Electrical power generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016237979-A1
Application number	US-201414915578-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 23, 2014
Priority date	Oct 21, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating electrical power are disclosed. The method includes the steps of turning turbine blades of at least one turbine provided at a region of a subsea pipe or umbilical via a respective motion of seawater through a swept area associated with the turbine blades and generating electrical power responsive to turning of the turbine blades.

First claim

1 . A method of generating electrical power, comprising the steps of:
turning turbine blades of at least one turbine provided at a region of a subsea pipe or umbilical via respective motion of seawater through a swept area associated with the turbine blades; and

2 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
generating electrical power locally via the turbine on the pipe or umbilical and providing the power to auxiliary equipment on or proximate to the said region of the pipe or umbilical.

3 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the respective motion of seawater by continuously moving the turbine blades through a body of seawater.

4 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
moving the turbine blades by moving the region of the pipe or umbilical to which the turbine is secured through the body of seawater.

5 . The method as claimed in claim 3 , further comprising the steps of:
driving a driveshaft of the turbine as the turbine blades rotate; and generating electrical power via a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) of the turbine responsive to rotation of the driveshaft.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . The method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the respective motion of seawater by moving seawater with respect to the pipe or umbilical.)

9 . The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising the steps of:
generating electrical power when a current flows in the seawater.

10 . (canceled)

11 . (canceled)

12 . The method as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the power via a contactless connection between the turbine and the auxiliary equipment.

13 . A method of providing electrical power to auxiliary equipment, comprising the steps of:
via at least one turbine provided at, and movable with, a region of a pipe or umbilical at a subsea location, generating electrical power; and directly or indirectly powering auxiliary equipment via the generated power.

14 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:
generating electrical power locally via the turbine on the pipe or umbilical and providing the generated power locally to auxiliary equipment proximate to said region of the pipe or umbilical.

15 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:
powering the auxiliary equipment by providing the generated power to the auxiliary equipment via an electrical connection simultaneously as the power is generated.

16 . The method as claimed in claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
providing the power to the auxiliary equipment via a permanent or contactless connection.

17 . The method as claimed in claim 14 , further comprising the steps of:
powering the auxiliary equipment by charging a power source with the generated power and subsequently providing power to the auxiliary equipment from the power source.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The method as claimed in claim 13 , further comprising:
generating electrical power comprises generating an extra low voltage of about around 24 volts RMS or less.

20 . (canceled)

21 . (canceled)

22 . (canceled)

23 . (canceled)

24 . A turbine for generating electrical power, comprising:
a plurality of rotatable turbine blades associated with a swept area; a driveshaft that rotates as the turbine blades turn; and a power generator that generates electrical power responsive to rotation of the driveshaft; wherein the turbine is connectable to a region of a subsea flexible pipe or umbilical to generate power via respective motion of seawater through said swept area.

25 . The turbine as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising:
the turbine generates electrical power locally at the pipe or umbilical and is connected to auxiliary equipment on or proximate to said a region.

26 . (canceled)

27 . (canceled)

28 . The turbine as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising:
each of the blades has a first and a further end and the turbine comprises a first rotatable blade support connected to all of the first ends of the blades and a further rotatable blade support connected to all the further ends of the blades; and each blade support is located with respect to the pipe or umbilical via a ring connector and a bearing element between the ring connector and the blade support.

29 . The turbine as claimed in claim 24 , further comprising:
the power generator comprises a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) having permanent magnets on a generator end region of said drive shaft.

30 . (canceled)

31 . The turbine as claimed in claim 24 , where in the power generator is located in or on an end fitting of a flexible pipe.

32 . The apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the pipe is a flexible pipe or steel catenary riser (SCR).

33 . (canceled)

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Ge Oil & Gas Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Clements Richard

Classifications

• F05B2220/602

  with energy recovery turbines · CPC title

• F05B2240/911

  already existing for a prior purpose · CPC title

• H02K7/1823

  structurally associated with turbines or similar engines · CPC title

• Y02B10/50

  Hydropower in dwellings · CPC title

• F03B13/10 Primary

  Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors · CPC title