JP2014001689A - Power generation device utilizing water flow energy - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a power generation device utilizing water flow energy in which, even when a flowing direction of a tide/water flow changes, a rotor driving a generator is surely rotated while automatically corresponding to that change, thereby stably generating power, and further, which has a simple structure mechanism and durability and is efficient by reducing an energy loss.SOLUTION: A rotor 2 in a longitudinal cylinder shape is mounted to an installation base 1 fixed to the seabed surface in a freely rotatable manner, and mount frames 3 are attached radially from the outer periphery of the rotor. At an upper side position of the mount frame, a pressure receiving plate 4 which is plate-shaped, is a little smaller and more lightweight than the specific gravity of seawater and generates buoyancy, is hinged in a freely rotatable manner. Further, a stopper 5b and a stopper 5a for braking the rotation of the pressure receiving plate 4 are provided within an angle range from 5° which is a little lower than horizontal, to 90° that is approximately perpendicular, and a generator 7 is rotated by accelerating the rotation of the rotor 2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a power generation apparatus that is installed in the sea or underwater and is effective for generating electric power by a water flow in the sea or in water, particularly by a tidal current flow in the sea.

It is no exaggeration to say that the use of renewable natural energy is a global issue.
Hydropower, wind power, solar power, geothermal heat, biotechnology, etc. are used all over the world, with technical problems solved. However, the most promising use of natural energy in the ocean has great technical challenges and few examples have been realized.
Among them, many attempts have been made worldwide for tidal current power generation, but no technology with universality has yet been reported. Based on the tidal current and water depth distribution in Japan, we decided on the drive structure method by limiting the sea area where tidal power generation would be installed. The faster the current, the better, but there are few sea areas where more than 3 knots are expected. The sea area ranging from 2 knots to 1 knot is widely distributed from the Seto Inland Sea to Kyushu. The shallow water depth is about 40m or less, the land is close, and considering the tidal power generation drive structure adapted to this sea area, the production cost and operation cost are advantageous, and its adoption and utilization are expected in a wide range.

  As for the drive structure of the tidal current power generation system, many things such as a propeller type of a windmill, a propeller type of a ship, a Darrieus wheel type Savonius type, and a fixed wing, a cross flow, a twisted wing, and a bucket conveyor type are proposed. ing. Both are at the trial stage because there are merits and demerits for the severe conditions of the sea, and they are not in the range of utilization.

  As a simple structure with the lowest manufacturing cost, there is a ground water turbine model that has been used since ancient times. However, if an open horizontal shaft single-sided water wheel is tilted sideways and submerged in running water, it will not turn as it is. Therefore, if the water flow is applied only to one side using a water guide plate here, it rotates. This is a cross-flow type, but the installation of the water guide plate at the actual sea level is not realized because it is a fixed type, a movable type, and the cost is excessive.

As an improved water turbine blade type power generator, there is an invention described in Patent Document 1, which is provided with a plurality of blades evenly around the entire circumference of a rotating body, and the blades are raised within a predetermined range by a stopper portion. In this structure, a fluid receiving plate is formed to guide the fluid to send the fluid to the fluid receiving portion of the blade such that the blade is tilted in the opposite angular range.
However, in this water turbine blade type power generation device, it is determined that the fluid cannot always be guided to the fluid receiving part in the sea where the flow direction of the fluid is reversed or the direction of the fluid is changed, and the power generation becomes unstable.

  Separately, a gear mechanism is used so that a plurality of radial blades are mounted on a rotating body, and a part of the blade mounting angle is perpendicular to the flow and the opposite blade is parallel to the flow. The wind turbine that can be used in the above is disclosed in Citation 2, but the blade mounting angle adjusting mechanism is complicated, and when used for many years, it is determined that it will fail due to the force acting on the blade and long-term stable operation is difficult. In addition, it is judged that efficient energy generation is difficult due to a large energy loss due to the blade mounting angle adjusting mechanism.

  Currently, there is a need to develop a tidal power generator drive structure that adapts to the conditions of the target sea area. The sea conditions are such that the tidal velocity is 2 to 1 knot and the water depth is about -40m to -10m. Furthermore, it must be a simple structure that does not require special mechanisms such as a cross-flow water guide plate or a propeller-type swivel mechanism for changes in the tidal direction. In addition, in order to adopt and utilize a wide range, the power generation capacity can support 100 kW, 500 kW, furthermore 1000 kW, 2000 kW, etc. Ultimately, it minimizes the power generation cost, and has a simple structure with the lowest manufacturing cost. It is expected that it will be possible to respond to changes in the direction of the tidal current and ensure that it can generate electricity without requiring special technology and accuracy.

