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
  • 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"
  • F03B17/062—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
  • F03B17/063—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• • 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
  • F05B2220/00—Application
  • F05B2220/70—Application in combination with
  • F05B2220/706—Application in combination with an electrical generator
  • F05B2220/7064—Application in combination with an electrical generator of the alternating current (A.C.) type
  • F05B2220/70642—Application in combination with an electrical generator of the alternating current (A.C.) type of the synchronous type
• • 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
  • F05B2240/133—Stators to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• • 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
  • F05B2240/93—Mounting on supporting structures or systems on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• • 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 invention concerns a central hydro electric ⁇ .
• Mini hydro plants are facilities that provide less than 2 MW of electrical power. This power is generally used to power isolated sites (some houses, a craftsman's workshop, a barn ...) or to produce electricity, sold on a smaller scale.
• Such hydroelectric power plants are usually run-of-the-river reactors, also called run-of-river plants, requiring little civil engineering work and producing electricity that varies with the flow of the watercourse. They have the advantage of reducing the cost of manufacture and installation compared to a hydroelectric plant associated with a dam, and do not disturb the life of the watercourse. In particular, the integrity of fish populations is maintained, the downstream movement of migratory fish is possible and the hydro-biological continuity of the watercourse is preserved.
• Floating hydropower plants which also perform mechanical conversion beyond water, reinforce the advantages of run-of-the-river plants in terms of manufacturing cost and respect for the environment.
• Floating power plants have the additional advantage of quick installation and dismantling, which can be done by unskilled labor near the site of operation.
• Their anchorage may, in addition, be similar to that used in shipping.
• Floating hydroelectric plants with floating paddle wheels have been proposed.
• the wheels can be arranged in pairs on both sides of a structure that corresponds to the hull of a ship carrying a system adapted to perform the mechanical-electrical conversion out of the water as described for example in the application US patent application 2010/0123316.
• the wheels can be flanked on each side and symmetrically with respect to the mechano-electric conversion system by one or more pairs of floats as described, for example, in the patent application JP213340.
• each wheel regardless of the floating structure that supports it, comprises an emerging portion whose height is significantly greater than the height of the submerged portion, the axis of rotation being out of the water.
• the wheels are rather reserved at high water levels compared to their diameter: the immersion height of a wheel does not generally exceed half the available water height.
• a central hydro ⁇ floating electrical connector comprising an axial turbine, as described in Patent Application WO2006123796 and a Pelton turbine, as described in the patent application FR2559179.
• These turbines are maintained by floating structures whose dimensions exceed by several times the dimensions of the turbines. These floating structures have, at their upstream end, a drain for capturing a portion of the water flow and channeling the flow on the turbine before discharging it into the watercourse.
• floating hydraulic power stations comprising vertical turbines of the Darrieus type with straight blades, held by a large surface platform provided with two floats parallel to the current and partially immersed, such as that described in the patent application WO2010006431. .
• existing floating hydropower plants may be excessively bulky, either in height or width, which is undesirable.
• a cumbersome emergent part in height can offer a significant wind gain, especially in some open sites, and therefore adversely affect the stability of the plant.
• a cumbersome emergent portion can cause visual nuisance.
• a cumbersome part in width, whether emerged or submerged, prevents the juxtaposition of a sufficient number of machines to set up farms on watercourses with a sufficient level of electrical production.
• a height or width footprint results in a loss of maneuverability, essential quality for installation in difficult to access places. This may be the case for hydroelectric power systems for elec ⁇ tronic into difficult to access, such phones in shelters in the mountains or sensors measurement via rechargeable batteries in remote sites close to a watercourse.
• An object of an embodiment is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of the floating hydroelectric plants described above.
• Another object of an embodiment is to reduce the lateral size of the hydroelectric plant.
• Another object of an embodiment is to increase the energy taken per unit width of the stream.
• Another object of an embodiment is to reduce the vertical bulk of the emerging portion of the hydroelectric plant.
• Another object of an embodiment is that the docking system and the floatation means of the floating hydroelectric plant provide good stability in roll, pitch and yaw of the hydroelectric plant.
