generation amount can be increased more.

<Fifth Embodiment>
The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In the following description, the same or equivalent components as those in the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is simplified or omitted. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the water current generator according to the fifth embodiment. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the shape of the blade of the water current power generator according to the fifth embodiment.

  In the water current generator 1d, the bearing unit 5d includes a first bearing 51, a second bearing 52, and a water supply device 53d. The water supply device 53d has a pipe 300 formed inside the blade 2a and a water supply hole 302 disposed in the vicinity of the radially outer end of the blade 2a. The pipe 300 is connected to a pipe that supplies seawater to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52. The water supply hole 302 is connected to the pipe 300. The water supply hole 302 is formed on the front (upstream) surface of the blade 2a in the rotation direction. A groove 304 is formed around the water supply hole 302. The groove 304 has a pearl shape and guides seawater to the water supply hole 302.

  The water supply device 53d causes the seawater to flow into the water supply hole 302 using the force of the swirling flow formed near the tip of the blade 2a. The inflowing seawater moves radially inward through the pipe 300 and is supplied to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52.

  The water current generator 1d uses the rotation of the blade 2a to supply pressurized seawater to the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52, thereby eliminating the need to provide a drive source such as a pump. Thereby, the apparatus configuration can be simplified.

  In the present embodiment, the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 are provided. However, the first bearing 51 and the second bearing 52 may be integrated into one bearing.

1 Water Current Generator 2 Blade 3 Rotor Head 4 Rotating Shaft 5 Bearing Unit 7 Nacelle 8 Drive Train 9 Generator 10 Cable (Mooring Measures)
14 Rotor 15 Stator 19 Sealed bearing 51 First bearing 52 Second bearing 53 Water supply device 81 Hydraulic pump 82 Hydraulic motor 83, 84 Piping 85 Cooling unit 100 Oil cooler 102 Water supply pump 104, 110 Filter 106, 108 Valve 112 Accumulator 120, 122, 124, 126 Pipe 130 Branch pipe 132 Ring pipe 134 Supply pipe 140, 142 Discharge hole 150 Ring 152 Cylinder 160, 162 Pocket 170, 172 surface

Claims (5)

A water current power generation device that generates power by the power of water flow,
A blade rotating by the force of the water flow;
A rotating unit coupled to the blade and rotating integrally with the blade;
A power generation unit connected to the rotating unit and generating electric power with the rotational force of the rotating unit;
A nacelle that covers the power generation unit, becomes a boundary between the space in which the power generation unit is disposed and the water in which the blade is disposed, and the space in which the power generation unit is disposed as an air atmosphere;
A bearing unit that supports the rotating part with respect to the nacelle between the nacelle and the blade in the axial direction of the rotating part;
The bearing unit is connected to the nacelle, and a radial fixing portion extending in the axial direction of the rotating portion;
A radial rotating part coupled to the rotating part and facing a surface extending in the axial direction of the radial fixing part;
A first thrust fixing portion connected to one end portion in the axial direction of the radial fixing portion and extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
A second thrust fixing portion connected to the other axial end portion of the radial fixing portion and extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
A first thrust rotating unit coupled to the rotating unit and facing a surface extending in a radial direction of the first thrust fixing unit;
A second thrust rotating part connected to the rotating part and facing a surface extending in a radial direction of the second thrust fixing part;
Water is supplied between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part to increase the water pressure, water is supplied between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part to increase the water pressure, and the first A water supply device for supplying water between the two thrust fixing portions and the second thrust rotating portion to increase the water pressure ,
The power generation unit includes a speed increasing device connected to the rotating unit, a transmission shaft that transmits rotation obtained by shifting the rotation of the rotating unit by the speed increasing device, and a rotational force of the transmission shaft connected to the transmission shaft. A generator for generating electricity,
The speed increaser includes a cooling mechanism that acquires water from the outside of the nacelle and cools each part,
In the water supply device, a part of the water acquired from the outside by the cooling mechanism is interposed between the radial fixing portion and the radial rotating portion, and between the first thrust fixing portion and the first thrust rotating portion. and water flow power generator and supplying between said second thrust fixed portion and said second thrust rotating unit. A water current power generation device that generates power by the power of water flow,
A blade rotating by the force of the water flow;
A rotating unit coupled to the blade and rotating integrally with the blade;
A power generation unit connected to the rotating unit and generating electric power with the rotational force of the rotating unit;
A nacelle that covers the power generation unit, becomes a boundary between the space in which the power generation unit is disposed and the water in which the blade is disposed, and the space in which the power generation unit is disposed as an air atmosphere;
A bearing unit that supports the rotating part with respect to the nacelle between the nacelle and the blade in the axial direction of the rotating part;
The bearing unit is connected to the nacelle, and a radial fixing portion extending in the axial direction of the rotating portion;
A radial rotating part coupled to the rotating part and facing a surface extending in the axial direction of the radial fixing part;
A first thrust fixing portion connected to one end portion in the axial direction of the radial fixing portion and extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
A second thrust fixing portion connected to the other axial end portion of the radial fixing portion and extending in a radial direction perpendicular to the axial direction;
A first thrust rotating unit coupled to the rotating unit and facing a surface extending in a radial direction of the first thrust fixing unit;
A second thrust rotating part connected to the rotating part and facing a surface extending in a radial direction of the second thrust fixing part;
Water is supplied between the radial fixing part and the radial rotating part to increase the water pressure, water is supplied between the first thrust fixing part and the first thrust rotating part to increase the water pressure, and the first A water supply device for supplying water between the two thrust fixing portions and the second thrust rotating portion to increase the water pressure,
The water supply device has a flow path connected to an opening formed on a front surface in the rotational direction of the blade,
As the blade rotates, water flowing into the flow path is interposed between the radial fixing portion and the radial rotating portion, between the first thrust fixing portion and the first thrust rotating portion, and the first thrust rotating portion. 2 water flow power generator you and supplying between the thrust fixed portion and said second thrust rotating unit. The rotating part has a first rotating part on the blade side, a second rotating part on the nacelle side, and a coupling connecting the first rotating part and the second rotating part,
3. The water flow according to claim 1, wherein the radial rotation portion, the first thrust rotation portion, and the second thrust rotation portion of the bearing unit are fixed to the first rotation portion. Power generation device. The water current power generator according to claim 3 , further comprising a bearing mechanism that supports the second rotating portion with respect to the nacelle. The first thrust fixing portion protrudes outward in the radial direction from the radial fixing portion,
The second thrust fixing portion protrudes radially outward from the radial fixing portion,
The first thrust rotating part protrudes radially outward from the radial rotating part,
The second thrust rotating part protrudes radially outward from the radial rotating part,
The first thrust rotating part and the second thrust rotating part are arranged in a range sandwiched between the first thrust fixing part and the second thrust fixing part in the axial direction. The water current generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4 .

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