A deployment apparatus is described. The deployment apparatus is for deploying an underwater power generator having a power generating main body from a deployment vessel disposed on the surface of a body of water onto a pylon disposed on the bed of the body of water and the deployment apparatus includes: a frame including one or more connectors disposed on a base region of the frame, the connectors for releasable connection to catches disposed on an upper region of the power generating main body, the connectors being remotely operable between a connected position in which the connectors are engaged with the catches and a disconnected position in which the connectors are disengaged from the catches; and one or more cameras disposed on the frame for providing visual guidance to the vessel of the position of the underwater power generator relative to the pylon. A method for deployment of the underwater power generator is also described.
B66C 1/66 - Éléments ou dispositifs de prise de la charge adjoints aux mécanismes de levage, de descente ou de halage, ou adaptés pour être utilisés avec ces mécanismes et transmettant les efforts à des articles ou à des groupes d'articles par moyens mécaniques comportant des organes de saisie ayant une forme complémentaire de celle des objets à manipuler s'engageant dans des trous, des évidements ou des renflements spécialement aménagés sur les objets pour en permettre la prise
B63C 7/16 - Appareillage à attaque directe des navires ou objets
B66C 1/10 - Éléments ou dispositifs de prise de la charge adjoints aux mécanismes de levage, de descente ou de halage, ou adaptés pour être utilisés avec ces mécanismes et transmettant les efforts à des articles ou à des groupes d'articles par moyens mécaniques
B66C 13/08 - Dispositifs auxiliaires pour commander les mouvements des charges suspendues ou pour empêcher le câble de prendre du mou pour déposer les charges selon un orientement ou dans une position donnés
A deployment apparatus is described. The deployment apparatus is for deploying an underwater power generator having a power generating main body from a deployment vessel disposed on the surface of a body of water onto a pylon disposed on the bed of the body of water and the deployment apparatus includes: a frame including one or more connectors disposed on a base region of the frame, the connectors for releasable connection to catches disposed on an upper region of the power generating main body, the connectors being remotely operable between a connected position in which the connectors are engaged with the catches and a disconnected position in which the connectors are disengaged from the catches; and one or more cameras disposed on the frame for providing visual guidance to the vessel of the position of the underwater power generator relative to the pylon. A method for deployment of the underwater power generator is also described.
B66C 1/66 - Éléments ou dispositifs de prise de la charge adjoints aux mécanismes de levage, de descente ou de halage, ou adaptés pour être utilisés avec ces mécanismes et transmettant les efforts à des articles ou à des groupes d'articles par moyens mécaniques comportant des organes de saisie ayant une forme complémentaire de celle des objets à manipuler s'engageant dans des trous, des évidements ou des renflements spécialement aménagés sur les objets pour en permettre la prise
E02B 9/00 - Installations hydrauliquesTracé, construction, équipement, procédés ou appareils pour leur réalisation
E02B 17/04 - Équipement spécialement conçu pour élever, abaisser ou immobiliser la plate-forme de travail par rapport à la structure de support
A deployment apparatus is described. The deployment apparatus is for deploying an underwater power generator having a power generating main body from a deployment vessel disposed on the surface of a body of water onto a pylon disposed on the bed of the body of water and the deployment apparatus includes: a frame including one or more connectors disposed on a base region of the frame, the connectors for releasable connection to catches disposed on an upper region of the power generating main body, the connectors being remotely operable between a connected position in which the connectors are engaged with the catches and a disconnected position in which the connectors are disengaged from the catches; and one or more cameras disposed on the frame for providing visual guidance to the vessel of the position of the underwater power generator relative to the pylon. A method for deployment of the underwater power generator is also described.
B66C 1/66 - Éléments ou dispositifs de prise de la charge adjoints aux mécanismes de levage, de descente ou de halage, ou adaptés pour être utilisés avec ces mécanismes et transmettant les efforts à des articles ou à des groupes d'articles par moyens mécaniques comportant des organes de saisie ayant une forme complémentaire de celle des objets à manipuler s'engageant dans des trous, des évidements ou des renflements spécialement aménagés sur les objets pour en permettre la prise
E02B 9/00 - Installations hydrauliquesTracé, construction, équipement, procédés ou appareils pour leur réalisation
E02B 17/04 - Équipement spécialement conçu pour élever, abaisser ou immobiliser la plate-forme de travail par rapport à la structure de support
A connector (17) is provided to mount a power generation unit of an underwater power generator to a base assembly. The connector comprises (17) a lower connector portion (72) having a stem (62) projecting upwardly and having a tapering profile and an upper connector portion (70) having an inwardly and upwardly extending recess (60). At least one generally cylindrical pin (61) extends radially inwardly into the recess (60) and at least one groove (64) is formed in the stem (62). The groove (64) is configured to allow the pin (61) to travel along the groove (64) as the stem (62) is axially inserted into the recess (60).
