FR3054617A1 - MARINE ENERGY STORAGE AND GENERATION SYSTEM, NEPTUNIC DENOM, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a system that converts renewable energies available at sea and stores them in the form of potential gravitational energy convertible on demand into electrical energy. The invention has been designed to provide a regular and stable electrical power, in a desynchronized manner, from the energy supplied by the different marine sources used. The invention consists of a structure comprising a submerged lower part containing at least one gravitational accumulator surmounted by a semi-submerged central column and around which at least one float carrying at least one back-and-forth generator is slid, and above which is installed an aerial platform containing a set of retractable or obstructable wind turbines, as well as solar panels. Optionally at least one swiveling hydro-generator can be installed under the structure. An adjustable tension cable device and weighted anchors, maintains the structure in a vertical position almost stable with respect to the seabed. Each energy recovery device transmits it either by rotary movements, or by linear movements back and forth transformed into rotating movements, or directly in the form of electrical energy. Rotational movements resulting from the transformation of the linear movements back and forth generated by the float at the mercy of the swell or the tide, and / or those produced by the wind turbines or optionally by hydro-generators, and / or those produced by a electric motor powered by the solar panels, are returned to dedicated elevators of the gravity accumulator installed in the submerged lower part, which elevators move spherical movable masses from a lower storage level to a higher storage level; the electrical generating means of said gravitational accumulator consist of a turbine installed at the lower end of each descent column of said moving masses of the upper storage level at the lower storage level. The problem that the present invention proposes to solve is therefore mainly the regulation by storage / destocking desynchronized energy produced, and thus meet a final demand for regular supply, from energy irregularly provided by different sources, whether this energy is of renewable origin or not.

Description

® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

054 617

01165

COURBEVOIE

©) Int Cl ⁸ : F03 G 3/00 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 07.28.16. © Applicant (s): CHEVALIER PATRICE CHRISTIAN (30) Priority: PHILIPPE CHARLES - FR. ©) Inventor (s): CHEVALIER PATRICE CHRISTIAN PHILIPPE CHARLES. (43) Date of public availability of the request: 02.02.18 Bulletin 18/05. (56) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: The latter was not established on the date of publication of the request. (© References to other national documents ©) Holder (s): CHEVALIER PATRICE CHRISTIAN PHI- related: LIPPE CHARLES. ©) Extension request (s): @) Agent (s): CHEVALIER PATRICE.

SYSTEM FOR STORING AND GENERATING ENERGY IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT, NAMED NEPTUNIAN, AND RELATED METHODS.

FR 3 054 617 - A1 (3 /) The invention relates to a system which transforms the renewable energies available at sea and stores them in the form of potential gravitational energy convertible on demand into electrical energy. The invention was designed to provide regular and stable electrical power, out of sync with the energy supplied by the various marine sources used.

The invention consists of a structure comprising a submerged lower part containing at least one gravitational accumulator surmounted by a semi-submerged central column and around which slides at least one float driving at least one back-and-forth generator, and at above which is installed an aerial platform containing a set of retractable or obstructable wind turbines, as well as solar panels. Optionally at least one orientable hydro-generator can be installed under the structure. A device of cables with adjustable tension and weighted anchors, maintains the structure in vertical position almost stable compared to the seabed.

Each energy recovery device transmits it either by rotary movements, or by linear movements back and forth transformed into rotary movements, or directly in the form of electrical energy. The rotary movements coming from the transformation of the linear movements back and forth generated by the float according to the swell or the tide, and / or those produced by the wind turbines or optionally by hydro-generators, and / or those produced by a electric motor powered by solar panels, are returned to dedicated elevators of the gravitational accumulator installed in the submerged lower part, which elevators move spherical moving masses from a lower storage level to a higher storage level; the means for electrically generating said gravitational accumulator consist of a turbine installed at the lower end of each descent column of said moving masses from the upper storage level to the lower storage level.

The problem that the present invention proposes to solve is therefore mainly the regulation by desynchronized storage / destocking of the energy produced, and thus responding to a final demand for regular supply, from energy irregularly supplied by different sources, whether this energy is of renewable origin or not.