• an embodiment provides a floating hydroelectric plant comprising a buoyancy member and at least one turbomachine, the buoyancy member comprising at least two floats elongate in the direction of the current, each float comprising a submerged portion and a fixed portion fixed to an upper armature, each float having a horizontal section in the form of a wing profile, the floats being symmetrical to one another with respect to a vertical plane and forming a diffuser, the flotation member comprising, in addition a submerged lower plate connecting the lower faces of the two floats, the turbomachine comprising an electromechanical transducer attached to the upper frame and a turbine adapted to drive the electro ⁇ mechanical converter, the turbine comprising drive blades located between the two floats and adapted to drive the turbine in rotation about an axis of rotation, vertical to 20 degrees and being located between the diffuser neck and a plane joining the trailing edges of the floats, each blade including a part immersed my oritairement having a horizontal sectional shape of the airf
• the electromechanical converter is a direct-drive synchronous machine of disc shape, the synchronous machine comprising a rotor, the ratio between the height of the rotor, measured along said axis of rotation, and the rotor diameter varying from 0 , 1 to 0.2.
• the electromechanical converter comprises windings and / or magnets attached directly to the connecting member.
• each float has a horizontal section in the form of a laminar wing profile, the incidence angle of which is less than or equal to 5 ° whose length referred to the neck is greater than 3.5 and whose maximum curvature is placed downstream of the axis ⁇ located near the neck.
• the plant comprises two twin counter-rotating turbines, located between the floats and separated by a median vertical wall fixed under
• the lower armature of the floating hydroelectric power station corresponds to a plate in one piece, the trailing edge of said plate lying substantially in the plane containing the trailing edge of each float, the edge of attack lying substantially in the plane containing the leading edge of each float, or extending upstream of this plane.
• the lower armature of the floating hydroelectric station corresponds to a plate having a vertical section, in a plane parallel to a plane of symmetry of the flotation member, in the form of a zero-lift or upwardly directed wing profile and participating in this member.
• the lower ends of the blades are interconnected by a first ring.
• the distance between the upper face of the lower reinforcement and the lower faces of the blades is between one and ten maximum blade thicknesses.
• each blade is preloaded axially in tension by means of at least one tie rod housed in the blade.
• each blade comprises at least one rod passing through the plane of flotation to ensure complete immersion of the part of the blade having a wing profile, and said rod advantageously accommodating the preloading tie rod as it passes through the flotation plan.
• the plant further comprises a bow and, upstream of the turbine, parallel blades between the floats connected to the bow.
• the center of gravity of the floating hydroelectric power station is positioned vertically from the hull center of the floating hydroelectric power station and below the hull center of the floating hydroelectric power station in the absence of power, by means of ballast floats.
• the plant comprises a bow upstream of the turbine and comprising at least one mooring line connected to a stud emerging in the axis of the floating hydroelectric station or two mooring lines connected to two studs emerged on either side of the floating hydroelectric power station, the mooring line or lines being fixed at a point on the bow below the center of the hydrodynamic thrust of all components of the floating hydroelectric plant further comprising an additional float placed at the rear of the deck of a single turbine plant or connected to the center wall of a twin turbine plant.
• the plant comprises at least one mooring line attached to one end at the bottom of the watercourse, and fixed at the opposite end at a point belonging to a plane of symmetry of the lower frame, the floating hydroelectric plant further comprising an additional float located at the rear of the deck of a single turbine plant or connected to the median vertical wall of a twin turbine plant.
• each blade comprises an end fin at its free lower end oriented towards the axis of rotation.
• the end of the fin is further connected to the other ends of fins by a ring whose thickness in a horizontal plane does not exceed the maximum thickness of the fin.
• each fin is extended by an arm ensuring the continuity of the profile of the end of the fins, to an axis hub to which the arm is fixed, the hub being guided in rotation around a shaft secured to the lower frame and the shaft being housed in this lower frame.
• the central comprises a second immersed ring, connecting the blades at which the stems are fixed on the portion of the blade having a wing profile.
• the upper part of the float defined from the floating line at rest and on a height which extends to the upper face of the float, is characterized by a profile in a horizontal plane, which is modified with respect to the following wing profile points: (i) the leading edge becomes sharply tapered and then can remain so until the upper face of the float or have only a tapered area of reduced height, even punctual (ii) in its tapered area, this leading edge is shifted downstream and finally (iii) in its tapered zone its thickness is reduced over the entire chord of the profile, the zone of the modified part below the tapered portion becoming more or less immersed during operation from the power station and playing the role of a bow bulb limiting the appearance of the bow wave.