A support apparatus for support of an underwater power generator is described. The underwater power generator has a power generating portion and the support apparatus includes: a stand adapted for supporting the power generating portion, and comprises a stabiliser including one or more stabilising footing elements adapted to mount one or more monolithic ballast masses; wherein the one or more stabilising footing elements includes a locating region adapted to cooperate with a locating region of the monolithic ballast mass so that the support apparatus in use is weighted down in a selected position on a sea bed. Ballast masses are also described, as are methods for installing the support apparatus and methods for installing power generators on the support apparatus.
An underwater power generator (10) comprises a support structure (14) including a pylon (22) having a male boss (24) at an upper end of the pylon (22). A generation unit (12) has a housing (15) and a blade set (16). A female socket (28) is provided on the generation unit (12) and is configured to receive the male boss (24). A rotation unit (30) comprises a motorised pinion (56) mounted on an upper section (50) and a fixed ring gear (58) mounted on a lower section (52), wherein operation of the motorised pinion (56) rotates the upper section (50) relative to the lower section (52) about a yaw axis. A seal arrangement (60) is provided between the upper and lower sections (50, 52) to inhibit the ingress of water into the rotation unit (30).
A connector (17) is provided to mount a power generation unit of an underwater power generator to a base assembly. The connector comprises (17) a lower connector portion (72) having a stem (62) projecting upwardly and having a tapering profile and an upper connector portion (70) having an inwardly and upwardly extending recess (60). At least one generally cylindrical pin (61) extends radially inwardly into the recess (60) and at least one groove (64) is formed in the stem (62). The groove (64) is configured to allow the pin (61) to travel along the groove (64) as the stem (62) is axially inserted into the recess (60).
A power generation apparatus is described. The apparatus includes a rotor adapted for rotation about a rotation axis, the rotor comprising a blade assembly including a plurality of blades operatively mounted to the rotor and extending therefrom and adapted to be acted upon by flowing water from a direction generally perpendicular to the rotation axis to rotate the rotor; wherein the rotor includes an integral rotor body adapted to rotate about a stator body disposed internally relative thereto to generate usable power.
A system and a method for controlling operation of an underwater power generator is described, as well as computing componentry for controlling the operation of the underwater power generator. The system comprises: meters for measuring selected properties associated with blade speed and inward water flow of the underwater power generator; a drive for altering one or more selected aspects of operation of the underwater power generator; and a data processing apparatus comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory operatively connected to the CPU, the memory containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU, wherein the CPU and/or memory are operatively adapted to receive information from the meters to calculate a Tip Speed Ratio (TSR or λ) and implement an instruction to the drive to change the one or more selected operating parameters of the underwater power generator in response to the calculated TSR or λ.
A power generation apparatus for generating power from water flows is described. The power generation apparatus includes: a generator; a first blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation in a selected direction in response to flowing water from a selected direction; a second blade set operatively mounted to the generator for rotation and operatively connected to the first blade set, the second blade set being disposed coaxially with, and downstream of or in a wake zone of, the first blade set; wherein the generator is adapted to be driven by at least one of the blade sets, the generator being disposed generally coaxially between the first and second blade sets.
F03B 3/04 - "Machines" ou machines motrices du type "à réaction"Parties constitutives ou détails particuliers les concernant à écoulement à travers les rotors essentiellement axial, p. ex. turbopropulseurs
A bidirectional turbine blade including: a blade root and blade tip; a first face and a second face running between the blade root and blade tip; a cross-sectional profile which is symmetrical about a chord line extending between longitudinal edges of the blade; and a twist of between about 5 and 35 degrees from the chord line, wherein the blade is capable of driving an underwater turbine from flowing water incident at the first face or the second face.
