Tidal power plant and method for the creation thereof

#This is a U.S. national phase application, which is based on, and claims priority from, PCT application Serial No. PCT/EP2010/005655, filed Sep. 15, 2010, which claims priority from foreign application Serial No. 10 2009 051 425.2, filed Oct. 30, 2009, in Germany.

#The invention relates to a tidal power plant and a method for the creation thereof.

#The tidal power plants as discussed herein are driven by a watercourse or a flow of air or a tidal flow. Wind power plants and tidal power plants arranged in a conceptually respective manner are known. A typical configuration provides a propeller-like turbine which revolves with a horizontal rotational axis on a machine nacelle in which an electric generator is disposed which is driven by the turbine shaft. The machine nacelle is erected on a tower above a foundation structure. Vertical-axis rotors such as Darrieus rotors represent modifications for example. Furthermore, turbines can be housed in a jacket housing with the effect of a Venturi nozzle especially for utilizing slow tidal flows and can be mounted via a radially outer support frame. Such installations represent variants of generic tidal power plants which are considered in the present application.

#The invention will be explained below in closer detail by reference to embodiments shown in the drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 shows a partly sectional side view of a tidal power plant in accordance with the invention;

#FIG. 2 shows the measurement of the orientation of the foundation structure for performing the installation method in accordance with the invention;

#FIG. 1 outlines a foundation structure 5 which has been set down on the seabed 6. A carrying element 2 with a turbine 1 revolving thereon is placed on said structure during installation by means of a coupling apparatus 7. A turbine with a horizontal rotational axis 15 is used for the illustrated embodiment. The carrying element 2 further comprises for the present embodiment a machine nacelle 3 and an upper supporting pillar section 4. The machine nacelle 3 is used for bearing the turbine shaft and for accommodating an electric generator (not shown in detail). In the present case, the term of a carrying element 2 is used in a generalized manner. Embodiments are possible for which the carrying element 2 is arranged in several parts. Furthermore, partial components of the carrying element 2 can be moved relative to one another, especially for forming an azimuth rotary joint.

#The starting point of the invention is a foundation structure 5 with an angular position. In this respect, FIG. 1 shows the bottom part 9 of the coupling apparatus 7 associated with the foundation structure 5 with an angular position against the vertical direction 21 which is shown in an excessive manner for reasons of illustration. The orientation of the centering pin 19 on the bottom part 9 is relevant for the coupling function and the orientation. It is provided according to the invention that the counterpart on the upper part 8 of the coupling apparatus 7 which is associated with the carrying element 2 and comprises a first coupling body 10 with a centering bushing 22 is adjusted individually to this angular position.

#An interlocking connection is assumed in this case between a first coupling body 10 on the upper part 8 and a second coupling body 11 on the bottom part 9. In addition, two receivers 20.1, 20.2 are additionally present on the first coupling body 10 to the side of the centering bushing 22. The securing elements 14.1, 14.2 on the second coupling body 11 of the bottom part 9 engage in the same when forming the coupling, i.e. in the mounted state of the coupling apparatus 7, which securing elements are used as an anti-rotation element. They are also adjusted individually to the predetermined position of the securing elements 14.1, 14.2.