DE2723147A1 - POWER PLANT TO USE THE ENERGY FROM SEA CURRENTS, IN PARTICULAR TIDAL CURRENTS - Google Patents

Description

55 * 0

May 20, 1977

2723U7

Heinrich Pitzer, Hintergasse 8 ^ 6O85 Nauheim / Groß-Gerau

Power plant to use the energy of ocean currents, especially tidal currents

The invention relates to a power plant for using the energy of ocean currents, in particular tidal currents at least one bucket chain hydropower machine with several Shovels, each of which can be folded over in this way on two endless, parallel chains extending in the direction of flow are attached that they are transverse to the flow in the driven chain section and in the returning chain section lie in the direction of flow, with pulleys for the chains are mounted on axles in a frame, the also carries at least one electric generator driven by the sprockets

The ocean currents represent a source of energy that has so far remained virtually unused. Only tidal currents were in used in a few cases by stationary tidal power plants. The construction costs for such fixed tidal power plants and however, especially for the large dams required, it is extraordinarily high.

The flow energy of rivers is made available almost exclusively in run-of-river power plants that are built into barrages are. Here, too, the construction cost is required for the Dams relatively high. In most cases, however, these dams also serve to regulate and improve the flow of possibilities for shipping, so that the

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high construction costs are only partly incurred for energy generation.

In addition, it has long been known to utilize the energy of flowing rivers in water power machines, which are anchored floating on the river and have blades that are moved by the water current. A type known for this purpose are shovel chain hydropower machines with the features mentioned at the beginning, as are known, for example, from Austrian patent specification 125 W \ h and Austrian patent specification 100 077. These Vasserkraftmaschinen are not suitable for the use of the energy of ocean currents, however, because these Wasserkraftmas chinen are arranged on the water surface, where they are exposed to the swell and storms.

The object of the invention is therefore to create a power plant with which the use of the energy of ocean currents, especially the tidal currents, is possible without the mentioned disadvantages of known power plants occur. This task is done with a power plant with the ones mentioned at the beginning Features solved in that the power plant is anchored on the sea floor and completely submerged the water surface is arranged. As a result, the power plant remains unaffected by swell and storms and can with very large dimensions in a relatively light design

than to be executed. In the execution tidal power plant is the power plant anchored on two sides on the seabed; when used as a marine current power plant, im is sufficient generally the anchoring on only one side.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the inventive concept it is provided that at the top of the frame of the power plant several rising against the flow inclined baffles are attached in at least one row behind one another, which the flow down to the

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Steer blades and, as a flow accelerator, bring about a decisive increase in performance. Thus, these fins cause the one hand, a better utilization of energy, because the flow is directed to the blades downward · On the other hand, these fins cause the manner of wings in the flow dynamic lift which caused the weight of the Vasserkraftniaschine and in particular a through the anchoring force, down acting force component counteracts continuously.

Appropriately, several guide surfaces sloping against the flow are on the underside of the power plant arranged in a row one behind the other, which direct the flow upwards onto the blades, which further accelerate them. This embodiment, in which the upper guide surfaces are fixed, appears to be particularly advantageous and are designed with a larger surface than the lower guide surfaces, the angle of attack of the lower guide surfaces is adjustable, which are for example slightly curved metal plates. Control of the adjustment of the lower Guide surfaces should be done automatically depending on the water pressure by relays, so that by change the angle of attack of the lower guide surfaces a constant immersion depth of the power plant can be maintained.

Further advantageous embodiments of the inventive concept are contained in the subclaims.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment which is shown in the drawings. Show it:
Fig. 1 shows part of a power plant according to the invention with

two blade chain Vasserkraftmaschinen in plan view, Fig. 2 shows a section along the line II-II in Fig. 1 _t FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial section along the line III-IH

in Fig. 1,
3a and 3b are enlarged partial views of the front ends

the blade guides,
Fig. H shows an enlarged partial section along the line IV-IV

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In Pig. 1,

Ub the connection of the pull rope with the chain,
5 shows an enlarged partial section in the area of the

lower longitudinal tube according to Fig. 3 »
6 shows an enlarged partial section of the blade guides on the lower longitudinal tube,

Fig. 7 is a partial side view of the chain;
8 is an enlarged side view of the front one

Part of the longitudinal tubes according to Fig. 2, and

9 shows the arrangement of several water power machines next to one another. The power plant according to the invention has a hollow frame which essentially consists of several parallel tubes 1, 2, 3 and h with an oval cross-section and running transversely thereto
Lattice masts 5a, 5b and 6 consists. Connect nozzle ^ O
the upper tubes 1, 2 with the lower tubes 3 »^ · As in
indicated in the figures, several water power machine units can be arranged in the frame, each of which has two endless parallel chains 7 »8, to which blades 9 are attached. For the sake of simplicity, only one water power machine unit is described below.

