AU2001100291A4 - PowerPod - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Acts 1990 2001

SPECIFICATION

INNOVATIVE PATENT PowerPod The Invention is described in the following statement: Page 1 of PowerPod The invention relates to the generation and provision of electricity by the harnessing of energy from marine currents and tidal flows utilizing a securable. underwater device with a depth adjustment mechanism.

For many people in coastal or near coastal areas the supply of electricity has been difficult or impossible to obtain for a variety of reasons, such as the isolation of their particular area, or the unavailability of capital to fund the necessary infra-structure and equipment to supply power. There have been many proposals to solve this, most either impractical, still under development or too costly at this time.

For example wind generated electricity works if there's a wind, petrol generators are noisy and constantly consume fuel, and solar power is still under development.

These problems are overcome with the present invention, which provides a waterproof form or device encasing electrical generating equipment that, while partially bouyant, submerged and secured in the ocean between the sea floor and the sea surface, can utilize the energy from marine currents and tides to generate electricity.

This electricity is then cabled to the required end user. The only cost in the supply of electricity from this invention is the hardware, shore setup and maintenance costs, with the tides and marine currents providing constant and consistent free energy.

The invention consists of a waterproof structure with external paddles that are driven by current and tide flow which connect internally to an arrangement of gears that amplifies the water speed that in turn drives a turbine and generates the electricity. The device has ballast and bouyancy tanks to adjust and stabilize it to a predetermined depth with an adjustable cable assembly from the device to the sea floor that stabilises and secures the device in the required position.

The drag from the paddles ensures that the front of the device is always facing towards the current, irrespective of the direction of the current.

Electricity generated is cabled from the generating unit to the sea floor, then to the end user as required. refer FIG. 1 When maintenance, repair or servicing is required the invention can be raised to the surface with the securing mechanism of the cable assembly being released, and the bouyancy increased so that the device surfaces. On completion of the required work, the bouyancy is decreased so that the device submerges to the required depth, where the securing mechanism of the cable assembly is activated to re-secure the invention to the sea floor and the power generation continues. refer FIG. 2 4) Page 2 of The PowerPod can be made of suitable materials as follows: 1. Turbine Unit: Exterior Metals, Plastics and other waterproof materials.

Interior Standard Commercially Available Generator and Gearing System.

2. Paddles: Metals, Plastics, Woods and other resilient materials.

3. Support Frame: Metals, Plastics, Woods, Bamboos and other resilient materials.

4. BouyancylBallast Tanks Plastics, Metals and other airtight materials.

Bouyancy Lines: Plastic Metals.

Ballast: Sand, Earth, Gravel, Metal or similar.

5. Cable Assembly: Nylon, Metal and other applicable materials.

Elasticised Tensioned Cable.

Power Cable from turbine to sea floor.

6. Seafloor Implant: Metal or Plastic Pulley or Loop.

Metal, Concrete or Plastic Implant.

7. Securing Mechanism: Metal, Plastic or Wood.

8. Power Cable to User: Standard Waterproof Electrical Cable.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show one example of the invention.

In the Drawings: FIG. 1. shows the components of one example of a PowerPod structure.

FIG. 2. shows the PowerPod in it's normal generating position.

FIG. 3. shows the PowerPod in it's surfaced position for service, maintenance and repairs.

FIG. 4. shows the PowerPod in it's re submerged form.

Page 3 of Referring to FIG. 1. It can be seen that the PowerPod device according to this invention comprises, encased in a waterproof container, a power generating unit comprising of a turbine connected to a gearing arrangement 1 that is attached to external rotateable paddle assembly 2).

This waterproof assembly is attached to a support frame 3 encaseing adjustable ballast and bouyancy tanks (4 Attached to each lower corner of the support frame 3 are stabilising cables that drop down and join together below the support frame. A single cable drops from this join to the sea floor 5 where it passes through a loop or pulley that is implanted in the sea floor 6 the cable then proceeds back and up on itself and tied off with a securing mechanism An appropriate power cable runs from the base of the generating unit to the sea floor beneath the device, then to the required customer 8 FIG. 2 shows the device in it's usual operational form, secured to the seafloor implant and sea floor. The ballast and bouyancy have been adjusted for the required depth so that there is minimum tension on the cable assembly and seafloor implant. The cable length for the depth is set and the securing mechanism is activated to the on position The current forces the paddles to revolve resulting in power being generated.

This is then directed to the end user.

FIG. 3 shows the device surfaced for service, maintenance repairs by service vessels.

The securing mechanism having been activated in the off" position and allowed to decend, the bouyancy increased in the device causing it to rise to the surface.

The securing mechanism is then activated in the on position to stabilise the device on the surface for the required work.

FIG. 4 shows the device re submerged to required operational depth. On completion of the required surface work the bouyancy is decreased causing the pod to submerge.

The securing mechanism is activated in the "off" position and drawn up the cable as the pod decends. When the required depth is reached the securing mechanism is activated in the on position securing the device to the required depth, and the trim and stability is assesed.

Once the device is secured and balanced, power production is recommenced.

By the use of PowerPod devices of this type, electricity may be generated from any consistent marine current, irrespective of directional flow, marine location and independent of all other facilities.

It will be realised that the powerpod device according to this invention is not restricted to the form of powerpod shown in the example, but may take any other form of a device that is an underwater, securable, power generating device with depth adjustment mechanism.

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