JP 2012-2220 A Japanese Patent No. 4717966

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to solve the problems and disadvantages of the conventional power generation apparatus using ocean currents and water currents, and with a simple structure, it can operate reliably with long-term durability, and also tidal currents The object is to provide a power generation device that uses water current energy that can automatically respond to changes in the direction of water flow and prevent a decrease in power generation. In particular, the present invention provides a power generation apparatus suitable for a power generation apparatus that uses a tidal current in a sea area close to land where the water depth is shallow.

The configuration of the present invention that solves this problem is as follows.
1) An installation base fixed in the sea or underwater is provided, and a rotating body is rotatably mounted on the installation base, and the rotation axis of the rotating body is set substantially at right angles to the flow surface of the water flow in the sea or water. Set vertically, attach multiple mounting frames radially from the same rotating body, attach one end of the plate-shaped pressure receiving plate to the upper side position eccentric from the rotation axis of the mounting frame, and rotate the mounting plate. The specific gravity is slightly smaller than the specific gravity of the seawater or water, so that buoyancy can be generated in the pressure plate in the sea and water, and the rotational angle range of each pressure plate is such that the free end side of the pressure plate is the pressure plate. The pressure receiving plate is tilted so that it is slightly below the surface of the rotation trajectory around the rotation axis at one end of the mounting side. The lowermost position of the free end where the pressure receiving plate is substantially in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body from a substantially horizontal angle. Rotation is provided with restraining means for the angle range up to A generator that generates electricity by rotation with respect to the installation base of the body is installed, and the output power of the generator is wired and transmitted to land, sea, or surface hull near the installation base, and the pressure receiving plate by the tide or water flow in the sea or water The power generating device 2 utilizing water energy that is capable of generating power by reliably rotating the rotating body with the force generated in the pressure, the buoyancy of the pressure receiving plate, and the restraining means 2) The angular range of rotation of the pressure receiving plate is the pressure receiving pressure. Seawater or water installed in the range of 4 ° to 90 ° downward from the surface of the rotation trajectory around the rotation axis at one end of the plate mounting side, and the specific gravity of the pressure receiving plate divided by its volume The power generator using the water energy described in 1) above, having a specific gravity of 0.95 to 0.99 times. 3) A rotating body is a vertical cylindrical body having a circular cross section that is rotatably provided on an installation table. The water stream described in 1) or 2) above Power generation device using energy 4) The mounting frame is composed of a plurality of upper and lower horizontal frames and a plurality of vertical frames connecting the upper and lower horizontal frames, and the pressure receiving plate is rotatable by a hinge attached to the upper horizontal frame. The upper stopper is attached to the upper end of the upper horizontal frame to restrain the upper surface of the pressure receiving plate from being pushed downward, and the lower means is provided on the lower horizontal frame to prevent the pressure receiving plate from rotating more than 90 °. It exists in the electric power generating apparatus using the water flow energy in any one of said 1) -3) which consists of a stopper.

  According to the present invention, the plurality of pressure receiving plates that are rotatably attached to the upper side of the mounting frame that is mounted radially from the rotating body are the pressure received from the water flow, the gravity / buoyancy of the pressure receiving plate, and the rotation of the pressure receiving plate. The pressure phase is the rotational phase of the pressure plate (hereinafter, the phase angle of the mounting frame where the protruding direction of the mounting frame indicates the upstream direction of the water flow is 0 °, and the pressure plate is the force of the water flow and its free end is The rotation angle from 0 ° when the mounting frame / pressure-receiving plate is rotated in a direction (hereinafter referred to as a positive rotation direction) that is pushed down and stopped substantially vertically is referred to as a rotation phase angle). The rotational torque is constantly obtained by changing the power balance.

The pressure receiving plate in a rotational phase (90 ° and 270 °) in which the flow direction of the water flow and the direction of the mounting frame are orthogonal to each other receives a strong receiving pressure from the water flow and acts so that the free end of the pressure receiving plate moves in the downstream direction. However, in the vicinity of one orthogonal phase of 90 °, the pressure receiving plate is rotated by the receiving pressure of the water flow so that the free end is downward, but by the restraining means (the pressure receiving plate is pressed against the lower stopper of the mounting frame). The pressure receiving plate is held substantially vertically, and the strong pressure received from the water flow acting on the pressure receiving plate in this phase gives a high rotational torque to rotate the rotating body in the forward rotation direction via the mounting frame. .
Around the other phase 270 ° which is orthogonal, the pressure receiving plate is urged so that its free end is horizontal by strong pressure from the water flow, buoyancy and pressure lift by rotation, and is horizontally leveled by the restraining means (upper stopper). It is restrained by a light inclination angle where the free end is slightly lowered. Therefore, in this phase, the force acting on the pressure receiving plate is small by being substantially parallel to the flow direction of the water flow, and the generation of the force for rotating the mounting frame / rotating body in the direction opposite to the normal rotation direction is weak. The rotational torque to be rotated in the opposite direction is very small.

