Blade for a runner unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201638-A1
Application number	US-201614990956-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 8, 2016
Priority date	Jan 13, 2015
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to runner unit of a tidal power plant, and more particular to a blade of the runner unit. The blade according to the invention provides a maximised efficiency of energy production of the tidal power plant during functioning of both direct and reverse modes.

First claim

1 . A blade of a runner unit for a tidal plant, the runner unit including a hub body, the blade comprising an airfoil rotatably connected to the hub body and comprises reversible locking means adapted to block said blade in correspondence of at least two angular operative positions.

2 . The blade according to claim 1 , wherein said blade is connected to said hub body through a rotative servomotor, adapted to cooperate with said reversible locking means such to displace and block the blade in said at least two angular operative positions.

3 . The blade according to claim 2 , wherein said servomotor comprises a cylinder integral to the hub body and a rotative piston hosted in said cylinder and connected to said airfoil.

4 . The blade according to claim 3 , wherein said rotative piston comprises a protrusion abutting against an inner wall of said cylinder and such to define a first and a second separated chambers between said piston and said cylinder.

5 . The blade according to claim 2 , wherein said servomotor further comprises a pressurised fluid feeding means.

6 . The blade according to claim 5 , wherein said fluid feeding means comprises a first pipe adapted to feed/release pressurised fluid to said first chamber and a second pipe adapted to feed/release pressurised fluid to said second chamber such to move said piston between said two angular positions.

7 . The blade according to claim 2 , wherein said rotative servomotor comprises a lever element adapted to engage/disengage said reversible locking means.

8 . The blade according to claim 7 , wherein said lever element is connected to said piston by bolting.

9 . The blade according to claim 2 , wherein said servomotor is connected to a trunnion portion of said blade.

10 . The blade according to claim 1 , wherein said reversible locking means comprises a retractable locking pin mounted on said hub.

11 . The blade according to claim 10 , wherein said locking means comprising a locking mechanism associated to said locking pin such to move said locking pin from a locking position to a releasing position and vice versa.

12 . The blade according to claim 10 , wherein said locking pin is configured to engage/disengage a lever element when the blade is in said two angular operative positions.

13 . A runner unit for a tidal power plant, comprising at least a blade according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Alstom Renewable Technologies

Inventors

• Gilouin Jacques
• Guenot Eleonore

Classifications

• F03B3/123

  specially designed as adjustable blades, e.g. for Kaplan-type turbines · CPC title

• F03B13/26

  using tide energy · CPC title

• F03B3/145 Primary

  Mechanisms for adjusting the blades (if the regulation aspect is preponderant, see F03B15/00 and subgroups) · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

  Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient · CPC title

• F05B2230/604

  using positioning or alignment devices for aligning or centering, e.g. pins · CPC title