# US 2018/0023625 A1 · Tidal current energy generating device

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- Number: US 2018/0023625 A1
- Document ID: US20180023625A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/541,372
- Filed: 2015-06-30
- Published: 2018-01-25
- Earliest claimed: 2014-06-30
- Assignees: Zhejiang Zhoushan Lhd Energy Development Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Zhejiang Zhoushan Lhd Energy Development Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Dong LIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180023625A1

## CPC

- F16C 33/1055: {from radial inside, e.g. via a passage through the shaft and/or inner sleeve}
- F01M 11/12: concerning lubricant level
- F03B 11/06: Bearing arrangements
- F03B 13/00: Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus (if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18); Power stations or aggregates (incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; {combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008})
- F03B 13/10: Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
- F03B 13/264: {using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement}
- F16C 17/12: characterised by features not related to the direction of the load
- F16N 7/02: with gravity feed or drip lubrication
- H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines}
- F05B 2220/32: in water turbines
- F05B 2220/706: an electrical generator
- F05B 2240/12: Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
- F05B 2240/50: Bearings
- F05B 2240/57: Seals
- F05B 2240/60: Shafts
- F05B 2240/97: on a submerged structure
- F05B 2250/12: rectangular
- F05B 2250/141: circular
- F05B 2260/98: Lubrication
- F16C 2380/26: Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS
- F01M: LUBRICATING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; LUBRICATING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES; CRANKCASE VENTILATING
- F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00)
- F16N: LUBRICATING
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A tidal current energy generating device includes an outer frame (1), at least one inner frame (2), at least two hydro turbines (3), at least one center shaft (4), at least one generator (5), and at least three bearings (6). The at least one inner frame (2) is separably disposed in the outer frame (1). At least two hydro turbines (3) are located below a water surface and are disposed in one inner frame (2). At least two hydro turbines (3) are disposed coaxially and are vertical-axis hydro turbines. At least one center shaft (4) is disposed through the at least two hydro turbines (3), the axis direction of the center shaft is perpendicular to the horizontal plane, and the center shaft (4) rotates along with the rotating of the hydro turbines (3). The at least one generator (5) is located above the water surface and connected with one end of the center shaft (4). The at least three bearings are sleeved on the center shaft (4) and are located on two sides of and between the two hydro turbines (3), respectively. The tidal current energy generating device can be modularly assembled and replaced above the water surface and can extend along the water depth direction, thereby improving the power generating efficiency.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A tidal current energy generating device, comprising:
an outer frame;
at least one inner frame, separably disposed in the outer frame;
at least two hydro turbines, located below a water surface and disposed in the at least one inner frame, the at least two hydro turbines disposed coaxially, and the at least two hydro turbines being vertical-axis hydro turbines;
at least one center shaft, disposed through the at least two hydro turbines, an axis direction of the center shaft being perpendicular to a horizontal plane, and the center shaft rotating along with the rotating of the hydro turbines;
at least one generator, disposed above the water surface, the at least one generator being connected with one end of the center shaft; and
at least three bearings, sleeved on the center shaft, the at least three bearings located on two sides of the two hydro turbines and between the two hydro turbines, respectively.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 1, wherein the number of the hydro turbines is at least four, every two hydro turbines disposed coaxially is a group, at least two groups of the hydro turbines are disposed in one inner frame, and two neighboring hydro turbines are disposed axial-symmetrically to make rotating directions of the two hydro turbines to be reverse.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 1, further comprising an underwater shaft rotating protecting device, wherein the underwater shaft rotating protecting device comprises:
a lubricant storage tank, wherein a lubricant is stored and the lubricant storage tank is disposed above the water surface;
at least six seal rings, every two seal rings corresponding to one bearing and sleeved on the center shaft, a lubricant cavity being formed between every two seal rings and the corresponding bearing and the center shaft; and
a tube, one end of the tube communicated with the lubricant storage tank, and the other end communicated with the lubricant cavity.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 3, wherein the underwater shaft rotating protecting device further comprises a detection module disposed at the lubricant storage tank to detect whether the lubricant is reduced or not.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 3, wherein the bearing is a sliding bearing, and every lubricant cavity is formed by two seal rings, the bearings, and the center shaft.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 3, wherein the bearing is a rolling bearing, the underwater shaft rotating protecting device further comprises at least three bearing houses, and each lubricant cavity is formed by two seal rings, the bearing, the bearing house, and the center shaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame has a plurality of fixed piles, and the outer frame is fixed at a sea bottom through piling.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The tidal current energy generating device according to claim 1, wherein the outer frame has a plurality of reducing water flow resistance structures.