FR3069031A1 - TURBINE - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a turbine comprising, between two supports, webs (26) connected at each end to a transmission member comprising a chain (40) or a belt forming a closed loop. The turbine further comprises wheels driven by the transmission members, at least some of which are mounted free to rotate on the supports. Each web is connected to each transmission member by a pivotal connection (62). The turbine further comprises a first piece (66) fixed to the sail and adapted to abut against an element (60) fixed to the transmission member when the sail pivots with a first deflection angle and a second piece ( 68) fixed to the sail and adapted to abut against said element when the sail pivots with respect to the transmission member with a second deflection angle in the opposite direction.

Description

TURBINE

Field

The present application relates to a converter of kinetic energy of a fluid into mechanical energy, in particular a converter which transfers energy between a fluid and a rotor and called a turbine in the following description. Presentation of the prior art

There are turbines, especially for hydroelectric plants, which use the natural kinetic energy of rivers. Such hydroelectric plants are also called tidal turbines. They require little civil engineering work and produce electricity which varies with the flow of the watercourse. They have the advantage of leading to a reduced manufacturing and installation cost compared to a hydroelectric plant associated with a dam. In addition, they do not disturb the life of the watercourse. In addition, the mechanical-electrical conversion of tidal turbines can be carried out out of water. It can be expected that the turbines will float on the watercourse so as not to create foundations and to adapt to the natural variation of the water level.

A turbine, in particular for a tidal turbine, generally comprises sails, also called blades, which rotate a shaft when they are submerged in the course

B15607 of water. The displacement of the sails can be mainly due to lift forces or drag forces. The turbine is said to have axial flow when the current is parallel to the axis of rotation of the shaft and transverse flow when the current is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the shaft.

However, the yields of existing turbines, especially for turbines, can be low. In addition, the structures of existing turbines and turbines can be complex, resulting in high manufacturing, installation and maintenance costs. In addition, for certain applications, the existing turbines may have excessive dimensions, whether in height or in width, which is not desirable.

summary

An object of an embodiment is to overcome all or part of the disadvantages of turbines, in particular for tidal turbines, described above.

Another object of an embodiment is to increase the efficiency of the turbine.

Another object of an embodiment is that the turbine has a simple structure.

Another object of an embodiment is to reduce the size of the turbine.

Thus, one embodiment provides a turbine, intended to be at least partially immersed in a flow of a fluid, comprising two supports, at least one float connected to the supports, and, between the supports, driving sails connected to each end to a transmission member comprising a chain or a belt forming a closed loop, the turbine further comprising wheels driven by the transmission members, at least some of which are mounted to rotate freely on the supports, each sail comprising an edge attack and a trailing edge and being connected to each transmission member by a pivoting link, the turbine further comprising, for at least one of the transmission members and for

B15607 each sail, a first part fixed to the sail and adapted to come into abutment against an element fixed to the transmission member when the sail pivots relative to the transmission member by a first angle of travel relative to a reference plane in a first direction of rotation and a second part fixed to the sail and adapted to come into abutment against said element when the sail pivots relative to the transmission member by a second angle of movement relative to the plane of reference in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation.

According to one embodiment, the fluid flow is a watercourse.

According to one embodiment, for each sail, the axis of rotation of the sail relative to the transmission members is located in half of the sail on the side of the leading edge.

According to one embodiment, each sail is mechanically connected to the supports only by means of the transmission members.

According to one embodiment, the turbine comprises means for modifying the first and second deflection angles.

According to one embodiment, the turbine comprises, for each support, first and second wheels freely mounted in rotation on the support and a third wheel connected to the support by a holding device adapted to modify the position of the third wheel relative to the first and second wheels.

According to one embodiment, the holding device comprises a piston.

According to one embodiment, the turbine comprises at least first, second and third travel zones in which each transmission member extends in a rectilinear fashion, the leading edges of the sails being arranged horizontally to within 5 ° at less in the first and second course areas, the sails being completely submerged at least over part of the first and second course areas.

B15607

According to one embodiment, the sails have emerged completely out of the fluid flow in the third travel zone.

According to one embodiment, the turbine further comprises guide elements adapted to control the inclination of the sails when the sails penetrate into the fluid flow.

According to one embodiment, the sails are adapted, under the action of hydrodynamic forces, to arch downstream relative to the flow of fluid in the first and second travel zones.

Another embodiment provides a system for recovering kinetic energy from a watercourse comprising at least a first turbine as defined above and a converter of the mechanical energy supplied by the first turbine into another form of energy.

According to one embodiment, the converter comprises a hydraulic circuit comprising a first part carried by the float and a second part on the ground outside the watercourse, the first part comprising at least one hydraulic pump adapted to be driven by at least 1 'one of the wheels and to circulate a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit, the second part comprising at least one hydraulic motor adapted to be driven by the hydraulic fluid.

According to one embodiment, the converter comprises a regulator for the flow rate and / or the pressure of the hydraulic fluid reaching the hydraulic motor.

According to one embodiment, the converter comprises a reservoir of hydraulic fluid and a first pipe connecting the hydraulic pump to the reservoir and in which the hydraulic fluid is intended to flow from the hydraulic pump to the reservoir, the hydraulic motor being located on the first line, the converter further comprising a second line connecting the hydraulic pump to the reservoir and in which the hydraulic fluid is intended to flow from the

B15607 hydraulic pump to the tank, the pressure drop of the hydraulic fluid on the second pipe being less than the pressure drop of the hydraulic fluid on the first pipe, the converter further comprising isolation valves with actuator adapted to allow circulation hydraulic fluid in the first pipe and simultaneously prohibiting the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the second pipe and prohibiting the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the first pipe and simultaneously authorizing the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the second pipe.

