GB2180008A

GB2180008A - Tidal water powered generator

Info

Publication number: GB2180008A
Application number: GB08619810A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Winstanley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-08-14
Filing date: 1986-08-14
Publication date: 1987-03-18
Also published as: GB8520374D0; GB8619810D0

Abstract

A tidal water powered generator comprises a turbine (1) mounted upon a support (3) movably secured to a fixture (4) immersed in a body of tidal water (6) and a generator driven in use by passage of water through the turbine, the support being arranged to rise or fall in response to a corresponding rise or fall in the tidal water level. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tidal water powered generator This invention relates to a generator driven in use by a tidal waterflow, such as a tidal estuary.

According to the present invention a tidal water powered generator comprises a turbine mounted upon a support, movably secured to a fixture immersed in a body oftidal water and a generator driven in use by passage of water through theturbine, the support being arranged to rise orfall in responseto a corresponding rise orfall in thetidal water level.

The support is preferably bouyant, being arranged to float at a level at which there is a constant supply of waterto the turbine.

In preferred embodiments of the invention the sup- port comprises all or part of a dam, the support being arranged-so that the height of water inlet of the turbine is constant relative to the higher of the water levels on either side of the dam.

The support may be hollow having inlets communicating with both sides ofthe dam and closable by one-way valves which allowwaterto flow into the support but not out of it.

The level ofwaterwithin the support, on which the latterfloats, may thus be arranged to be equal to the higher of the water levels on each side of the dam.

Means allowing gradual escape ofwaterfrom the support may be provided to allowthe latterto fall vertically as the tide falls.

The turbine may comprise a water wheel or other turbine known to those skilled in the art.

A deflector which may be raised or lowered may be provided to cause the wheel to be driven in an over shotmanner bywaterfrom one side ofthe dam when the deflector is raised and in an undershot manner from other side when the deflector is lowered.

The invention isfurther described by means of ex- ample and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure lisa cross section of a first preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure2 is a cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a gene rator in accordance with this invention. Aturbine 1, for example a water wheel is mounted on a driven shaft 2 connected to an electricity generator (not shown). The turbine is adapted to be driven in a single direction, anticlockwise as shown in the draw ing. The turbine is mounted on a support3 which in turn is located in afixture4inthe bedS of the river, estuary or other body of tidal water 6. The support 3 is bouyant, generally hollow and is mounted in the fixture4sothat itcan move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction. The support 3 is provided with floatation chambers (not shown) filled with air or bouyant material.The bouyancy of the apparatus is arranged so that the turbine 1 is provided with a constant supply of water irrespective of the state of the tide. The support 3 may be integral with a dam (not shown) extending across the body of tidal water.

In a first situation wherein the tide is rising from the right hand side ofthe Figure, water enters the hollow supportthrough a non-return valve7,filling the cavity 8 to the level of the higherwater level 6'. A second, downstream, non-return valve 9 is closed preventing water from simply passing through the support. However, the support 3 does not form a watertight seai with the fixture4 so that a small flow of water occurs at 10.A deflector flap 11 is connected totheclosurememberofthevalve7.Whenthe closure member is opened by passage of water through the aperture, the deflector is urged by a iinkage 12 into an elevated location wherein water is deflected onto the upper part ofthe turbine 1, driving the latter in an overshot manner (in an anticlockwise direction as shown in the drawing).

When the tide turns, the water level 6" rises and the water level 6' falls. This causes water to escape from the cavity8 at 10 and 13.The support3 sinks into the fixture 4 as the water level falls. Eventually the valve 9 opens and the valve 7 is closed by water pressure in the cavity8 (as shown at 7'). The deflector 11 is allowed to fall (as shown at 11') so that water may pass from the left hand side ofthe Figure under the turbine driving it in an undershot manner. Thusthe turbine is driven as the tide both rises and falls.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a bouyant support 20, mounted for vertical movement in a fixture 21 has a turbine 22 located within a vertical passageway 23. Outlets closable by valves actuated by differential water pressure, communicate with the bodies of water on respective sides ofthe support. Water entering the supportfalls down the passageway, driving theturbine before passing through one ofthetwo outlets 24to a valve 25. Two inlets 26,27 to the passageway 23 com municate with respective sides of the dam (not shown). Valvesclosethe inletswhen there is no external water pressure.Similarly a second outlet 28 is closed by a valve 29, preventing water from bypassing the turbine. Bouyancyofthesupport20and disposition of the support at a constant height relative to the higher water level is provided by means of non-return valves 30,31 as described with reference to Figure 1. When the tide reverses the valves 25 and 26 close,the valves 27 and 29 open and the turbine 22 continues to be driven.

In an alternative arrangement the turbine 22 may be located at32 beneath the passageway 23 upon the floor ofthe fixture 21. Avertically extending sleeve or pipe may extend upwardly from the turbine into the passageway 23 to conduct waterfrom the passage waydirectlyto the turbine.

1. Atidalwaterpowered generatorcomprising a turbine mounted upon a support, movably secured to a fixture immersed in a body of tidal water and a generatordriven in use by passing ofwaterthrough the turbine, the support being arranged to rise orfall in response to a corresponding rise orfall in the tidal water level.