• the floats are provided with vertical flaps each pivotable about a vertical axis and adapted to be turned (i) towards the inside of the floating hydroelectric station to reduce the master torque of the central unit. floating hydroelectric power, and therefore the drag exerted on the power plant during its movements in a watercourse (ii) towards the inside of the floating hydroelectric power station to increase the suction effect between the floats and consequently the efficiency of the turbomachine.
• the plant comprises a motor fixed to the upper frame and adapted to propel the floating hydroelectric plant to the surface of the water.
• the turbomachine is connected to the upper armature by an unlocking / locking system with respect to the upper armature so that a crane can move the turbomachine relative to the upper armature, once floating hydroelectric power station docked for maintenance.
• Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front view, a top view and a bottom view of a mode of realization of a floating hydroelectric plant adapted, as regards the dimensions and the position of the floats with respect to the turbomachine, at low power;
• Figures 4 and 5 are sectional views of two embodiments of the mechano-electric converter of the turbo ⁇ machine of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a blade of the turbine engine of Figure 1;
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a float of the hydroelectric plant
• Figures 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views of other embodiments of a floating hydroelectric plant adapted, with respect to the dimensions and the position of the floats relative to the turbomachine at low power;
• Figures 11 and 12 are views similar respectively to Figures 1 and 2 of another embodiment of a floating hydroelectric plant
• FIG. 13 is a sectional, partial and schematic view of another embodiment of a suitable floating hydroelectric plant, with regard to the dimensions and the position of the floats relative to the turbomachine, at medium and high powers. ;
• Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views of the blades of a floating hydroelectric plant according to two other embodiments.
• Figure 16 is a partial sectional schematic view of Figure 15 in a vertical plane.
• Figure 17 is a perspective view of the blades of a floating hydroelectric plant according to another embodiment.
• the terms “substantially”, “about” and “approximately” mean “within 10%”.
• the adjectives “lower” and “upper” are used with respect to a reference direction which corresponds to the axis of rotation of the turbine of the hydroelectric plant and which is the vertical direction in the following description. However, the reference direction may be inclined plus or minus 20 degrees from the vertical direction.
• Figures 1, 2 and 3 are respectively a front view, a top view and a bottom view of an embodiment of a floating hydroelectric plant 5 adapted, with respect to the dimensions and position of the floats by compared to the turbomachine, to provide the low electric power in the range 100 W to 100 kW.
• the central unit 5 comprises a flotation device 6 and a turbomachine 8.
• the turbomachine 8 comprises an electromechanical converter 10 driven by a turbine 14.
• the flotation device 6 comprises two floats 16 disposed on either side of the turbine 14.
• the turbine 14 comprises N driving blades 18, where N is an integer which varies, for example, from 2 to 7.
• N is an integer which varies, for example, from 2 to 7.
• three driving blades 18 are shown in FIGS. 1 and 3.
• each blade motor 18 is a straight blade, for example vertically oriented.
• Each blade 18 comprises a lower portion 19 immersed in water and an upper portion 20 emerged.
• each driving blade 18 is fixed to a connecting member 22 in the form of a disc, preferably horizontal, possibly perforated.
• the disk 22 is fixed to a drive shaft 24 of axis ⁇ of a mechano-electric conversion system 10.
• the blades 18 are adapted to drive the disk 22 and the shaft in rotation. 24 around the axis ⁇ when immersed in a moving liquid.
• the blades 18 are distributed equidistant from the axis of rotation ⁇ .
• the lower end of each blade 18 is preferably free, ie it is not attached to another mechanical part and is surrounded by liquid.
• the outside diameter of the turbine 14, that is to say the diameter of the cylinder axis ⁇ containing the blades 18, is between 50 cm and 5 m.
• each driving blade 18, the connecting member 22, the drive shaft 24 and the electromechanical converter system are situated above the water line 30, shown schematically in the figures by a double line in phantom, and which corresponds to the intersection of the free surface of the water and the external surface of the floats 16 and the blades 18.