According to one embodiment, the system further comprises a second turbine as defined above and in which the converter is adapted to convert the mechanical energy supplied by the second turbine into said other form of energy. Brief description of the drawings

These characteristics and advantages, as well as others, will be explained in detail in the following description of particular embodiments made without implied limitation in relation to the attached figures, among which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of a tidal turbine;

Figure 2 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of the turbine of the turbine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial and schematic top view of a sail and chains of the turbine shown in Figure 2;

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views, partial and schematic, of embodiments of a sail of the turbine shown in Figure 2;

Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a top view and a side view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of a turbine chain shown in Figure 2;

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of the connection between a sail and a chain of the turbine shown in Figure 2;

B15607 Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a perspective view and a side view, partial and schematic, of the turbine shown in Figure 2 illustrating its operation;

Figure 13 is a side view of a sail of the turbine of Figure 2 in operation;

Figure 14 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a tidal turbine;

Figures 15 and 16 are side views, partial and schematic, of other embodiments of a turbine;

Figures 17 and 18 are side views, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a turbine with two different configurations of use;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the mechanical-electrical converter of

1 tidal turbine shown in Figure 1;

Figures 20 and 21 are schematic top views of embodiments of a tidal turbine comprising several turbines; and FIG. 22 is a more detailed view of the mechanical-electrical converter illustrated in FIG. 19.

detailed description

In the following description, when referring to qualifiers of absolute position, such as the terms forward, backward, up, down, left, right, etc., or relative, such as the terms above, below, upper , lower, etc., or to orientation qualifiers, such as the terms horizontal, vertical, etc., reference is made to the orientation of the figures or to a turbine in a normal position of use. Unless specified otherwise, the expressions approximately, substantially, approximately and of the order of mean to the nearest 10%, preferably to the nearest 5%. In relation to directions or angles, the expressions approximately, substantially, approximately and of the order of mean to the nearest 10 °, preferably to the nearest 5 °. In addition, only

B15607 the elements necessary for understanding the invention are described and shown in the figures. In the following description, the upstream and downstream adjectives are used to distinguish elements of a turbine, in particular for a turbine, submerged at least partially in a fluid with respect to the direction of flow of the fluid.

In the following description, embodiments of a turbine will be described in the case of a tidal turbine. However, the turbine according to the embodiments described below can be used for other applications, in particular for producing a wind turbine, a liquid air manufacturing plant, an irrigation device, a direct current generator and generally any device requiring mechanical energy.

Figure 1 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of a tidal turbine 10 for watercourse, also called water flow or flow thereafter. The tidal turbine 10 is adapted to supply an electrical power which can vary from 1 kW to 100 kW.

The tidal turbine 10 comprises a flotation member 12, intended to float on the watercourse and supporting a turbine 14 and an energy converter 16 driven by the turbine 14. The converter 16 can be an electromechanical converter adapted to transform the mechanical energy supplied by the turbine 14 into electrical energy. The electromechanical converter 16 can then be connected to the electrical network. The electromechanical converter 16 can be entirely carried by the flotation member 12. As a variant, the converter 16 can be divided into a first part and a second part, the first part being carried by the flotation member 12 and being connected to the second part which is located on the bank of the watercourse. The first part of the converter 16 can be adapted to transform the mechanical energy supplied by the turbine 14 into hydraulic energy. The first part of the converter 16 then supplies a hydraulic fluid supplying the second part

B15607 of the converter which comprises a hydraulic motor driving an electric generator, the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic generator being located on the bank of the watercourse.

According to one embodiment, the flotation member 12 comprises two floats 20 arranged on either side of the turbine 14. As a variant, more than one float is provided on either side of the turbine 14 The floats 20 are represented diagrammatically by parallelepipeds in FIG. 1. However, the floats 20 can have other shapes. In particular, each float 20 may have a horizontal section in the form of a wing profile.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the turbine 14. The turbine 14 comprises a frame 22 which, according to one embodiment, comprises two supports 24, corresponding for example to flat plates, connected by crosspieces 25. The turbine 14 comprises, between the two supports 24, N driving webs 26, where N is an integer which varies, for example, from 8 to 64. According to one embodiment, each driving web 26 includes a leading edge 28, an edge trailing 30, for example a tapered trailing edge, and two opposite lateral ends 32.

The turbine 14 comprises wheels mounted to rotate freely on the supports 24. In the present embodiment, for each support 24, the turbine 14 comprises three wheels 34, 36, 38 mounted to rotate freely on the support 24, more precisely a upstream upper wheel 34 located furthest upstream, an upper downstream wheel 36 located furthest downstream and a lower wheel 38 located lowest. The axes of rotation of the wheels 34, 36, 38 are substantially parallel. According to one embodiment, the axes of rotation of the wheels 34, 36, 38 are substantially horizontal. For each support 24, the wheels 34, 36, 38 connected to the support 24 are substantially located in the same plane. According to one embodiment, the axes of rotation of the upper upstream wheels 34 are merged, the axes of rotation of the upper downstream wheels 36 are merged and the axes of rotation of the lower wheels 38 are merged. The turbine 14

B15607 may comprise a shaft connecting the two upper upstream wheels 34, the two upper downstream wheels 36 and / or the two lower wheels 38. At least one of the wheels 34, 36, 38, preferably one of the upper upstream wheels 34 or one of the upper downstream wheels 36, is connected to the converter 16 by a transmission system not shown and drives the electromechanical converter 16 when it is rotated. Preferably, the two upper upstream wheels 34 and / or the two upper downstream wheels 36 drive the converter 16 by a transmission system.

