AU1678202A - Golden holm power plant - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT o 0 GOLDEN HOLM POWER PLANT The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: .x ~cie o 0 GOLDEN HOLM POWER PLANT For many years cheap energy has come from polluting and non-renewable sources.

This invention has been specifically devised in order to provide power plants in the range of a few hundred kilowatt to several gigawatt producing extraordinarily cheap, renewable and non-polluting electricity supply from stored potential and kinetic energy in ocean waves.

A floating power plant in accordance with this invention comprises a flotation lO cylinder shaft with a turbine affixed, in which a piston arrangement, connected on either side of said turbine, can be kept near stationary, allowing up and down movement of the flotation cylinder shaft to force alternating fluid flows through the turbine.

The floating power plant utilizes alternating high and low pressure between the Sflotation chambers in the top and a large area dampening pressure plate below, by way of inducing a vertically oscillating fluid column in a cylindrical shaft. The fluid column is passing through a fixed turbine with conical inlet sections on both sides of the turbine.

The large pressure plate is connected to two piston sections in arrangement on S either side of the oscillating fluid column. The top piston section forces the fluid down through the turbine when the distance between flotation chambers and the S• dampening pressure plate increases in a rising ocean wave.

As the wave recedes from the crest the lower piston section forces the fluid back up through the turbine, when the distance between flotation chambers and the S dampening pressure plate decreases.

During times of heavy push or pull between the flotation cylinder shaft and the .pressure plate there will be pressure spikes in the compression chambers on either side of the turbine. Fluid is bled off from the compression chambers to a highpressure hydraulic system at the occurrence of said pressure spikes.

M Any excess high hydraulic pressure may be used to even out the generator torque by way of passing high-pressure fluid through a positive displacement pump. This pump can be placed on the turbine axle between the turbine and the gearbox.

The piston section may, or may not, be subject to undampened downward energy storing suspension, lowering the required compression force onto the pressure plate during the reverse cycle.

The turbine can be of several designs, all of which have the common characteristic, that turbine and generator, to which the turbine torque is transferred via a gearbox, keep turning in the same direction as the fluid column is forced up and down through the turbine.

The output from the generator can be fed into a local power grid or used onboard the floating power plant for some other purpose.

It is chosen, in this invention, to let the piston sections be stationary and have the turbine move up and down with the flotation cylinder shaft, so as to keep the distance between gearbox and turbine fixed. This allows the axial thrust bearings to be located in a position fixed to the flotation cylinder shaft.

In the floating power plant, variables such as the length and diameter of the fluid column, the area and shape of the pressure plate, the size of the turbine and the degree of energy stored piston suspension are all included in calibration of the oscillation cycle to limit negative interference due to phase shift departure from the ocean wave. A given flotation class is fitted for local ocean wave conditions where the power plant is to be positioned.

To stay in position the floating power plant uses hydraulic jets controlled by computer from readings of the Global Positioning System. The alignment of the vertical axis is protected by gyroscope controlled hydraulic jets.

S, The power plant can be equipped with additional flotation capacity and it can be connected to additional pressure plate(s) deeper in the ocean. Different plate shapes can be employed to suit local conditions at site of commission.

An impervious plate is preferable in smaller waves of about 2m height to keep the drag coefficient high. In middle range waves of about 4-5m height a pervious plate design is preferable where a turbulent flow through the plate can be helpful in keeping the drag force at a desirable level. In high waves in excess of about 6m height the preferred plate design incorporates turbines in the design, thereby harnessing energy from the otherwise turbulent flow in and around the plate.

SThese turbines will preferably be pumping fluid into the high-pressure system.

In treacherous waters, however, a high axial inertia is preferable to add stability to the power plant.

In shallow water commissioning the pressure plate may be unhelpful to marine life. It can be substituted for buoyancy in the piston arrangement, combined with a taut mooring of it. The upward reaction force will be supplied by piston buoyancy and the downward reaction force will be taken up by the taut mooring.

S: The invention may be better understood with reference to the illustrations of embodiments of the invention in which: Fig. 1 is a diametrical sectional elevation ofa floating power plant unit showing 75S the co-acting moving parts and Fig. 2 is an elevation of a floating power plant unit commissioned in shallow water.

The floating power plant unit shown is an ocean(10) placed flotation cylinder shaft(l) having a turbine and inlet cones section(2) affixed so as to let a fluid column(3) move up and down through the turbine(2). The fluid column(3) is forcefully driven through the turbine(2) by two piston sections(4 5) connected 87 by piston rods(6). The piston sections(4 5) are kept near stationary by the pressure plate(7) and alternately compresses the fluid(3) against either side of the turbine(2) as the floatation cylinder shaft(l) moves up and down with the changing ocean wave surface(8) through buoyancy of the flotation chambers(l 1).

Suspension(9) helps pull the turbine(2) in the downward direction. During the cycle of high compression fluid(3) is bled off to a high-pressure hydraulic system(16). Low-pressure fluid is returned again during the low pressure cycle(17). The upper piston section(4) is open to the vent(12) and can be vented to the open air. Rotation of the turbine(2) is transferred through the axle(13) to the gearbox and generator room(14). The torque generated in the turbine(2) is led 9£ to a generator(18) through a gearbox(19). Electricity is fed to local power once it is fine-tuned in the control apparatus(21). The power plant is kept in position by hydraulic control jets(15). For floating power plants commissioned in shallow water the piston section(5) is extended to provide buoyancy above the own weight of the plant and the pressure plate(7) is substituted by a taut I/ mooring(22).

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