F03B 3/04 - "Machines" ou machines motrices du type "à réaction"Parties constitutives ou détails particuliers les concernant à écoulement à travers les rotors essentiellement axial, p. ex. turbopropulseurs
A vertical axis turbine is described, the turbine comprising: a base; four partitions arranged on the base forming four ducts opening into a cavity; a rotor mounted in the cavity for rotation in a drive direction about a central axis; and a power extraction device adapted to extract power from the rotation of the rotor; wherein for a given liquid flow direction, one of the ducts directs liquid flow to the cavity to turn the rotor in the drive direction and an adjacent duct directs flow of the liquid out of the cavity, wherein the partitions substantially prevent water flow from causing the rotor turning in a direction opposite to the drive direction. Also described is a turbine system comprising an array of a plurality of the turbines. Furthermore, described is a method of generating power form water flow comprising the steps of: providing a turbine to a marine environment; allowing water movement through a duct of the turbine to cause rotation of the rotor; and drawing power from the turbine.
A central axis water turbine is described which comprises a turbine body having a central axis; a rotor mounted on the turbine body for rotation about the central axis, the rotor comprising a central hub supporting a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a blade root mounted on the hub to a blade tip; a generator driven by the rotor; and a housing surrounding the rotor and adapted to direct water flow towards the rotor, the housing converging from a front opening forward of the rotor to a narrower throat adjacent the turbine body; wherein the blades are splayed rearward from the blade root to the blade tip by a tilt angle of 1° to 20° from a plane perpendicular to the central axis.
A turbine blade is described which includes a blade root;a blade tip; a leading edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a trailing edge extending from the blade root to the blade tip; a blade root chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade root; a blade tip chord defined as a straight line between the leading edge and the trailing edge at the blade tip; wherein the blade tip chord is angularly displaced from the blade root chord by a twist angle of between 50° and 90°.
F03D 11/00 - Détails, parties constitutives ou accessoires non couverts par les autres groupes de la présente sous-classe ou présentant un intérêt autre que celui visé par ces groupes
15.
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTING POWER FROM WATER FLOW
A system for controlling operation of a water turbine is described, the system comprising, a turbine; means for measuring an activity affecting operation of the turbine; means for altering operation of the turbine; and a data processing apparatus comprising a central processing unit (CPU), a memory operably connected to the CPU, the memory containing a program adapted to be executed by the CPU. wherein the CPU and memory are operably adapted to receive information from the measuring means and implement an instruction to the altering means to alter the operation of the turbine. Data processing systems, computer program elements and methods for controlling operation of the turbine are also described.
A system adapted to extract power from water flow is described, the system including a frame, a chain engageable with a sprocket, forming a loop and comprising a plurality of chain links, the chain having a central plane passing through the chain links, a plurality of blades mounted on the chain links, wherein the blades are adapted to propel the chain around the loop in response to water flowing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the central plane, a chain support structure provided on the frame, the chain support structure supporting and guiding the chain around the loop, wherein the chain links are constrained by the chain support structure against movement perpendicular to the central plane in the direction of water flow and a power extraction device adapted to produce power from movement of the chain around the loop. A method of extracting power from water flow is also described.
A turbine deployment apparatus is described having a pylon; a mounting assembly comprising a runner operatively movable on the pylon when in use, an elongate support member operatively mounted on the runner and at least one turbine mounting provided on the support member for mounting a turbine; a stand portion associated with on the pylon and adapted to support the mounting assembly in a deployed position, the stand portion being a sleeve when in use axially mounted on the pylon; wherein the support member is axially pivotable relative to the runner between a first position, in which the turbine mounting faces a first direction, and a second position, in which the turbine mounting faces a second direction, substantially opposite the first direction.
An underwater power generation system comprising at least one continuous pathway; at least one carriage that is movable around said pathway; at least one foil attached to the at least one carriage, the at least one foil able to be driven by a water current; and at least one power take-off having a rotatable member; wherein the driven foil cause the at least one carriage be moved about the pathway and contact said rotatable member to cause rotation of the rotatable member.
F03B 13/18 - Utilisation du mouvement relatif entre un élément déplacé par les vagues et un autre élément l'autre élément étant fixé, à au moins un point, par rapport au fond ou au bord de la mer
37 - Services de construction; extraction minière; installation et réparation
40 - Traitement de matériaux; recyclage, purification de l'air et traitement de l'eau
Produits et services
(1) Advisory and consultancy services relating to the installation of generators; installation of electricity generators; maintenance and repair of generating installations.
(2) Rental of electricity generators; generating of electricity; treatment of waste material from generating operations.
37 - Services de construction; extraction minière; installation et réparation
40 - Traitement de matériaux; recyclage, purification de l'air et traitement de l'eau
Produits et services
(1) Advisory and consultancy services relating to the installation of generators; installation of electricity generators; maintenance and repair of generating installations.
(2) Rental of electricity generators; generating of electricity; treatment of waste material from generating operations.