• the connecting member 22 and the drive shaft 24 are only advantageously subjected to aerodynamic drag. If these parts were immersed, they would be subjected to hydrodynamic drag which is clearly superior to aerodynamic drag.
• the blades 18 are normally immersed below the waterline 30.
• the height H ] _ of the submerged portion 19 of the blades 18 is less than the height 3 ⁇ 4 of the immersed part of the floats 16. This makes it possible to protect the blades 18 against objects on the bottom of the watercourse and can possibly operate the hydroelectric plant 5 by depositing it directly on the bed of a shallow stream or allowing the plant to land on the bottom in case of low water.
• the minimum distance between each float 16 and the blades 18 is greater than or equal to the maximum thickness of the blade 18, preferably between 1 and 10 times the maximum thickness of the blade 18.
• the flotation member 6 further comprises an upper armature 32 emerging, acting as a bridge, comprising a perforated plate which connects the upper face of the two floats 16.
• the flotation member 6 may further comprise a submerged lower reinforcement 34 which connects the lower faces of the two floats 16.
• FIG. lower frame 34 by a cross member which connects the lower faces of the floats at the front edges of the floats.
• the lower frame 34 further comprises at least one cross member, not shown, connecting the middle portions of the lower faces of the floats 16, the two cross members may be integral.
• the mechanical-electrical conversion system 10 comprises a casing 36 containing the generator, not visible in FIGS. 1 to 3.
• the casing 36 is fixed to the bridge 32.
• the casing 36 may have a dome shape.
• Each float 16 has an elongated shape in the direction of the current.
• Each float 16 comprises a submerged portion 37 and an emergent portion 38.
• Each float 16 may correspond to a one-piece element or to distinct elements fixed to each other, and arranged, for example, one above the other .
• Each float 16 may have a horizontal section in the form of a wing profile, including, for example, a rounded or tapered leading edge and a tapered trailing edge.
• the relative thickness of the profile is less than or equal to 0.15.
• the floats 16 are symmetrical to one another with respect to a median vertical plane P.
• the two floats 16 constitute a vertical axis diffuser which freely directs the plant 5 to the incident current and increases its efficiency by suctioning the flow incident between the floats.
• the floats 16 help to limit the roll.
• the axis of rotation ⁇ of the turbine 14 is placed at the neck of the diffuser formed by the floats 16 but may be placed downstream thereof.
• the bridge 32 is substantially horizontal in the absence of current or, in other words, the attitude of the central unit 5 is zero in the absence of current.
• This configuration ration can be obtained through a suitable ballast, not shown, within the floats 16 leading to position the center of gravity G and the center of keel Cg of the central 5 on the same vertical line, G being below Cg.
• the blades 18 are arranged to have a rotation symmetry of order N about the axis ⁇ .
• the perforated disk 22 also has a rotation symmetry of order N around the axis ⁇ . It comprises an outer annular portion 40 to which are fixed the blades 18, an inner annular portion 42 fixed to the drive shaft 24 and arms 44 connecting the outer annular portion 40 to the inner annular portion 42.
• each blade 18 to the disk 22 may be advantageously under stress: a tie rod, not shown, housed in the hollow of the blade 18 may be preloaded axially in tension, the blade 18 is then compressed.
• a tie rod not shown, housed in the hollow of the blade 18 may be preloaded axially in tension, the blade 18 is then compressed.
• the blades 18 have an arrow which can vary between -45 ° and + 45 °. By way of example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the arrow may be zero. The mechanical conversion efficiency of the turbine is then maximal. An arrow helps the blade 18 to get rid of debris that could catch on it because of the secondary flow that develops along the blade.
• FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the mechano-electric conversion system 10 comprising a generator 50.
• the generator 50 is, for example, with a vertical axis at 20 °. It is, for example, a synchronous generator with direct drive and radial flow.
• the generator 50 is, for example, with a vertical axis at 20 °. It is, for example, a synchronous generator with direct drive and radial flow.
• a cylindrical stator 52 comprising a bottom wall 54 and an upper wall 56 connected at their outer periphery by an outer side wall 58, for example by screws 60.
• the lower walls 54 and 56 upper correspond to perforated axis discs ⁇ .
