FR2977596A1 - Modular base for hydrokinetic turbine, has elementary modules with parallelepiped form whose external dimensions are respectively equal to fraction, lower than or equal to unit, of external dimensions of reference container - Google Patents

Abstract

The base (11) has two hollow elementary modules (12), and first fixing units for fixing the elementary modules with each other. Each elementary module has a parallelepiped form whose external height, external width and/or external length are respectively equal to a fraction, lower than or equal to a unit, of external height, external width and/or external length of a reference container defined by ISO 668standard. Second fixing units (121) fix the elementary modules with respect to a transport unit. An independent claim is also included for a hydrokinetic turbine.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to the field of tidal turbines resting on the seabed. More particularly, the present invention relates to the bases for tidal turbines resting on the seabed.

State of the art

A tidal turbine is a device with at least one submarine turbine and uses the kinetic energy of marine currents or streams to transform the energy of seawater or streams into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is in turn transformed into electrical energy by an alternator. A tidal turbine typically includes a live portion and a base.

The live part is the part of the tidal turbine intended to capture the energy of the sea water or watercourse and to transform it into mechanical energy. Depending on the type of construction, the alternator may also be part or not of the live part. The base allows the attachment and maintenance of the live part on the seabed or the bottom of the bed of the stream. There are several basic types, for example gravity bases and pious bases. The construction of bases and conventional live parts involve the transport of these by suitable means of transport. Indeed, the bases and conventional live parts must be loaded on adapted vehicles and / or embarked on a boat, for example offshore platforms or Jack-up. However, the cost of such means of transport is generally high because the weight of bases and live parts is very important. In addition, the transportation of the base and the live part requires a particular adaptation of the means of transport which are then specific to them. The particularity and the specificity of these means of transport increase their cost because their structure, design and design are specific to each type of base and / or given live part. 1 Introduction

An object of the invention is therefore to overcome at least one disadvantage of the state of the art above.

In particular, an object of the invention is to allow low cost transportation to bring the tidal turbine base to a desired location. This objective is achieved through the design of a tidal turbine base comprising: at least two elementary modules; fasteners for fixing the elementary modules together; each elementary module having a parallelepipedal shape whose outer height, outer length and outer width are each equal to a fraction, less than or equal to unity, respectively of the outer height, the outer length and the outer width of a container defined by the ISO 668 standard or new container standard that could supplement or replace the ISO 668 standard. Thus, the modular base can be divided into several elementary modules that have standardized dimensions. This allows the use of existing transport service and therefore reduce the cost by assembling them in blocks so that each block has the dimensions of a container defined by ISO 668. The modular base includes preferably fasteners for fixing the elementary modules relative to a means of transport, for example relative to a boat, a land transport vehicle, an airplane.

The fraction is advantageously equal to: 1; 1/2; 1/3; 2/3; 1/4; or 3/4. In order to allow the use of transport service for the whole of the modular base, any element that it contains, other than the elementary modules, has a dimension smaller than that of the container as defined by the ISO 668 standard. this element can be housed either inside the elementary modules or inside a container. In a first embodiment, the elementary modules are containers as defined by the ISO 668 standard. In another embodiment, the elementary modules are elementary lattice modules, each elementary lattice module comprising: a frame formed of metal bars deposited on the edges of the corresponding parallelepiped; and - stiffening bars deposited on the faces of the parallelepiped and fixed on the frame. Advantageously, the modular base comprises at least two parallel longitudinal arms and at least one transverse arm connecting the two arms together. Each of the two longitudinal arms is formed at least in part by the elementary modules whose outer height is equal to the outer height of the container. The transverse arm is formed of an elementary module whose outer height is less than the outer height of the container. In a variant, the elementary module forming the transverse arm is an elongate element of cylindrical shape with a circular or elliptical base. In general, the elementary module forming the transverse arm is an elongated element of hydrodynamic shape with little resistance to flow. The invention also provides a seating assembly for tidal turbine comprising: a modular base for tidal turbine as described above; a base including a mast for assembling a live portion of a tidal turbine to the modular base; - Fasteners for fixing the base on the modular base, and at least a portion of the fasteners comprising adjusters to adjust and / or adjust the verticality of the mast of the base. The fasteners are advantageously three in number for a three point fixing of the base on the modular base, and in that two of the fasteners comprise adjusters arranged at these fasteners for adjusting or adjusting the height of the base. The invention finally relates to a tidal turbine comprising a modular base as described above and a live portion comprising at least one nozzle and propellers.

