GB2464306A - Turbine array - Google Patents

Turbine array Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2464306A
GB2464306A GB0818620A GB0818620A GB2464306A GB 2464306 A GB2464306 A GB 2464306A GB 0818620 A GB0818620 A GB 0818620A GB 0818620 A GB0818620 A GB 0818620A GB 2464306 A GB2464306 A GB 2464306A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
turbine
array
turbines
units
turbine units
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Withdrawn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
GB0818620A
Other versions
GB0818620D0 (en
Inventor
Paul Fletcher
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.)
Rolls Royce PLC
Original Assignee
Rolls Royce PLC
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 Rolls Royce PLC filed Critical Rolls Royce PLC
Priority to GB0818620A priority Critical patent/GB2464306A/en
Publication of GB0818620D0 publication Critical patent/GB0818620D0/en
Publication of GB2464306A publication Critical patent/GB2464306A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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"
    • F03B17/061—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 in flow direction
    • 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
    • F03B3/00—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto
    • F03B3/04—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines
    • F03B3/06—Machines or engines of reaction type; Parts or details peculiar thereto with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines with adjustable blades, e.g. Kaplan turbines
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/40—Use of a multiplicity of similar components
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2250/00—Geometry
    • F05B2250/30—Arrangement of components
    • F05B2250/31—Arrangement of components according to the direction of their main axis or their axis of rotation
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2250/00—Geometry
    • F05B2250/30—Arrangement of components
    • F05B2250/31—Arrangement of components according to the direction of their main axis or their axis of rotation
    • F05B2250/312—Arrangement of components according to the direction of their main axis or their axis of rotation the axes being parallel to each other
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/70—Adjusting of angle of incidence or attack of rotating blades
    • F05B2260/74—Adjusting of angle of incidence or attack of rotating blades by turning around an axis perpendicular the rotor centre line
    • 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

Abstract

An array of turbine units 10 comprises at least two units 12 each having a single turbine 14 mounted to a single stanchion 16, wherein alternate (adjacent) turbines 12A, 12B rotate in opposite directions. Blade tips 18 of adjacent turbines may rotate within one turbine diameter of each other, and preferably within 0.1 to 0.5 (half) a turbine diameter of each other. The array of turbine units 10 may be arranged in a substantially continuous straight or arced line. The turbines 14 may comprise blade pitch change mechanisms for reverse flow, wherein alternate turbines 12A, 12B operate in forward and reverse configurations to form a handed array. The turbines 14 may be tidal turbines.

Description

TIDAL TURBINE ARRAY
The present invention relates to an array of tidal turbines for power generation.
An array of tidal turbine units or farm' is normally arranged such that each turbine is in a substantially linear format to avoid vortices/wakes from an otherwise upstream turbine interfering with a downstream turbine.
Vortices impinging on a turbine can cause damage to the blades, housings and generation mechanisms.
A known turbine unit comprising a single turbine and its generator is mounted on a single stanchion. In this case, an array of these turbine units is arranged in-line and their turbines all rotate in the same direction. This ensures parts count' commonality, which benefits unit cost and logistics including spare parts holding. These in-line single rotor units are spaced at least and typically one turbine rotor diameter apart. This is to avoid harmful turbine rotor wake interactions generated by adjacent turbines. At the point of closest approach, blade tips from adjacent units pass one another with a relative velocity of twice their normal rotational speed.
w02004/048,774 discloses a double turbine unit comprising a single stanchion with two turbines mounted thereon. The two turbines rotate in opposite directions to one another. This is commonly called handing'. The main reason for this handing is to balance torque loads from each turbine. For movable turbine unit configurations, such as a buoyant kite' e.g. CB2441821, other factors limit the rotor spacing.
Thus the number of units in an array is limited by their spacing and hence total power output of an array in a given location is relatively limited. Since many of the costs of installing a tidal array or farm are fixed, it is desirable for the overall cost per installed kW output to be decreased.
Single turbine, single stanchion units have several advantages over double turbine units. A failure of either half of a double unit requires shut down of both halves, i.e. double the loss of capacity. Also, double structures are typically larger than single stanchion units and significantly more elaborate, hence less easy to install and maintain.
Therefore it is an object of the present invention to provide a higher density power output tidal farm using single turbine, single stanchion units.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided an array of turbine units comprising at least two units each having a single turbine mounted to a single stanchion wherein alternate turbines rotate in opposite directions.
Preferably, the turbines comprise blade tips and the blade tips of adjacent turbines rotate within one turbine diameter of each other. More specifically, blade tips rotate between 0.1 and 0.5 turbine diameters of each other.
Preferably, the turbine units are arranged substantially in a continuous line in either a straight or arcuate line in plan.
Alternatively, the turbine units comprise blade pitch change mechanisms for reverse flow and alternate turbines operate in forward and reverse configuration to form a handed array.
In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating an array of turbine units comprising at least two units each having a single turbine mounted to a single stanchion wherein alternate turbines rotate in opposite directions, the turbine units comprises blade pitch change mechanisms for forward and reverse flow conditions; the method comprises the step of operating alternate turbines in forward and reverse configuration to form a handed array.
As suitable tidal turbine array sites are particularly rare, because of other marine activity and wildlife considerations, it is of the utmost significance that the present invention maximises power generation density.
The present invention will be more fully described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic view of part of an array of tidal turbine unit in accordance with the present invention.
With reference to Figure 1, an array of turbine units comprises a number of turbine units 12A, 12B each having a single turbine 14 mounted to a single stanchion 16.
Alternate turbines 12A, 12B rotate in opposite directions.
The turbines 12 comprise blades 17 having tips 18.
The turbine units 12A, 12B are located relative to one another such that the blade tips of adjacent turbines rotate within one diameter 20 of each other. Depending on blade shape and tip speed of the blade tips of adjacent turbines are preferably positioned to rotate between 0.1 and 0.5 diameters of each other.
Depending on ocean or estuary bed topography and local tidal flow patterns, the turbine units are arranged substantially in a continuous and straight line (in plan) Alternatively, where bed topography dictates and/or tidal flow direction varies across the farm, the continuous line may be arcuate in plan, but still at least a number of the units are within at most one diameter of one another.
For these single turbine rotor units, two versions are produced in which the blades rotate in opposite directions and comprise mirror image' designs for the following, as appropriate: blade profiles; gearbox/transmission; generator/power electronics system; stanchion structure to reflect the opposite torque loads. Other consideration to reduce mirror image' designs may include gearboxes with an additional stage which could be incorporated to restore the rotational direction of the drive into a standardised a]ternator for power generation. Hydraulic transmsson could also be used, where the motors are handed' to restore the rotational direction of the drive into the alternator.
It is well known, e.g. W02005/103,484A2, for tidal turbines to accommodate flow reversal (the change in tide direction) via pitch change blade mechanisms. In this design, a pitching motor rotates the entire blade about an axis at which it joins its hub.
It is possible for the array of handed turbines of the present invention to be reversible and therefore identical, but for alternate units to have their turbines in 4reverse' and forward' modes. Thus a method of operating this array of turbine units comprises the step of operating alternate turbines in forward and reverse configuration to form a handed array.
It is also well known for tidal turbines to accommodate flow reversal by turning the part of the structure that mounts the turbine (typically the nacelle) This typically does not impact minimum blade spacing, but theoretically could do depending on where the axis of turning is located.
Generator/power electronics systems can easily be designed to work equally well with either rotational direction. The power electronics typically converts the generators electrical output to the voltage and frequency desired for transmission.
The present invention is not without compromise particularly in parts count commonality, which impacts unit cost and logistics, including spares holding. However, these disadvantages can be minimised where high numbers of units are manufactured and employed. As suitable tidal turbine array sites are particularly rare, because of other marine activity and wildlife considerations, it is of the utmost significance that the renewable power generation is maximised.