Further, in the intermediate phase range of 135 ° to 225 ° and 315 ° to 0 ° to 45 °, the pressure receiving plate is in an inclined floating state that is neither vertical nor horizontal, and the generation of rotational torque is small and positive. There is little generation of torque resistance that hinders rotation in the direction of rotation.
Therefore, the pressure receiving plate of the present invention is rotated in the positive rotation direction by the strong rotational torque generated at the phase of 45 to 135 °, the mounting frame / rotating body is reliably rotated, and the power generation of the generator is ensured.
Even when the direction of the water flow is changed, a rotational torque due to strong water pressure is generated at a rotation phase of 45 to 135 ° with respect to the water flow, and the rotating body can reliably rotate to generate power.
The transition of the pressure receiving plate to the rotational phase 90 °, 270 ° (vertical state or horizontal state) in the middle of the rotational phase of 135 ° to 225 ° and 315 ° to 0 ° to 45 ° is due to a slight inclination angle by the upper stopper. It can be done smoothly by the force from water, buoyancy, and lift by rotation.

  According to the present invention, the structure of the rotation mechanism is extremely simple as an installation stand, a rotating body, a mounting frame, a pressure receiving plate rotatably mounted on the mounting frame, and a stopping means such as an upper stopper and a lower stopper. Therefore, there are few failures, it can operate reliably, and it can be made low-cost and durable.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view of the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating attachment of the pressure receiving plate according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a cross-sectional structure that gives the buoyancy of the pressure receiving plate of the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of a pressure receiving plate mounting structure according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the state of the pressure receiving plate with respect to the flow from the east (from the right side) according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a view taken in the direction of arrow C in FIG. FIG. 8 is a view taken in the direction of arrow A in FIG. FIG. 9 is a view taken in the direction of arrow B in FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view illustrating a state of the pressure receiving plate when the tidal current is stopped according to the first embodiment. FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a state of the pressure receiving plate when the tidal current of Example 1 is reversed (flow from the west). FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of the rotating mechanism of the generator according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a front view showing another example 2 of 1000 kW power generation. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the second embodiment. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a structure of a horizontal arm according to the second embodiment. FIG. 16 is a front view illustrating attachment of the horizontal arm according to the second embodiment. FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing dimensions of the power generator of Example 3 of 2000 kW. FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the power generation device of the third embodiment.

  The direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body of the present invention is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the maximum underwater / underwater flow velocity, and the tidal current / water flow direction and the pressure receiving plate are substantially perpendicular to each other at 90 ° of the rotational phase. To be. In general, tidal currents and water currents are often almost parallel to the sea floor and the bottom of the water. Therefore, the axis of rotation of the rotating body is often in a vertical direction perpendicular to the ground of the sea bottom and the bottom of the water.

  As an installation stand of the present invention, a cylindrical type, a truncated cone or a box-shaped box type fixedly installed on the sea bottom or water bottom, and the sea fixed with anchors on the sea bottom or water bottom. Or the type of truss structure in the water and the mounting type suspended from the aerial structure (bridge, underwater tower, etc.) on the sea / water, or the moored floating body floating on the sea / water There is a mounting base type suspended from the hull into the sea and water.

  The rotating body of the present invention is generally a cylindrical body that is rotatable with respect to the installation table, but may be a rotating body that is made of a frame. Those that reduce water resistance are selected.

  The mounting frame of the present invention is a member projecting radially from the rotating body in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the installation ground. Since a force is applied to the mounting frame from the pressure receiving plate, one end is attached to the rotating body. A preferred structure of the mounting frame is to connect a plurality of vertical frames to a plurality of vertical frames that connect the same upper and lower horizontal frames to reduce the water resistance and retain high strength in the rotation of the mounting frame.

  The pressure receiving plate of the present invention uses a metal plate or a plastic plate which is hard to be scratched as the front and back surface materials, and is filled with a foamed resin material or a honeycomb material so that the specific gravity of the entire pressure receiving plate is 1.00 to 1. The ratio of the specific gravity in the seawater or water with a specific gravity of .05 is slightly smaller than 1.0 and preferably in the range of 0.95 to 0.99. If the specific gravity is too light, the buoyancy increases and the pressure receiving plate becomes horizontal. However, it is not preferable because the lowering of the free end is slow and the rising of the free end is accelerated. Furthermore, the pressure receiving plate may be a composite plate of a plastic plate lighter than seawater / water with a specific gravity of 1.00 to 1.05 and a heavy metal / ceramic.