• Wall lateral 58 may be a cylindrical wall of circular section. Windings 62 are arranged on the internal face of the side wall 58.
• the bottom wall 54 comprises an opening 63 for the passage of the drive shaft 24.
• the bottom wall 54 is furthermore fixed to the casing 36.
• a rotor 64 is provided between the lower walls 54 and upper 56.
• the rotor 64 is integral with the drive shaft 24.
• the rotor 64 comprises a central portion 66 in the form of a disk of axis ⁇ attached to the shaft of drive 24 and extending at its outer periphery by a cylindrical portion 68 of axis ⁇ circular section.
• Generator 50 is called discoid because of the structure of the rotor.
• the power provided by the mechanical-electrical conversion system 10 preferably varies between 100 W and 100 kW, the dimensions of the generator 50 are adapted according to the desired maximum power.
• Permanent magnets are attached to the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 68.
• the permanent magnets may be attached to the inner surface of the side wall 58 and the windings may be attached to the outer surface of the the cylindrical portion 68.
• the windings 62 are arranged vis-à-vis the permanent magnets.
• the sealing of the generator 50 against the packets of water is obtained by radial lip seals 70 placed on the periphery of the drive shaft 24 between the drive disk 22 and the bottom wall 54.
• the generator 50 comprises a hub carrier 72 to which is fixed the upper wall 56 of the stator 52, for example by screws 74.
• the drive shaft 24 is rotatably mounted about the axis ⁇ relative to the carrier. hub 72 via bearings 76.
• a cover 77 provided at the top of the housing 36, provides access to the generator 50.
• the use of a discoidal generator reduces the height of the mechano-electric conversion system 10, the height of the rotor 64, measured along the axis ⁇ , relative to its diameter is preferably maintained between 0.1 and 0.2.
• the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 4 has the advantage of ensuring a high degree of tightness with reduced friction, because of the small diameter of the seals 70. This is favorable for starting the plant 5 with an incident current at low speed, for example from 1 m / s.
• FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the electro-mechanical conversion system 10.
• the drive disk 22 serves as a rotor 64 and the cylindrical portion 68 is fixed directly to the upper face of the disk. 22.
• the lower wall 54 of the stator 52 is then not present.
• the tightness of the generator 50 against the water packets is obtained by V-ring type axial joints 78 placed between the outer side wall 58 of the stator 52 and the upper face of the drive disc 22.
• the number of parts and the overall weight of the turbomachine of the embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 are advantageously reduced compared to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.
• the transmissible mechanical power can then be higher.
• This solution is suitable for floating hydropower plants equipped with large diameter turbines, for example greater than one meter.
• the drive disk 22 for these large-diameter turbines can be subjected to deformations that affect the proper functioning of the generator.
• radial ribs can be arranged on the upper face of the drive disc 22 inside the cylindrical portion 68 and outside the axial seals 78.
• the generator 50 is a synchronous machine with direct drive and radial flow
• the generator 50 can be an electric machine axial flow.
• the generator 50 may be a double-gap electric machine.
• FIG. 6 represents, partially and schematically, an embodiment of a major part of the immersed height 19 of blade 18.
• the blade 18 has a section, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation ⁇ , having the shape of a wing profile 80 characterized by a rounded leading edge 82 and a tapered trailing edge 84.
• the blade 18 is subjected to a lift force, which is at the origin of the movement of the blade 18, and to a drag force, called regular drag force, which opposes the movement of the blade. pale 18.
• Blade tip drag strength and wave drag strength add to the regular drag force.
• the blade tip drag force is exerted at the lower free end of the blade 18.
• the wave drag force is exerted at the water line, at the boundary between the submerged and emerged parts of the blade. pale 18.
• an end wing 86 oriented towards the axis of rotation ⁇ , can be attached to the end of each driving blade 18.
• the end fin 86 may have a section, in a plane parallel to the axis of rotation ⁇ , having the shape of a wing profile 88.
• the wing profile of the blade is modified in the vicinity of the waterline according to an embodiment shown in Figures 14, 15 and 17.
• FIG. 7 represents an embodiment of the float 16.