SYSTEM FOR GENERATING AND STORING ENERGY IN A MARINE ENVIRONMENT, CALLED NEPTUNIAN, AND RELATED METHODS.

INTRODUCTION

There are several energy storage solutions on the market, but few integrate production and storage on the same structure.

One of the weak points of the solutions on the market concerns the yield, often degraded, between the level of energy produced and that of that returned to destocking; this is particularly the case for pumped energy transfer stations (step), or for compressed air energy storage systems (caes).

The main reason for the better performance of the solution developed here compared to the solutions present on the market, is that the energy source (swell, tides, winds, even currents) directly participates in storage without the need to go through a preliminary phase of electricity production to supply the storage means; moreover, the use of solid masses to supply the generator turbine of the gravitational accumulator, avoids losses by pressure leakage in the solutions using fluids, water or compressed air.

Compared to other solutions on the market, including those based on batteries, the solution developed here also has advantages in terms of carbon footprint, pollution, and more generally in terms of protecting the planet's resources, since the moving masses used in the gravitational accumulator can consist of heavy waste after grinding and aggregation.

STATE OF TECHNOLOGY

Few patent filings concern combined means of production and storage of energy from maritime sources; on the other hand, several patent applications have been filed concerning one or other of the said means.

Concerning the transformation of the energy of the movements of the sea and in addition to those filed by the author of the present application, one can quote for example the document FR 2 932 231 A1 presenting a device to convert a wave energy into usable energy in particular electric, or the document WO / 2010/024741 A1 also presenting a wawe-power unit.

With regard to gravity generation devices or storage devices, it is possible, among the documents presenting gravity generation devices, to cite in particular the English document WO 2015166235 A2 presenting a portable appliance generating electrical energy, or the Chinese document CN 104595131 A presenting an electrical generator device using the power obtained by gravity from rolling objects, or another Chinese document CN 10476397 A presenting an electrical generator device by gravity.

Among the documents presenting storage devices other than those filed by the author of the present application, there may be mentioned in particular the French document WO 2014160522 A1 presenting an energy storage system deployed in a body of water. On the other hand, few documents combine generation and storage, among which we can cite the Chinese document CN 204186540 U presenting a power generator by gravity associated with an energy storage device. All of these inventions, if they have undoubtedly advanced the state of the art, present a certain number of weak points, weak points which the invention presented here sought to correct, in particular at the level of the integration of the various components and in the search for high efficiency.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Neptunian invention ”(100) concerns a set of devices making it possible to convert and store in the form of potential gravitational energy the energies produced by different marine sources (swell, tides, wind, and optionally current and sunshine).

The Neptunian invention (100) consists of at least one structure comprising an immersed part containing at least one gravitational accumulator (400) and surmounted by a central column (110) around which moves at least one float (300) and above which is installed a platform (200) receiving various devices including wind turbines.

The entire structure is connected to the seabed by cables and weighted anchors in an arrangement making it possible to act on the buoyancy of said structure, the tension of said cables being adjustable by rack tensioning devices (130) releasable so as to allow removal for maintenance of the structure and its replacement by a buoy, and adjustable so that the vertical positioning of the assembly is kept almost stable whatever the tidal range, and adjusted so that the bottom of the column central remains submerged at the strongest low tides; indeed, the additional Archimedes pressure generated by the rise of water by the swell and / or the tides only applying to the volume of the central column covered, this pressure proportional to said volume is relatively low and of little of influence on the device (130) connecting said structure to the seabed, so that the vertical displacement of the bodies of water is completely absorbed for the implementation of the means for generating the float (300) by sliding along the central column (110).

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that an opening (238) is provided in the upper platform (200) allowing access to the interior of the structure for maintenance, it being specified that access to the gravitational accumulator (400) is carried out by passing inside the central column (110).