  The generator of the present invention is provided in an installation base or a rotating body, is accommodated in a waterproof space, and rotates the generator with respect to the installation base of the rotating body via a speed increasing gear mechanism. It is common to do.

  The mounting method of the pressure receiving plate of the present invention on the upper side of the mounting frame may be either a hinge or a pivot, as long as the pressure receiving plate can rotate around the upper side of the mounting frame.

  As the pressure receiving plate restraining means of the present invention, a lower stopper for locking the free end of the pressure receiving plate in a substantially vertical state is provided at the lower end of the mounting frame, and the upper stopper provided at the upper end of the mounting frame is used to mount the pressure receiving plate. The free end is slightly lower than the horizontal (4 ° or more) and the pressure receiving plate has an inclination angle (around 5 °) so that it does not rotate further upward. As another method for restraining the lower stopper and the upper stopper, there is a method for limiting the rotation angle of the pivot shaft of the pressure receiving plate.

In the present invention, the main feature is to make the pressure receiving plate of the waterwheel tilted sideways into a flap type. The pressure receiving plate is rotatably mounted on the upper side of the mounting frame, which is a rotating blade girder, and its specific gravity is set to about 0.999 so that it slightly floats. By the restraining means, the initial angle is stopped at a position around 5 degrees so as not to become horizontal, and the rotation is stopped at a position around 90 degrees. In the low speed region where the water flow rate is 0 to 0.5 knot, the generation of force due to the water flow is small, and as shown in FIG. 10, the entire pressure receiving plate becomes substantially horizontal due to buoyancy, and the pressure receiving plate does not rotate because it is not subjected to water pressure. The water pressure that hits the surface with an initial angle of 5 degrees from around 0.8 knots overcomes the buoyancy of the pressure receiving plate, rotates the pressure receiving plate downward, and stops by the locking means of the lower stopper of 90 degrees, and the pressure receiving plate is perpendicular to the water flow It receives strong flowing water pressure. The pressure receiving plate / rotary body rotates continuously by transmitting the pressure receiving pressure to the mounting frame. The state is shown in FIGS.
The principle of the present invention and the operation of the pressure plate have been demonstrated to work well in a flowing water tank test.

Next, a special mechanism is not required for changes in the tidal current direction, and only a flap-type pressure receiving plate can be used. The rotating body can be rotated in any tidal direction. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the south pressure plate receiving the current flow (flow from the east) is as shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, but the buoyancy of the pressure plate itself as shown in FIG. All become horizontal phase. Next, when the flow changes from the west, the surface of the pressure plate on the north side with an initial angle of 5 degrees receives water pressure, the pressure plate becomes a quadrature phase and is switched to the south side, and the pressure plate is turned from west to east. At that time, the south pressure plate is in a horizontal phase. Does not receive water pressure. This state is shown in FIG.
As a result, the rotation direction of the water wheel is always kept constant even if the flow direction changes.

In the present invention, there are propeller type and Darius wing type as means for adapting to the sea area where the tidal velocity is 2 knots to 1 knot and the water depth is about -40 m to -10 m. This is a method based on the theory that the amount of power generation is proportional to the square of the blade diameter and the cube of the flow velocity. Further, since the struts are upright on the horizontal axis, deep water depth and fast flow velocity are necessary conditions. .
Compared to this, the present invention has a structure adapted to the shallow water depth and low-velocity sea area. Therefore, based on the approximate theory of underwater turbine on land: power generation = turbine diameter × water flow rate / second × efficiency / coefficient Corresponds to a horizontal turbine that rotates horizontally. Use parallel direct pressure / drag instead of lift perpendicular to the flow direction of the wing theory. Compared to the propeller system where the pressure receiving area is the entire circumference of the blade rotation, it can compensate for the pressure receiving area becoming a half rotation, and the target power generation amount can be set freely with the diameter of the turbine wheel and the size of the pressure receiving plate it can. As a result, the structure can be adapted to the low tidal velocity, shallow water depth and other real conditions.

Next, set the approximate dimensions of the water turbine to achieve the target power generation. Basically, it is based on the approximate theory of the underwater turbine mentioned above, but it is set by taking into account other theoretical formulas, margin, balance, etc. At 1000 kW, when the turbine diameter is 50 m, the turbine blade width is 10 m at a flow rate of 1 knot and 5 m at a flow rate of 2 knots. At 2000 kW, when the turbine diameter is 80 m, the turbine blade width is 12 m at a flow rate of 1 knot and 6 m at a flow rate of 2 knots. At 100 kW, when the turbine diameter is 10 m, the turbine blade width is 5 m at a flow rate of 1 knot and 3 m at a flow rate of 2 knots.
As mentioned above, it is quite long like an offshore structure, but it can be sufficiently realized by careful structural calculations and planning of the rotation speed and speed increasing mechanism.

