US 9,115,685 B2 · Tidal stream generator

Abstract

A generating apparatus for generating electrical power from a horizontal water flow comprises a fixed hub on a support structure and a power wheel arranged for rotation about a vertical axis about the hub. The power wheel includes rotor vanes adapted to cause rotation of the power wheel when the power wheel is subject to a substantially horizontal water flow. One or more generators are provided on the hub to produce electrical power output from rotation of the power wheel relative to the hub. A shroud is rotationally mounted on the hub and arranged to cover at least some of the rotor vanes of the power wheel, so that the water flow is concentrated on the rotor vanes on one side only of the power wheel. A directional controller holds the shroud in a predetermined rotational position relative to the hub dependent on the direction of the water flow.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A generating apparatus for converting kinetic energy from a substantially horizontal water flow to electrical energy, the apparatus comprising:

a support structure;
a hub which is rotationally fixed to the support structure;
a hub level controller adapted to control the level of the hub on the support structure;
a power wheel arranged for rotation about a substantially vertical axis about the hub and provided with rotor vanes adapted to cause rotation of the power wheel when the power wheel is subject to a substantially horizontal water flow;
a shroud rotationally mounted on the hub and arranged to cover at least some of the rotor vanes of the power wheel;
a directional controller adapted to hold the shroud in a predetermined rotational position relative to the hub dependent on the direction of the substantially horizontal water flow;
and
at least one generator provided on the hub and adapted to produce electrical power output derived from rotation of the power wheel relative to the hub.

5 more elements

A method of generating electricity from a substantially horizontal water flow in a body of water using a generating apparatus including a power wheel arranged for rotation about a substantially vertical axis about a hub rotationally fixed to a support structure, the power wheel having a plurality of rotor vanes, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a shroud rotationally mounted on the hub and arranged to cover at least some of the rotor vanes of the power wheel;
moving the hub in a vertical direction on the support structure to an operating position in the substantially horizontal water flow;
fixing the hub in an operating position in the substantially horizontal water flow;
aligning the shroud with the substantially horizontal water flow such that the rotor vanes on a first side of the generating apparatus are not covered by the shroud and are subject to hydrodynamic forces from the substantially horizontal water flow, and such that the rotor vanes on a second side of the generating apparatus are at least partially covered by the shroud so as to at least partially shield the rotor vanes from hydrodynamic forces from the substantially horizontal water flow;
driving the power wheel to rotate about the hub by means of the hydrodynamic forces from the substantially horizontal water flow on the rotor vanes provided on the power wheel;
and
driving one or more generators provided on the hub from the rotation of the power wheel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tidal stream generator

Life of this patent

Tidal stream generator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims40