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US 2017/0096981 A1Published application
Hydrokinetic energy conversion system and use thereof
AssigneeFlumill AS
InventorAnders Holm
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AssigneeFlumill AS
InventorAnders Holm
Estimating the term…
A hydrokinetic energy conversion system (1) comprising a turbine device (2) comprising a rotor (3) displaying a rotational axis (O), which turbine device is arranged to operate with the rotational axis in an inclined orientation vis-à-vis an incoming body of water (W), and which rotor comprises a blade (10) which is arranged to interact with the incoming body of water such that rotational energy is imparted to the rotor. The blade comprises a first, convex surface (12), a second, concave surface (13) and a free, distal edge (E) where the first surface and the second surface meet. The curvature of the second surface, when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis, is such that a maximum depth (Dmax) of the second surface, when measured from a straight line intersecting the rotational axis and the distal edge, is at least 35% of the distance between the rotational axis and the distal edge.
A hydrokinetic energy conversion system (1) comprising a turbine device (2) comprising a rotor (3) displaying a rotational axis (O), which turbine device (2) is arranged to operate with the rotational axis (O) in an inclined orientation vis-à-vis an incoming body of water (W), and which rotor (3) comprises at least one helical blade (10, 11) which is arranged to interact with the incoming body of water (W) such that rotational energy is imparted to the rotor (3), which at least one helical blade (10, 11) comprises a first, convex surface (12), a second, concave surface (13) and a free, distal edge (E) where the first surface (12) and the second surface (13) meet, characterised in that the curvature of the second surface (13), when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis (O), is such that a maximum depth (Dmax) of the second surface (13), when measured from a straight line intersecting the rotational axis (O) and the distal edge (E), is at least 35% of the distance between the rotational axis (O) and the distal edge (E).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one helical blade (10, 11), at the position of the maximum depth (Dmax), displays a thickness which is less than 15% of the distance between the rotational axis (O) and the distal edge (E).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that a cross-section of the second surface (13), when viewed in a plane orthogonal to the rotational axis (O), displays a constant curvature between the position of the maximum depth (Dmax) and the distal edge (E).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one helical blade (10, 11) displays a continuously decreasing thickness from the position of the maximum depth (Dmax) to the distal edge (E).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the at least one helical blade (10, 11) displays a pitch ratio (P/D) within the interval of 1-4.
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotor (3) displays a diameter (D)—length (L) ratio (D/L) within the interval of 0.1-0.7.
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said at least one helical blade (10, 11) comprises a first helical blade (10) and a second helical blade (11) which is offset 180 degrees in relation to the first helical blade (10).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a support device (4) for supporting the turbine device (2), and in that the turbine device (2) comprises a first, proximal end (8) and a second, distal end (9), which proximal end (8) is pivotally connected to the support device (4) about a pivot axis (A).
The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the rotational axis (O), when the system is in operation, forms an angle (α) to the incoming body of water (W) which is within the interval of 80-20 degrees.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.