Claims (9)

  1. Claims: 1. An array of turbine units (10) comprising at least two units (12) each having a single turbine (14) mounted to a single stanchion (16) wherein alternate turbines (12A, 12B) rotate in opposite directions.
  2. 2. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the turbines (14) comprise blade tips (18) and the blade tips (18) of adjacent turbines rotate within one turbine diameter (20) of each other.
  3. 3. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the turbines (14) comprise blade tips (18) and the blade tips of adjacent turbines rotate between 0.1 and 0.5 turbine diameters (20) of each other.
  4. 4. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the turbine units are arranged substantially in a continuous line.
  5. 5. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the continuous line is straight in plan.
  6. 6. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in claim 4 wherein the continuous line is arcuate in plan.
  7. 7. An array of turbine units (10) as claimed in any one of claims 1-3 wherein the turbine units comprises blade pitch change mechanisms for reverse flow and alternate turbines operate in forward and reverse configuration to form a handed array.
  8. 8. A method of operating an array of turbine units (10) (10) comprising at least two units (12) each having a siricjle turbirae (14) mounted to a sinicjle stanchion (16) wherein alternate turbines (12A, 12B) rotate in opposite directions, the turbine units comprises blade pitch change mechanisms for forward and reverse flow conditions; the method comprises the step of operating alternate turbines in forward and reverse configuration to form a handed array.
  9. 9. An array of turbine units substantially as described in this specification and with reference to and as shown in figure 1.
GB0818620A 2008-10-13 2008-10-13 Turbine array Withdrawn GB2464306A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0818620A GB2464306A (en) 2008-10-13 2008-10-13 Turbine array

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0818620A GB2464306A (en) 2008-10-13 2008-10-13 Turbine array

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0818620D0 GB0818620D0 (en) 2008-11-19
GB2464306A true GB2464306A (en) 2010-04-14

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB0818620A Withdrawn GB2464306A (en) 2008-10-13 2008-10-13 Turbine array

Country Status (1)

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Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003064852A1 (en) * 2002-01-25 2003-08-07 Wind Harvest Company Coupled vortex vertical axis wind turbine
GB2409885A (en) * 2003-12-20 2005-07-13 Marine Current Turbines Ltd Articulated support for water turbine

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2003064852A1 (en) * 2002-01-25 2003-08-07 Wind Harvest Company Coupled vortex vertical axis wind turbine
GB2409885A (en) * 2003-12-20 2005-07-13 Marine Current Turbines Ltd Articulated support for water turbine

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0818620D0 (en) 2008-11-19

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