Presentation of figures

Other objectives, advantages and characteristics will appear on reading the detailed description which follows with reference to the drawings given for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, and among which: FIG. 1 is a three-quarter view of a modular base; for a tidal turbine according to a first embodiment in which each of the elementary modules is a container; FIG. 2 is a three-quarter view of a modular base for a tidal turbine according to a second embodiment in which the modular base comprises elementary modules whose external dimensions are those of a container and elementary modules whose height outside is equal to a fraction of 1/4 of the outer height of the container; FIG. 3 is a three-quarter view of a modular base for a tidal turbine according to a third embodiment in which the modular base comprises elementary modules whose external dimensions are those of a container and elementary modules whose height outside is equal to a fraction of 1/2 of the outer height of the container; FIG. 4 is a three-quarter view of a modular base for a tidal turbine according to a fourth embodiment in which the modular base comprises two parallel longitudinal arms whose dimensions are equal to those of a container and two transverse arms, each of the transverse arms being formed of an elongated element of cylindrical shape with a circular base and whose outer dimensions are smaller than the internal dimensions of the container; FIG. 5 is a three-quarter view of a modular base for a tidal turbine according to a fifth embodiment in which the base comprises elementary lattice modules; Figure 6 is a three-quarter view of a water-jet seating assembly according to a particular embodiment, the base of which is illustrated in Figure 2; - Figure 7 is a side view, partially in section of a first attachment used for the adjustment and / or adjustment of horizontality of a base for the attachment of a live portion of the turbine, this attachment comprises an adjuster; and - Figure 8 is a side view, partially in section of a last attachment used for the adjustment of horizontality of the base.

detailed description

A modular base for a water turbine according to the present invention comprises at least two hollow elementary modules and fasteners for fixing the elementary modules together. Each elementary module has a parallelepipedal shape whose external height, external length and external width are each equal to a fraction, less than or equal to unity, of the outer height, the outer length and the outer width respectively. a container defined by ISO 668. These fractions may all be identical, all different from each other or a fraction is different from the other two identical to each other. ISO 668 defines the standardized containers shown in Table 1 below: 10 Length Width Height Designation SI (mm) System SI (mm) System SI (mm) Imperial Imperial System 1 EEA 13 716 45 ft 2 438 8 ft 2 896 9 ft 6 in 1EE 2 591 8ft6in 1AAA 12 192 40 ft 2 896 9ft6in 1AA 2 591 8ft6in 1A 2 438 8 ft 1 BBB 9 125 29 ft 11 'in 2 896 9 ft 6 in 1 BB 2 591 8 ft 6 in 1B 2 438 8 ft 1 CC 6 058 19 ft 10Y in 2 591 8 ft 6 in 1C 2 438 8 ft 1D 2 991 9ft9% in 2 438 8ft Table 1

A standard also exists for the interior dimensions of containers. 5 This standard is ISO 1496-1 and the interior dimension table is reproduced below in Table 2. Length Width Height Designation System System SI System (mm) Imperial SI (mm) Imperial SI (mm) Imperial 1 EEE 13542 44 ft 2 655 8 ft 8Y in 1 EE 5 + 1/8 in 2 350 7 ft 8Y in 1AAA 39 ft 2 655 8 ft 8Y in 1AA 11998 4 + 3/8 in 2 350 7 ft 8Y in 1A 2 197 7 ft 2Y in 1 BBB 29 ft 2330 7 ft 73 / a in 2 655 8 ft 8Y in 1 BB 8931 2 350 7 ft 8Y in 3 + 5/8 in 1 B 2 197 7 ft 2Y in 1 CC 5867 19 ft 3 in 2 350 7 ft 8y in 1 C 2 197 7 ft 2y in 1 D 2802 9 ft 2 197 7 ft 2y in 2 + 5/16 in Table 2 The fraction of the outside height of the container is preferably chosen equal to: 1, ½ , 1/3, z / 3, ¼, or 3 / a.