The structural strength is confirmed by rough structural calculation. For example, as shown in FIG. 13, when the calculation is made with 1000 kW and a turbine diameter of 50 m, a watertight cylinder (fixed) that houses a 1000 kW generator fixed in water is the center of the turbine rotation, and the cylinder (rotating body) diameter is 8 m. Then, a 20 m rotating blade (pressure receiving plate) is attached to a rotating frame (mounting frame) around the cylinder. The structure of the rotor blade (pressure receiving plate) is a 100A SUS tube, and a boom having a length of 20 m is formed by knitting a combination beam having a root section of 2.5 m in the horizontal direction and 5.0 m in the vertical direction with a truss. The torque generated when a water flow of 2 knots hits a water receiving pressure plate attached to the boom with a rotating hinge is 153,000 kgm.
When this torque is divided by the section modulus at the base of the boom, the stress is about 6.5 kg / mm ² , so the structure is sufficiently stable and safe. However, in order to increase the safety factor, ribs with appropriate shapes are added. It is easy to install.
The installation table, the rotating body, the rotation speed, the speed increasing mechanism, and the like can be achieved within the existing well-known technology.

Finally, it is necessary to take measures for stabilizing the posture of the power generation device of the present invention in tidal currents and flowing water. Estimate at a tidal velocity of 2.0 knots to study the anchor cable system for fishing grounds. As a result of setting the approximate size and weight of the 1000 kW model and making a trial calculation, it is stabilized by setting the overall buoyancy, the weight of the anchor, and the position of the anchor cable, which are obtained by calculation.
Measures with a sufficient margin are required in a rapid tide area of 2.0 knots or more. Typhoon waves can be stabilized by sinking the entire tidal current generator to 3.0 m below the low tide level. The tsunami countermeasure will be examined separately. The seafloor fixing method is easier to stabilize than the anchor cable method.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
Example 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 12 will be described below.
1 and 2 are drawings showing an overview of the first embodiment. In the figure, G1 represents the power generator of the first embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a fixed part on the sea floor, the upper part is a watertight cylindrical part and the lower part is a truncated cone mounting base, and 2 is a substantially vertical axis perpendicular to the ground of the installation on the same mounting base. Rotating body 3 in the form of a vertical cylinder that is rotatably mounted around it, and 3 is a mounting frame of pressure receiving plate 4 that is mounted radially at 8 locations from the outer periphery of the rotating body. The upper and lower horizontal frames 3a extending in the radial direction from each portion and a plurality of vertical frames 3b connecting the horizontal frames 3a in the vertical direction. In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes a flap-type pressure receiving plate rotatably attached to an upper horizontal frame 3a of the attachment frame 3 by a hinge 4c, and has a specific gravity of 0.999. In the figure, 5a is a lower stopper which is a restraining means attached to the lower side member of the lower horizontal frame 3a for restraining the pressure receiving plate 4 in a substantially vertical state of 90 °, and 5b is intended to tilt the pressure receiving plate 4 downward by 5 ° from the horizontal. An upper stopper, which is a restraining means attached to the upper lateral frame 3a for restraining the upper surface of the pressure receiving plate 4, and a speed increasing mechanism 6 for transmitting the power of the rotating body 2 with respect to the fixed installation base 1 to the generator 7, and 6a A ring gear provided on the inner upper part of the rotating body 2, 6 b is a flat gear meshing with the ring gear, 6 c is a rotation shaft of the flat gear, 6 d is a belt wheel attached to the rotation shaft, and 6 e is a generator 7. A belt wheel 6f attached to the rotating shaft 6f is a belt hung between the belt wheel 6d and the belt wheel 6e. Reference numeral 7 denotes a generator that operates with the output rotational force of the speed increasing mechanism, and 7a denotes an undersea cable that stores the power transmission line and control signal line of the generator and sends them to land.
In the figure, 10 is the installed sea bottom, F is the flow of the tidal current, R is the direction of rotation of the rotating body 2, and θ is set to 5 degrees with the inclination of the pressure receiving plate 4 by the upper stopper 5b.
In the figure, the black arrow indicates the direction of the force acting on the pressure receiving plate 4.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure receiving plate 4 of Example 1 has a streamlined cross section and a maximum thickness of 200 mm. The foamed resin 4d is injected into the 1 mm front and back integrated SUS thin plates 4a and 4b to make the specific gravity lower than seawater. 0.999. FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a mounting structure of the pressure receiving plate 4. The hinge 4c includes three mounting members 4e and a pivot shaft 4f.

