Method and apparatus for generating energy from a flowing water current

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9719483-B2
Application number	US-201113976454-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 28, 2011
Priority date	Dec 30, 2010
Publication date	Aug 1, 2017
Grant date	Aug 1, 2017

Abstract

A system for generating energy from a water current flowing in a body of water. For example, the system may have a generator assembly operable to generate energy in response to the flow of the current and an anchor assembly located at the bed of the body of water, where the generator assembly is attached to the anchor assembly, is held between the bed and the surface of the body of water, and is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the anchor assembly. For another example, the generator assembly may include a housing that is held in an upstream orientation when in use, and an impellor assembly located within the housing and including a plurality of blades arranged to be contacted by the flow of the water when in use.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for generating energy from a current flowing in a body of water, the system comprising:
a group of generator assemblies rigidly connected to each other, each generator assembly comprising:
a housing including an inlet end, an outlet end, and a flow passage extending through the housing between the inlet end and the outlet end;
a generator comprising a plurality of impellors within the flow passage of the housing and configured to rotate a shaft extending longitudinally in the flow passage; and
stators extending across the flow passage, positioned on either side of the impellors, and configured to return fluid flow into a straight through flow before water impacts the next impellor;

a fixture assembly configured to secure the system at the bed of the body of water;
a retaining means configured to attach the group of generator assemblies directly to the fixture assembly;
the generator assemblies being operable to generate energy in response to the flow of the current;
the group of generator assemblies being rotatable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the fixture assembly; and
wherein each generator assembly comprises an upstream orientation and the group of generator assemblies is configured to be free to rotate during generation of the energy to align the upstream orientation with the flow of the current.

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each generator is operable to generate electricity.

3. The system according to claim 1 , wherein each generator assembly comprises a turbine.

4. The system according to claim 3 , wherein the turbine comprises the plurality of impellors.

5. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the flow passage comprises a first diameter at the inlet end and a second diameter along a portion of the flow passage between the inlet end and the outlet end, wherein the first diameter is larger than the second diameter.

6. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of impellors are axially spaced from each other along a shaft in the flow passage.

7. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the turbine comprises a single impellor and means are provided to prevent the group of generator assemblies from rotating out of alignment with the flow of the current.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the fixture assembly is a wellhead assembly.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is configured to provide a rigid connection between the group of generator assemblies and the fixture assembly.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is configured to provide a flexible connection between the generator assembly and the fixture assembly.

11. The system according to claim 10 , wherein the retaining means comprises a tubular assembly.

12. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the generator assemblies are arranged in a line extending substantially vertically above the fixture assembly and the retaining means.

13. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising multiple groups of generator assemblies, each group being connected to each adjacent group of assemblies by a connection allowing the groups of generator assemblies to rotate independently of one another about a substantially vertical axis.

14. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the connection between the retaining means and the generator assembly is configured to allow the generator assemblies to rotate about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the retaining means.

15. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the retaining means is connected to the fixture assembly so as to be able to rotate about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the fixture assembly.

16. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising means to locate the generator assemblies at the requisite depth and position relative to the fixture assembly.

17. The system according to claim 16 , wherein the said means comprises means providing buoyancy.

18. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the means providing buoyancy comprises a buoyant body.

19. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the means providing buoyancy comprises one or more buoyant members or components of the generator assembly.

20. The system according to claim 17 , wherein the means providing buoyancy is disposed at the portion of the system distal from the fixture assembly.

21. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the group of generator assemblies is free to rotate about the substantially vertical axis under the flow of the current.

22. The system according to claim 21 , wherein the generator assemblies are provided with a vane portion having one or more surfaces arranged to be acted upon by the current and orient the generator assembly with respect to the flow of the current.

23. A system for generating energy from a prevailing current in a body of water, such as an ocean, the system comprising:
an array of generator assemblies, each generator assembly comprising a generator and operable to generate energy in response to the flow of an incident current within the prevailing current;
a fixture assembly on the bed of the body of water, wherein the fixture assembly is a subsea oil and/or gas production installation; and
a retaining means for attaching the array of generator assemblies directly to the fixture assembly, the generator assemblies being held between the bed and the surface of the body of water;
the array of generator assemblies within the array extending in a substantially vertical pattern from the fixture assembly,
wherein each generator assembly comprises an upstream orientation and is configured to be free to rotate during generation of the energy to align the upstream orientation with the flow of the incident current;
wherein the generator assemblies are arranged in a line extending above the fixture assembly and the retaining means; and
wherein the generator assemblies are arranged in groups of generator assemblies, each group being connected to each adjacent group by a connection allowing the groups to rotate independently of one another, the generator assemblies within the same group are rigidly connected such that each generator assembly within the group is in a fixed orientation.

24. The system according to claim 23 , wherein each generator assembly has a specific orientation relative to the configuration of the flow of the prevailing current.

25. The system according to claim 23 , wherein each generator assembly comprises a turbine.

26. The system according to claim 25 , wherein the turbine comprises one or a plurality of impellors.

27. The system according to claim 26 , wherein the turbine comprises a plurality of impellors each having a swept volume, the swept volume of two or more impellors overlapping.

28. The system according to claim 26 , wherein the turbine comprises a plurality of impellors, one or more impellors arranged to rotate in a first direction and one or more impellors arranged to rotate in a second direction, opposite to the first.

29. The system according to claim 26 , wherein the turbine comprises a single impellor and means are provided to prevent the generator assembly rotating out of alignment with the incident current.

30. The system according to claim 26 , wherein each generator assem

Assignees

• Hopper Hans P
• Onesubsea Ip Uk Ltd

Inventors

• Hopper Hans P

Classifications

• F03B13/10 Primary

  Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors · CPC title

• F05B2240/133

  with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit · CPC title

• F05B2240/97

  on a submerged structure · CPC title

• F03B17/062

  with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction · CPC title

• F05B2240/40

  Use of a multiplicity of similar components · CPC title