# US 2019/0169812 A1 · A system and method for extracting power from tides

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- Number: US 2019/0169812 A1
- Document ID: US20190169812A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/312,755
- Filed: 2017-06-23
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-23
- Assignees: Red To Blue Limited
- Applicants: Red To Blue Limited
- Inventors: Stephen Jordan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169812A1

## CPC

- E02B 9/08: Tide or wave power plants (water-pressure machines, tide or wave motors F03B)
- F03B 13/264: {using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement}
- F03B 13/266: {to compress air}
- F03B 13/268: {making use of a dam}
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- Y02E 10/30: Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient
- E02B: HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING (ship-lifting E02C; dredging E02F)
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

There is a desire to be able to generate electrical power from the tides without turbines posing an unacceptable hazard to sea traffic and/or life, and in particular without causing such sea traffic and/or life to alter their behaviour in response to the placement of turbines and/or other structures. According to the present invention, a tunnel (7) is provided at a height substantially between the low tide height and high tide height; a power take-off system (11) is configured to convert movement of water in the tunnel into usable energy. In this way, a tunnel inlet (5) may be placed at a location that does not interfere with shipping and/or the natural environment.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for extracting power from tides, the system comprising:
a seawater inlet;
a power take-off system configured to convert movement of water into usable energy; and
characterised by a tunnel extending from the inlet into adjacent land mass, a portion of the tunnel comprising:
a substantially horizontal storage tunnel portion disposed within the land mass at a height such that at least a part of the storage tunnel portion's cross-section is located substantially between a low neap tide height and high neap tide height at the inlet; and
wherein the power take-off system is arranged to convert movement of water in the tunnel into usable energy.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the seawater inlet (is disposed below low tide height.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a passage extending from the storage tunnel portion of the tunnel to the external atmosphere, and wherein the power take-off system is configured to convert movement of air through the passage, propelled by movement of water in the tunnel, into usable energy.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the tunnel is enclosed.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the power take-off system comprises water-flow turbines disposed within the tunnel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a valve disposed within the tunnel.

### Claim 7

A method of extracting power from tides, the method comprising:
providing a seawater inlet;
providing a power take-off system;
characterised by constructing a tunnel extending from the inlet into adjacent land mass, including:
constructing a substantially horizontal storage tunnel portion within the land mass at a height such that at least a portion of the storage tunnel's cross-section is located substantially between a low neap tide height and high neap tide height at the inlet; and
converting movement of water in the tunnel into usable energy with the power take-off system.