The turbine 14 comprises, for each support 24, a chain 40, shown schematically in the figures, forming a closed loop extending around the three wheels 34, 36, 38 and adapted to drive the wheels 34, 36 in rotation, 38 when moved. As a variant, each chain 40 can be replaced by any type of transmission member, for example a belt, in particular a flat belt, a toothed belt, a V-belt, a ribbed belt or a round belt (also called cable). Each support 24 can include a fairing 41 which protects the chains 40, the wheels 34, 36, 38 and possibly the lateral ends 32 of the sails 26.

FIG. 3 represents a top view of one of the sails 26 and of the chains 40 located on either side of the sail 26. E is noted the span of the sail 26 and Co the cord of the sail 26. Each sail 26 is connected to the chains 40 at its lateral ends 32. According to one embodiment, a shaft 42 extends through the sail 26 and projects on either side of the sail 26 from each end lateral 32 of the sail 26. The shaft 42 is connected to each chain 40 by a connecting element 44. The connecting elements 44 allow rotation of the sail 26 relative to the chains 40 about an axis of rotation P which can correspond to the axis of each shaft 42. According to one embodiment, the axis of rotation P is substantially horizontal. According to one embodiment, the axis of rotation P is

B15607 located in half of the sail 26 on the side of the leading edge 28, preferably in the quarter of the sail 26 containing the leading edge 28.

Figure 4 is a partial and schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a sail 26 in which the sail 26 has a rigid structure and has, in a vertical plane parallel to the supports 24, a cross section in shape of a symmetrical biconvex wing profile. Alternatively, the sail may have an asymmetrical biconvex wing profile, a hollow plan profile, or a double curvature profile. Preferably, the relative thickness of the profile is less than or equal to 18%. Preferably, for each sail 26, the profile of the sail 26 is substantially constant over the major part of the span E of the sail 26.

Figure 5 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a sail 26 in which the sail 26 comprises a frame 46 on which is disposed a thin and flexible element 48, for example a canvas. The frame can be composed by the shaft 42, a rear upright 50 extending parallel to the shaft 42 and lateral uprights 52 connecting the shaft 42 to the rear upright 50. According to one embodiment, the fabric 48 is wrapped around the shaft 42 and is wrapped around the rear upright 50.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are respectively a side view and a top view of an embodiment of a part of the chain 40 in which the chain 40 comprises links 54, two links 54 being represented in FIGS. 6 and 7. Each link 54 is articulated at each of its ends relative to the adjacent link of the chain 40 about an axis 56. Each link 54 may comprise several flat 58 and parallel elements articulated at each end on the axis 56. Aux at least some of the wheels 34, 36, 38 can then correspond to toothed wheels whose teeth mesh with the links 54 of the chain 40. According to one embodiment, the links of the chain 40 are self-locking. This means that when the first and second links 54 of the chain 40, adjacent and articulated, one

B15607 relative to each other, are substantially aligned, a rotational movement of the first link relative to the second link is only possible in one direction of rotation. When each chain 40 is a chain with self-locking links, the lower wheels 38 may not be present.

Figures 8, 9 and 10 are side views, partial and schematic, of an embodiment of the connecting element 44 between the sail 26 and the chain 40. The connecting element 44 is fixed to the chain 40. When the chain 40 has the structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connecting element 44 can be fixed to one of the links 54 or to one of the axes 56 of the chain 40.

According to one embodiment, the connecting element 44 comprises a base 60 fixed to the chain 40. The shaft 42 of the sail 26 is connected to the base 60 by a pivoting connection 62, for example a plain bearing. The pivoting link 62 allows rotation of the shaft 42, and therefore of the sail 26, with respect to the base 60 around the axis P as illustrated by the arc of a circle 64 with double arrow in FIG. 8. L connecting element 44 further comprises a first stop element 66 integral with the shaft 42 and adapted to come into abutment against the base 60 when the sail 26 pivots relative to the base 60 in a first direction of rotation up to to reach a first maximum deflection angle as shown in Figure 9. The connecting element 44 further comprises a second stop element 68 secured to the shaft 42 and adapted to come into abutment against the base 60 when the sail 26 pivots relative to the base 60 in a second direction of rotation, opposite to the first direction of rotation, until it reaches a second maximum deflection angle as shown in FIG. 10.

According to one embodiment, the first and second maximum deflection angles are adjustable. According to one embodiment, the first stop element 66 comprises a part 70 which is common with the second stop element 68 and which is integral with the shaft 42. The first stop element 66 comprises

B15607 furthermore a threaded rod 72 mounted in a threaded opening provided in the part 70. One end of the rod 72 comes into contact with the base 60 when the first maximum angle of travel is reached. The relative position of the rod 72 with respect to the part 70 can be modified to modify the first maximum angle of travel. Similarly, the second stop element 68 further comprises a threaded rod 74 mounted in a threaded opening provided in the part 70. One end of the rod 74 comes into contact with the base 60 when the second maximum angle of travel is reached . The relative position of the rod 74 relative to the part 70 can be modified to modify the second maximum angle of movement.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, the adjustment of the first and second maximum travel angles are manually adjustable. Alternatively, the turbine 14 includes actuators adapted to modify the first and second maximum deflection angles as a function of control signals. This allows modification of the first and second maximum deflection angles during operation of the turbine 14.

In operation, the turbine 14 is at least partially immersed in a watercourse. According to one embodiment, the leading edges 28 of the sails are kept substantially horizontal. The sails 26 submerged in the watercourse are, under the action of lift forces, adapted to cause the chains 40 to move.

Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a perspective view and a schematic side view of the turbine 14 illustrating its operation. In FIGS. 11 and 12, the only elements of the turbine 14 which are represented schematically are certain sails 26 (three in FIG. 11 and six in FIG. 12), the wheels 32, 34 and 36, the chains 40 and, on FIG. 11, the axes of rotation A, B and C respectively of the upper upstream wheels 34, of the upper downstream wheels 36 and of the lower wheels 38. Furthermore, in FIG. 12, a

B15607 line 7 6 the free surface of the watercourse 78 in which the turbine 14 is partially immersed.

In the following description, the upstream travel area 80 is called the space traversed by the sails 26 when they are located on the parts of the chains 40 between the upper upstream wheels 34 and the lower wheels 38. In addition, downstream travel area 82 the space traveled by the sails 26 when they are located on the parts of the chains 40 between the lower wheels 38 and the upper downstream wheels 36 and the upper travel area 84 is called the space traveled by the sails 26 when they are located on the parts of the chains 40 between the upper downstream wheels 36 and the upper upstream wheels 34.

As shown in FIG. 12, in the present embodiment, the upper travel zone 84 of the turbine 14 is not immersed in the watercourse 78. The sails 26 are arranged so that, for each sail 26, when the sail 26 is located in the upstream course area 80, the leading edge 28 of the sail 26 is lower than the trailing edge 30 and that, when the sail 26 is located in the course area downstream 82, the leading edge 28 of the sail 26 is higher than the trailing edge 30. The lift forces due to the flow 78 which are exerted on the sails 26 in the upstream course area 80 tend to bring the sails 26 down towards the bottom of the watercourse 78 in the direction indicated by the arrow 86. The lift forces due to the flow 78 which are exerted on the sails 26 in the downstream course area 82 tend to raise the sails 26 to the surface of the watercourse 78 in the direction indicated by the arrow 88.

The course of the sails 26 includes in particular three critical zones corresponding to the passages of the wheels 34, 36, 38. The use of the connecting elements 44 described above makes the sails free to rotate relative to the chains at the passages of the wheels 34, 36 , 38. This avoids the application of an excessive braking force on the chains 40.

B15607

An overall movement of each chain 40 is therefore obtained in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 12. According to one embodiment, the movement of the chains 40 causes the wheels 32, 34, 36 to rotate and the drive of the converter 16. According to one embodiment, the speed of movement of each chain 40 is greater than the average speed of the flow 78 in the upstream travel zone 80, preferably between 1 to 2 times the average speed of flow 78 in the upstream travel zone 80.

The power coefficient K, which corresponds to the ratio between the mechanical power recovered by the chain (without taking account of the mechanical efficiency of the sail-chain transmission) and the kinetic energy which can be recovered by the master torque of the turbine 14, is given by the following relation (1):

K = P _m / (0.5 * p * S * V ³ ) (1) where P _m is the mechanical power recovered by the chain 40, S is the master couple of the tidal turbine 10, p is the density of water and V is the average speed of the flow 78 reaching the upstream travel zone 80. The master torque S of the turbine 14 is substantially equal to twice the area of the vertical rectangle whose width is substantially equal the wingspan E of the sails 2 6 and whose height, measured vertically, is equal to the submerged depth of the turbine 10. The inventors have demonstrated by simulation that a power coefficient K varying from 0.43 to 0.51 is obtained when the chain speed varies from 1 to 2 times the speed of the upstream flow 88.

Advantageously, the leading edge 28 of each sail 26 in the upstream course area 80 and in the downstream course area 82 is substantially horizontal. Since in the rivers, the flow speed gradient is essentially vertical, the horizontal arrangement of the leading edges 28 of the sails 26 allows that, for each sail 26 in the upstream course area 80 and in the downstream travel zone 82, the flow seen by the sail 26 has a substantially constant speed over the entire span E of the sail 26, which increases

B15607 its hydrodynamic performance. The forces applied to the sail 26 are therefore substantially constant over the entire span E of the sail 26.

Advantageously, the displacement of the sails 26 on the upper travel area 84, illustrated by the arrow 89 in FIG. 11, is carried out out of the water. The sails 26 are then only subjected to the aerodynamic drag which is clearly lower than the hydrodynamic drag. There is then, advantageously, substantially no loss of power due to the travel of the sails 26 in the upper travel area 84. In addition, advantageously, there is no need to provide fairings protecting against the flow 78 the sails 26 located in the upper travel area 84. The structure of the turbine 10 is thus simplified.

The free surface 76 of the flow 78 creates a natural confinement effect which reduces the development of vertical velocity components of the flow 78 downstream of the sails 26 located in the upstream travel zone 80, which is illustrated in FIG. 12 by arrows 90 and 92. As a result, the speed of the flow 78 reaching the sails 26 in the downstream travel zone 82 is substantially horizontal.

The dimensions of the turbine 10 are adapted to the intended application. According to one embodiment, the angle formed by each chain 40 between the upstream travel area 80 and the downstream travel area 82 is between 60 ° and 120 °. According to one embodiment, the span E of each sail 2 6 is between 0.2 m and 3 m. According to one embodiment, the cord Co of each sail 26 is between E / 5 and E / 10. According to one embodiment, the diameter of each wheel 34, 36, 38 is between Co and 4 * Co. According to one embodiment, the submerged depth of the turbine 14 is between 0.5 m and 3 m, the limitation to 3 m coming from the rarity of the water veins allowing greater depths of immersion.

