GB2485574A - Vertical axis turbine tower - Google Patents

Vertical axis turbine tower Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2485574A
GB2485574A GB1019585.7A GB201019585A GB2485574A GB 2485574 A GB2485574 A GB 2485574A GB 201019585 A GB201019585 A GB 201019585A GB 2485574 A GB2485574 A GB 2485574A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
turbine
tower
energy capture
housing
turbine tower
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Withdrawn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
GB1019585.7A
Other versions
GB201019585D0 (en
Inventor
Ian Thaxter
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 GB1019585.7A priority Critical patent/GB2485574A/en
Publication of GB201019585D0 publication Critical patent/GB201019585D0/en
Publication of GB2485574A publication Critical patent/GB2485574A/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Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current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
    • F03B17/063—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 no movement relative to the rotor during its 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
    • F05B2240/00—Components
    • F05B2240/20—Rotors
    • F05B2240/21—Rotors for wind turbines
    • F05B2240/211—Rotors for wind turbines with vertical axis
    • F05B2240/217—Rotors for wind turbines with vertical axis of the crossflow- or "Banki"- or "double action" type
    • 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 water turbine 4 is mounted within an upright hollow tower 2, which may be fixed to the sea or river bed 1. The tower 2 is open at opposite sides to allow water to flow in one side and out through the other side so impinging on the blades of the turbine 4 and rotating it about its axis. The housing 2 forms the support for the turbine and also acts as a shield to prevent the current hitting inactive blades of the turbine 4. The turbine may drive an electrical generator 3 on top of the tower 2 and out of the water. The turbine 4 may be a cross-flow turbine and there may be deflector plates (10, figure 2) internal to the turbine to increase the efficiency of the turbine 4. The tower 2 may be relatively long and thin as shown, or could be short (squat) and wide, depending on the application.

