Classifications

• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
  • F03B13/10—Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
  • F03B13/10—Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
  • F03B13/105—Bulb groups
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
  • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
  • F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2240/00—Components
  • F05B2240/10—Stators
  • F05B2240/13—Stators to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
  • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
  • F05B2240/00—Components
  • F05B2240/90—Mounting on supporting structures or systems
  • F05B2240/97—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a submerged structure
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/20—Hydro energy
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
  • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a river turbine to convert the kinetic energy of a river into electricity.
• US3986787, US6013955 and US2007063520 describe submersible turbines capable of producing electricity from a stream of water, for example a river.
• US3986787 and US6013955 disclose turbines including a turbined water passage in the center, and a shroud or other auxiliary elements around this water passage.
• the outer shape of these fairings is optimized to create a suction effect of the water flow in the region immediately downstream of the turbine.
• Document US2007063520 discloses a device equipping a water flow channel suitable for hydroelectric production. The dimensions of the channel and its shape are modified to create an acceleration zone of the water flow in which a turbine is located. This solution is particularly suitable for vertical axis turbines.
• Document US2009087301 discloses a submersible turbine for generating hydroelectric power.
• the rear part of the turbine wheel can be equipped with vanes for the creation of a pressure drop of the water flow in the region posterior to the rotor.
• the duct and the vanes are adjustable.
• Anchoring tidal turbines at the bottom of a river is the subject of US2005285407 and GB2445284 documents.
• the disclosed anchoring devices comprise either cables or telescopic pillars.
• An object of the present invention is to propose a river turbine with an increased suction effect compared to known river turbines.
• Another object of the invention is the realization of a river turbine capable of operating in a river with variable water flows between modest flows and larger flows.
• Another object of the invention is the realization of a river turbine capable of being anchored effectively on any type of ground of a river and positioned in height in the water flow to exploit the most profitable water flow. According to the invention, these goals are achieved in particular by means of a river turbine comprising:
• a generator driven by a first turbine wheel to generate an electric current when a first water flow turns the first turbine wheel
• a second turbine wheel arranged to exert a pumping action on the second stream of water.
• the tidal turbine further comprises a water flow separator so as to separate the incoming water flow into a first stream of water and a second stream of water.
• the generator is magnetically connected to the first turbine wheel.
• the generator is mechanically connected to the first turbine wheel.
• the first turbine wheel comprises at least one turbine blade and the second turbine wheel comprising at least one pumping blade.
• the first turbine wheel and the second turbine wheel are coaxial and are mounted one inside the other.
• the first turbine wheel mechanically drives the second turbine wheel.
• the tidal turbine further comprises a reduction and / or multiplication of the rotational ratios capable of rotating the pump blades at a different speed than that of the turbine blades.
• a first portion of the separator is positioned at the entrance of the fairing, a second portion of the separator is positioned between the first turbine wheel and the second turbine wheel.
• the tidal turbine further comprises a turbine diffuser in which is positioned a portion of the
• the fairing further comprises a water flow convergent capable of increasing the flow rate of water of the first and / or second water flow.
• the tidal turbine further comprises at least one water flow distributor capable of imposing a direction on the flow of water of the first stream of water and / or the second stream of water. water so as to reduce vortex formation at the outlet of the turbine.
• at least one water flow distributor is capable of separately imposing a fixed direction on the first stream of water and / or on the second stream of water.
• at least one water flow distributor is able to impose a direction variable to the first stream of water and / or the second stream of water.
• the dispenser can be orientable.
• the tidal turbine further comprises an anchoring device which comprises a plurality of adjustable tension cables and a plurality of height-adjustable piles, each pile comprising an anchor point. and a base of distribution of the pressure exerted on a bottom of a river.
• an anchoring device which comprises a plurality of adjustable tension cables and a plurality of height-adjustable piles, each pile comprising an anchor point. and a base of distribution of the pressure exerted on a bottom of a river.
• the anchoring device further comprises a device for automatically controlling the vertical positioning of the turbine relative to the bottom of the river.
• the tidal turbine further comprises a hub having a support function to at least one water flow distributor, to the first turbine wheel, to the second turbine wheel, to a protection device and / or the anchoring device.
• the generator is housed in the hub.
• the generator is housed in the fairing.
• the fairing has an outer parallelepiped shape for a modular stack of several turbines without water passages between the tidal turbines.
• Figure 1 illustrates a side sectional view of a river turbine according to the invention.
• Figures 2 and 3 respectively show a side sectional view and a front view of a hydroelectric generating system comprising a plurality of river turbines of the invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates the upper part of a riverine turbine according to the invention.
• Figures 5 and 6 illustrate an embodiment of a first turbine wheel comprising turbine blades encircling a second turbine wheel comprising pumping blades, according to the invention.
• Figure 5 is a front view of Figure 4, according to section C.
• the present invention relates to a river turbine to convert the kinetic energy of a stream of water of a river into electricity, which has the particular advantage to have a degree
• FIG. 1 illustrates a river stream turbine according to the invention.