According to another embodiment, the upper travel zone 84 is immersed in the flow 78 to

B15607 proximity to the free surface 76 of the flow 78, the chains 40 being oriented substantially horizontally in the upper travel zone 84. In this case, in the upper travel zone 84, the sails 26 go upstream. The confinement effect due to the free surface 76 of the water means that the flow seen by the sails 26 in the upper travel zone 84 is substantially horizontal. To reduce the hydrodynamic drag of the flow 78 on the sails 26 in the upper travel area 84, the sails 26 are substantially kept horizontal in the upper travel area 84. This self-confinement effect makes it possible to overcome fairing to protect the upwelling of the sails 26.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a sail 26 of the turbine 14 of FIG. 2 in the upstream travel area 80. The arrow 94 designates the direction in which the chain 40 extends in the upstream travel area 80 Under the action of flow 78, the sail 26 is held relative to the chains 40 with the first maximum angle of travel a. The inclination β of the chains 40 in the upstream travel zone 80 relative to a vertical reference plane Ref is fixed by construction. The inclination γ of the sail 26 relative to the vertical plane Ref, which is equal, to within one constant, to the incidence of the flow on the sail 26, can be controlled. Similarly, in the downstream travel zone 82, under the action of the flow 78, the sail 26 is maintained relative to the chains 40 with the second maximum angle of travel. This controls the incidence of the flow on the sail 26 in the downstream course area 82. According to one embodiment, the incidence of the flow on the sails 26 in the upstream course area 80 is different from the incidence of the flow 78 on the sails 26 in the downstream course area 82, for example greater than the incidence of the flow 78 on the sails 26 in the downstream course area 82.

According to one embodiment, when the sail 26 is located in the upper travel zone 84, it is maintained

B15607 with respect to chains 40, under the action of its own weight, with the second maximum angle of travel. According to another embodiment, additional wheels or rollers, not shown, are arranged in the upper travel area 84 so that the sails 26 move, in the upper travel area 84, on these wheels or rollers and are substantially horizontal.

Advantageously, the change in the inclination of each sail 26 between the upstream course area 80 and the downstream course area 82, between the downstream course area 82 and the upper course area 84 and between the upper course area 84 and the upstream travel zone 80 is obtained by the action of the flow 78 or gravity on the sail 2 6, the sail 2 6 pivoting freely relative to the chains 40 at the pivoting connections 62, so that the friction during this pivoting is reduced.

Figure 14 is a perspective view, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a tidal turbine 100. The tidal turbine 100 comprises all of the elements of the tidal turbine 10 shown in Figure 1 and further comprises , guide elements 102 fixed to the crossmember 25 located most upstream. When the sails 26 6 pivot between the upper travel area 84 and the upstream travel area 80, the sails 26 under the action of centrifugal force come to bear against the guide elements 102. This makes it possible to control the inclination sails 26 so that the penetration of the sails 26 into the watercourse 78 takes place with the least possible disturbance of the flow 78. The guide elements 102 can be made of a rigid material or be made of a flexible material. Similarly, the tidal turbine 100 may include means for controlling the inclination of the webs 26 when they exit the flow at the end of the downstream travel zone 82. This inclination can be chosen to minimize the suction phenomenon of the sail by the flow at the exit of the sail out of the flow.

B15607

FIG. 15 is a side view, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a turbine 105 in which, with respect to the turbine 14 described above, the turbine 105 only comprises the upper upstream wheel 34 and the upper downstream wheel 36. The area traveled by the sails 26 when they are located on the parts of the chains 40 extending from the upper upstream wheels 34 towards the upper downstream wheels 36 is therefore called the lower travel area 106. The sails 26 are at least partially immersed in the flow 78 in the lower travel zone 106 while they are preferably emerged in the upper travel zone 84. The connecting elements 44 make it possible to fix the angle of inclination between each sail 26 and the chains 40 in the lower travel area 106 and the angle of inclination between each sail 26 and the chains 40 in the upper travel area 84. If the lower travel area 106 is sufficiently long, the speed of movement of the webs 26 can approach the speed of the flow. One then obtains a longitudinal coupling of the turbine 105 with the flow. This allows in particular to obtain a high mechanical torque.

FIG. 16 is a side view, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a turbine 110 in which the turbine 110 comprises two lower wheels, a lower upstream wheel 38 and a lower downstream wheel 38 '. The upstream travel zone 80 then extends between the upper upstream wheel 34 and the lower upstream wheel 38 and the downstream travel zone 82 extends between the lower downstream wheel 38 'and the upper downstream wheel 36. The tidal turbine comprises , in addition, a lower travel zone 112 between the lower upstream wheel 38 and the lower downstream wheel 38 '.

Figures 17 and 18 are side views, partial and schematic, of another embodiment of a turbine 115 with two different use configurations. The turbine 115 comprises all of the elements of the turbine 14 with the difference that each lower wheel 38 is connected to the support 24

B15607 corresponding via a holding device 116 adapted to modify the position of the lower wheel 38 relative to the corresponding support 24. The holding device 116 may comprise a piston 118 comprising a body 120 and a rod 122 which can slide in the body 120. The body 120 is connected to the support 24 by a pivoting link 124, for example of axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the upper wheels 34 and 36. The lower wheel 38 is connected by a pivoting link 126, for example with an axis parallel to the axes of rotation of the upper wheels 34 and 36, at the end of the rod 122 opposite the body 120.

The relative position of each lower wheel 38 relative to the support 24 to which it is connected by the holding device 116 can be modified by modifying the inclination of the piston 118 relative to the support 24 and / or by modifying the length of the rod 122 outside the body 120. According to one embodiment, the control of the orientation of each piston 118 relative to the support 24 and / or the control of the length of the rod 122 outside the body 120 can be carried out by actuators . The length of the rod 122 outside the body 120 is in particular adjusted to obtain the desired tensioning of the chain 40. According to one embodiment, the holding devices 116 are controlled so that the axes of rotation of the lower wheels 38 are permanently substantially confused. According to one embodiment, in operation, the maximum deflection angle of each piston 118 relative to the corresponding support 24 can be of the order of 25 ° C. According to one embodiment, the maximum clearance of each lower wheel 38 measured in a horizontal plane is equal to the distance between the upper wheels 34 and 36. The movement of each lower wheel 38 makes it possible to modify the angles of inclination of the chains 40 relative to the vertical reference plane Ref in the upstream and downstream travel zones 80 and 82.