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that it uses several sources of marine energy and includes devices capable of transforming them into mechanical power as follows:

an upper platform (200) on which a plurality of multilevel devices are installed, an upper central part consisting of an upper wind generator with vertical axis (210) retractable, an intermediate part receiving a turbine wind generator (220) at the periphery of which are installed tiltable solar panels (250), of a system (230) consisting in particular of an inertia regulator ensuring, from a certain threshold of wind speed, the progressive retraction of the upper wind generator ( 210) inside said platform, it being specified that the withdrawal of said upper aerogenerator (210) implements the device (240) simultaneously allowing this withdrawal, the tilting of the articulated solar panels in a position making it possible to obstruct the arrivals of air supplying the turbine aerogenerator (220).

- A float (300) sliding along the central column (110) and to which is fixed at least one rack (310) whose vertical displacement integral with that of the float is converted into rotary movement by the system (320).

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that the powers supplied by the various devices installed in the upper platform (200) are returned by transmission shafts passing inside the central column (110), towards the elevators installed in the gravitational accumulator (400).

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that the gravitational accumulator (400) ensures the storage in gravitational form of the energy produced by displacement by means of spherical movable mass elevators of a storage level lower than one higher storage level; and the return in electrical form of this energy by means of electrical generation consisting of a turbine installed at the lower end of each downpipe of said moving masses from the upper storage level to the lower storage level.

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that the upper platform (200) receives several devices including the upper wind generator with vertical axis (210) retractable and retraction devices (230) and lifting (240) ensuring its vertical positioning according to the force of the wind, as follows:

- Said aerogenerator (210) is installed inside a frame (211) sliding vertically inside the central part of said platform around which is installed the turbine aerogenerator (220); said frame (211) comprises at least two sliding parts (212) comprising a rack (212C) in their lower part, rack whose functionality is to set the device in rotary motion (240).

- The transmission of the rotary movement of said aerogenerator (210) is ensured by a shaft composed of two parts, an upper part (213S) female since partially hollow and grooved in its lower part, in which comes a lower grooved shaft (2131) male transmitting the rotary movement of said aerogenerator (210) to the device (230) with weights (234) and to the devices supplying the gravitational accumulator (400).

- The upper shaft (213S) of said aerogenerator (210) is held by top and bottom bearing devices (213) fixed to said frame (211).

- Said frame (211) is held stationary in the high position by the tension of the spiral springs (242) installed in each of the devices (240), said tension being transmitted by the racks (212C) of the sliding parts (212 ).

- The upper shaft (213S) of said wind generator (210) has at its lower end a circular part (213E) ensuring the removal of said wind generator (210) inside the platform by contacting a similar part (231) of the device (230) able to start the descent of said aerogenerator (210).

- The withdrawal of said aerogenerator (210) inside the platform is consecutive to the separation by centripetal force of the weights (234) of the device (230) whose base is held integral with the bottom of the platform by a rolling device (232), spacing simultaneously ensuring the extension of the spring (233) into two parts connected together by a circular ring allowing the lower axis (2311) to pass and the lowering of the upper part (231) coming into contact with the circular part (213E), it being specified that this contacting and the subsequent withdrawal only takes place from a certain speed of rotation of the splined lower shaft (2131). When this speed decreases, said wind generator (210) returns to its initial high position by the expansion of the spiral springs (242) installed in each of the devices (240).

- In addition to the implementation of the vertical movements of said aerogenerator (210) as a function of the wind force, the devices (240) by the gear (244) generate a rotary movement and simultaneously put, by a gear at 90 ° ( 246), in rotation the axes (252) which are connected to each other by a system of spider gimbals (253), thus allowing the tilting of the solar panels around their respective said axis and the obstruction of the air inlets of the turbine aerogenerator (220). The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that it comprises a turbine aerogenerator (220) installed inside the upper platform (200), rotated around the central part occupied by the aerogenerator (210 ), whose air inlets are obstructable by the folding of the solar panels (250) and whose shafts (254) supplying the collected power are offset at its periphery so as to allow free rotation of the flyweight device (230); it being specified that optionally additional fixed solar panels (256) can be installed on its upper surface.