• the tidal turbine 1 comprises a turbine 2, a fairing 3 around the turbine and an anchoring device 18, 19, 20 for anchoring the turbine and the fairing to a ground 21 at the bottom of the river.
• the internal structure of the fairing 3 comprises a convergent portion 12 upstream.
• the convergent portion has for example a frustoconical, funnel-shaped shape, in order to increase the speed of flow through the turbine and thus increase the power which is
• the input section of the convergent portion 12 may be circular, square or rectangular.
• a central zone of the internal structure has a shape
• the central zone of the fairing 3 houses the turbine 2 comprising the stator and the rotor.
• the stator comprises distributors 13 (or guiding) water flow, while the rotor comprises a first turbine wheel 5, and a second turbine wheel 7.
• the turbine comprises a hub 14 preferably disposed in the center of the turbine 2.
• the hub can serve as a support for the various components of the tidal turbine 1, in particular the distributors 13 of water flow. It can accommodate a generator.
• a downstream portion of the inner structure of the fairing forms a frustoconical diffuser 1 1, with a gradually increasing diameter.
• the diffuser 1 makes it possible to recover the kinetic energy at the output of the rotor of the turbine and is preferably longer than the convergent 12.
• the inlet of the diffuser 1 1 may comprise an axially symmetrical section while its outlet may comprise a square section. or rectangular.
• the section of this downstream portion may also be circular.
• the outer structure of the fairing 3 may be parallelepipedal as shown in the figures. This parallelepipedal shape makes it possible to stack several tidal turbines arranged in line or in matrix, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
• the outer structure of the fairing can also be optimized so as to intentionally create a difference in the level of sensitive water. between upstream and downstream of the tidal stream, creating resistance
• the shape of the fairings and / or external elements may be adapted to the site and to each particular watercourse.
• the difference in water level is preferably greater than 10 centimeters, for example greater than 20 centimeters.
• the rotor of the tidal turbine 1 is radially divided into two parts.
• a first turbine wheel 5 is positioned in the outer portion while a second turbine wheel 6 is positioned in the inner portion.
• the first turbine wheel 5 comprises turbine blades 6 capable of converting the linear movement of the flow of water in the external part into a circular movement of the rotor ("turbine zone"), in order to produce electricity.
• the second turbine wheel 7 comprises pumping vanes 8 capable of creating a suction effect in the flow of water in the center ("pumping zone"). It is also possible to invert the pumping zone and the turbine zone. This turbine wheel thus makes it possible to actively accelerate the flow of water through the tidal turbine.
• FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary profile of the pump blades 8 and the turbine blades 6, according to the sections A and B of FIG. 5.
• FIG. 6 also illustrates, for information only, the speed triangles at the inlet and at the the output of the turbine wheels 5 and 7, where "C” represents the absolute speed, "U” represents the circumferential speed while “W” represents the speed relative to the wheel, whose direction is given by the angle of the blades.
• the tidal stream 1 preferably comprises a water flow separator 4 for separating the incoming water flow into a first stream of water 9 and a second stream of water 10.
• the first stream of water 9 actuates the first wheel 5 (turbine zone) while the second stream 10 is sucked by the pumping action of the second wheel 7 (pumping area).
• This pumping action creates a Venturi effect, which increases the flow rate of the first flow 9.
• the action of this second wheel 7 makes it possible to obtain a greater Venturi effect compared to that obtained by a turbine with a free passage of water in the periphery and / or center of the turbine.
• the water flow separator 4 can be achieved by a curvilinear cone capable of separating the incoming flow.
• the length of this cone and its shape may vary from one embodiment to another, in order to maximize the power of the tidal turbine according to the characteristics of the river concerned.
• a flow curvilinear cone is also contemplated in the diffuser.
• the separator 4 may comprise several parts: a part 40 may be placed upstream of the turbine wheels 5.7, a part 41 may be positioned between the two turbine wheels 5.7 and a part 42 may be positioned in the diffuser 1 1.
• the downstream portion 42 in the diffuser is preferably longer than the front portion 40, to reduce downstream turbulence in the sensitive portion where the two flows meet again.
• the shapes and the dimensions of the upstream 40 and downstream 42 parts are adapted to the characteristics of the river concerned, and can be made adjusted according to these characteristics.
• the generator is coupled to the rotor of the turbine. This coupling can be either directly at the hub of the turbine if the
• the Generator is coaxial with the hub, or at the fairing 3 if the generator is housed in the fairing.
• the coupling between the hub and the generator, and thus the coupling between the two turbine wheels 5.7, may be of mechanical and / or magnetic type, in order to drive the pump 8 bladings by the turbine blades. 6.
• the turbine 6 and pump 8 blades can rotate with the same rotational speed. However, it is also possible to provide a reduction in order to rotate the pump blades at a different speed, for example faster than the turbine blades.
• the adaptation of the dimensions and the shape of the pumping vanes 8 to the flow conditions of the river makes it possible to obtain a total efficiency (ie the power of the turbine less the power of the pump) greater than the efficiency a turbine without the pumping device or that of a turbine with a single water passage.
• the two turbine wheels 5.7 form a wheel comprising a turbine zone close to the fairing 3 comprising at least one turbine blade 6 on which a first flow of water 9 acts.