The displacement of the lower wheels 38 relative to the upper wheels 34, 36 may depend on at least one parameter, for example the speed of the flow 78 in which is disposed

B15607 the turbine 115. According to one embodiment, each lower wheel 38 is moved upstream relative to the position in which the lower wheel 38 is equidistant from the upper wheels 34, 36, when the speed of flow 78 increases with respect to the speed of flow 78 for which the lower wheel 38 is equidistant from the upper wheels 34, 36.

In FIG. 17, each lower wheel 38 is substantially equidistant from the upper upstream and downstream wheels 34, 36 connected to the same support 24.

In FIG. 18, the lower wheel 38 is closer to the upper upstream wheel 34 than to the upper downstream wheel 36 connected to the same support 24.

FIG. 19 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the mechanical-electrical converter 16 of the hydro turbine 10 shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the converter 16 comprises a mechanical transmission system 130, a hydraulic circuit 132 in which a hydraulic fluid and an electric generator circulates 134. The transmission system 130 is connected to at least one of the wheels 34, 36, 38 of the tidal turbine 10. The electric generator 134 is for example connected to the electrical network 136 or feeds any load.

The hydraulic circuit 132 is divided into a first part 138 situated on the floating structure of the hydro turbine 10 and a second part 140 situated on the ground outside the watercourse 78. The first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 comprises at least one pump hydraulic 142 for circulating the hydraulic fluid, the input shaft of which is connected to the mechanical transmission system 130 and the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 comprises at least one hydraulic motor 144, driven by the hydraulic fluid, the l the output shaft is connected to the input shaft of the electric generator 134. The hydraulic circuit 132 further comprises a regulator 146 of the flow rate and / or of the pressure of the hydraulic fluid supplying the hydraulic motor 144 preferably provided at second level

B15607 part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132. The first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 is connected to the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 at least by a line HP for circulation of the high pressure hydraulic fluid and a line BP for circulation of the hydraulic fluid at low pressure.

The mechanical-electrical converter 16 further comprises a processing module 148 receiving signals S supplied by sensors 150 and supplying COM control signals to the regulator 146. The processing module 148 may correspond to a dedicated circuit or may include a processor, for example a microprocessor or a microcontroller, adapted to execute instructions of a computer program stored in a memory. The regulator 146 is adapted to modify the flow rate and / or the pressure of the hydraulic fluid reaching the hydraulic motor 144 as a function of the COM control signals.

The sensors 150 may include in particular:

a hydraulic pump temperature sensor

142;

a temperature sensor of the hydraulic motor 144;

an electrical generator temperature sensor 134;

a sensor of the speed of rotation of the input shaft of the hydraulic pump 142;

a sensor of the speed of rotation of the input shaft of the electric generator 134;

a hydraulic fluid pressure sensor on the HP line;

a hydraulic fluid pressure sensor on the BP line;

a captor of the voltage provided by the generator electric 134; a captor of 1 ' intensity of current provided through the electric generator 134 f and a captor of the frequency of current provided through the electric generator 134

B15607

In operation, the input shaft of the hydraulic pump 142 is rotated, via the transmission system 130, by at least one of the wheels 34, 36, 38 of the turbine 14. The hydraulic pump 142 circulates the hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit 132 which in turn drives the hydraulic motor 144. The speed of rotation of the output shaft of the hydraulic motor 144 is controlled by the regulator 146 according to the control signals COM. The output shaft of the hydraulic motor 144 rotates the input shaft of the electric generator 134 which produces electrical energy which can be supplied to the electrical network 136.

An advantage of the present embodiment of the converter 16 is that the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 and the electric generator 134 are located on the ground and can therefore be designed independently of the floating turbine 14.

Another advantage of the present embodiment of the converter 16 is that the characteristics, in particular the average voltage and the frequency, of the electrical energy produced by the electrical generator 134 can be precisely controlled in part independently of the mechanical energy supplied by the wheel 34, 36, 38 of the turbine 14. In particular, the electric energy produced by the electric generator 134 can be adapted according to the intended application. According to one embodiment, when the electric generator 134 is connected to the electric network 136, the load presented to the electric network 136 by the electric generator 134 can be adapted to the targeted needs. According to one example, the electric generator 134 can be used to participate in a frequency regulation of the electric network 136. According to another example, in the case where the electric generator 134 comprises an asynchronous machine with induced rotor and its regulation, the electric generator 134 can be used to participate in regulating the reactive power of the electrical network 136.

B15607

According to one embodiment, the tidal turbine can comprise several turbines 14 which are used simultaneously and arranged at the same location of a watercourse to form a farm of turbines 14. In this case, the mechanical / electrical converter 16 of The turbine is advantageously adapted to convert the mechanical energy supplied by all the turbines of the turbine farm into electrical energy. By way of example, the turbines 14 can be arranged one behind the other in the direction of flow. In fact, each turbine 14 advantageously disturbs little the flow which reaches the next turbine.

Figures 20 and 21 are schematic top views illustrating embodiments of the mechanical / electrical converter of a tidal turbine comprising a turbine farm.

In Figure 20, there is shown a tidal turbine 151 comprising two floating turbines 14 each carrying the mechanical connection system 130 and the first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 shown in Figure 19. The lines HP and BP of the first parts 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 are connected in parallel to a single second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132.