  The dimension of each structure of Example 1 is shown. The diameter of the rotating body 2 is 2 m and the height is 5 m. The outer diameter of the mounting frame 3 is 10 m, the height is 3 m, the length of the pressure receiving plate 4 is 3 m, and the width (depth) is about 3 m.

  The power generation apparatus G1 according to the first embodiment is a power generation apparatus installed in a shallow water bottom 10 having a water depth of about 10 m and in a sea area with a tidal current velocity of 1 knot.

  By giving the flap type pressure receiving plate 4 of the first embodiment a slight buoyancy (specific gravity 0.999), when the flow velocity of the tidal current is small or there is no flow, the pressure receiving plate 4 becomes horizontal by this buoyancy. Rotated in the direction. On the other hand, even if tidal water flows in, the working fluid pressure is small, and if the buoyancy is still larger, the free end floats slightly upward (tilts). When the buoyancy is larger, the pressure receiving plate 4 is held at a tilt angle θ of 5 ° from the horizontal by the upper stopper 5b. This state is shown in FIG. This state is the state where the pressure received from the tidal current is the smallest, and the rotational torque of the rotating body 2 by the pressure receiving plate 4 is hardly generated, and the generator 7 does not generate power.

Next, when the flow velocity of the tidal current increases, the state of the pressure receiving plate 4 becomes as shown in FIGS. When the rotational phase of the pressure receiving plate 4 changes from 0 ° to 45 °, a tidal current flows on the upper surface of the inclined pressure receiving plate 4 and pushes the pressure receiving plate 4 downward, and the water pressure is lifted by buoyancy and swiveling of the pressure receiving plate 4. Overcoming the water pressure (lift), the pressure receiving plate 4 is gradually pushed downward to rotate the pressure receiving plate 4 in the vertical direction. The pressure receiving plate 4 is braked by the lower stopper 5a in the rotation phase of 90 ° and is maintained in a substantially vertical state. During this rotational phase (60 ° to 150 °), the pressure receiving plate 4 receives the tidal current almost at right angles, and gives a strong force and rotational torque to the mounting frame 3 and the rotating body 2, and these are clockwise (positive rotational direction). Rotate.
When the rotational phase of the pressure receiving plate 4 is close to 180 °, the pressure receiving plate 4 generates lift by the flow velocity of the tidal force, and the pressure receiving plate 4 rotates in the horizontal direction together with the buoyancy, and the upper stopper 5b rotates at the rotational phase of 270 °. It is in a state of being held 5 ° downward from the horizontal. In this state, the pressure receiving plate 4 is substantially parallel to the flow of the tidal current, the resistance of water to the rotation of the pressure receiving plate 4 is minimized, and the pressure receiving plate 4 and the rotating body 2 are rotated with a strong rotational torque at a rotation phase of about 90 °. It can rotate reliably in the clockwise direction (forward rotation direction).

  FIG. 9 shows a state of the pressure receiving plate 4 at a rotational phase of 90 °. FIG. 8 shows a state in which the pressure receiving plate 4 is near a rotation phase of 0 °. FIG. 7 shows a state in which the pressure phase of the pressure receiving plate 4 is 270 °. FIG. 1 shows the state of the pressure receiving plate 4 at each rotational phase. A black arrow in FIG. 1 indicates the direction of the force. It shows that the rotational phase works downward near 0 ° and upwards near 180 °.

  In the experiment in the flowing water tank of the power generation apparatus G1 of Example 1, all the pressure receiving plates 4 were in a horizontal state at a flow velocity of 0 to 0.3 m / s, and the rotating body 2 did not rotate. Further, when the flow velocity was 0.4 m / s, the pressure receiving plate 4 became vertical in the 90 ° rotation phase, and the rotating body 2 and the pressure receiving plate 4 started to rotate.

  FIG. 11 shows the state of the pressure receiving plate 4 in the case of a tidal flow from the west direction with respect to the same power generation apparatus G1 of the first embodiment. In this case as well, the pressure receiving plate 4 becomes substantially vertical at the 90 ° rotation phase on the north side and receives the maximum pressure as in the flow of the tidal current from the east. At the rotational phase of 270 ° on the south side, the pressure receiving plate 4 is in a horizontal state substantially parallel to the tide flow. As a result, the rotator 2 and the pressure receiving plate 4 are rotated in the clockwise direction in the same manner as the tide in the east direction, and the power can be generated. Thus, even if the flow direction of the tidal current flows from either the east, west, south, or north direction, a strong rotational torque can be generated similarly.

  In the first embodiment, when the flow velocity of the tidal current is 2 knots, if the outer diameter of the rotation locus of the pressure receiving plate 4 is 10 m and the depth is 3 m, the pressure receiving plate having the flow velocity of 1 knot is equivalent to the depth of 5 m. It becomes rotation ability.

