Tidal electricity generating apparatus
AssigneeC-Power AB
InventorColin Richard Pearce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbine adapted to be constrained within a flow of fluid is disclosed. The turbine comprises a stator adapted to be constrained within a flow of fluid, and a rotor defining an aperture and having a plurality of rotor blades (10) protruding from a peripheral region of the rotor into the aperture. The rotor is adapted to be rotatably mounted to the stator such that movement of fluid through the aperture causes rotation of the rotor relative to the stator. Electricity is generated as a result of rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
Claims32
An electrical machine adapted to be constrained within a flow of fluid, the machine comprising:—
- a stator adapted to be constrained within a flow of fluid;
- a rotor defining an aperture and having a plurality of rotor blades protruding from a peripheral region of the rotor into said aperture, wherein the rotor is adapted to be rotatably mounted to said stator such that movement of fluid through said aperture causes rotation of said rotor relative to said stator;
- and
- electricity generating means adapted to generate electricity as a result of rotation of said rotor relative to said stator.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising aligning means for aligning the machine with the direction of flow of fluid.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein part of at least one of said rotor and stator engages a groove in the other of said rotor and stator.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising friction reducing means for reducing friction between the rotor and the stator.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electricity generating means comprises at least one second magnet provided on said rotor and at least one coil on said stator in which electrical current is induced as a result of rotation of the rotor relative to the stator.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rotor and/or machine is adapted to be substantially neutrally buoyant within the flow of fluid when the fluid is water.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising debris directing means for directing debris in said flowing fluid away from the junction between said rotor and stator.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising adjusting means for adjusting the orientation and/or depth of the machine in a manner dependent on the rate of flow of fluid.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising mooring means for constraining the machine within a body of flowing fluid.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one said blade has a respective sacrificial zone.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of mutually repelling third magnets arranged on the rotor and the stator for supporting the weight of the rotor.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the electricity generating means further comprises at least one solid state component encased within a plastic based matrix.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machine is adapted to receive input electricity to cause movement of ambient fluid.
A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a respective gap between distal ends of at least one pair of adjacent said blades.
A machine according to any of the previous claims, including means for self centralisation of the rotor within the stator.
A machine according to any one of the previous claims, including a compliantly moored anchor system.
A twin machine assembly including a pair of machines according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the machines have counter rotating rotors connected together.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.