• the float 16 has, over most of the immersed height 37 of the float, a section, in a horizontal plane, having the shape of a wing profile 96. such profiles are characterized by a rounded leading edge 97 and a trailing edge 98 tapered.
• the float 16 even more if its leading edge is not thin, is subjected to a wave drag and causes a wave of bow, the part of which develops between the two floats 16 has a harmful effect 14.
• the upper portion 38 of the float 16 defined from the waterline 30 at rest and on a height which extends to the upper face of the float, is characterized by a profile in a horizontal plane, which is modified with respect to the wing profile 96.
• the modification relates to three characteristics: i) the leading edge becomes rather sharply tapered and then can remain it up to the upper face of the float or have only a tapered area of reduced height, or even punctual (ii) in its tapered area, this edge d attack is advantageously shifted downstream and finally (iii) da ns its tapered area its thickness is reduced over the entire chord of the profile.
• the zone of the modified portion 38 below the tapered portion becomes more or less submerged during the operation of the plant and acts as a bow bulb whose known function is to limit the appearance of the wave of bow.
• the example represents a variant in which the modified profile has a tapered leading edge 102 and shifted only to the plane 100 close to the water line 30 at rest (represented schematically by a double line ) and then resumes a wing profile advancing to the upper face of the float. Since the tapered zone 102 of the leading edge is offset downstream relative to the remainder of the float profile, the leading edge of the upper portion 38 has a kind of notch just above the water line 30. Over the entire height, the trailing edge of the modified portion 38 remains tapered, like that of a conventional wing profile. In operation, the nose of the modified portion 38 below the plane 100 becomes more or less immersed and plays the role of a bow bulb whose known function is to limit the appearance of the bow wave.
• FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of a hydroelectric power station 110.
• the hydroelectric power station 110 comprises all the elements of the hydroelectric power station 5 shown in FIG. 1 and further comprises an anti-debris system 112.
• the anti-debris system 112 is placed upstream of the turbine 14. It may consist of a succession of parallel blades 114, shaped "V", for example substantially horizontal, possibly profiled to reduce drag.
• the blades 114 can be supported on a central bow 116 inclined upstream and on uprights 118 located in the upstream zone of the floats 16.
• the outer general envelope of these blades 114 is a surface substantially similar to the hull before a flat-bottomed ship.
• the half angle at the top on the bow 116 formed by these blades 114 is advantageously less than 30 °.
• These blades 114 block the entry of debris between the floats 16 and also participate in the regulation of the incident current by breaking large turbulent structures.
• This anti-debris system 112 can be made removable by hinges 120 fixed on the front of the bridge 32.
• removable plates can be temporarily attached to the blades 114 of the anti-debris system 112 so as to materialize the forward hull of a ship, for example when moving the central 110. This reduces the drag exerted on the central unit 110 when it is moved.
• FIG. 9 represents another embodiment of a hydroelectric power station 130.
• the turbine has not been shown in Figure 9, for the sake of relief.
• the hydroelectric plant 130 comprises all the elements of the hydroelectric power station 110 shown in FIG. 8 and furthermore comprises a docking system 132.
• the docking system 132 comprises two docking lines. 134, 136 which are connected to two studs 138, 140 on either side of the central unit 130.
• the mooring lines 134, 136 may consist of cable, chain, rope, etc.
• the studs 138, 140 may be piles stuck in the bed of the stream or be fixed on the banks or on the walls of the sluices.
• each stud 138, 140 comprises an emergent portion and one end of each mooring line 134, 136 is fixed to the emerging portion of one of the studs 138, 140.
• the other end of each mooring line 134, 136 is fixed at the same point C m of the bow 116 of the anti-debris system 112.
• a single mooring line attached to a single pile and also connected to the point C m can also be used.
• the mooring line or mooring lines must meet two constraints. First, they must have sufficient tensile strength F m to balance at any time the resultant F // hydrodynamic forces of drag parallel to the direction of the current, so as to keep the machine in place.
• the resultant F // is the sum of the trajectories of all types (regular, wave) related to the extraction of energy by the turbine which is exerted on all the components of the hydroelectric power station.
• the resultant F // is exerted at an application point Cp, called the hydrodynamic thrust center, situated at the intersection of a vertical plane of symmetry of the central unit 130 and of a horizontal plane situated at the level of the part immersed from the central 130, the point Cp moving when the position of the unit 130 deviates from the zero attitude position.