On the two lower longitudinal tubes 3 »** ■ are the axes h ~ \
for two front chain pulleys 10, 11 mounted at the front end of the frame. Near the back of the frame
are two chain pulleys 12, 13 on a common
Axis 14 between the two lower longitudinal tubes 3 » b
stored; the rear axle 14 carries a gear 15 which meshes with a gear 16 which is connected to an electrical generator 17. That way will
the movement of the chains 7 »8 is transmitted to the generator 17 for generating electricity.

The blades 9 have a rectangular tubular frame 18 which is provided with a for instance elastic covering 19 in the manner of a sail (Fig. H) · on at the corners of each blade 9 are guide rollers 2o, 21 mounted on a pull rope 22, both ends a common place

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(Fig. 2, k) of the chain are attached. On each side of each blade 9, the pull rope 22 runs to the upper UmlenkroJLe 20, from there through part of the tubular frame 18 to the lower deflection roller 21 and from there again to the attachment point 23. From the flow, whose direction in Figures 1 and 2 by the arrows S is shown, the blades 9 of the driven upper chain section are moved transversely to the flow standing.

The frame parts 1, 2, 3 and k have guides 2k , 25 and 26 running in the longitudinal direction, in which sliding parts attached to the blades 9 on the side of the lower longitudinal tubes

28
pieces are guided. The upper guides 2h are attached to the upper longitudinal tubes 1, 2 and guide the upper corners of the blades 9t ^on which rollers 27 are mounted, which move along a channel in the guide 2k . The sliders 28 at the lower corners of the blades 9 run in the ^{guides 25t, which are designed} as upwardly open channels with a guide lock kk (FIGS. 5 and 6), ^{are attached to the} lower longitudinal tubes 3t ^. When returning, the blades 9 are parallel to the chains 71 8; the parts 27 and 28 are guided together in the guide 26 attached to the lower longitudinal tubes 3t ^.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the guides 2k, 25 and 26 converge to form a common guide section 29 at the rear end of the frame. Since the blades 9 at. the chains are suspended freely movable, the blades at the rear end of the frame lie flat in the common guide section 29 and are moved flat in the lower guide 26 by the chain moved forward again in the lower guide 26, ie moved forward with little flow resistance.

Near the front end of the frame formed from tubes with an oval cross-section are on both sides of the trajectory of the blades 9 on an axis 37 each have two gripping wheels 30t31 stored in the chain longitudinal direction and across it

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are offset from one another. The gripping wheels 3o, 31 are driven via a chain drive h $ from the shaft of the front deflecting wheels 10, 11 (FIG. 8). The two front gripping wheels 30, which are arranged at a smaller distance from one another than the rear gripping wheels 31 »grasp the laterally protruding parts of the blades 9§ which carry the rollers 27, and erect this blade end, which is already lifted at the upward end k2 of the return . The rear gripping wheels 31 grasp the sliding pieces 28 at the rear or lower shovel end and move the sliding pieces 28 into the guide 25 on the lower longitudinal tubes 3, b. Since the sliders 28 are elongated, they can - as shown in Fig. 3b - only enter the guide 25 when the shovel 9 is fully upright and the roller 27 at the same time enters the guide 2k (Fig. 3 * 0 «

The blades 9 are provided with locking pins 39 (Fig. 6, 7), which grip into the links of the chains 7, 8 and during the forward movement that exerted on the blades 9 by the flow Transfer force to the chains 7, 8.

In order to optimally utilize the energy of the flow, the blades 9 move at a speed of about 50% Flow velocity should be.

To increase the efficiency of the power plant, several guide surfaces 32 inclined against the flow are attached to the upper part of the frame on the longitudinal tubes 1 and 2 in a row, which direct the flow down onto the blades 9 and which the power plant in the flow give dynamic lift. The guide surfaces J2 consist of a seawater-proof, preferably elastic covering in the manner of a sail, which are each stretched between an upper lattice mast 5a and a lower lattice mast 5b of the longitudinal tubes 1 and 2. The flow speed of the water is increased by these guide surfaces 32 and the flow is deflected onto the blades 9

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At an anchoring point 33 in the front area of the power plant, two anchor ropes or anchor chains 3 ^ f 35, which are anchored at a greater distance from the power plant on the sea floor, preferably engage. The power plant can therefore adjust freely depending on the direction of flow. In the flow direction S indicated in FIG. 2, the anchor rope 35 is loaded and the power plant assumes the position shown. When the direction of flow is reversed, as occurs regularly, for example, with tidal currents, the anchor rope 35 is relieved and the anchor rope 3k is loaded. The power plant then reverses its position so that it is flown against again from the front in a flow direction opposite to the arrow S.

