GB2586225A - Redoubt - Google Patents

Abstract

An energy generation system comprises a plurality of tidal energy generators 9 linked together to create a barrage and generate tidal energy. The energy generators may be linked together with tiled piers therebetween. The generator sections may be supported by flying buttresses 7. A sea area may be enclosed by inner and outer walls comprising a plurality of generators (figure 17). Lifting floats 1 may be provided to maintain parts of the system at a substantially constant depth.

Description

COSTAL PROTECTION TIDAL ENERGY SYSTEM

This concept relates to such a tidal energy system, costal containment areas called a 'Redoubt' built offshore around the area that seabed rises and raises to the shore line, as well as producing tidal energy it would also protect the coast from serious damage, as most of the incoming tidal energy will have dissipated as it passes through and around the tidal energy system before getting to shore. The concept could take several generations to build up the east coast of Britain, with operating a 'Redoubt' within a couple of years and totalling hundreds eventually, the ongoing maintenance, repair and renewal would be forever, generating energy and jobs for UK. The concept can be adapted to suit tidal lakes and rivers and play a great part for renewables not just in UK but worldwide.

The concept is designed to be flexible in units that fit all sections, so a new or repaired section can replace a damaged or worn section easily, one size fits all, so everything can be manufactured to the same specifications, kept simple easy to build and cost effective.

The system is designed so tidal energy can be recycled twice from both tides. The second time produces less than the first but from the same tide, to maximise energy output. In really high tidal areas, there is the potential for three cycles of generating energy which will make the concept totally unique, though only where suitable and conditions allow.

The system can also be adapted to work as a wall down tidal river sides, where erosion is occurring, to protect sides from further erosion and generate energy at the same time, so as to be cost effective. The holding capacity of the 'Redoubt' would be much greater than the capacity that can pass through turbines, this allows for self-sustaining for the most part is a self-regulating system.

REDOUBT' This tidal energy and costal protection system is a tidal range one known as a 'Redoubt which to has a smaller inner 'Redoubt' where possible, also recycling energy from the tide. Instead of a tidal array of independent individual tidal energy generators over a large area, this concept is made up of hundreds or more of smaller generators, units all the same, all linked together to generate tidal energy and at the same time protecting the coast, a chain built together in a strong defensive circular, diamond or ship shaped area that doesn't stop the seas energy but uses and dissipates it, and in the process less energy is left to impact on the shore. The system is held together with piled piers between each are, walls inner and outer built to suit upper and lower tidal ranges of area, between walls are lifting floats back and front, between which is a central floating unit that houses turbines and generating system, this all floats on rising and falling tides between piers, which are reinforced with diagonal flying buttresses which prevent direct impact with floating sections, together the whole wall of 'Redoubt creates a small tidal power station, which incorporates a lock into its build, that allows all year safe access for maintenance crews.

The following drawings serve as illustration purposes only and are not to scale, simply to show how the concept works and the component parts needed.

PAGE 1 OF DRAWINGS Figure 1 Figure 2 Shows an overhead view of a section of wall that would be built to enclose a containment area offshore a suitably shaped area known as a 'Redoubt', it is made up of a number of piers shown as 6, piers are tied into flying buttresses 7, by diagonally fixed horizontal arms 5, both left and right of piers 6, and mirrored on the inner side of wall, pier 6, are attached to sea floor by piles 4, flying buttresses 7, are also fixed to sea floor via piles 4, the central section of each pier 6, allows for a large floating section 1, to rise and fall within the tidal range, guided by 3, a central fixed part of pier 6, on either side of float 1, lower down float 1, section is the apron 2. A small section shown ass, on each corner of apron 2, are guide rebates for inner and outer lower support floats, to rise and fall smoothly and 21, wall to low tide height.

Shows front view of wall section as shown above in figure 1. Shown is top of float 1, between piers 6 flying buttresses 7, and horizontal arms 5, shown fixed left and right into centre of pier 6.

PAGE 2 OF DRAWINGS Figure 3 Shows a side view of float 1, the top section of which would be to house electrical equipment shown as 11, below which is section 10, to house generating system, which would be driven by turbines housed in section 9, which is also the water intake to drive said turbines, below that is the main float buoyancy and ballast section 12, each side shows as wall section between piers 6, these are shown as 21. Also shown is pier 6, fixed section 3, the central guide and guides 13, either side of it below and to the left and right of this is support floats 15, these act to help main float to stay in position so as to allow turbines to be driven by tide, also to fill space to tide height and slightly higher, if and when main upper sections from 12, to top of 1, is lifted out from between piers 6, for either repair or renewal, when removing floats 15, rise in place until a replacement is put back into position, between piers 6, on top of floats 15, are buffer sections 16, outer buffers also shown in section 9 as it these act to buffer against removable limit blocks fixed to pier 6, to stop float being lifted to high, also low tide wall 21 part shown.