For fixing the elementary modules relative to a means of transport, the modular base comprises dedicated fasteners. These dedicated fixings are also standardized to ISO 668. These are corner pieces whose positions determined by center-to-center distances and diagonal distance tolerances are given in Annex A of ISO 668. In order to transport the entire modular base easily with the available means of transport, any element that the modular base contains, other than the hollow elementary modules, has dimensions smaller than the internal dimensions of a container as defined by ISO 1496-1 and presented in Table 2 above. The elementary modules are advantageously waterproof. Thus, their transport on the water can be facilitated because the elementary modules can be filled with air and float on the surface. Only towing transport would be necessary. No adaptation of the means of transport would be essential. The elementary modules would then be cast by operating controls to remove the air and enter the water. These controls can also be used during towing to adjust the level of the waterline and thus provide better stability (in the face of the swell.) Example 1

A first embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the modular base 11 comprises only elementary modules 12 which are containers of a single type defined in the ISO 668 and ISO standards. 1496-1, for example 1CC containers (EVP). In particular, this modular base 11 comprises two longitudinal arms 111; 112 parallel, each formed of three containers aligned in the direction of their length and fixed relative to each other. The two longitudinal arms 111; 112 are spaced apart and connected by transverse arms 113; 114. Each transverse arm 113; 114 is formed of a single container whose length is arranged perpendicularly to the length of the containers of the longitudinal arms 111; 112. For example, a container forming a transverse arm 113; 114 is disposed between two extreme containers 111e; 112th each belonging to a longitudinal arm. The container forming a transverse arm 113; 114 is arranged so that one of its side faces 113 '; 114 'and the front faces 111e'; 112th of the containers of the longitudinal arms 111; 112 facing another container extend substantially on the same plane. Once installed on the seabed, the doors 122 of the containers can be opened to allow the seawater to flow inside them to reduce or eliminate the eddy.

Example 2

A second embodiment is described below with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the modular base 21 comprises first elementary modules 22 which have the external dimensions of a reference container chosen from the types of container defined in the ISO 668 standard and second elementary modules 23 whose external height is equal to one quarter of the external height of the reference container, the outer length and width of the second elementary modules 23 being equal to those of the reference container. In general, the dimensions of the second elementary modules can all be reduced compared to those of the first elementary modules so as to fit inside of them.

In particular, this modular base 21 comprises two longitudinal arms 211; 212 parallel, each formed of three first elementary modules 22 aligned in the direction of their length and fixed relative to each other. The two longitudinal arms 211; 212 are spaced apart and connected by two transverse arms 213; 214. Each transverse arm 213; 214 is formed of a single second elementary module 23 whose length is disposed perpendicular to the length of the first elementary modules 22 of the longitudinal arms 211; 212. For example, a second elementary module is disposed between two first extremal elementary modules 211e; 212e so that one of its side faces 214 "and the front faces 211e"; 212e "containers of the longitudinal arms 211; 212 not turned towards another first elementary module extend substantially on the same plane.

Fasteners 221; 231 in accordance with the ISO 668 standard for containers are provided at each corner of the elementary modules 22; 23. Thus, these elementary modules 22; 23 may be transported under the same conditions as containers. In order to limit the need to prepare the sea floor or to overcome the irregularity of the sea floor, the second elementary modules 23 are fixed to the first elementary modules 22 in their upper part, for example so that the upper surfaces of all the elementary modules extend substantially on the same plane. Such an arrangement also makes it possible to overcome the thrust caused by the flow of water on the seabed. The front faces 211e "212e" of the first elementary modules 22 can be made in the form of a door 222 that can open and close. Once installed on the seabed, these doors 222 can be opened to allow seawater to flow inside the first elementary modules 22 to reduce or eliminate the eddy.