• the position of the point C m may advantageously be determined so that the equilibrium position of the central unit 130 along its pitch axis is close to the attitude position. nothing.
• this float is made integral with a single turbine power plant by at least one connecting arm 144 coming from the bridge 32.
• the float (not shown) at the separating wall 152.
• the lever arm of the moment of buoyancy on the float 142 can be increased by moving the float 142 away from the plant.
• the moment associated with the pair (F m , F // ) participates in the righting torque for pitching forward.
• the moment associated with the buoyancy on the float 142 which increases with its depression, participates in the righting torque for rearward pitching.
• the mooring lines 134, 136 may be replaced by at least one mooring line comprising an end attached to the bottom of the stream and the opposite end attached to the lower frame 34 of the hydroelectric plant.
• the mooring line is fixed at a point of the lower frame 34. If 3 ⁇ 4it is t the horizontal component of the tensile strength of the mooring line, the moment associated with the pair (F m t / F // ) participates in the rectification torque for pitching forward, while the additional float 142 which increases with its depression, participates in the rectifying torque for pitching backwards.
• FIG. 10 represents another embodiment of a hydroelectric power station 150, called a twin-turbine hydroelectric power station.
• the hydroelectric power station 150 comprises all the elements of the hydroelectric power station 5 shown in FIG. 1 and furthermore comprises an additional turbomachine 8 'fixed to the bridge 32.
• the turbomachines 8 and 8' may have a similar structure.
• the turbines 14, 14 ' are juxtaposed symmetrically with respect to the plane of symmetry P of the flotation member 6.
• the blades 18, 18' of the turbines 14, 14 ' rotate in opposite directions of rotation and are separated by a median vertical wall 152 attached to the bridge 32 which is of limited length in Figure 10, but which can be extended downstream to produce a rectification torque for the yaw.
• FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively a front view and a top view of another embodiment of a floating hydroelectric power station 155.
• the central hydroelectric power station 155 comprises all the elements of the hydroelectric power station 5 shown in FIGS. Figures 1 to 3.
• the lower frame 34 of the floating hydroelectric plant 155 corresponds to a plate in one piece.
• the trailing edge of the plate is substantially in the plane containing the trailing edge of each float 16.
• the leading edge is substantially in the plane containing the leading edge of each float 16, or extends in upstream of this plane, having for example a portion 156 in the form of a half ellipse.
• the end of each mooring line 134, 136 can be fixed at a new point C m defined on the upstream end of this portion.
• a not shown variant of this plate 156 corresponds to a plate, having a vertical section, in a plane parallel to a plane of symmetry of the flotation member 6, in the form of a wing profile and participating in this flotation member.
• the profile of this plate section may further be defined to produce a lift force upwards thus making it possible to increase the flow in a vertical plane impacting the turbine and to increase its efficiency.
• the distance between the upper face of the lower reinforcement 34 and the lower faces of the blades 18 may be between one and ten maximum blade thicknesses.
• the floats 16 of the hydroelectric power station 155 extend further upstream of the turbine than the floats 16 of the hydroelectric power station 5.
• FIG. 13 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of another embodiment of a floating hydroelectric power station 160, adapted as regards the dimensions and the position of the floats with respect to the turbo-machine, medium and high powers.
• the turbine 14 is schematically represented by a circle and wherein each float 16 has a laminar profile.
• the choice of the type of laminar profile in this figure is particularly suitable for this part of the range. Indeed, a moving profile in a fluid has, from the leading edge to the trailing edge, a laminar flow zone followed by a turbulent flow zone. For a laminar profile, the laminarity can extend up to 50 to 70% of the rope.
• laminar profiles are the 6-digit NACA families, Eppler glider profiles, FX (Wortmann), etc.
• a laminar profile accelerates the flow very gradually, the distribution of low pressures being more spread out and more regular than on a conventional profile which has a peak of depression near the leading edge.
• the regularity of these distributions result of several geometric charac ⁇ this profile family teristics: board late attack, retreat downstream of the maximum thickness to 35 to 50% of the rope instead of 30%, investment the area with the minimum radius of curvature as far back as possible, etc.