Description

Energy Capture Turbine Tower The invention relates to the extraction of energy from tidal and river currents and to the generation of electric power there-from and provides in particular for a energy capture turbine tower and related method of energy conversion.
Background
The generation of renewable energy from natural resources is an area of substantial interest and much development research over recent years. One area of renewable energy that provides promise is to be able to harness the energy available from river and tidal cun ents and many attempts have been made in the past decades to design and build current energy extraction devices using a turbine with a vertical axis.
The most relevant examples of such known systems and apparatus are found in W02008050l49, GB2461983A, GB2312931A, W02010064770 and JP58130090U.
There are two fundamental issues that need to be addressed in a successful vertical axis turbine design.
1) Vertical axis turbines tend not to work well when fully submersed due to the water resistance on the blades on the return side which have to be driven against the flow causing a significant loss of potential power.
2) To obtain to a commercially viable power output level the device needs to act upon a significant cross section of current flow.
Whilst the subject matter of these published documents appears to offer potentially viable solutions to these issues, they are typically complex in manufacture, operation and maintenance and require significant capital and operational cost due to the complexity of their design.
I
Summary of Invention
The present invention seeks to provide a simple, cost-effective and scalable apparatus for extraction of tidal and river energy through a design wherein the support housing also forms the necessary shielding and ducting with the only moving part being the central vertical axis turbine.
According to the present invention, there is provided a tidal or river power apparatus, comprising an upright hollow tower fixed to the sea or river bed, having a vertical axis turbine therein driving an electrical generator sitting atop and out of the water, the tower being open on adjacent sides to allow water to flow in one side and out through the other side so impinging on the blades of the turbine and rotating it about its axis.
The turbine is preferably of cross-flow design and has a plurality of curved blades arranged around, but spaced from, a central axle. This advantageously allows water to flow through the centre of the turbine to clear it of any materials such as weed that is likely to clog it. Fixed within the turbine are two or more static deflection plates that divert the water that is not impinging on the blades during entry so that advantageously it impinges positively on the blades on its exit. This innovation has been found to significantly increase the power of the turbine by removing drag in this area and converting it to positive pressure on the blades in a similar fashion to a conventional non-submerged horizontal axis cross-flow turbine, Preferably the turbine is constructed of multiple linked units to simplify manufacture, installation and maintenance.
The tower structure provides the support housing for the turbine but preferably also acts as the shield that prevents the current hitting the inactive blades of the turbine and the ducting that guides the water to prolong the pressure on the turbine blades. Preferably the tower could be mounted on a mechanism that allows it to be turned to optimise power and allow for shifting tidal current paths. The tower structure allows for the entire depth of water to be available for energy capture maximising the potential power output. The design lends itself to adaptation to suit the requirements of different locations, For example, it could be tall and thin when sited in a deep navigational river estuary, or squat and fat when sited in a shallow non-navigational river. The means of generating energy being atop the tower and out of water is easily accessible for maintenance and servicing.
As the top of the unit is above the water level it presents limited hazard to navigation.
The tower would be mounted on the river bed/sea floor by a concrete slab in shallow rivers, estuaries or by the use of a monopile or tripod structure in deeper water.
Preferably the tower could form one of the legs of a pier or fixed pontoon or the base of an offshore wind turbine, or alternatively be slung beneath a floating platform.
The tower is preferably symmetrical in design and bi-directional in operation allowing it to capture energy on both the outgoing and incoming tide when sited in a tidal flow.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to embodiments thereof and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig I is an isometric view of a turbine tower according to the invention; Fig 2 is a schematic transverse cross-sectional view illustrating a possible configuration of the turbine tower and how it impacts on the water flow; Referring to fig 1, the apparatus consists of a vertical hollow tower (1) preferably mounted on a concrete slab, monopile or tripod structure on the river bedlsea floor (not shown) depending on site characteristics and need. The tower consists of a housing (2), made of steel or another suitable material such as laminated carbon fibre, which houses a vertical axis turbine (4). Atop the tower is the electrical generator (3) which is designed to be above the water level (5) allowing easy access for maintenance. The tower is aligned with the current flow (6) so that the forward facing opening in the housing (2) allows the current to impinge on the blades of the exposed turbine 4) and motivate it to rotate. As the tower is preferably symmetrical in its design it will respond to the current flow (6) being in either direction.
Alternatively the tower could be squat and wide and be slung below a floating pontoon (not shown) with the electrical generator housed atop the pontoon and above the water level. The pontoon would be moored to remain stationary in the current.
Fig 2 shows a cross section through the tower in a flow of water running from A to B. The housing has a forward facing opening (12) and an adjacent rear facing opening (13) which let the water pass through the housing from one to the other. The housing (2) contains a turbine which is of a cross-flow design with a plurality of curves blades (8) arranged around, but spaced from, a central axle (9). Fig 2 illustrates how the turbine blades (8) on the right hand half of the turbine are shielded from the water flow whilst those on the left hand side are exposed. Consequently some of the water impinges on the exposed blades pushing them through the channel formed by the housing (2) and the outer most deflector plate (7) turning the turbine about its axis (6). The water captured from the flow but not flowing through the said channel is diverted by the deflector plates (7, 10) so that it acts upon the blades (8) as it exits the tower housing via the adjacent rear opening. This diversion of water adds significantly to the power generated by the turbine through conversion of drag to positive pressure on the turbine blades (8). Preferably flanges (11) located on the housing increase the amount of water captured from the flow by the device.

Claims (16)

  1. Claims 1. An energy capture turbine tower comprising of an upright hollow tower having a vertical axis turbine therein, the turbine being arranged to rotate for the purpose of the generation of electricity, the tower housing being open on adjacent sides to allow water to flow in one side and out through the other side so impinging on the blades of the turbine and rotating it about its axis.
  2. 2. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tower housing forms the structure to hold the turbine in position in the current.
  3. 3. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tower housing forms the shield that protects the inactive turbine blades from the current.
  4. 4. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the tower housing fonTns the ducting that guides the water along the path of the turbine.
  5. 5. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the housing is attached to the sea or river bed by a monopile foundation.
  6. 6. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the housing is attached to the sea or river bed by a tripod foundation.
  7. 7. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the housing is attached to the sea or river bed by a concrete slab foundation.
  8. 8. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the tower forms the support leg of a pier, fixed pontoon or offshore wind turbine.
  9. 9. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the tower is slung below a floating pontoon.
  10. 10. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in any of the preceeding claims, wherein the turbine is a cross-flow turbine.
  11. 11. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in any of the preeeeding claims, wherein there are one or more deflector plates situated within the turbine.
  12. 12. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claims 5, 6 or 7, wherein the tower is set on a mount that allows the tower to be turned about a vertical axis.
  13. 13. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed itt Claim 10, wherein the turbine comprises multiple sections that motivate a common axle.
  14. 14. An energy capture turbine tower as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the housing includes flanges along the openings that increase the cross section of water diverted into the turbine.
  15. 15. An energy capture turbine tower substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs 1-2 of the accompanying drawings.
  16. 16. A method of extracting energy from currents substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs 1-2 of the accompanying drawings.
GB1019585.7A 2010-11-19 2010-11-19 Vertical axis turbine tower Withdrawn GB2485574A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1019585.7A GB2485574A (en) 2010-11-19 2010-11-19 Vertical axis turbine tower