Example 3

A third embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the modular base 31 comprises first elementary modules 32 which have the external dimensions of a reference container chosen from the types of container. defined in the ISO 668 standard and second elementary modules 33 whose external height is equal to one half of the external height of the reference container, the outer length and width of the second elementary modules 33 being equal to those of the reference container.

In particular, this modular base 31 comprises two longitudinal arms 311; 312 parallel, each formed of three first elementary modules 32 aligned in the direction of their length and fixed relative to each other. The two longitudinal arms 311; 312 are spaced apart and connected by two transverse arms 313; 314, each formed of a single second elementary module 33 whose length is arranged perpendicularly to the length of the containers of the longitudinal arms 311; 312. For example, a second elementary module 33 is disposed between two first extreme elemental modules 311e; 312e so that one of its side faces 314e "and the front faces 311e"; 312e "of the first elementary modules of the longitudinal arms 311, 312 not turned towards another first elementary module extend substantially on the same plane.The second elementary modules 33 are fixed to the first elementary modules 32 in their lower part, for example the lower surfaces of all the elementary modules extend substantially on the same plane, and fasteners 321, 331 conforming to the ISO 668 standard for the containers are provided at each corner of the elementary modules 32, 33. Thus, these modules elementary 32, 33 can be transported under the same conditions as containers.The front faces of the first elementary modules can be made in the form of a door that can open and close.After installed on the seabed, these doors 322 can be open to allow the seawater to flow inside the first elementary modules 32 p to reduce or even eliminate the eddy.

Example 4

A fourth embodiment is described below with reference to FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the modular base 41 comprises elementary modules 42 that have the external dimensions of a reference container chosen from the defined container types. in ISO 668. The modular base 41 also comprises elongated elements 44 of cylindrical shape with a circular base whose dimensions are smaller than the dimensions of the reference container to be able to be contained therein in order to simplify the transport.

In particular, this modular base 41 comprises two longitudinal arms 411; 412 parallel, each formed of three elementary modules 42 aligned in the direction of their length and fixed relative to each other. The two longitudinal arms 411; 412 are spaced apart and connected by two transverse arms 413; 414, each formed of a single elongated element 44 whose axis is arranged perpendicularly to the length of the elementary modules 42 of the longitudinal arms 411; 412. For example, an elongated element 44 is disposed between two elementary modules 42 so that its lateral surface 413 "414" and the end faces 411e "412e" of the extremal elementary modules 411e; 412th of the longitudinal arms 411; 412 not turned to another elementary module are leveled. The elongated element 44 may have a cylindrical shape with circular base but also elliptical. Thus, the disruption of the flow of water due to the presence of the elongate member 44 is decreased. Fixings 421 in accordance with the ISO 668 standard for the containers are provided at each corner of the elementary modules 42, just as for the two other examples. In order to limit the need to prepare the sea floor or to overcome the unevenness of the sea floor, the elongated elements 44 are fixed to the elementary modules 42 in their upper part, for example so that the upper surfaces of all the elementary modules and elongated elements are leveled. Such an arrangement also makes it possible to dispense with the flow present on the seabed. The end faces of the elementary modules can be made in the form of a door 422 that can open and close. Once installed on the seabed, these doors 422 can be opened to allow seawater to flow inside the elementary modules 411; 412 to reduce or even eliminate the eddy.

Example 5

A fifth embodiment is described below with reference to FIG.

