GB2453537A - Turbine with moveable blades - Google Patents

Turbine with moveable blades Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2453537A
GB2453537A GB0719568A GB0719568A GB2453537A GB 2453537 A GB2453537 A GB 2453537A GB 0719568 A GB0719568 A GB 0719568A GB 0719568 A GB0719568 A GB 0719568A GB 2453537 A GB2453537 A GB 2453537A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
rotor
blades
turbine
assembly
flow
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0719568A
Other versions
GB0719568D0 (en
Inventor
George Donald Cutler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB0719568A priority Critical patent/GB2453537A/en
Publication of GB0719568D0 publication Critical patent/GB0719568D0/en
Publication of GB2453537A publication Critical patent/GB2453537A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B13/00—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates
    • F03B13/12—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy
    • F03B13/26—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using tide energy
    • F03B13/264—Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus; Power stations or aggregates characterised by using wave or tide energy using tide energy using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03B—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS
    • F03B17/00—Other machines or engines
    • F03B17/06—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head"
    • F03B17/062—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
    • F03B17/065—Other machines or engines using liquid flow with predominantly kinetic energy conversion, e.g. of swinging-flap type, "run-of-river", "ultra-low head" with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction the flow engaging parts having a cyclic movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/30—Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Oceanography (AREA)
  • Other Liquid Machine Or Engine Such As Wave Power Use (AREA)

Abstract

A vertical axis turbine comprises a rotor having blades a-e, which are mounted to move relative to the rotor during its rotation such that the rotor rotates in the same direction irrespective of direction of the fluid flow in the horizontal plane. The blades a-e may have a hydrofoil shape and be arranged such that the force of the fluid flow, and the force generated by the hydrofoil shape, causes each blade a-e to rotate about a vertical axis between a vertical shaft of the rotor and a stop. The turbine may be driven by tidal flow, and may drive a hydraulic or electrical device such as a generator. The vertical shaft may also be used as a fixing pile.

Description

Page 1.
A MECHAMSM TO CONVERT TEE MOTION OF A FLUID TO
MECHANICAL MOTION.
This invention relates to a mechanism for converting the movement of tidal streams into a rotating shaft motion suitable for driving an electrical or similar generators.
Present methods use modified conventional turbines and are relatively inefficient having an efficiency of typically 25% to 35%, are sensitive to flow direction and need an integrated output configuration.
It is an object of the invention to improve the existing system and to produce a more cost effective solution.
This invention uses a rotor assembly which rotates in response for example to a tidal flow. The rotor assembly incorporates vertical, shaped, and horizontally moveable blades which self-orientate to a position of best efficiency.
The improved efficiency is achieved by combining the principles of the common water wheel, the turbine, the "Darnus" turbine and the use of hydro-dynarnically shaped blades.
Advantages are that the rotor assembly always rotates in the same direction irrespective of the direction of the flow, unlike the conventional turbine which suffers rotation reversal depending on the flow direction and requires the use of a reversing gearbox, dual generators or similar artifice.
The rotor being insensitive to flow direction eliminates the need for flow directing shrouds and alignment devices.
The invention produces power from both the downstream side of the rotor and the upstream side by using "hydro-dynamic lift" principles for the upstream mode.
Page 2.
The axle for the assembly is also used as the fixing pile thus allowing an economic construction.
The rotor assembly may be easily removed for maintenance.
The electrical or hydraulic generator is coupled by means of a 45 degree angled gear wheel and pinion arrangement. The tolerancing of the gears and alignment is non-critical and the electrical or other interface may be isolated from the rotating assembly. The output device may be permanently fixed to the seabed for instance and be left in place whilst the rotor is removed for servicing.
Due to the single pile fixing concept, expensive tethering arrangements such as are used with "sunken barge" concepts, and seabed fixings are not needed.
The rotor assembly can be removed and re-fitted by positioning it on the pile and sliding it down onto its locating collar.
DESCRIPTION.
FIGURE 1 is a view of the rotor and shows a top-plate (1) and bottom plate (2) connected by a hollow central pillar (3). Blades (4) (only one of which is shown) are horizontally rotatably mounted and positioned between the top and bottom plates by an axle (5). Stops (6) and the abutment of the blade with the vertical pillar limit the horizontal rotation of the blades to about 40 degrees. Gearwheel (7) is fixed to the underside of the rotor so as to permit off-take of power from the rotor via a suitable pinion and shaft. (See Figure 4) Page 3.
FIGURE 2 is a view looking down on to the rotor assembly. Top-plate (1) is shown fixed to the hollow pillar (3). Five blades (4) located by axles (5) are shown in a neutral position. Stops (6) in conjunction with abutment with the vertical pillar limit the horizontal rotation of each blade to about 40 degrees.
FIGURE 3 is a view from underside. Bottom plate (2) is fixed to the vertical hollow pillar (3). Five blades (4) located by axles (5) are shown in a neutral position. Stops (6) limit the horizontal outward rotation of each blade. Inward rotation of each blade is limited by abutment of the blade with the vertical pillar (3). Gear ring (7) is fixed to the rotor to provide power off-take using a pinion and shaft. (see Figure 4).
FIGURE 4 This is a complete assembly sketch. The pile (8) (which doubles as axle for the rotor) is shown driven into the seabed. The pile/axle (8) has a collar (9) which limits the position of the rotor on the pile/axle. Gearwheel (7) is shown meshing with pinion (10) and power off-take shaft (II).
FIGURE 5. This is an operational sketch to show the position of the blades in response to a tidal flow.
OPERATION OF A 5 BLADED VERSION.
Operation of the invention relies on the blades auto-positioning themselves at optimum positions. Referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that the blades can rotate horizontally through a limited arc of movement between the support pillar (3) and the outer stops (6). The position which the blades take up will be determined by the force and direction of the flow stream in contact with the blades. As the rotor rotates, the blades constantly readjust their position in response to the forces applied to them.
The operation will be described by reference to the sketch Figure (5).
Page 4.
FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the rotor assembly showing the positions taken up by the blades in response to flow.
The tidal flow is represented by the "tidal flow" lines.
The blades marked "a" and "b" will experience forces Fl and F2 tending to turn the rotor along the direction of the flow stream.
The blade marked "c" will play little part in the proceeding at this stage.
The blades marked "d" and "e" will experience a pulling force marked F3 and F4 tending to turn the rotor in the direction towards the flow stream. This force augments the forces Fl and F2 thus causing a more powerful rotational force in the same direction.
As the rotor assembly continues its rotation, the blades take up successive positions according to the forces on each blade.
Dimensions.
The dimensions of the rotor assembly may typically be 15 metres in diameter and the height 10 metres. These sizes and aspect ratio may be varied according to space requirements. The aspect ratio also reflects on the torque, speed and power output.
Rotational speed may be of the order of 10 revolutions per minute.
The maximum rotational speed is limited by the inertia of the blades' horizontal movement.