(Example 2)
The power generator G2 of Example 2 shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is an example of 1000 kW output, and is installed on the seabed at a water depth of about 28 m. The diameter of the rotation locus of the outer end of the pressure receiving plate 4 is 50 m. The depth of the pressure receiving plate 4 is about 10 m when the flow velocity of the tidal current is 1 knot, and about 5 m when the flow velocity is 2 knots. The reference numerals in FIG. 13 are the same as those in the first embodiment.
The operational effect of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the output is as large as 1000 kW. The speed increasing mechanism 6 of the second embodiment requires a high efficiency.

The calculation of the output power generation amount is as follows.
Water pressure received by the pressure receiving plate 4: F = fluid density × flow rate × (flow velocity−rotational peripheral speed) 1 set at start (rotational peripheral speed 0 m / s) F = 1.02 × (100 m ² × 1.0 m /S)×(1.0 m / s−0 m / s) = 10,200 kg · f
Maximum torque T at start-up by water pressure F = F × distance to pressure center 15 m = 153,000 kg · m
kW conversion 1000kW = T / 102 x 72% efficiency
At the time of rotation, the rotational peripheral speed is 0.5 m / s, and F is ½ from the above equation 1, but the F of the other two pressure receiving plates 4 on the pressure receiving side is added, and the total is 1000 kW. The required torque T is maintained and the motor rotates continuously.

(Strength calculation)
Trial calculation of structural strength of mounting frame 3: Calculated as a composite beam of 150A (9.3t) SUS pipe.
Assuming that the cross section of the beam root is 2.5 m wide and 5.0 m long, the cross section coefficient Z (23,235 cm ³ ) of the composite beam
Maximum torque at start-up T = Maximum bending moment (lateral direction) M = 153,000 kg · m
Maximum stress at beam root M / Z = 153,000 kgm / 23,235 cm ³ = 6.5 kg / mm ²
Therefore, the structure is sufficiently safe and stable. In order to reduce the flow resistance of the beam, the 150ASUS pipe is compressed into an elliptical shape. After compression, the transverse section modulus increases slightly, so the strength also increases. Furthermore, in order to increase a safety factor, an appropriate rib material etc. can also be given.

(Example 3)
The embodiment 3 shown in FIGS. 17 and 18 is an example of a 2000 kW power generation output installed on the seabed with a water depth of about 32 m, and the depth of the pressure receiving plate 4 is about 80 m in diameter of the rotation trajectory of the outer end of the pressure receiving plate 4. If the tidal current is 1 knot, the flow rate is 12 m, and if the tidal current is 2 knots, it is about 6 m. The reference numerals are the same as in the first embodiment. The operational effect of the third embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment except that the output is a very large output of 2000 kW. The speed increasing mechanism 6 needs to be more efficient.

(Pressure plate dimension setting)
The target power generation amount and the size of the pressure receiving plate 4 (considered as a turbine) are freely set according to the flow velocity of the tidal current.

  The present invention mainly generates power from tidal energy at the bottom of the sea, but it can also be installed on a river bed with a large river flow to generate power.

G1, G2, G3 Examples of power generation apparatus 1 Installation base 2 Rotating body 3 Mounting frame 3a Horizontal frame 3b Vertical frame 4 Pressure receiving plate 4a, 4b Thin plate 4c Hinge 4d Foamed resin 4e Mounting member 4f Pivoting shaft 5a Lower stopper 5b Upper stopper 6 Speed increasing mechanism 6a Ring gear 6b Spur gear 6c Rotating shaft 6d Belt wheel 6e Belt wheel 6f Belt 7 Generator 7a Underwater cable

10 Seabed F Flow direction of tidal current R Direction of rotation of rotating body θ Inclination angle

The calculation of the output power generation amount is as follows.
Water pressure received by the pressure receiving plate 4: F = fluid density × flow rate × (flow velocity−rotational peripheral speed) 1 set at start (rotational peripheral speed 0 m / s) F = 102 × (100 m ² × 1.0 m / s) ) × (1.0m / s-0m / s) = 10,200k gf
Maximum torque at start-up by water pressure F T = F × distance to pressure center 15 m = 153,000 kg f · m
The kW conversion is as follows when the radius is replaced with 1.0 m and n is expressed in units of r · p · m.
kw = 1/975 × n × T
= 1/975 x 6.37 x 153,000 = 1000 kW
At the time of rotation, the rotational peripheral speed is 0.5 m / s, and F is ½ from the above equation 1, but the F of the other two pressure receiving plates 4 on the pressure receiving side is added, and the total is 1000 kW. The required torque T is maintained and the motor rotates continuously.

