Method and apparatus for energy generation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9689368-B2
Application number	US-201113976462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2011
Priority date	Dec 30, 2010
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A system for the generation of energy from the flow of water in a body of water is provided, the system comprising a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water; a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly, each rotor assembly comprising a vertical hub rotatable about a vertical axis and a plurality of vertical blades extending radially from the hub, the first and second rotor assemblies being arranged such that the volume swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps the volume swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly. The system may be used to generate energy, for example electricity. In addition, the system may be used to control the level of water on the upstream side of the installation, for example in the cases of flooding.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for the generation of energy from a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the system comprising:
a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water;
a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly, each rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub; and
means to variably limit the speed of rotation of one or more of the first and second rotor assemblies and thereby control the water level upstream of the system.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support assembly comprises a fixed structure extending from the bed of the body of water.

3. The system according to claim 1 , comprising a plurality of generator assemblies.

4. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support assembly extends across the body of water.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the banks of the body of water.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the general direction of flow of water in the body of water.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the means to variably limit the speed of rotation comprises one of a brake acting upon the hub of the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly and a variable speed energy take-off system.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each hub comprises a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing, wherein the blades are mounted to the housing such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, and wherein the hub is configured to allow water to flow between adjacent blades and into the annular cavity of each housing.

9. The system according to claim 8 , wherein the housing of each hub comprises an inner hub portion and a plurality of plates extending radially outward from the inner hub portion, the inner portion of the blades mounted to an outer edge of the plates.

10. The system according to claim 8 , further comprising a gate configured to selectively close the annular cavity in each hub to prevent water flowing therethrough.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the blades are planar.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the blades are provided with a curved portion at their edge.

13. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the generator assembly is disposed in a conduit extending through the support assembly.

14. The system according to claim 13 , wherein the axis of the conduit is parallel with the general direction of the flow of water.

15. The system according to claim 14 , wherein the rotor assemblies are arranged to extend on a line perpendicular to the axis of the conduit.

16. The system according to claim 15 , wherein the rotor assemblies extend across the width of the conduit, thereby presenting an obstacle to the flow of water therealong.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the opposing sides of the conduit are each provided with a seal assembly to cooperate with the outer edges of the blades.

18. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the outer edges of the blades are provided with seals.

19. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotor assemblies are arranged such that a volume of water swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps a volume of water swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly, and wherein a seal assembly is disposed on an upstream side of the rotor assemblies to prevent water entering the overlapping swept volume of the rotor assemblies.

20. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second rotor assemblies are arranged such that a volume of water swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps a volume of water swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly, and wherein a seal assembly is disposed on a downstream side of the rotor assemblies to prevent water entering the overlapping swept volume of the rotor assemblies.

21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a flow guide assembly is disposed on an upstream side of the rotor assemblies to direct water onto the upstream blades of the rotor assemblies at an angle to the general direction of the flow of water.

22. The system according to claim 1 , wherein a flow guide assembly is disposed on a downstream side of the rotor assemblies to direct water onto the upstream blades of the rotor assemblies at an angle to the general direction of the flow of water.

23. A system for the generation of energy from a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the system comprising:
a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water;
a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub, adjacent blades of the rotor assembly defining between them a blade cavity;
wherein the hub comprises a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing,
wherein the blades are mounted to the housing such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, and
wherein the hub is configured to allow water to flow from a first blade cavity of the rotor assembly to a second blade cavity of the rotor assembly through the annular cavity of the hub.

24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the support assembly comprises a fixed structure extending from the bed of the body of water.

25. The system according to claim 23 , comprising a plurality of generator assemblies.

26. The system according to claim 24 , wherein the support assembly extends across the body of water.

27. The system according to claim 26 , wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the banks of the body of water.

28. The system according to claim 24 , wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the general direction of flow of water in the body of water.

29. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a means to variably limit the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly, to thereby control the water level upstream of the system.

30. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the housing of the hub comprises an inner hub portion and a plurality of outer plates extending radially outward from the inner hub portion, the inner portion of the blades mounted to an outer edge of the plates.

31. The system according to claim 23 , further comprising a gate configured to selectively close the annular cavity in the hub to prevent water flowing therethrough.

32. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the blades are planar.

33. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the blades are provided with a curved portion at their edge.

34. The system according to claim 23 , wherein the generator assembly is disposed in a conduit extending through the support assembly.

35. The system according to claim 34 , wh

Assignees

• Hopper Hans P
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Hopper Hans P

Classifications

• F03B13/08

  Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor {, e.g. diffusors (bulb groups F03B13/105)} · CPC title

• E02B9/04

  Free-flow canals or flumes; Intakes (gratings or screens therefor E02B5/08) · CPC title

• F03B13/264

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

• Y02E10/28

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F03B17/063

  the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation · CPC title