In this embodiment, the modular base 51 comprises at least partially elementary modules 52 lattice. These elementary modules 52 have the outer dimensions of a container defined in the ISO 668 standard, but may also have external dimensions each equal to a fraction, less than or equal to one, of corresponding dimensions of a container described by the ISO 668 standard. Each elementary module 52 parallelepiped shaped lattice comprises a frame formed by metal bars 521 and arranged on the edges of the corresponding parallelepiped. These metal bars 521 are fixed to each other at their ends, for example by welding or by screwing. In order to stiffen the lattice structure, metal bars 522 are disposed on each of the faces, preferably two per side so as to form a Saint Andrew cross, i.e. X-shaped. In general, any type of lattice construction allowing the stiffening of the structure is possible, for example with metal bars forming spacers.

Fixings 520 according to ISO 668 for containers are also provided. Thus, these elementary modules 52 lattice can be transported under the same conditions as the containers. These elementary modules 52 lattice have the other advantage of allowing the passage of the marine current through the base so as to limit obstacles in its path. The use of these elementary modules 52 lattice is advantageous when only the load is sought and not buoyancy. In addition, it is possible to form the tidal turbine base either entirely with elementary modules 52 in lattice or in combination with other elementary modules, how those described in Examples 1 to 4, and in general with any elementary module of which the outer dimensions are those of a container defined by ISO 668. Similarly, the transverse arms 23; Examples 2 and 3 can be made of lattice 12 Example 6

Example 6 illustrated in FIG. 6 corresponds to the base 21 for a water turbine of example 2 on which is placed a base 6 for fixing a live portion of a tidal turbine so as to form a seat assembly for a Hydroelectric. The base 6 comprises a mast 63 at its center on which a live portion of the tidal turbine is fixed, for example fixedly or rotationally. The base 6 is a fixed element at three points 61; 62 on the basis of Example 2. The fixing in three points allows the adjustment of the verticality of the mast 63 to ensure that the live portion of the tidal turbine is mounted on the seat assembly. This is particularly important when the live portion is rotatably mounted on the base 6 to ensure that as it rotates around the mast 63, the live portion always extends in an average plane that is horizontal, providing a substantially identical to the live part whatever the angle of its orientation. For example, two first fasteners 61 include adjusters for adjusting / adjusting the verticality of the mast 63, the base 6 allowing the adjustment / adjustment of the height of the base 6 at these points. In this case, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the first two fasteners 61 may each comprise an adjuster and a fastening assembly to a longitudinal arm 22. The adjuster is formed of a screw jack 611 traversing the base by a threaded bore 601 and one end 6111 abuts against the upper surface of the corresponding longitudinal arm 22. The rotation of the screw jack 611 raises and lowers the base 6 at the first attachment 61 corresponding. Each of the screw jacks 611 can be adjusted independently of each other. The attachment assembly to a longitudinal arm is composed of a screw 612 whose one end 6121 is attached to the longitudinal arm. The screw 612 passes through the base 6 by a housing bore 602 whose diameter is greater than that of the screw 612. The fixing assembly further comprises a nut 613 and possibly a lock washer 614 for braking the rotation of the nut 613. When adjusting the height at the corresponding point 13 by rotation of the jack screw 611, the base 6 raises and lowers while the screw 612 is housed in the housing bore 602. It s' then a relative movement between the screw 612 and the base 6. When the desired height is reached, the nut 613 (and possibly the washer 614) is screwed on the screw 612 from the free end 6122 of the screw 612 up to abut against the base 6. The last attachment 62 is a vertically fixed but laterally movable attachment as shown in Figure 7 to accompany the height adjustment of the first two fasteners 61. For example, the last attachment 62 comprises a 621 screw whose one end 6211 is fixed to a transverse arm 23. The screw 621 is housed in a housing bore 603 formed through the base 6 and whose diameter is greater than that of the screw 621 for guiding without restraint. The screw 621 completely crosses the base 6. The last attachment 62 also comprises two half-balls 622, 623 placed on either side of the base 6 allowing the base 6 to be oriented in different directions during the adjustment and / or the height adjustment thereof. The last attachment 62 finally comprises a nut 624 which is screwed onto the screw 621 once the adjustment of the horizontality made to fix the base 6 relative to the transverse arm 23 at this point.

