JP2005351201A - Tidal power generation facility - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve a problem that a conventional gigantic tidal power generating device installed in the sea can not convert tidal current energy into inexpensive electric power; to provide a tidal power generation facility capable of effectively collecting tidal current for converting to the electric power and making generated electric power inexpensive with low facility cost. <P>SOLUTION: The tidal power generation facility comprises a floating tidal power generating device having a water wheel for power generation, a generator and a dispersion equipment, a moored anchor fixed to the seabed, a mooring guide yoke rotatably provided for the moored anchor, and a mooring chain for connecting the mooring guide yoke with the front part of the tidal power generating device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a tidal current power generation facility that is provided in the sea and can effectively collect tidal currents and convert them into electric power, and can automatically change the direction corresponding to the direction of tidal currents.

  Tidal current power generation is attracting attention as an inexhaustible clean energy, and various proposals have been made. For example, a fixed subsea hydroelectric power plant as shown in FIG. 8 has been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

As shown in FIG. 8, the platform 101 is supported on the sea floor by four legs 102 applied with tensile force, which are horizontally disposed on the sea floor by an extension tool 112. The platform 101 is shown in a state in which a plurality of turbine / generators 103 are suspended and supported.
The turbine / generator 103 is suspended from the platform 101 by a vertical column 106, which is supported by a movable carriage 108. A jack mechanism capable of raising and lowering the turbine / generator is provided in the movable carriage.
Reference numeral 122 denotes a turbine housing.

JP-A-8-210237 (paragraphs [0010], [0011] and FIG. 2)

The conventional apparatus as shown in FIG. 8 has a problem that since the equipment such as the four legs and the platform is large and the equipment cost is high, the unit price of generated power is high and it is difficult to put it into practical use.
The present invention has been proposed in order to solve such problems. The tidal current can effectively collect water and convert it into power, the equipment cost is low, and the generated power can be reduced. The purpose is to provide power generation facilities.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described conventional problems, and each invention described in the claims employs each means described in the following (1) to (2) as a tidal current power generation facility. It is what.

  (1) A tidal current power generation facility according to a first means is a floating tidal current power generation device having a power generation water turbine, a generator, and a diffusion device, a mooring anchor fixed to the seabed, and freely rotatable to the mooring anchor. And a mooring chain that connects the mooring guide yoke and the front of the tidal current power generation device.

  (2) The tidal power generation facility of the second means is the stopper according to the first means for connecting the rear part of the floating tidal power generation device and the mooring anchor so that the tidal power generation device does not turn 180 ° or more. It is characterized by having a chain.

  The invention according to each claim described in the claims employs the means described in (1) and (2) above, and thus has the following effects.

  (1) The invention according to claim 1 employs the first means described above, effectively collecting the tidal current, increasing the amount of seawater flowing in the diffusion device or increasing the flow velocity, and making the tidal current effective. In addition, it is possible to effectively convert the power into electric power, and by installing the tidal current power generation device with a chain or the like, it is possible to obtain a tidal power generation facility that is easy to install and inexpensive.

  (2) The invention according to claim 2 employs the above-mentioned second means, and in addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1, the floating tidal current surely corresponds to the change in the direction of the tidal current. The direction of the power generator can be automatically turned.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a tidal current power generation facility according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a diffusion device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an operation explanatory diagram at the time of strong tidal current according to the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is an operation explanatory diagram at the time of weak tidal current, and FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram at the time of strong tidal current in the opposite direction. is there.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a first modified example of the diffusion device provided with the water collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a diffusion provided with the water collection device according to the embodiment of the present invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the 2nd modification of an apparatus.

As shown in FIG. 1, an elongated mooring anchor 9 is fixed to the seabed 12.
This fixing method is performed by a well-known method of driving a number of unillustrated piles into the seabed 12 and fixing the anchoring anchor 9 to the upper end of the piles.
Further, it is desirable that the elongate mooring anchor 9 be installed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the fastest tidal current in consideration of the tidal current direction in the installation sea area.