• This wheel then comprises a pumping zone, which is positioned radially to the turbine zone and close to the hub 14, comprising at least one pumping blade 8 acting on a second water flow 10.
• a separation of the two water streams 9 and 10 can be maintained between the vanes 6 and 8 of the two wheels 5 and 7 by a portion 41 of the water flow separator 4 which is housed between the two wheels 5, 7.
• the movement of the wheel formed by the two wheels 5, 7 can be transmitted, mechanically and / or magnetically, to a generatrix 22 placed inside the volume formed by the fairing, for example in the fairing 3 (that is, ie outside the wheels 5, 7) or in the hub 14 (inside with respect to the wheels 5, 7, but always in the volume defined by the fairing).
• the turbine zone can be placed inside the pumping zone.
• the first wheel 5 is placed inside the second wheel 7. Due to the pumping effect of the flow of water passing through the zone near the fairing 3, the total flow of water that passes through the tidal stream, and In particular, the flow rate of the flow of water passing through the turbine zone located near the hub 14 is increased.
• the hub 14 serves to support and guide the second pump wheel 7, while the first turbine wheel 5 can be supported and / or guided by an outer ring.
• This ring can transmit its movement, mechanically and / or magnetically, to a generator placed in the fairing 3.
• the hub 14 serves as a support and guide to the first turbine wheel 5.
• the movement of the first turbine wheel 5 is directly transmitted to the generator.
• the second pump wheel 7 can be supported and / or guided externally by an outer ring. It is also possible to have a pump wheel 7 without guiding on the outside, and therefore without an outer ring.
• the distributors 13 (or direction) of water flow are arranged at the input of the rotor. The role of the distributors 13 is to direct the flow of water upstream of the turbine wheel 5, 7 so as to reduce the formation of vortex ("swirl") at the outlet of the turbine wheel 5, 7 and thus the losses. within the broadcaster 1 1.
• an embodiment comprises a variable speed turbine wheel 5 with orientation of the distributors 13 fixed.
• Another embodiment comprises a fixed speed turbine wheel with distributors 13 with variable orientations.
• the distributors 13 may have different profiles between the turbine zone and the pumping zone, in order to best adapt to the specific characteristics of the turbine vane 6 and the pump vane 8.
• the tidal turbine 1 may furthermore comprise a protective device capable of evacuating the sediments and / or debris carried by the incoming water flow and which may damage the turbine 2.
• a protective grid 1 5 may be used for this purpose , whose mesh size and its positioning are adapted to cause the least speed loss of the incoming water flow.
• the tidal turbine 1 can be anchored to the ground 21 at the bottom of a river by a series of piles 18 and by fixing or tensioning cables 17.
• One end of the cables 17 for fixing is attached to an element anchored to the field 21, which may be for example a stake, an anchor or a dedicated platform, and which is placed upstream or downstream of the tidal turbine 1.
• the other end may be connected either directly to the fairing 3, or to a support rod 16 integral with the fairing 3 or the hub 14.
• a stream of water can thus pass under and over the tidal turbine, thus constituting also a passage for fish.
• these piles 18 are advantageously equipped with an anchor point 20 which sinks into the ground and a plate 21 allowing distribute the anchoring pressure.
• the anchoring can thus be completed by the adjustment of the tension of cables 17.
• the positioning in height of the tidal turbine 1 with respect to the ground at the bottom of the river has the goal of being able to enjoy a maximum power of the tidal turbine 1.
• the ideal height being a function of the free surface of the river and the flow of the river, the use of height-adjustable piles 18 and 17 tension cables facilitates the positioning of the river.
• the tidal stream 1 in the stream of water of the river Definitive positioning can be achieved during the installation of the tidal turbine 1 in rivers with a little variable flow, while variable positioning can be obtained by equipping the tidal turbine 1 with an adjustment device automatic.
• the outer structure of the fairing 3 can take a parallelepipedal shape to allow efficient modular assembly of several standard 1 turbines, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
• a system comprising several turbines 1 can be achieved by a stack of several tidal turbines 1 by fixing the fairings 3 next to each other. This type of arrangement of a plurality
• tidal turbines 1 in height as well as crosswise with respect to the flow of water of a river, forms an effective obstacle to the flows of water of the river. The resulting fall allows to increase the unit power compared to a solitary tidal turbine.
• the installation, anchoring, positioning as well as the protection of a system comprising a plurality of tidal turbines 1 may use the aforementioned protection and anchoring devices.
• this system allows synergies between the various tidal turbines 1.
• a protective grid 1 5. for example, can exploit reinforcing rods 16 fixed to some fairings 3 and / or some hubs 14 of these turbines 1.
• the piles 18 of the anchoring device can hold the tidal turbines 1 placed in the lower line while the fixing cables 17 can hold the tidal turbines 1 placed in the upper lines.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)
• Hydraulic Turbines (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-08-07 EP EP14749815.8A patent/EP3030780A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2014-08-07 WO PCT/EP2014/067034 patent/WO2015018914A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2014-08-07 CA CA2918777A patent/CA2918777A1/fr not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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