PAGE 3 OF DRAWINGS Figure 4 Shows overhead view of main float 1 in between piers 6, top of float apron 2, central fixed pier 6, section 3 central guide, with guides 13 each side, limiting buffer pads 17 rebate guides 8 for support floats 15.

Figure 5 Shows frontal view which behind flying buttresses 7, shown top of main float 1, below which is 11, section for houses electrical equipment, then 10 section for generator and drive then down to 9 the turbine drive section with water intake 18, then apron 2 and finally main float buoyancy section 12. Below is a wall section that slots and fixes into piers 6 from seabed up to just below tide height shown as 21.

PAGE 4 OF DRAWINGS Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Shows the basic operation on a rising tide of concept in simple illustration not to scale, and not all details shown figure 6 shows 3 central guide which is fixed to pier 6, not shown and all the floating parts of concept top 1, side guides 13 either side of guide 3, section 11, down to section 10, then 9 the turbine and water intake section which is shown at the level at which it floats, water level shown as 19, water passes through and out to slightly lower water level 19, flowing into containment area 12, main float section to the left and right are support floats 15 and walls 21 that stop at around low tide level and are fixed into piers 6.

Shows all of the above which shows operation on rising tide, after high tide the operation reverses and drives turbines in 9, and higher water level 19, in containment area flows to lower water level of falling tide.

Shows sprung rollers 25 springs 14 rollers are option for smooth flow up and down other option possible which ever suit operation best after tests 3 central guide shown and float top 1, through rollers 25 and springs 14 would be down length of floating section.

Shows rubber buffer 20, behind 3 central guides to aid flow of operation float top 1, top view of rollers 25 and spring 14 also rubber or flaps all to aid operation of float and help to seal against heavy water passing around floats.

PAGE 5 OF DRAWINGS Figure 10 Shows a cut through side view of panel which spans between piers 6 the panel fixes in slots in piers 6 and fill gap from sea floor to just below low tide height more than one panel maybe needed dependent on depth, panel is a strong steel corrugated design akin to sheet pile steel section 21 is steel panel 23 are strengthening steel infill panels welded both back and front middle left and middle right of centre, 22 is a steel channel welded all around and has rubber hollow half round buffer attached all the way round main panel to stop vibration noise, option to have panels built into structure were possible.

Figure 11 Shows frontal view of a panel showing 22 rubber steel surround and stiffeners 23 and corrugation 21.

Figure 12 Shows 22 rubber and steel surround.

PAGE 6 OF DRAWINGS Figure 13 Shows 26 flat bar frame to which is welded metal mesh 27 rubber 22 seen behind.

Figure 14 Shows mesh screen 27 which acts as a fish/mammal barrier, prior to water intake, bar frame fixed into rubber 22. The frame has full height half round hollow rubber buffers 22, not needed horizontally.

Figure 15 Shows hollow rubber buffers 22 and top of frame 26, these frames fit above steel panels shown in figure 11. In the same grooves to span piers 6, the mesh shown in figure 14, fits in as many needed frames as to fill in to top of piers 6, above high tide height, to stop debris getting into area between piers 6.

PAGE 7 OF DRAWINGS Figure 16 Figure 17 Figure 18 Figure 19 Shows three lines one centrally and two partial, these simply indicate where tidal impact buffers would be in front of 'Redoubt' these are to be patented separately to this present one.

Shows the shape of 'Redoubt' the shape being one of several options to best suit area 29 and indicates where a lock would be located 28 in structure, on the leeside rear end, also shown is inner 'Redoubt' 31 and lock location. These 'Redoubt' structures would be several kilometres around and hold hundreds possibly thousand generators, built as above in twin rows the next lower row would be left and then right shown partially.

29 and 31 and Shown partially 29 and 31. The lower rows would reach to just below middle area of upper 'Redoubt'.

Claims (7)

1. Claims 1. An energy generation system comprising a plurality of energy generators linked together to generate tidal energy.
2. 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of energy generators are linked together with tiled piers therebetween.
3. 3. A system according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the system is provided with inner and outer walls.
4. 4. A system according to claim 3, wherein lifting floats are provided between the walls.
5. 5. A system according to claim 4, wherein a floating unit is provided between the lifting floats, said floating unit housing turbines and a generating system.CDC\i 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the floats are reinforced with
6. COo diagonal flying buttresses.
7. 7. A system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the system Cn incorporates a lock allowing safe access for maintenance crews.