A mooring guide yoke 8 having long arms on both sides is provided on the upper surface of one end portion of the mooring anchor 9 via a guide yoke support shaft 14 so as to be rotatable.
As the turning mechanism, the mooring guide yoke 8 and the guide yoke support shaft 14 may be fixed and provided so as to be freely rotatable on the mooring anchor 9. Alternatively, the guide yoke support shaft 14 may be fixed to the mooring anchor 9 and the mooring guide. The yoke 8 may be provided on the guide yoke support shaft 14 so as to be rotatable.

On the other hand, the floating tidal current power generator 1 is disposed in the seawater above the mooring guide yoke 8.
The floating tidal current generator 1 includes a cone-shaped diffusion device 4, a nacelle 17 provided in front of the diffusion device 4 via a water turbine column 16, and a propeller (water turbine, provided at the rear end of the nacelle 17. (Or turbine) 3 and buoyancy chamber 15 provided in the upper part of diffusion device 4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the diffusion device 4 has a cone shape (pyramidal frustum shape) in which the cross-sectional area of the opening at the front end is small and the cross-sectional area of the opening at the rear end is large.
The diffusion device 4 includes a trapezoidal top plate 20, a bottom plate 23 parallel to the top plate 20, a side plate 21 and a side plate 22 attached to both side edges of the top plate 20 and the bottom plate 23, a side plate 21 and a side plate. And a side plate extension 24 extending from 22.
Further, as shown in FIG. 1, reinforcing columns 13 are attached to the rear ends of the top plate 20 and the bottom plate 23 in order to prevent deformation.

The bottom plate 23 is arranged in parallel to the top plate 20, but this parallel may be substantially parallel. For example, the bottom plate 23 may have an inclination angle within ± 10 ° with respect to the top plate 20. Shall be included.
The diffusion device 4 has a truncated pyramid shape with a long cross section, but is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. 2, the corner near the front end is rounded. Alternatively, all corners may be rounded.
Further, the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 may each be semi-cylindrical.

  Then, the maximum width D of the opening at the front end of the diffusion device 4 (that is, the width D of the trapezoidal trapezoidal side of the top plate 20 in the case of FIG. 2) and the length L of the diffusion device 4 (that is, FIG. 2). , The ratio L / D of the top plate 20 to the trapezoidal trapezoidal height L) is L / D = 2.0, and the opening angle θ of the side surface of the diffusion device 4 is 15 ° (ie, The arrangement angle between the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 is most preferably 30 °). As will be described later, the tidal current collection amount, that is, the amount of seawater flowing through the diffusion device 4 is the largest.

  In this case, if the ratio L / D between the maximum width D and the length L of the opening at the front end of the diffusion device 4 is in the range of 1.5 ≦ L / D ≦ 2.5, it flows in the diffusion device 4. The amount of seawater can be increased.

Furthermore, if the opening angle θ of each side plate 21 and side plate 22 is in the range of 10 ° ≦ θ ≦ 20 °, the amount of seawater flowing in the diffusion device 4 can be increased.
The range in which the opening angle θ is 10 ° ≦ θ ≦ 20 ° means that 20 ° ≦ the range in which the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 are disposed ≦ 40 °.

By setting the shape of the diffusing device 4 to the above-described cone shape, it is possible to increase the amount of seawater flowing through the diffusing device 4 or the flow velocity as follows.
That is, since the cross-sectional area of the seawater that has flowed in from the opening at the front end having a small cross-sectional area of the diffusion device 4 gradually increases, the flow velocity becomes slow.
On the other hand, the flow rate of the tidal current flowing outside the diffusion device 4 is increased by the side plates 21 and the side plates 22 inclined outward.

In the vicinity of the outlet behind the diffusing device 4, a negative pressure is generated in the vicinity of the outlet behind the diffusing device 4 due to the tide flowing outside the diffusing device 4 whose flow velocity has increased.
Then, the flow rate increases so that seawater passing through the diffusion device 4 is sucked by this negative pressure.
In this way, since the amount or flow rate of the seawater passing through the propeller 3 is increased, the rotational force of the propeller 3 and the generated power of the generator 2 can be effectively increased.

