FR2968722A1 - Installation for producing energy from natural open water source e.g. sea, has transformation device arranged to perform function of pump, and another device transforming kinetic energy of water into electric power at outlet of tank - Google Patents

Abstract

The installation (1) has a tank (2) containing water (5). The tank includes an outlet (24) for allowing the water to run out of the tank. A pump (3) pumps the water from a natural open water source (4) and less partially fills the water in the tank. A transformation device (6) e.g. wind turbine and photovoltaic panel, transforms renewable energy into electric power, where the transformation device is arranged to perform function of the pump. Another transformation device (7) transforms kinetic energy of the water into electric power at the outlet of the tank.

Description

The present invention relates generally to power generation installations.

The invention relates more particularly to an energy production installation 5 comprising: a tank capable of containing water, said tank comprising an outlet allowing the water to flow out of the tank, a source of water - a pump capable of pumping water from said water source to at least partially fill the reservoir, - a first energy transformation device capable of transforming a renewable energy into an electrical energy, such as one or wind turbines and / or one or more photovoltaic panels, said first device being configured to make it possible to operate the pump, a second energy transformation device capable of transforming the kinetic energy of the water at the outlet of the tank into electric energy.

It is known from the state of the art, and in particular DE20023098, an installation as described above. However, the known installation requires the use of two tanks, which complicates the design of the installation and increases its manufacturing cost. In addition, because of the use of a specific tank as a source of pumping, the available water volume is limited, which can penalize the operation of the installation. In addition, such an installation which uses two specific tanks operates in a closed circuit so that the water that is pumped into the bottom tank to be stored in the top tank is discharged into the bottom tank. This results in a significant risk of clogging of the mechanical members 30 of the installation, such as the pump and the turbine. Periods of regular emptying must be planned and the installation remains subject to a significant risk of failure.

Finally, the energy management with such an installation is not optimized.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simplified energy production facility whose operation is optimized and for which the risk of malfunction is reduced.

To this end, the subject of the invention is an energy production installation comprising: a reservoir capable of containing water, said reservoir comprising an outlet allowing the water to flow out of the tank; a source of water, a pump capable of pumping water from said water source to at least partially fill the reservoir, a first energy transformation device capable of transforming a renewable energy into an electrical energy, such as one or more wind turbines and / or one or more photovoltaic panels, said first device being configured to enable the pump to be operated; a second energy transforming device capable of transforming the kinetic energy of the water; at the outlet of the reservoir in electrical energy, characterized in that said source of water is a body of natural water, such as sea, river, lake or pond.

The evacuation of the water contained in the reservoir makes it possible, thanks to the second transformation device, to restore the potential energy of the water stored in the reservoir in electricity.

The fact of using as water source a body of water such as the sea or a river makes it possible to benefit from a very large quantity of water, which makes it possible to fill the reservoir to the desired maximum level without There is also a risk of water shortage on the source side.5 In addition, the use of a natural body of water such as the sea or a river avoids having to design and install an additional specific reservoir. Thus, the installation has no additional specific tank containing the water to be pumped. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the first and second energy transformation devices each comprise means of connection to the same circuit or electrical network.

The pumped water makes it possible to form a buffer energy reserve. This buffer reserve can be constituted or reconstituted while the first transformation device is operational, that is to say as long as the energy supplied by wind or the sun is sufficient to supply said circuit or electrical network. The energy buffer can be released when the first transformation device is no longer operational, that is to say when the renewable energy source, for example the wind or the sun, is no longer sufficient. .

In other words, in the operating configuration of the installation, the second energy transformation device is connected to an electrical circuit or network capable of being supplied with electricity by said second transformation device, which is common with said circuit or electrical network to which is connected the first transforming device.

Thus, the second device makes it possible to take over from the first device 25 to regularly supply said circuit or electrical network.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said second energy transformation device comprises a turbine formed of a rotary shaft provided with a plurality of blades capable of being rotated by the water leaving the reservoir, said second transformation device also comprising a current generator whose rotor is coupled to or coupled to the turbine shaft.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said second device is configured so as to allow water to escape from the outlet of the reservoir downstream of said second device into said source of natural water, for example at sea or in a river.

With a natural body of water serving as a source of pumping, the risk of fouling of the installation is reduced because the volume of water stored by the reservoir and then discharged corresponds to a very small volume, preferably less than 10% of the volume of the natural water body.

Thus, such a power generation facility eliminates periods of emptying.

The area of the natural body of water in which the water is pumped is distinct from the area in which the water is discharged so that the pumped water, which is stored in the reservoir for the purpose of operating the second processing device, is discharged to the outside without being pumped. To recharge the tank, the pump draws a volume of water other than that evacuated. In other words, the pump, the reservoir and the second device of the installation form the equivalent of an open water circulation circuit.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said installation comprises control means which comprise means for regulating the level of water in the tank.

Advantageously, said regulation means are configured to maintain a level of water in the tank above a level, said minimum level, predefined, and / or said regulation means are configured for, when the water level descends below said minimum level, preventing water from leaving the tank and controlling the operation of the pump so that the water level in the tank is greater than or equal to said minimum level.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the installation comprises control means comprising means for determining the electrical energy produced by the first energy transforming device and means for activating and deactivating the second switching device. transformation according to the energy produced by the first transformation device.