The configuration of the present invention that solves this problem is as follows.
1) An installation base fixed in the sea or underwater is provided, and a rotating body is rotatably mounted on the installation base, and the rotation axis of the rotating body is set substantially at right angles to the flow surface of the water flow in the sea or water. Set vertically, attach multiple mounting frames radially from the same rotating body, attach one end of the plate-shaped pressure receiving plate to the upper side position eccentric from the rotation axis of the mounting frame, and rotate the mounting plate. The specific gravity is slightly smaller than the specific gravity of the seawater or water, so that buoyancy can be generated in the pressure plate in the sea and water, and the rotational angle range of each pressure plate is such that the free end side of the pressure plate is the pressure plate. The pressure receiving plate is tilted so that it is slightly below the surface of the rotation trajectory around the rotation axis at one end of the mounting side. The lowermost position of the free end where the pressure receiving plate is substantially in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body from a substantially horizontal angle. Rotation is provided with restraining means for the angle range up to A generator that generates electricity by rotation with respect to the installation base of the body is installed, and the output power of the generator is wired and transmitted to land, sea, or surface hull near the installation base, and the pressure receiving plate by the tide or water flow in the sea or water The rotation force of the pressure receiving plate, the buoyancy of the pressure receiving plate, and the restraining means ensure that the rotating body can be rotated to generate electric power , and the angle range in which the pressure receiving plate rotates is the rotation axis of one end on the mounting side of the pressure receiving plate Seawater or water in the range of 4 ° to 90 ° downward from the surface of the surrounding rotation locus and the specific gravity of the pressure plate divided by the mass of fresh water of 4 ° C. of its volume and those of 0.95 to 0.99 times the specific gravity, further rotation body is a vertical cylindrical body of circular cross section rotatably provided on the installation base, power generator utilizing water energy 2) mounting frame vertically Multiple horizontal frames and upper and lower horizontal frames The pressure receiving plate is pivotally attached by a hinge attached to the upper horizontal frame, and the restraining means is attached to the upper end of the upper horizontal frame so that the upper surface of the pressure receiving plate faces downward. The power generation apparatus using water energy according to the above 1), comprising an upper stopper that is restrained so as to be pushed down and a lower stopper that is provided on a lower horizontal frame that prevents the pressure receiving plate from rotating more than 90 ° .

Claims (4)

  A vertical installation in which an installation base fixed in the sea or underwater is installed, and the rotating body is rotatably mounted on the installation base, and the rotation axis of the rotary body is installed at a substantially right angle to the flow surface of the water flow in the sea or water. And mounting a plurality of mounting frames radially from the rotating body, and pivotally attaching one end of the plate-shaped pressure receiving plate to the upper side position eccentric from the rotation axis of the mounting frame, and the specific gravity of the pressure receiving plate It is slightly smaller than the specific gravity of the seawater or water to be installed so that buoyancy can be generated in the pressure plate in the sea and water, and the rotation angle range of each pressure plate is such that the free end of the pressure plate is on the mounting side of the pressure plate The pressure receiving plate inclines so that it is slightly below the surface of the rotation trajectory around one end of the rotation axis, from a substantially horizontal angle of a predetermined lower angle, to the lowest position of the free end where the pressure receiving plate is in the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body. There is a stopping means to make the angle range, A generator that generates electricity by rotating the pedestal is installed, and the output power of the generator is wired and transmitted to land, sea, or surface hull near the installation base, and is generated on the pressure plate by tidal currents or water currents that are underwater or underwater. A power generation device using water energy, which can generate power by reliably rotating a rotating body by force, buoyancy of a pressure receiving plate, and restraining means.   The angle range in which the pressure plate rotates is 4 ° to 90 ° downward from the surface of the rotation locus around the rotation axis at one end of the pressure plate mounting side, and the weight is divided by its volume. The power generator using water energy according to claim 1, wherein the pressure plate has a specific gravity of 0.95 to 0.99 times the specific gravity of seawater or water to be installed.   The power generator using water energy according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotating body is a vertical cylindrical body having a circular cross section provided rotatably on the installation base.   The mounting frame consists of a plurality of upper and lower horizontal frames and a plurality of vertical frames connecting the upper and lower horizontal frames. The pressure receiving plate is rotatably mounted by a hinge attached to the upper horizontal frame, and the restraining means is the upper horizontal frame. The upper stopper which is attached to the upper end of the frame and restrains the upper surface of the pressure receiving plate to be pushed downward, and the lower stopper provided on the lower horizontal frame which prevents the pressure receiving plate from rotating more than 90 °. 3. A power generation device using water energy according to any one of the above.

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