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that it comprises a float (300) sliding along the central column (110) and to which is fixed at least one rack (310) whose vertical displacement integral with that of the float guided by the pressure wheel-roller (314) rotates the toothed wheel (312) transmitting a rotary movement back and forth to the device (320).

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that said device (320) transforms said back-and-forth rotary movement into a unidirectional rotary movement with reference to 90 ° towards one of the elevators of the gravitational accumulator ( 400); it being specified that the device presented here is a modification / improvement of the device of the same author Back-and-forth generator with energy reserve registered with the INPIs n ° 14/01727, it being recalled that said device consists of a central part comprising a drive mechanism for electrical production systems placed laterally on either side and that each of the lateral systems is provided with an energy reserve device which allows it to continue to produce after phase inversion up / down. To be used in the invention presented here, said device is driven by the gear (316) transmitting the rotary movement generated from the displacement of the float (300) and improved in that the axes initially supplying the lateral electric generators serve to drive a gear assembly (322 D and G) allowing a single direction of rotation to be obtained, and that the power supplied by each lateral generator is added by the coupler (324) secured against the backward flow of each generator by devices non-return ratchet (324 R and L), then transmitted to the dedicated elevators of the gravitational accumulator (400) by a gear (326) at 90 °.

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that it comprises in its submerged part a gravitational accumulator (400) supplied, after reduction / reduction by devices grouped in the housing (470) by the trees supplying the power generated by each installed devices converting those emitted by different sources into mechanical energy; it being specified that the device presented here incorporates several devices described in the same author's request Multicell gravitational accumulator registered at s INPIsous n ° 16/01046, including in particular the elevation means (410) and the generation means (420), it being recalled that said device comprises a compact structure inside which the source energy to be stored is used to raise spherical masses from a lower level to a higher level and inside which the gravitational energy of said masses generated by their return to the lower level is on demand converted by a turbine into mechanical energy generating a rotary movement transmitted by a shaft capable of driving after gear reduction at least one mechanism such as an electric generator.

The Neptunian invention (100) is characterized in that it comprises in its submerged part a gravitational accumulator (400) containing at least one upper storage area (450) and at least one lower storage area (460), means elevation by helical screw (410) and means of generation by turbination (420), at least one electric generator (430), at least one weighing device (440) of the moving masses present in the upper storage area (450 ); being specified that the various plates constituting this storage zone are tiltable around an axis (451) maintained empty by a system of spring and that the rocking movements consecutive to the arrival on these plates of the moving masses are converted into energy electric by the device (452) implementing a back and forth generator with energy reserve mentioned above.

FIGURES

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Figure 1 shows a general sectional view of the main elements constituting the invention.

FIG. 2 represents views in section and partial top view of the main elements installed in the upper platform (200).

Figure 3 shows sectional views of the main components of the float system (300) and the generator devices it implements.

FIG. 4 represents views in section and partial top view of the main constituent elements of the gravitational accumulator (400).

Claims (9)