In FIG. 21, a tidal turbine 152 is shown comprising two turbines 14 each comprising the mechanical connection system 130, the mechanical connection systems 130 each driving the input shaft of the hydraulic pump 142 from a single first part 138 of the hydraulic system 132.

An advantage of the embodiments described above is that the number of turbines 14 on the same farm can easily be increased or reduced without modifying the ground elements of the converter 16.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of a more detailed embodiment of the hydraulic circuit 132 of FIG. 19. In FIG. 22, the line in dotted lines 153 represents the separation between the first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 and the

B15607 second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132. The hydraulic fluid circulates in the HP line from the first part 138 to the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 and the hydraulic fluid circulates in the line BP from the second part 140 to the first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132.

In the present embodiment, the first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 comprises two hydraulic pumps 142 driven via the transmission system 130 by the two upper upstream wheels 34 or the two upper downstream wheels 36 of the hydro turbine 10. Each hydraulic pump 142 is connected to the high pressure line HP, to which it discharges the hydraulic fluid, by a line 154 and to the low pressure line BP, from which it sucks the hydraulic fluid, by a line 156.

An isolation valve with actuator 158 two-way and a manual isolation valve 160 two-way are disposed on each line 154, the isolation valve with actuator 158 being closer to the hydraulic pump 142 than the valve manual isolation 160. An isolation valve with two-way actuator 159 and a manual isolation valve two-way 161 are disposed on each line 156, the isolation valve with actuator 159 being closer to the hydraulic pump 142 than manual isolation valve 161.

The second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 comprises a line 162 which connects the line to HP to a reservoir 164 of the hydraulic fluid. The hydraulic motor 144 driving the electric generator 134 is disposed on the line 162. The hydraulic fluid flows through the hydraulic motor 144 from the HP line to the tank 164.

On the line BP on the side of the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 are provided a heat exchanger 166, a filter 167 and a two-way manual isolation valve 168, the manual isolation valve 168 being closer to the first part 138 as the heat exchanger 166 and the filter 167. The heat exchanger 166 makes it possible to cool the fluid

B15607 is hydraulic and is, for example, an exchanger in which the coolant is air. The filter 167 is adapted to filter the hydraulic fluid. A line 170 connects the line BP to the reservoir 164. A hydraulic pump 172 driven by an electric motor, not shown, and a two-way manual isolation valve 174 are provided on the line 170, the hydraulic pump 172 being closer to the tank 164 as the manual isolation valve 174. Another pipe 176 connects the BP pipe to the tank 164. A hydraulic pump 178 driven by the hydraulic motor 144 and manual isolation valves 180 with two ways, on both sides other of the hydraulic motor 144, are provided on the line 176.

The first part 138 of the hydraulic circuit 132 is also connected to the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 by a line 182 which opens into the reservoir 134, the hydraulic fluid flowing in the line 182 from the first part 138 to the second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132. For each hydraulic pump 142, a line 184 connects the outlet of the hydraulic pump 142 to the line 182. An isolation valve with two-way actuator 186 and a calibrated orifice 188 are provided on each line 184, the isolation valve with actuator 186 being closer to the hydraulic pump 142 than the calibrated orifice 188.

The second part 140 of the hydraulic circuit 132 further comprises a pipe 190 mounted in parallel on the pipe 162 on either side of the hydraulic motor 144. A control valve with actuator 192 with two tracks and a calibrated orifice 194, between two manual isolation valves 196 with two channels, are provided on the line 190. The control valve with actuator 192 is an opening valve that can be adjusted gradually between a fully closed position and a fully open position. A line 198 connects the line 162 upstream of the hydraulic motor 144 in the direction of circulation of the hydraulic fluid to the line 190 downstream of the second manual isolation valve 196 in the direction of circulation of the fluid

B15607 hydraulic. A pressure relief valve 200 is provided on line 198.

According to this embodiment, the hydraulic circuit 132 further comprises:

a sensor 202 of the temperature of the hydraulic fluid at the outlet of each hydraulic pump 142;

a sensor 204 of the temperature of fluid hydraulic on the line HP; a sensor 206 of the temperature of fluid hydraulic on the line BP; a sensor 208 of the speed of : rotation from the tree

hydraulic pump inlet 142;

a sensor 210 of the speed of rotation of the input shaft of the electric generator 134;

a sensor 212 of pressure from hydraulic fluid sure the line HP f a sensor 214 of pressure from hydraulic fluid sure the line BP f a sensor 216 of temperature hydraulic fluid in downstream < from 1 'orifice calibrated 194; and a sensor 218 of hydraulic fluid level in the

tank 164.

The processing module 148 can in particular receive the signals supplied by all the sensors 202, 204, 206, 208, 210, 212, 214, 216, 218 or some of them. The processing module 148 can control the opening or closing of all the isolation valves with actuator and of the control valve with actuator 192 or at least some of them.

The hydraulic circuit 132 also comprises a pressure accumulator 220 connected to the pipe 162 by a manual isolation valve 222.

In operation, the manual isolation valves 160, 161, 174, 180, 196 and 222 are open. They are only closed for installation and / or maintenance operations, in particular for the repair of hydraulic pumps 142.

B15607

In normal operation, while the wheels 34, 36, 38 of the turbine 14 are rotated by the chains 40 under the action of the flow on the sails 26, the isolation valves with actuator 186 are closed and the isolation valves with actuator 158 and 159 are open. The hydraulic fluid is circulated in the HP line by the hydraulic pumps 142 and drives the hydraulic motor 144, which in turn drives the electric generator 134. The hydraulic fluid is drawn from the reservoir 164 in the line BP and passes through the filter 167 and the cooling device 166. The coupled hydraulic pump 178 driven by the hydraulic motor 144 also ensures the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the BP line.