2. A generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support is arranged to float at a level at which there is a constant supply of water the turbine.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Tidal water powered generator This invention relates to a generator driven in use by a tidal waterflow, such as a tidal estuary. According to the present invention a tidal water powered generator comprises a turbine mounted upon a support, movably secured to a fixture immersed in a body oftidal water and a generator driven in use by passage of water through theturbine, the support being arranged to rise orfall in responseto a corresponding rise orfall in thetidal water level. The support is preferably bouyant, being arranged to float at a level at which there is a constant supply of waterto the turbine. In preferred embodiments of the invention the sup- port comprises all or part of a dam, the support being arranged-so that the height of water inlet of the turbine is constant relative to the higher of the water levels on either side of the dam. The support may be hollow having inlets communicating with both sides ofthe dam and closable by one-way valves which allowwaterto flow into the support but not out of it. The level ofwaterwithin the support, on which the latterfloats, may thus be arranged to be equal to the higher of the water levels on each side of the dam. Means allowing gradual escape ofwaterfrom the support may be provided to allowthe latterto fall vertically as the tide falls. The turbine may comprise a water wheel or other turbine known to those skilled in the art. A deflector which may be raised or lowered may be provided to cause the wheel to be driven in an over shotmanner bywaterfrom one side ofthe dam when the deflector is raised and in an undershot manner from other side when the deflector is lowered. The invention isfurther described by means of ex- ample and not in any limitative sense with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure lisa cross section of a first preferred embodiment of the invention; and Figure2 is a cross sectional view of a second preferred embodiment. Figure 1 illustrates a cross sectional view of a gene rator in accordance with this invention. Aturbine 1, for example a water wheel is mounted on a driven shaft 2 connected to an electricity generator (not shown). The turbine is adapted to be driven in a single direction, anticlockwise as shown in the draw ing. The turbine is mounted on a support3 which in turn is located in afixture4inthe bedS of the river, estuary or other body of tidal water 6. The support 3 is bouyant, generally hollow and is mounted in the fixture4sothat itcan move upwardly and downwardly in a vertical direction. The support 3 is provided with floatation chambers (not shown) filled with air or bouyant material.The bouyancy of the apparatus is arranged so that the turbine 1 is provided with a constant supply of water irrespective of the state of the tide. The support 3 may be integral with a dam (not shown) extending across the body of tidal water. In a first situation wherein the tide is rising from the right hand side ofthe Figure, water enters the hollow supportthrough a non-return valve7,filling the cavity 8 to the level of the higherwater level 6'. A second, downstream, non-return valve 9 is closed preventing water from simply passing through the support. However, the support 3 does not form a watertight seai with the fixture4 so that a small flow of water occurs at 10.A deflector flap 11 is connected totheclosurememberofthevalve7.Whenthe closure member is opened by passage of water through the aperture, the deflector is urged by a iinkage 12 into an elevated location wherein water is deflected onto the upper part ofthe turbine 1, driving the latter in an overshot manner (in an anticlockwise direction as shown in the drawing). When the tide turns, the water level 6" rises and the water level 6' falls. This causes water to escape from the cavity8 at 10 and 13.The support3 sinks into the fixture 4 as the water level falls. Eventually the valve 9 opens and the valve 7 is closed by water pressure in the cavity8 (as shown at 7'). The deflector 11 is allowed to fall (as shown at 11') so that water may pass from the left hand side ofthe Figure under the turbine driving it in an undershot manner. Thusthe turbine is driven as the tide both rises and falls. Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein a bouyant support 20, mounted for vertical movement in a fixture 21 has a turbine 22 located within a vertical passageway 23. Outlets closable by valves actuated by differential water pressure, communicate with the bodies of water on respective sides ofthe support. Water entering the supportfalls down the passageway, driving theturbine before passing through one ofthetwo outlets 24to a valve 25. Two inlets 26,27 to the passageway 23 com municate with respective sides of the dam (not shown). Valvesclosethe inletswhen there is no external water pressure.Similarly a second outlet 28 is closed by a valve 29, preventing water from bypassing the turbine. Bouyancyofthesupport20and disposition of the support at a constant height relative to the higher water level is provided by means of non-return valves 30,31 as described with reference to Figure 1. When the tide reverses the valves 25 and 26 close,the valves 27 and 29 open and the turbine 22 continues to be driven. In an alternative arrangement the turbine 22 may be located at32 beneath the passageway 23 upon the floor ofthe fixture 21. Avertically extending sleeve or pipe may extend upwardly from the turbine into the passageway 23 to conduct waterfrom the passage waydirectlyto the turbine. CLAIMS

3. A generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support comprises all or part of a dam, the support being arranged so thatthe height of a water inlet of the turbine is constant relative to the higher of the water levels on either side of the dam.

4. A generator as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support is hollow, inlets communicating with both sides of the dam, the inlets being closable by one way valves.

5. Ageneratoras claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the turbine comprises a waterwheel.

6. A generator as claimed in claim 5, wherein a deflector may be raised or lowered to drive the water wheel in an overshot or undershot manner.

7. A generatorsubstantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.