The examples have been described and illustrated with two longitudinal arms.

 But the number of longitudinal arms can vary and be greater than two. Likewise, the number of transverse arms may be different from two (one or more than two). In general, the six examples are only illustrations and the features described for an example can be combined with those described for any other example or for the general presentation.

Claims (11)

REVENDICATIONS1. Modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) for tidal turbine, comprising: at least two elementary modules (12; 22; 23; 32; 33; 42; 52); fasteners for fixing the elementary modules together; each elementary module (12; 22; 23; 32; 33; 42; 52) having a parallelepipedal shape whose height, width and / or external length are equal to a fraction, less than or equal to unity, respectively the height, width and / or outside length of a container defined by Table 1 reproduced below, the fractions that may be equal or different: Length Width Height Designation SI (mm) System SI (mm) System SI (mm) Imperial imperial imperial system 1 EEA 13 716 45 ft 2 438 8 ft 2 896 9 ft 6 in _ _ 2591 8ft6in 1EE 2 896 9 ft 6 in 1AAA 12192 40ft 2591 8ft6in 1AA 2 438 8 ft 1A 2 896 9 ft 6 in _ 1 BBB 9125 29ft11% in _ _ 8ft6in 2591 1B6 _ 2 438 8 ft 1 B 2 591 8 ft 6 in _ 1 CC 6 058 19 ft 10 'in _ 8 ft 2 438 - 1C 2 438 8 ft 1 D 2 991 9 ft 9% in Table 1. 2. Modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) according to claim 1, further comprising fasteners (121; 221; 231; 321; 331; 421; 520) for fixing the elementary modules (12; , 23, 32, 33, 42, 52) relative to a means of transport. 3. Modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fraction is equal to: 1; 1/2; 1/3; 2/3; 1/4; or 3/4. 4. Modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein any element (43) that the modular base contains, other than the elementary modules has dimensions smaller than those of the container as defined by Table 1. 5. Modular base ( 1; 2; 3; 4; 5) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elementary modules (12; 22; 23; 32; 33; 42; 52) are containers as defined in Table 1; . 6. Modular base (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elementary modules (52) are elementary modules trellis, each elementary mesh module comprising: - a frame formed of metal bars (521) deposited on the edges of the corresponding parallelepiped; and - stiffening bars (522) deposited on the faces of the parallelepiped and fixed on the frame. 7. Modular base (2; 3; 4) according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising two longitudinal arms (211, 212; 311, 312; 411, 412) parallel and at least one transverse arm (213, 214; 313, 314, 413, 414) connecting the two longitudinal arms (211, 212, 311, 312, 411, 412) to each other, wherein each of the two longitudinal arms (211, 212, 311, 312, 411, 412) is formed at least in part with the elementary modules (22; 32; 42) whose external height is equal to the external height of the container, and wherein the transverse arm (213, 214; 313, 314; 413, 414) is formed an elementary module (23; 33; 43) whose external height is less than the outer height of the container. 8. Modular base (4) according to claim 7, wherein the elementary module (43) forming the transverse arm (413, 414) is an elongated element of cylindrical shape with circular or elliptical base. 9. Seating assembly for a tidal turbine comprising: - a modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) for a water turbine according to one of claims 1 to 8; - a base (6) having a mast (63) for assembling a live portion of a tidal turbine to the modular base; and - fasteners (61, 62) for fixing the base (6) to the modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5), at least a part of the fasteners comprising adjusters for adjusting and / or adjusting the verticality of the mast (63) of the base (6). The seating assembly of claim 9, wherein the fasteners (61, 62) are three in number for three-point attachment of the pedestal (6) to the modular base, and in that two of the fixings comprise adjusters arranged at these fasteners (6) to adjust the height of the base at these two fasteners. 11. A hydrolienne comprising a modular base (1; 2; 3; 4; 5) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and a live portion comprising at least one nozzle and propellers.