US 2011/0031753 A1Published application

Apparatus, system, and method for improved water based power generation

AssigneeAbundant Energy, LLC

InventorsDoug Moore, Allen James Williston

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Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a power generating system and method. The system includes a barge comprising a working platform and water support members. The barge provides an operating surface on a body of water, and the water support members define a water channel in the body of water. The system also includes an axle coupled to the barge and a turbine coupled to the axle such that the turbine can be lifted into and out of the water channel. The system configures the turbine to rotate on an axis of the axle in the water channel. Finally, the system includes a gearbox configured to transmit rotational energy of the axle to a generator to produce electricity and a lift coupled to the axle. The system configures the lift to variably raise and lower the turbine.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A power generating system, comprising:

a barge comprising a working platform, a left water support member, and a right water support member, the barge configured to provide an operating surface on a body of water;
wherein the left water support member and the right water support member define a first water channel;
the first water channel comprising a portion of the body of water to a depth within the body of water;
wherein a water flow from the body of water flows directionally through the first water channel;
a first axle coupled to the barge;
a first turbine coupled to the first axle and comprising a plurality of blades, the first turbine configured to rotate on an axis of the first axle in the first water channel according to the water flow;
a first gearbox configured to transmit rotational energy of the first axle to a first generator, the rotational energy operating the first generator to produce electricity;
and
a first lift coupled to the first axle, the first lift configured to raise and lower the first turbine.

6 more elements

A power generating system, comprising:

a barge comprising a working platform, a left water support member, and a right water support member, the barge configured to provide an operating surface on a body of water;
the first water support member comprising a first vertical wall;
the second water support member comprising a second vertical wall;
wherein the left water support member and the right water support member define a first water channel;
the first water channel comprising a portion of the body of water to a depth within the body of water;
wherein a water flow from the body of water directionally flows through the first water channel;
a left-series comprising four axles in series, a right-series comprising four axles in series, wherein each axle in the left-series and the right-series couple to the barge;
a turbine left-series comprising four turbines in series, wherein each left-series turbine coupled to a respective left-series axle;
a turbine right-series comprising four turbines in series, wherein each right-series turbine couples to a respective right-series axle;
wherein each left-series turbine and each right-series turbine is further configured to rotate on an axis about the associated left-series axle or right-series axle, respectively;
a plurality of gearboxes configured to transmit rotational energy of each of the left-series and right-series axles to a plurality of generators, wherein the generators are configured to transform received rotational energy to produce electricity;
and
a plurality of lifts, wherein each lift couples to one of the left-series or right-series axles, each lift configured to variably raise and lower the associated left-series turbine and each right-series turbine into and out of the first water channel.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.