The upper longitudinal tubes 1, 2 are complete and the lower longitudinal tubes 3, h are designed in their upper half as buoyant bodies filled with air or a light gas, the buoyancy of which counteracts the weight of the power plant and the pull of the anchorage, so that it floats between the Water surface and the sea floor can be arranged. In the lower part of the longitudinal tubes 3 t k chambers 3a »3b» ^ a, 4b are provided, which can be completely or partially flooded in order to achieve the specified immersion depth of the power plant.

The tensile force applied by the respectively loaded anchor rope 3k or 35 has a downward component, the size of which depends on the flow velocity. The dynamic lift generated on the guide surfaces 32 also depends on the flow velocity and is directed against the downward component of the tensile force on the anchor rope. As a result, a largely automatic compensation of these forces can be achieved.

The exact position of the anchor mandrel 33 on the power plant should only be determined after the balancing point of the oppositely acting component of the lift and the downward component has been determined

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acting tensile force of the anchoring can be determined and determined in order to ensure a horizontal fixation of the power plant reach.

On the underside of the power plant, several guide surfaces 36 sloping against the flow are arranged in a row one behind the other, which guide the flow upwards onto the blades 9. In contrast to the upper guide surfaces 32, these lower guide surfaces 36 are designed to be rigid, for example slightly curved metal plates with connecting supports hj. They are rotatably mounted approximately in their middle on one of the lower lattice masts 6. Its angle of attack can be changed by a control device (relay) 38. The control device can, for example, be influenced by a sensor that responds to the water pressure in such a way that the lower guide surfaces 36 are adjusted and the downward force generated by them by the flow is changed in such a way that the immersion depth of the power station is kept constant. By changing the angle of attack of the lower guide surfaces 36, the immersion depth of the power plant can also be changed, if so desired. Just like the upper guide surfaces 32, the lower guide surfaces 36 direct the flow in the direction of the blades 9 and thereby accelerate the flow.

Since the power plant is anchored on the sea floor and is completely submerged under the water surface, it can be operated independently of the weather conditions on the sea surface. In order to avoid the influences of strong storms, if these could pose a particular danger, the power plant can be lowered even deeper by adjusting the lower guide surfaces 36 and / or by flooding the chambers 3a, 3b, ^ a, kh even deeper or even set it down on the seabed . Since the movements of the sea surface are kept away from the power plant, it can be made relatively large by combining a larger number of hydropower units of the type shown

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and high-performance power plant units are carried out, which get their stability from the relatively large longitudinal tubes 1, 2, 3 and k , which also act as a buoyancy body.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment modified compared to the illustrated embodiment, in which several water power machines are arranged side by side in a common frame. There was an improvement in this embodiment the energy absorption achieved in several ways. To get an even better flow of all blades working one behind the other 9 are also on in this embodiment arranged on both sides in addition to the upper guide surfaces 32 and the lower guide surfaces 36 lateral guide surfaces 32a. In addition, the respective rear guide surfaces are larger in an increasing line than the respective front guide surfaces, so that always new layers of water are captured by the flow, accelerated and directed onto the blades 9.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the power station consists of two units A, B and D, E ₁ which are connected to one another by a central part C. In the embodiment shown in FIG. This central part C carries the anchor mandrel 33 on which the anchor cables Jk, 35 engage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 9 it is also shown that in each individual water power machine A, B, D or E more than two endless chains 7 »8 can be provided, namely five in each case in the example shown, each via chain deflection wheels 10, 10a, 10b, 10c and 11 are guided at the front end and in a corresponding manner at the rear end. By a large inflow surface of the blade 9, a further increase in performance is achieved in this way.

The arrangement of the power plant units side by side, as in 9, is particularly favorable for the arrangement of the guide surfaces 32, 32a, 36 in a staggered design on all four sides. In the illustration according to FIG. 9

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the blades 9 are partially covered. The generators are not shown in FIG. The power plant unit D, E on the right in FIG. 9 represents a section below the control system and shows only the lower guide surfaces 36 and the return guide of the blade 9 (not shown to scale).

To relieve the grid structure of the power plant to be achieved, in the embodiment according to FIG. 9, relief ropes 52a for the upper guide surfaces 32 and relief ropes 52b for the lower guide surfaces 36. Provided. As the relief ropes 52b only for the side frame parts

3 and k can be guided so that the reversal of the blade 9 is not hindered at the front end, the front guide surfaces 36, which are not stabilized by the relief ropes 52b, are connected to one another by supports 56 - as shown in the top right of FIG. 9.