Claims (4)

  1. Page 5 CLAIMS.
    I.A rotor assembly which has a unidirectional rotation characteristic and is mounted on a vertical axle and fitted with moveable blades which respond to fluid flow to cause that rotation.
  2. 2.An assembly as in Claim I where the rotor assembly is mechanically connected to an output device such as an electrical or hydraulic device.
  3. 3.An assembly as in Claims 1 and 2 where the fluid is seawater in a tidal flow.
  4. 4.An assembly as in Claims 1,2 and 3 where the axle is also the fixing pile.
GB0719568A 2007-10-08 2007-10-08 Turbine with moveable blades Withdrawn GB2453537A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0719568A GB2453537A (en) 2007-10-08 2007-10-08 Turbine with moveable blades

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0719568A GB2453537A (en) 2007-10-08 2007-10-08 Turbine with moveable blades

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0719568D0 GB0719568D0 (en) 2007-11-14
GB2453537A true GB2453537A (en) 2009-04-15

Family

ID=38739255

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0719568A Withdrawn GB2453537A (en) 2007-10-08 2007-10-08 Turbine with moveable blades

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2453537A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2473732A2 (en) * 2009-09-03 2012-07-11 Peter Varga Flow-through turbine with turning blades
CN103953495A (en) * 2014-04-18 2014-07-30 河海大学 Flow collection self-adaptive tide flow power generation device
US9562434B2 (en) 2010-11-03 2017-02-07 National Research Council Of Canada Oscillating foil turbine
CN108223238A (en) * 2017-12-29 2018-06-29 清华大学 A kind of wave turbine and ocean wave turbine formula hydropower generating device

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1556876A (en) * 1922-11-20 1925-10-13 Ortgier George Tide motor
US1819749A (en) * 1929-06-07 1931-08-18 Wilde E Jenkins Tide power apparatus
EP0268855A1 (en) * 1986-10-29 1988-06-01 Jürgen Schönell Wind motor
GB2237330A (en) * 1989-10-07 1991-05-01 John Nicoll Vannan Wind motor or hydraulic turbine
GB2312931A (en) * 1996-05-11 1997-11-12 Leonard John Dawkin Fluid powered rotary generator
US20030185666A1 (en) * 2000-11-13 2003-10-02 Ursua Isidro U. Vertical axis wind turbine
US20070201981A1 (en) * 2004-04-16 2007-08-30 Ventus Spolka Zoo Flow-Controlled Wind Rotor
GB2435908A (en) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-12 Paul Hales Vertical axis turbine for low speed flows with stall prevention

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1556876A (en) * 1922-11-20 1925-10-13 Ortgier George Tide motor
US1819749A (en) * 1929-06-07 1931-08-18 Wilde E Jenkins Tide power apparatus
EP0268855A1 (en) * 1986-10-29 1988-06-01 Jürgen Schönell Wind motor
GB2237330A (en) * 1989-10-07 1991-05-01 John Nicoll Vannan Wind motor or hydraulic turbine
GB2312931A (en) * 1996-05-11 1997-11-12 Leonard John Dawkin Fluid powered rotary generator
US20030185666A1 (en) * 2000-11-13 2003-10-02 Ursua Isidro U. Vertical axis wind turbine
US20070201981A1 (en) * 2004-04-16 2007-08-30 Ventus Spolka Zoo Flow-Controlled Wind Rotor
GB2435908A (en) * 2006-03-08 2007-09-12 Paul Hales Vertical axis turbine for low speed flows with stall prevention

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2473732A2 (en) * 2009-09-03 2012-07-11 Peter Varga Flow-through turbine with turning blades
US9562434B2 (en) 2010-11-03 2017-02-07 National Research Council Of Canada Oscillating foil turbine
CN103953495A (en) * 2014-04-18 2014-07-30 河海大学 Flow collection self-adaptive tide flow power generation device
CN108223238A (en) * 2017-12-29 2018-06-29 清华大学 A kind of wave turbine and ocean wave turbine formula hydropower generating device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0719568D0 (en) 2007-11-14

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