GB2489073A

GB2489073A - Tidal turbine with tapered duct

Info

Publication number: GB2489073A
Application number: GB1202114.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Campbell Mckay Taylor
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-23
Filing date: 2012-02-07
Publication date: 2012-09-19
Also published as: GB201202114D0

Abstract

A floating tidal conversion unit includes a floating device which is circular or ship shaped, and has a tapered converging duct or funnel leading from the inlet to a turbine. There may be a plate or apron APR extending downwards from the inlet to guide deeper water up into the duct. The turbine may be a water wheel fitted with half spherical cups, fitted in one or two circumferential rows around a disc. The cups have a small exit aperture with a cross member (figures 3a, 3b). The spherical cups may be fixed, angled or pivoted. The unit is either moored to the ocean bed, attached to a buoy, or to a central mast with a rotating device or ring which permits vertical and swivel movement. The unit may transmit energy to a shore based generator by radio waves RDY/GN.

Description

FLOATING TIDAL UNIT UPGRADED

Campbell McKay Taylor UPGRADED 05.0212

DESCRI PTIO N

The flow from high to low tide and the opposite flow from low to high tide provides a constant supply of movement, a potential source of energy; tidal flow is caused by the gravitational pull of the moon on the surface of the sea and it is on the surface that the tidal effect is greatest, relatively lessening as depth increases.

A device, the Floating Tidal Conversion Unit, is advanced which utilizes surface tidal flow with the minimum amount of working parts converting this movement to electrical power,such a device comprises a number of parts: A flotation device to maintain a constant level of flow through the apparatus; an apron, impinged by the slightly lower substrata tidal flow which is fed into the body of the device; a tidal door, fitted beside the entry of the device which turns the whole apparatus to meet the prevailing tide; the body of the unit has a wide entry aperture tapering towards a smaller exit aperture; a rotary vane, impeller or impellers of orthodox design or a water wheel of unique construction; a generator to convert movement to electrical power or alternatively a dynamo for radio control conversion; mooring device, which is either by chain to the sea bed or a neighbouring buoy, alternatively a static mast embedded in the sea bed, this latter requiring a vertical slide arrangement to allow for tidal rise and fall all these features are included in the Floating Tidal Conversion Unit.

Semi submerged at sea level and placed on a flotation device, of any suitable shape but preferably circular or ship shaped, the Flotation Tidal Conversion Unit is positioned to encounter surface tidal flow, allowing unhindered passage to enter a converging chamber, this flotation device is also fitted with a means of gathering the impinging tidal flow just below the surface by means of an apron on the tidal flow entry side, which may be straight or curved and which gathers and guides the lower surface strata tidal flow into the converging device so that the flow is accelerated towards an impeller in order to generate electricity. Although any form of impeller may be used, a unique water wheel impeller with angled driving spherical cones is introduced in the concept. Above the impeller is either a generator to send electrical energy to the shore by cable or else a dynamo to introduce radio waves which are then transmitted to a shore based generator.

The relationship between the flotation and generating sections is balanced so that the whole generating section is semi submerged and the shape of the floatation part is either such that the unit is level or allowing the entry to be slightly higher than the exit thus accelerating the flow through the unit, this implies that the flotation section is shaped accordingly, either surrounding the whole unit (Figure 1) or ringing the unit.

The Floating Tidal Conversion Unit has a wide entry aperture on the tidal flow facing side with a narrow exit aperture. Just forward from the narrow exit is the impeller arrangement. One such impeller, a unique water spool is fitted with hinged half spherical shaped drivers to increase the speed of the driven wheel when acted upon by horizontal tidal flow.

Each spherical cone has a wide semi circular entry aperture, a smaller semi circular exit aperture and each has a cross member to increase the speed of rotation when impinged by horizontal tidal flow; (See Figure 3 and 3A) When the force of tidal flow strikes each hinged cup that cup spins so that it is turned to present the widest aperture which motivates the spool wheel to turn at speed. An alternative design is a double spooled wheel which houses twice as many spherical cups, sited in alternate positions so that one cup is constantly engaged by the inflowing tidal force (See Figure 3B) Although not as effective as a spool wheel with spherical cups, alternative motivators include a single wheel with fixed spherical cups, a propeller or an impeller.

Where the driving motivator is in the form of a wheel with hinged or fixed cup, in single or double spool, a cowling is placed over the upper part to prevent adverse disturbance by winds.

