Hydrokinetic power generation system
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJerry James Hunter, Michael P. Czamara, James R. Hamilton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for generating electrical power includes one or more turbine systems, a linking system, a power receiving station, and a transmission line. The turbine systems includes a turbine, a turbine carrier that can hold the turbine in a flow of water, and a generator that produces electricity from rotation of a runner of the turbine. The linking system couples the turbine carriers to a fixed location. The transmission line transmits power from the generator to the power receiving station.
Claims29
A system for generating electrical power, comprising:
- a turbine system, comprising:
- a turbine comprising one or more runners;
- a turbine carrier configured to hold the turbine in a flow of water;
- and
- a generator configured to produce electricity from rotation of at least one of the runners, wherein at least one of the runners is configured to rotate in response to the flow;
- a tether system comprising one or more tethers, wherein the tether system is configured to:
- couple the turbine carrier to a fixed location, and
- adjust a distance from the fixed location to the turbine carrier in a direction, wherein the direction is orthogonal to the flow and parallel to a surface of the flow,
- wherein to adjust the distance from the fixed location to the turbine carrier the tether system is configured to adjust a length of at least one of the one or more tethers at least partially based on one or more characteristics of the flow;
- a power receiving station on the ground;
- and
- a transmission line configured to transmit power from the generator to the power receiving station.
A system for generating electrical power, comprising:
- one or more turbine systems, wherein each of at least one of the one or more turbine systems comprises:
- a turbine comprising one or more runners;
- and
- a turbine carrier configured to hold the turbine in a flow of water;
- a generator configured to produce electricity from rotation of at least one of the runners, wherein at least one of the runners is configured to rotate in response to the flow;
- a linking system configured to couple the turbine carrier of at least one of the one or more turbine systems to a fixed location;
- wherein the linking system is further configured to adjustably position the turbine carrier in the flow relative to the fixed location, wherein to adjustably position the turbine carrier in the flow relative to the fixed location the linking system is configured to adjust a distance from the fixed location to the turbine carrier in a direction orthogonal to the flow and parallel to a surface of the flow at least partially based on one or more characteristics of the flow;
- and
- an electrical energy storage device.
A method of generating power, comprising:
- placing a turbine system in a flow of water, wherein the turbine system comprises:
- a turbine comprising one or more runners;
- a turbine carrier configured to hold the turbine in a flow of water;
- and
- a generator configured to produce electricity from rotation of at least one of the runners;
- linking the turbine system to a fixed location;
- generating electricity from a flow of the water through or across at least a portion of a runner of the turbine system;
- adjustably controlling a position of the turbine carrier in the flow of water based at least in part on adjusting a distance from the fixed location to the turbine carrier in a direction orthogonal to the flow and parallel to a surface of the flow;
- adjustably controlling an orientation of the turbine relative to the turbine carrier in response to a determined one or more characteristics of the flow;
- and
- transferring electrical power from the turbine system to a location on the ground.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.