Characteristic for the technical progress, the novelty value and the usability of this invention is:

1 · their way of working protected from storms and swell by the location under the water surface where the Working depth via relay 38 (Fig.3), which is based on the water pressure address, is controlled;

2. the double-sided anchoring in both directions of flow, which is necessary for the use of the tidal currents;

3. the design of the blades 9 (Fig.4) for the recording high flow energies allow the use of the low flow velocities prevailing in ocean and tidal currents of the water that can no longer be used for turbines;

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H. the upper and lower flow accelerators increase the flow speed of the water from above and below along the entire length of the power station and direct the flow onto the blades, thus enabling maximum efficiency;

5. Several control elements are effective in order to compensate for the force components acting in opposite directions of the anchorage downwards and the upper flow accelerators upwards; To achieve a state of suspension and stabilization at a predetermined working depth, the longitudinal tubes 3 and h are divided into chambers; by partially flooding the same, the required specific weight of the power plant should be controllable in order to enable the precise and constant depth setting by the lower flow accelerators via the relays 38 controlling them;

6. For the first time there is the possibility of low-cost power plants with high performance in a short construction period to be created to be stationed in the open sea to generate electricity;

7 · a comparison with the tidal power plant in St. MaIo shows the level of development achieved; while there, in a confined space, dammed water over turbines is used to generate electricity (in principle like a reservoir), this invention offers itself before the European Coasts a sea area of several thousand square kilometers with large and inexhaustible sources of energy unlimited to generate electricity on a scale comparable to nuclear power plants, but without them Problems, environmental pollution and hazards.

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The power plant according to the invention thus creates the advance setting to develop an inexhaustible supply of energy at an economically justifiable expense.

It goes without saying that all components of the power plant are made from seawater-resistant material must be executed or in some other way against the corrosive influences of the lake water are to be protected.

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Claims (17)

Γ 1 ·) Power plant to use the energy of ocean currents , in particular tidal currents, with at least one bucket chain hydropower machine with several Blades, each on two endless, parallel chains extending in the direction of flow in such a way are reversible attached that they are in the driven chain section transversely to the flow and in the backward running Chain section lie in the direction of flow, with pulleys for the chains on axles are mounted in a frame, which also has at least one of the sprockets driven electric Generator carries, characterized in that the power plant is anchored to the seabed and completely is arranged submerged under the water surface. 2 «power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that that the anchorage (3 ^ »35) on the one in the direction of flow attacks the front end of the frame. 3 «power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that that the frame at least partially consists of tubes (2, 3) which form buoyancy bodies for the power plant. 4. Power plant according to claim 3 »characterized in that the tubes (3, h) have chambers (3a» 3b »^ i ^ b) which can be flooded to lower the power plant. 709849/0976 1K6PECTED "2723H7 5. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that that the blades (9) are tubular frames (18) with a covering (19) in the manner of a sail. 6. Power plant according to claim 5 »characterized in that that the tubular frame (18) of the blades (9) are attached to the chains (7, 8) by means of pull cables (22). 7. Power plant according to claim 6, characterized in that that on both sides of a shovel frame (18) each have a pull rope (22) over two at the corners of the Shovel frame (18) attached pulleys (20, 2i) is guided and with its two ends on the Chain (7, 8) is attached. 8. Power plant according to claim 5 »characterized in that the side of the bucket frame (18) sliding pieces (28) are arranged, which run in guides (25) which are attached to the pipes (3» k) of the power plant. 9 · Power plant according to claim 8, characterized in that the shovel frames (18) close to the front deflection point of the chains (7, 8) by gripping wheels (30, 31) from a guide (26) for the return into a guide (2k , 25) for the preliminary run. 10. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that that between the upper pipes (i, 2) of the power plant several guide surfaces inclined against the flow (32) in at least one row behind one another are attached, which direct the flow down to the blade (9) and the power plant in the Giving flow a dynamic lift. - 15 - 709849/0976 . 2723U7 3 - * 5 - 11. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that on the underside of the pipes (3, k) of the power plant a plurality of guide surfaces (36) sloping down against the flow are arranged in at least one row one behind the other, which the flow upwards onto the blades ( 9) steer. 12 · Power plant according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the angles of attack of the lower guide surfaces (36) are adjustable to change the dynamic lift of the power plant. 13 · Power plant according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the upper guide surfaces (32) are fixed and are designed with a larger surface than the lower guide surfaces (36), and that the angle of attack the lower guide surfaces (36) adjustable is. 1U. Power plant according to Claim 10, characterized in that the upper guide surfaces (32) are each formed by a covering in the manner of a sail, which is stretched between two transverse struts (5 ^a »5 *>) of the tubes (1, 2). 15. Power plant according to claim 1, characterized in that that several power plant units (A, B, D, E) in are arranged side by side in a common frame. 16. Power plant according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the side additional guide surfaces (32a) are provided. 17. Power plant according to claims 10, 11 and 16, characterized in that that the guide surfaces (32, 32a, 36) are staggered one behind the other with increasing size are. 709849/0976