• each float 16 as represented in FIG. 13 is of the Wortmann FX3 type.
• the maximum thickness is 50% of the rope, the maximum curvature is 75%, the maximum thickness is 10.5%. It is placed with a moderate incidence of 5 °. Its relative length to the neck is 4.
• FIG. 14 represents another embodiment of a part of the turbine 14, in which the emergent part of each blade 18 and at least one immersed part of each blade 18 are formed by at least one rod, two rods 162 being represented. in Figure 14.
• the rods 162 thus cut the waterplane and the portion of the blade having a wing profile has its upper face at least one rope away from this plane.
• the rods 162 can be immersed halfway into the water. The drag forces on the blades 18 at the level of the floating plane are advantageously reduced.
• Tie rods can be housed in rods 162 so as to tension the blade 18.
• the connection between the rods 162 and the connecting member 22 may be reinforced by gussets 163.
• Figure 15 shows another embodiment of a portion of the turbine 14 in which the lower surfaces of the blades 18 are connected to a lower ring 164 which has two roles. It advantageously allows to smooth the bending work that can be important when each blade 18 is facing the flow.
• the ring 164 advantageously plays the same role as the end fin 86 shown in FIG.
• the ring 164 can also reserve this second role to the end fin 86 while keeping its first role: the very end of the fin is then connected to the other ends of fins by a minimalist ring whose thickness in a horizontal plane does not exceed the maximum thickness of the fin.
• each fin is advantageously extended by an arm ensuring the continuity of the profile 88 of the end of the fins, to a hub axis ⁇ to which the arm is fixed, the hub being guided in rotation around a shaft secured to the lower frame and the shaft being housed therein.
• Figure 16 is a schematic section of the ring 164 and the blade 18 in a vertical plane containing the axis of the turbine 14.
• the ring 164 can be flattened in a horizontal plane. Its width may be at least twice its height.
• the ring 164 may be substantially symmetrical on either side of the rope of each blade 18. Alternatively, the inner portion of the ring 164 may be larger.
• the ring 164 may have a biconvex section outside the zone of connection with the blades, the upper part joining the lower part following two tapered edges forming horizontal circular lines internal and external to the blades 18.
• the upper portion In the zone of connection with the blades, the upper portion has a concavity facing the disk 22 so as to avoid a slope rupture with the upper and lower surfaces of the blades.
• FIG. 15 shows another embodiment of a part of the turbine 14 in which the blades 18, at the level where the rods 162 are fixed on the part of the blade having a wing profile, are connected to an upper ring 166.
• the upper ring 166 may have the same structure as the lower ring 164.
• the upper ring 166 is completely immersed in operation.
• the ring 166 plays, in addition, the same role as the end fin 86 shown in FIG.
• each float 16 with a horizontal section in the form of a wing profile may comprise vertical flaps movable pivotally about a vertical axis and capable of being pointed (i) towards the inside of the floating hydroelectric power plant to reduce the torque of the floating hydroelectric power station, and thus the drag exerted on the power plant during its movements in a watercourse (ii) or out of the floating hydroelectric power station for increase the suction effect between the floats and therefore the efficiency of the turbomachine in operation.
• the use of flaps amounts to transforming conventional profiles, with null or weak curvature, thin and thin leading edge, profiles close to laminar profiles with all the advantages outlined in the description of Figure 13. By controlling the opening of these flaps, the floats with such profiles can more s to adapt to the incident speed.
• an engine is fixed downstream of the bridge 32, the engine being permanently or removably, and for propelling the hydroelectric plant 10 to the surface of the water.
• this motor can be used to bring the hydroelectric plant to the desired position during its installation.
• the casing 36 can be fixed to the bridge 32 by an unlocking / locking system enabling a crane to lift or set up the turbomachine, once the central docked at the dock for maintenance.
• the hydroelectric plant 10 may further comprise at least one photovoltaic panel fixed on the upper face of the housing 36.

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• 2013
  • 2013-10-17 FR FR1360103A patent/FR3012179B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2014
  • 2014-10-16 WO PCT/FR2014/052644 patent/WO2015055962A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2014-10-16 EP EP14802092.8A patent/EP3058216A1/de not_active Withdrawn

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