The electrical energy supplied by the electric generator 134 is regulated by controlling the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid driving the hydraulic motor 144. In fact, an increase in the opening of the control valve with actuator 192 results in a decrease in the flow rate of the fluid hydraulics passing through the hydraulic motor 144, the flow rate passing through the hydraulic motor 144 being minimal, or even zero, when the control valve with actuator 192 is fully open. A reduction in the opening of the control valve with actuator 192 results in an increase in the flow rate of the hydraulic fluid passing through the hydraulic motor 144, the flow rate passing through the hydraulic motor 144 being maximum when the control valve with actuator 192 is completely closed.

To facilitate the rotation of the wheels 34, 36, 38, in particular during the installation of the tidal turbine in the flow, during a start-up phase, the valves 158 are closed at least partially and the valves 159 and 18 6 are open. The hydraulic fluid can then partially flow in line 182 which has a lower pressure drop than the HP line on which the hydraulic motor 144 is arranged, which allows the wheels 34, 36 to actuate the pumps.

B15607 hydraulic 142 with low back pressure. When the wheels 34, 36, 38 rotate normally, the valves 186 are gradually closed and the valves 158 are gradually opened.

Particular embodiments have been described.

In addition, various variants and modifications appear to those skilled in the art. In particular, the embodiments of the mechanical-electrical converter 16 described previously in relation to FIGS. 19 to 22 can be implemented with the embodiments of the turbine previously described in relation to FIGS. 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18.

Claims (16)

1. Turbine (14; 105; 110; 115), intended to be at least partially immersed in a flow of a fluid, comprising two supports (24), at least one float (20) connected to the supports, and, between the supports (24), driving webs (26) connected at each end to a transmission member comprising a chain (40) or a belt forming a closed loop, the turbine further comprising wheels (32, 34, 36) driven by the transmission members, at least some of which are mounted to rotate freely on the supports, each sail (26) comprising a leading edge (28) and a trailing edge (30) and being connected to each transmission member by a pivoting link (62), the turbine further comprising, for at least one of the transmission members and for each sail, a first part (66) fixed to the sail and adapted to come into abutment against an element (60) fixed to the transmission member when the sail pivots relative to the organ transmission of a first angle of movement relative to a reference plane (Ref) in a first direction of rotation and a second part (68) fixed to the sail and adapted to come into abutment against said element when the sail pivots relative to the transmission member, a second angle of movement relative to the reference plane (Ref) in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. 2. Turbine according to claim 1, in which the fluid flow is a watercourse. 3. Turbine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, for each sail (26), the axis of rotation (P) of the sail relative to the transmission members (40) is located in half of the sail on the side from the leading edge (28). 4. Turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which each sail (26) is mechanically connected to the supports (24) only by means of the transmission members (40). B15607 5. A turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising means (72, 74) for modifying the first and second deflection angles. 6. Turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising, for each support (24), first and second wheels (34, 36) mounted to rotate freely on the support and a third wheel (38) connected to the support by a holding device (116) adapted to modify the position of the third wheel relative to the first and second wheels. 7. A turbine according to claim 6, in which the holding device (116) comprises a piston (118). 8. Turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least first, second and third travel zones (80, 82, 84) in which each transmission member (40) extends in a rectilinear manner, the leading edges (28) of the sails (26) being arranged horizontally at least 5 ° in the first and second course areas (80, 82), the sails being completely submerged at least on part of the first and second route areas. 9. A turbine according to claim 8, in which the webs (26) have emerged completely out of the fluid flow (78) in the third travel zone (84). 10. A turbine according to claim 9, further comprising guide elements (102) adapted to control the inclination of the webs (26) when the webs (26) penetrate into the fluid flow (78). 11. Turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the sails (26) are adapted, under the action of hydrodynamic forces, to bend downstream with respect to the flow of fluid (78) in the first and second course areas (80, 82). 12. System (10; 151; 152) for recovering kinetic energy from a watercourse (78) comprising at least one first turbine (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and B15607 a converter (16) of the mechanical energy supplied by the first turbine into another form of energy. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the converter (16) comprises a hydraulic circuit (132) comprising a first part (138) carried by the float (20) and a second part (140) on the ground outside the course of water (78), the first part comprising at least one hydraulic pump (172) adapted to be driven by at least one of the wheels (32, 34, 36) and to circulate a hydraulic fluid in the hydraulic circuit, the second part comprising at least one hydraulic motor (144) adapted to be driven by the hydraulic fluid. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the converter (16) comprises a regulator (146) of the flow and / or pressure of the hydraulic fluid reaching the hydraulic motor (144). 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the converter (16) comprises a reservoir (164) of the hydraulic fluid and a first line (HP, 162) connecting the hydraulic pump (142) to the reservoir and in which the hydraulic fluid is intended to flow from the hydraulic pump to the tank, the hydraulic motor (144) being located on the first pipe, the converter further comprising a second pipe (182, 184) connecting the hydraulic pump to the tank and in which the hydraulic fluid is intended to flow from the hydraulic pump to the reservoir, the pressure drop of the hydraulic fluid on the second pipe being less than the pressure drop of the hydraulic fluid on the first pipe, the converter (16) further comprising valves (158 , 159, 186) isolation with actuator adapted to authorize the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the first pipe and simultaneously prohibit the circulation of the fl hydraulic fluid in the second line and to prohibit the circulation of the hydraulic fluid in the first line and B15607 simultaneously authorize the circulation of hydraulic fluid in the second line. 16. System (151; 152) according to any one of claims 12 to 15, further comprising a second turbine 5 (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 and in which the converter (16) is adapted to converting the mechanical energy supplied by the second turbine into said other form of energy.