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1019585.7A GB2485574A (en) 2010-11-19 2010-11-19 Vertical axis turbine tower

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB201019585D0 GB201019585D0 (en) 2010-12-29
GB2485574A true GB2485574A (en) 2012-05-23

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GB (1) GB2485574A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130334823A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2013-12-19 Cameron International Corporation Method and Apparatus for Energy Generation
WO2014013432A1 (en) 2012-07-19 2014-01-23 RUBIO, Ana Elisa Vertical axis wind and hydraulic turbine with flow control
WO2014194438A1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2014-12-11 Leiva Guzman Juan Cristobal Device which converts tidal kinetic energy into electric energy and comprises a cross-flow water turbine capable of directing the captured flows in an optimal manner, redirecting and accelerating same toward an inner runner of the water turbine, and an electricity generating plant that uses said device
EP3954891A4 (en) * 2019-04-12 2023-01-18 Hang-Je Park Impeller assembly for hydroelectric power generation device

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2908689A1 (en) * 1979-03-06 1980-09-11 Walter Nimmerrichter Small water head through-flow turbine - has rotor with axis horizontally across water flow and with three-part system of guide vanes
WO1999020896A1 (en) * 1997-10-22 1999-04-29 Lagstroem Goeran Method and arrangement for converting kinetic energy of ocean currents into rotatory energy
US20070269304A1 (en) * 2006-05-17 2007-11-22 Burg Donald E Fluid rotor with energy enhancements power generation system
DE102008005553A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-30 Kießling, Jörg Device for generating electrical energy by utilization of energy of flowing fluid in direction, has generator for generating electrical energy, and pivotably rotated rotor

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2908689A1 (en) * 1979-03-06 1980-09-11 Walter Nimmerrichter Small water head through-flow turbine - has rotor with axis horizontally across water flow and with three-part system of guide vanes
WO1999020896A1 (en) * 1997-10-22 1999-04-29 Lagstroem Goeran Method and arrangement for converting kinetic energy of ocean currents into rotatory energy
US20070269304A1 (en) * 2006-05-17 2007-11-22 Burg Donald E Fluid rotor with energy enhancements power generation system
DE102008005553A1 (en) * 2008-01-23 2009-07-30 Kießling, Jörg Device for generating electrical energy by utilization of energy of flowing fluid in direction, has generator for generating electrical energy, and pivotably rotated rotor

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20130334823A1 (en) * 2010-12-30 2013-12-19 Cameron International Corporation Method and Apparatus for Energy Generation
US9719483B2 (en) * 2010-12-30 2017-08-01 Onesubsea Ip Uk Limited Method and apparatus for generating energy from a flowing water current
WO2014013432A1 (en) 2012-07-19 2014-01-23 RUBIO, Ana Elisa Vertical axis wind and hydraulic turbine with flow control
US9938958B2 (en) 2012-07-19 2018-04-10 Humberto Antonio RUBIO Vertical axis wind and hydraulic turbine with flow control
WO2014194438A1 (en) * 2013-06-07 2014-12-11 Leiva Guzman Juan Cristobal Device which converts tidal kinetic energy into electric energy and comprises a cross-flow water turbine capable of directing the captured flows in an optimal manner, redirecting and accelerating same toward an inner runner of the water turbine, and an electricity generating plant that uses said device
EP3954891A4 (en) * 2019-04-12 2023-01-18 Hang-Je Park Impeller assembly for hydroelectric power generation device

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Publication number Publication date
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