Yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus and yaw control method of the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9494130-B2
Application number	US-201514635214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 2, 2015
Priority date	Apr 8, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus includes: a nacelle used in a tidal stream power generator that converts flowing energy of a tidal stream to generate electric power, and located in the tidal stream to be rotatable about a first rotating shaft; a rotor provided at one side of the nacelle with reference to the first rotating shaft, and configured to be rotated by the flowing energy of the tidal stream; a rudder unit provided at the other side of the nacelle with reference to the first rotating shaft, and including a rudder fixed to the nacelle and a variable rudder rotatably connected to the nacelle; and a control unit configured to control the rotation of the variable rudder. When the flow direction of the tidal stream is changed, the rotation of the variable rudder is controlled by the control unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus for converting flowing energy of a tidal stream into electric power, the apparatus comprising:
a nacelle located in a tidal stream;
a first rotating shaft rotatably coupled to the nacelle, the first rotating shaft being coupled in a perpendicular direction to a longitudinal direction of the nacelle, wherein the nacelle is configured to rotate about the first rotating shaft by a change in the tidal stream;
a rotor provided at one side of the nacelle with reference to the first rotating shaft, and configured to be rotated by the flowing energy of the tidal stream;
a power transmission shaft within the first rotating shaft, wherein the power transmission shaft is configured to be cooperatively rotated with the rotating shaft of the rotor by a first bevel gear set;
a rudder unit provided at the other side of the nacelle with reference to the first rotating shaft, and including a rudder fixed to the nacelle and a variable rudder rotatably connected to the nacelle; and
a control unit configured to control the rotation of the variable rudder,
wherein, when the flow direction of the tidal stream is changed, the rotation of the variable rudder is controlled by the control unit so that drag and lift are generated on the rudder unit to rotate the nacelle about the first rotating shaft.

2. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the variable rudder is connected to the nacelle to be rotatable about a second rotating shaft, and
the second rotating shaft is coupled to an actuator unit within the nacelle.

3. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the actuator unit includes:
a third rotating shaft configured to be cooperatively rotated with the second rotating shaft by a second bevel gear set; and
a motor unit configured to transmit a rotary power to the third rotating shaft, and connected with the control unit.

4. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft are configured to be parallel to each other and extend in opposite directions from the nacelle.

5. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the fixed rudder and the variable rudder extend in opposite direction from the nacelle.

6. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 4 , wherein a pair of fixed rudders are provided to extend from the nacelle within an inclined angle between the first rotating shaft and the second rotating shaft and arranged to be symmetric to each other with reference to the second rotating shaft.

7. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first detection sensor configured to detect a flow direction and speed of the tidal stream;
a second detection sensor configured to detect a rotating angle and speed of the variable rudder; and
a third detection sensor configured to detect a rotating angle and speed of the nacelle,
wherein the control unit controls the rotation of the variable rudder by receiving a signal from each of the first detection sensor, the second detection sensor, and the third detection sensor.

8. The yaw control-by-rudder type tidal stream power generation apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the fixed rudder and the variable rudder are formed in a streamlined shape, and
the variable rudder generates drag and lift that reverse the direction of the nacelle in the process where a front end of the variable rudder is rotated toward a coming tidal stream when the flow direction of the tidal stream is reversed and then returns to its original position.

Assignees

• Korea Inst Ocean Sci & Tech

Inventors

• Ko Jin Hwan
• Lee Kwang-Soo
• Kim Ji Hoon
• Hwang Tae Gyu
• Choo Jin Hun
• Yoon Jong Su

Classifications

• Y02E10/28

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F03B15/00

  Controlling (controlling in general G05 {; regulation of plants characterised by the use of siphons F03B13/086}) · CPC title

• F03B13/264 Primary

  using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement · CPC title

• Y02E10/30

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

• Y02E10/20

  Hydro energy · CPC title