Hinged at the front on one side of the larger entry port is a single door which is rear facing so that the door closes when the entry aperture is in the tidal flow mode but is opened by the force of a changing tide swivelling the whole unit round, rotating it. One such swivelling system is oil filled spindle so that when the tide changes direction after slack water, the whole apparatus swivels round on the spindle and is turned to meet the new prevailing flow of oncoming tide.

The arrangement which enables the complete unit to turn is either attached to a mooring cleat, in turn, attached to a chain mooring the device to the ocean bed or attached to a nearby buoy or alternatively the apparatus is mounted on a mast, in which case it requires a vertical slide mechanism so that it moves up and down to maintain the required level, the telescopic lubrication filled sWivel spindle allows the apparatus to turn freely.

A further addition is a fixed method of mooring comprising a rod, fixed on the sea bed to which the floating unit is attached by a ring either attached directly to the floating unit or else by guys, chain or cable thus allowing tidal rise and fall of the unit reducing the effect of chain lag yet minimising maintenance (See Figure 5).

Geographically, where stormy conditions are anticipated, the Floating Tidal Conversion Units in farm formations, are sited behind a sea wall which forms a protective wave barrier to reduce disturbance in adverse sea conditions and includes facilities for servicing: An alongside station for mobile units; a servicing vessel for fixed units.

In a sheltered area where there is less likelihood of waves a row of drogues is used to act as a wave break. A grill arrangement is attached to the entry port to protect marine life and prevent damage from flotsam. An electrical generator or radio dynamo is situated in the upper part of the apparatus; the generator passing energy by cable, the radio dynamo transmits radio waves to a shore based generator.

Apart from slack water occurring at High Tide and Low Tide the apparatus is in constant operation.

DRAWINGS

FIGURE 1 In Figure 1 a plan view of the Floating Tidal Conversion Unit is illustrated showing the wide gathering apron (APRN) guiding the flow towards the narrowest part where the flow encounters and motivates the single or spooled water wheel with fixed or spindled half sphere cups (SPI).

At the side of the widest aperture is the hinge (H) holding the door (DR) which aligns to the apparatus when facing the force of Tidal Flow but is forced open when the tidal flow reverses swivelling the device to meet the force of a new prevailing tide.

The Float, circular in this presentation, is shown as (FLOAT).

FIGURE 2 Figure 2 is an elevation of the apparatus in which (WL) represents the water level (APR) a gathering Apron from the lower, slower, tidal flow -the tidal flow is always faster at surface level; (H) the door Hinge and (DR) the Door; (RDY/GN) Radio Dynamo or Generator; (FLOAT) the Float; (I) the Impeller and (SMC) the Swivel Mechanism and Cleat for Mooring which is replaced when a rise and fall device on a mast fixed to the sea bed is fitted or when a ring fitting mooring is fitted.

The floor of the main apparatus is shaped to constrict therebyincreasing the speed of flow as it accelerates towards the water wheel or impeller.

FIGURE 3 Figure 3 illustrates a water wheel motivator where (5) is the spindle (Cl C2 C3 C4) half sphere cups with wide entry apertures and narrow exit aperture (CM), the cups may be fixed or spindled; the Arrows represent the Tidal Flow which, in the case of spindled cups spin the cups so that they present the widest aspect to the oncoming tide and are pushed down, rotating the wheel.

FIGURE 3A Representing the inner concave surface of the spherical shaped cup showing the reduced sized exit with a cross member designed to increase the driving power of the water wheel since both create resistance to the tidal flow.

FIGURE 3B Representing a double spool water wheel with spindled spherical shaped half cups inter-dispersed so that one constantly engages; each cup spins to the flow of the tide so that the widest aperture is engaged by the flow, driving the water wheel at speed.

FIGURE 4 This figure represents the mounting of the Floating Tidal Conversion Unit on a fixed mast or rod which has it's foundation based on the sea bed (SB); (SL) the surface level; (FG) an impression of the floating generator and (TA) a a lubricated telescopic arrangement to allow the unit to rise and fall with the tide, and also allows the flotation unit to swivel easily to the tidal flow.

FIGURE 5 Demonstrates a ring attached to the floating unit allowing the unit to swing easily round a rod fixed to the sea bed and also to riseand fall to the level of the tide, (M) is the mooring mast, [R] the ring (GY) the guys attaching the flotation unit and (G) the grill to prevent damage to marine life.