Tidal power generation system and methods
Assignee1847 Subsea Engineering Limited
InventorRichard Knox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a system for the extraction of energy from an underwaterflow stream in a body of water. The system comprises a support frame which comprises a plurality of receptacles for mounting functional modules on the support frame. The plurality of receptacles are arranged to form a horizontally-distributed two-dimensional array on the support frame. The plurality of vertical axis turbine units is configured to be interchangeably mounted in the receptacles.
Claims32
A system for the extraction of energy from an underwater flow stream in a body of water, the system comprising:
- a support frame configured to be located on the bed of the body of water and comprising a plurality of receptacles arranged to form a horizontally-distributed two-dimensional array having at least two rows on the support frame, wherein receptacles in an adjacent row are offset;
- a plurality of vertical axis turbine units;
- at least one functional module selected from the group consisting of energy storage modules, accumulator cell modules, hydrogen fuel cell modules, and/or control modules;
- and
- at least one flow deflector assembly operable to controllably adjust the flow into or out of the array and direct the fluid flow to a desired area in the array;
- wherein each receptacle is configured to interchangeably mount and secure one vertical axis turbine unit or one functional module to the support frame.
A method of assembling a system for the extraction of energy from an underwater flow stream in a body of water, the method comprising:
- providing a support frame configured to be located on the bed of the body of water and comprising a plurality of receptacles, wherein each receptacle is configured to interchangeably mount and secure one vertical axis turbine unit or one functional module to the support frame, wherein the functional module is selected from the group consisting of energy storage modules, accumulator cell modules, hydrogen fuel cell modules, and/or control modules, the plurality of receptacles arranged to form a horizontally-distributed two-dimensional array having at least two rows on the support frame, wherein receptacles in an adjacent row are offset;
- providing at least one flow deflector assembly operable to controllably adjust the flow into or out of the array of vertical axis turbines and direct the fluid flow to a desired area in the array;
- mounting a plurality of vertical axis turbine units or a plurality of vertical axis turbine units and a functional module in the receptacles.
A modular system for the extraction of energy from an underwater flow stream in a body of water, the system comprising:
- a support frame configured to be located on the bed of the body of water and comprising a plurality of receptacles, wherein each receptacle is configured to interchangeably mount and secure one vertical axis turbine unit or one functional module to the support frame, wherein each of the one or more functional modules is selected from the group consisting of energy storage modules, accumulator cell modules, hydrogen fuel cell modules, and/or control modules, the plurality of receptacles arranged to form a horizontally-distributed two-dimensional array having at least two rows on the support frame, wherein receptacles in an adjacent row are offset;
- at least one flow deflector assembly operable to controllably adjust the flow into or out of the array of vertical axis turbines and direct the fluid flow to a desired area in the array;
- a plurality of vertical axis turbine units;
- and
- a plurality of functional modules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.