The said control means comprising the energy determination means may be distinct from or common to the control means detailed above which comprise the water level regulation means.

The second device converts the kinetic energy of the water into a pair 15 serving, via a current generator, such as an alternator, to generate an electric current. The alternator associated with the turbine is connected to the circuit or electrical network to be powered. Thus, the water stored in the reservoir forms a buffer energy reserve which makes it possible to supply electrical energy to said circuit or electrical network when the electrical energy supplied by the first device is no longer sufficient to power said circuit or electrical network.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said first energy transformation device being a wind turbine which comprises a rotor provided with blades designed to be driven in rotation by the wind, said installation comprises an activatable / deactivatable transmission mechanism of the movement. from the rotor of the wind turbine to the pump to power the pump with energy.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the installation according to the invention, for which the reservoir water storage is partially submerged at sea; - Figure 2 is a view of the installation of Figure 1, for which the water storage tank is out of water.

With reference to the figures and as recalled above, the invention relates to a plant 1 for producing energy. Said installation comprises a reservoir 2 capable of containing water 5, in the form of a water column.

Said tank 2 comprises an outlet 24 allowing the water to flow out of the tank 2. The installation also comprises a pump 3 able to pump water to at least partially fill the tank 2, and a first device transformation of energy capable of transforming renewable energy into electrical energy, such as one or more wind turbines and / or one or more photovoltaic panels.

Said first device 6 is configured to, on the one hand, power a circuit or an electrical network 8, and, on the other hand, to make it possible to operate the pump 3. The first device 6 is connected to the pump to feed it in mechanical and / or electrical energy to make it work. In the case where said pump 3 comprises a power supply circuit powered by the first device 6, said circuit or electrical network 8, which is connected to the first device 6, is distinct from the power supply circuit of the pump. Said circuit or electrical network 8 may comprise high voltage lines.

The installation also comprises a second energy transformation device 7 capable of transforming the kinetic energy of the water, resulting from the release of the potential energy of the water 5 stored in the tank 2, into electrical energy. Said second transformation device 7 is positioned on the water outlet path 5 of the tank 2.

The pump 3 is arranged for pumping water in a natural body of water 4, such as sea, river, lake or pond.

Thus, the pumping of the water from the natural water body 4 to said tank 2 makes it possible to store a portion of the energy of the first transformation device 6 in the form of potential energy in the tank while the first device 6 works. This potential energy stored in the tank 2 can be used when the first device no longer works or when the energy supplied by said first device is no longer sufficient.

In other words, the pumped water makes it possible to store a portion of the wind or photovoltaic energy in the form of potential energy by the water contained in the reservoir 2 which thus forms a water column.

Advantageously, the pump 3 is associated with a filter, not shown, for filtering the water taken from the natural body of water 4 to fill the tank 2.

The second energy transformation device 7 is connected to a circuit or an electrical network 8, able to be supplied with electricity by said second transforming device 7, which is common with said circuit or electrical network 8 to which is connected the first processing device 6.

Said second energy transformation device 7 comprises a turbine 70 formed of a rotary shaft provided with a plurality of blades capable of being rotated by the thrust of the water at the outlet of the reservoir on the blades. Said second transformation device 7 also comprises a current generator 71 whose rotor is coupled to or coupled to the shaft of the turbine 70.

Said second device 7 is configured so as to allow the water 5 at the outlet of the tank 2 downstream of said second device 7 to escape into the body of natural water 4. Thus, the turbine 70 is arranged to reject the water that operates in an area of the body of water 4 located downstream of the pumping zone.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the water leaving the turbine is rejected elsewhere than in a body of water, for example in the ground or stored for a particular use, such as watering or for another use.

As in the example illustrated in Figure 1, it can be provided that the tank 2 is at least partially immersed. It is also possible that the pump 3 is at least partially immersed. It can also be provided as illustrated in Figure 2 that the tank 2 is out of water. In the example illustrated in Figure 2, the turbine is housed in a pipe 27 connected to the outlet 24 of the tank and which opens into the body of water 4. The pump 3 is also connected to a pipe 23 of which 15 a end plunges into the body of water 4.

Said installation comprises control means 10. Said control means are in the form of one or more electronic cards provided with one or more microprocessors. Thus, when in the following description it is specified that the control means are configured to perform a given operation, it means that the or one of the microprocessors comprises computer instructions for performing said operation.

The control means 10 comprise means for regulating the level of water in the tank 2 configured to deactivate the pump 3 when the water level in the tank 2 exceeds a level, said maximum level, predefined. For this purpose the tank is equipped with a level sensor 52 positioned to detect said maximum water level and able to communicate with said regulating means. Said control means also comprise configured regulation means. to maintain a level of water in the tank 2 above a level, said minimum level, predefined. For this purpose the tank is provided with another level sensor 51 positioned to detect said minimum water level and able to communicate with said regulating means.

Said regulating means are configured to, when the water level falls below said minimum level, prevent the water from leaving the tank 2 and control the operation of the pump 3 so that the water level in the tank 2 is greater than or equal to said minimum level.