1- Neptunian invention (100) characterized in that it includes a set of devices making it possible to convert and store in the form of potential gravitational energy the energies produced by different marine sources (swell, tides, wind, and optionally current and sunshine) ; it being specified that said Neptunian invention (100) consists of at least one structure comprising an immersed part containing at least one gravitational accumulator (400) and surmounted by a central column (110) around which moves at least one float ( 300) and above which is installed a platform (200) receiving various devices including wind turbines. 2- Neptunian invention (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one upper platform (200) on which are installed a plurality of multi-level devices, an upper central part consisting of an aerogenerator greater than vertical axis (210) retractable, an intermediate part consisting of a turbine aerogenerator (220) at the periphery of which are tiltable solar panels (250), a system (230) consisting in particular of an inertia regulator ensuring, at from a certain wind speed threshold, the progressive retraction of the upper wind generator (210) inside said platform, it being specified that the withdrawal of said upper wind generator (210) implements the device (240) allowing simultaneously with this removal, the tilting of the articulated solar panels in a position making it possible to obstruct the air inlets feeding the aero turbine generator (220). 3- Neptunian invention (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper platform (200) receives an aerogenerator (210) installed inside a frame (211) sliding vertically inside the central part said platform around which the turbine aerogenerator (220) is installed; said frame (211) comprising at least two sliding parts (212) comprising in their lower part a rack (212C) putting in rotary movement the device (240) maintaining said frame (211) in the high position by the tension of the spiral springs (242) included in the device (240); it being specified that the transmission of the rotary movement of said wind generator (210) is ensured by a shaft composed of two parts, an upper part (213S) partially hollow and grooved in its lower part and comprising at its lower end a circular part (213E), upper shaft in which a grooved lower shaft (2131) slides, transmitting the rotary movement of said aerogenerator (210) to the device (230) with counterweights (234) and to the devices supplying the gravitational accumulator (400), and that the upper shaft (213S) of said aerogenerator (210) is held by upper and lower roller devices (213) fixed to said frame (211). 4- Neptunian invention (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper platform (200) receives a retraction device (230) consisting of a flyweight inertia regulator (234) held by a spring (233) in two parts interconnected by a circular ring allowing the lower axis (2311) to pass, and the upper part of which comprises a circular part (231) which is brought into contact with the similar part (213E) of the upper shaft (213S ) and ensures the withdrawal of said aerogenerator (210) inside the platform by the descent of the circular part (231) consecutive to the separation by centripetal force of the weights (234) of the device (230) whose base is maintained secured to the bottom of the platform by a rolling device (232), and to the simultaneous extension of the spring (233), it being specified that, when stationary, the parts (213E) and (231) are distant and their setting in contact and the withdrawal that in following only intervenes from a certain speed of rotation of the splined lower shaft (2131). 5- Neptunian invention (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the upper platform (200) receives a device (240) rotated by the rack (212C) and ensuring both the compression of the spiral spring (242 ) and the transmission by the gear (244) and return to 90 ° by the gear (246) of a rotary movement to the axes (252), connected to each other by a system of spider gimbals (253), the movement of said axes thus allowing the tilting of the solar panels around their respective said axis and the obstruction of the air inlets from the turbine generator (220). 6- Neptunian invention (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one turbine aerogenerator (220) installed inside the upper platform (200), rotated around the central part occupied by the wind generator (210), the air inlets of which can be obstructed by the folding of the solar panels (250) and the shafts (254) supplying the collected power are offset at its periphery so as to leave free the rotation of the counterweight device (230); it being specified that optionally additional fixed solar panels (256) can be installed on its upper surface. 7- Neptunian Invention (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one float (300) sliding along the central column (110) and to which is fixed at least one rack (310 ) whose vertical displacement integral with that of the float guided by the pressure roller-roller (314) rotates the toothed wheel (312) transmitting a rotary movement back and forth to the device (320); it being specified that said device (320) transforms said back-and-forth rotary movement into a unidirectional rotary movement by means of the set of gears (322 D and G) making it possible to obtain a single direction of rotation, transmitted by the coupler (324) secured against the backward return of each generator by ratchet non-return devices (324 D and G), then transmitted to the dedicated elevators of the gravitational accumulator (400) by a gear (326) to 90 °. 8- Neptunian Invention (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises in its submerged part a gravitational accumulator (400) supplied, after reduction / reduction by devices grouped in the housing (470) by the trees supplying the power generated by each of the installed devices converting into mechanical energy those emitted by the different sources, and that said gravitational accumulator (400) consists of at least one upper storage area (450) and at least one area of lower storage (460), means of elevation by helical screw (410) and means of generation by turbination (420), of at least one electric generator (430), of at least one weighing device (440) moving masses present in the upper storage area (450); being specified that the various plates constituting this storage zone are tiltable around an axis (451) maintained empty by a system of spring and that the rocking movements consecutive to the arrival on these plates of the moving masses are converted into 5 electrical energy by the device (452) implementing a back and forth generator with energy reserve mentioned above. 9- Neptunian Invention (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire structure is connected to the seabed by cables and ballasted anchors by means of a system making it possible to act on buoyancy of said structure, the tension of said cables being adjustable by releasable rack tensioning devices (130). 100