When the reservoir is partially submerged, as in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the minimum water level to be kept in the reservoir is defined with respect to the level of the body of water 4 in which the reservoir is partially immersed.

Advantageously, the means for regulating the water level are configured to maintain a water level at least equal to 2 meters with respect to the surface of the body of water when said reservoir is partially immersed or relative to the water level. bottom wall of the tank 2 when it is out of water.

Said control means 10 also comprise means for determining the level of electrical energy produced by the first energy transformation device 6 and means for activating and deactivating the second transformation device 7 as a function of said level of energy. energy produced by the first transformer device 6. In particular, the second device 7 is activated when the energy level produced by the first device 6 is less than a predefined threshold.

The activation and deactivation means of the second device 7 make it possible to release or prevent the circulation of the water at the outlet of the tank 2 so as to make the second energy conversion device 7 work or not.

The various means that comprise the control means, such as said regulation means, said energy level determination means and said activation and deactivation means of the second device 7, can be implemented in the form of computer instructions implemented. in the microprocessor (s).

Said control means 10 are also configured to release the circulation of the water at the outlet of the tank 2 as long as the energy produced by the first energy transformation device 6 remains below a predefined threshold level and as long as the water level in the tank 2 is above the minimum level.

To release or prevent the circulation of the water at the outlet of the tank 2, provision may be made for the installation to be equipped with closure means, such as a solenoid valve, the outlet or the outlet circuit of the tank 2, which can be activated and deactivated by said control means 10 of the installation. It is also possible for the second energy transformation device 7 to be configured to block the flow of water at the outlet of the tank 2. In particular, it can be provided that the blades of the turbine intended to be put into operation movement by water are associated with rotation locking means adapted to be controlled by said control means 10. In the case where said first energy transformation device 6 is a wind turbine which comprises a rotor provided with blades for to be rotated by the wind, it can be provided that said installation comprises an activatable / deactivatable transmission mechanism of the movement of the rotor of the wind turbine 6 to the pump 3 to supply the pump 3 with energy. In other words, the rotor of the wind turbine and the corresponding motion transmission mechanism form the energy supply means of the pump 3. It can also be provided that the pump comprises an electric motor and a current generator enabling to transform the mechanical energy of the rotor into electrical energy to power its electric motor.

Thus, the pump can be powered by the mechanical movement of the wind turbine and / or by electricity of wind or photovoltaic origin.

When the pump is provided with an electric motor that can be supplied with current by the electricity generated by the first device, said first device may be formed of at least one wind turbine and / or at least one photovoltaic panel.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the turbine 70 is disposed at the bottom of the tank 2. Optionally, it can be provided that the turbine 70 is disposed below the bottom level of the tank.

The present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described and shown, but the person skilled in the art will be able to make any variant that conforms to his spirit.

Claims (9)

REVENDICATIONS1. An energy generation installation (1) comprising: - a reservoir (2) adapted to contain water (5), said reservoir (2) comprising an outlet (24) allowing the water to flow out of the reservoir (2), - a source of water, - a pump (3) capable of pumping water from said water source to at least partially fill the reservoir (2), - a first transformation device (6) of energy adapted to transform renewable energy into electrical energy, such as one or more wind turbines and / or one or more photovoltaic panels, said first device (6) being configured to allow the pump (3) to operate, a second energy transforming device (7) capable of transforming the kinetic energy of the water at the outlet of the tank (2) into electrical energy, characterized in that said water source is a natural body of water ( 4), such as sea, river, lake or pond. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second energy transformers (6, 7) each comprise means for connection to the same circuit or electrical network (8). 3. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second energy transforming device (7) comprises a turbine (70) formed of a rotary shaft provided with blades capable of being rotated by the rotor. water at the outlet of the tank, said second transformation device (7) also comprising a current generator (71) whose rotor is coupled to or coupled to the turbine shaft (70). 30 4. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second device (7) is configured to allow to drain the water (5) at the outlet of the reservoir (2) downstream of said second device (7). ) in the said natural body of water (4), for example at sea or in a river. 5. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said installation comprises control means (10) comprising means for regulating the water level in the reservoir (2) 6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that said means for regulating the water level in the tank (2) are configured to turn off the pump (3) when the water level in the tank (2) exceeds 10 a level, said maximum level, predefined, and / or said regulating means are configured to maintain a level of water in the tank (2) above a level, said minimum level, predefined. 7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that said regulating means 15 are configured to, when the water level drops below said minimum level, prevent the water from leaving the tank (2) and control the operation of the pump (3) so that the level of water in the tank (2) is greater than or equal to said minimum level. 20 8. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said installation comprises control means comprising means for determining the electrical energy produced by the first energy transforming device (6) and means for activating and deactivating the second transforming device (7) as a function of the energy produced by the first transforming device (6). 9. Installation according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, said first energy transforming device (6) being a wind turbine which comprises a rotor provided with blades intended to be driven in rotation by the wind, said installation comprises an activatable / deactivatable transmission mechanism of the movement of the rotor of the wind turbine (6) to the pump (3) to supply the pump (3) with energy.