When the ratio L / D between the maximum width D and the length L of the opening at the front end of the diffusion device 4 is smaller than 1.5, the rotational force of the propeller 3 is substantially the same as that without the diffusion device 4. Since it can only be obtained, the meaning of providing the diffusion device 4 is lost.
If the ratio L / D is larger than 2.5, the negative pressure generated near the rear outlet of the diffusing device 4 does not reach the center of the rear outlet of the diffusing device 4 and a backflow occurs, which is a problem. .

Further, when the opening angle θ of the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 is smaller than 10 ° (that is, the arrangement angle between the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 is 20 °), the negative pressure generated in the vicinity of the rear outlet of the diffusion device 4 is insufficient. Thus, the amount or flow rate of seawater that effectively passes through the propeller 3 cannot be increased effectively.
When the opening angle θ is larger than 20 ° (that is, the arrangement angle between the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 is 40 °), on the contrary, seawater flows from the outside of the diffusion device 4 to the rear part of the diffusion device 4. This is a problem because the amount of seawater passing through the water or the flow velocity decreases.

The outer shape of the diffusing device 4 is rectangular as described above.
However, the inner wall of the cross section has a cylindrical cross section so that the tidal current can flow efficiently into the propeller 3 inside.
That is, the vertical cross-sectional shape in the front-rear direction of the center portion of the top plate 20 is a streamline shape protruding inward so as to be thin at the front end, thickest near the propeller, and thin at the rear end.
Further, the horizontal cross-sectional shapes of the side plate 21 and the side plate 22 are also streamlined inwardly protruding such that they are thin at the front end, thickest near the propeller, and thin at the rear end.
The gaps between the outer wall and the inner wall of the top plate 20, the side plate 21, and the side plate 22 are formed with buoyancy chambers or filled with light foamed resin or the like.

A turbine column 16 is attached between the top plate 20 and the bottom plate 23 in front of the diffusion device 4.
A streamlined nacelle 17 is attached to the center of the water turbine column 16.
A fixed pitch type propeller (water turbine, turbine) 3 is rotatably mounted behind the nacelle 17.
In the nacelle 17, a speed increasing gear (or speed reducing gear) and a bevel gear for increasing or decreasing the rotational force of the propeller 3 and transmitting it to the generator 2 described later are disposed.

A buoyancy chamber 15 is provided above the diffusion device 4, and a generator 2 such as an induction generator is disposed in the buoyancy chamber 15.
The buoyancy chamber 15 has a buoyancy that allows the floating tidal power generator 1 to float in seawater or to float.
Moreover, the inside of the buoyancy chamber 15 is liquid-tightly divided into the front, rear, left and right so that the floating tidal power generator 1 can be adjusted to float substantially horizontally.

  The material of the diffusing device 4 may be entirely metallic, and the generator 2, various transmission gears, the support part of the machinery such as the rotating shaft, and the joint part with each chain are made of metal, and the other parts are made of carbon. Synthetic resin properties such as fiber may be used.

With the above-described configuration, the propeller 3 is rotated by the seawater flowing in the diffusion device 4, and the rotational force is transmitted to the generator 2 via the transmission gear in the speed-up gear (or reduction gear), the bevel gear, and the water turbine column 16. Communicated.
The generator 2 is not necessarily provided in the buoyancy chamber 15 and may be provided in the nacelle 17.
Further, the propeller 3 may be behind the nacelle 17 or forward.

The electric power generated by the generator 2 is transmitted through the electric wire 10 to the control device 18 installed on the land or the like.
The electric wire 10 is protected by an electric wire protection tube 11.
The control device 18 is provided with a frequency converter that converts the frequency of the electric power generated by the generator 2 into a commercial frequency.

Moreover, the electric wire 10 has not only a power transmission line for power transmission but also a signal electric wire for transmitting signals from various state detectors provided in the floating tidal current power generation apparatus 1.
Furthermore, for air purging to the nacelle 17 and supplying air to the buoyancy chamber 15 from the control device 18 through an air tube attached to the electric wire 10, the reliability of the floating tidal current power generator 1, Durability is further increased.

The propeller 3 may be a variable pitch type instead of the fixed pitch type.
Then, by combining the variable pitch type propeller 3 and the induction generator type generator 2 and controlling the pitch of the propeller 3 by the control device 18 so that the rotation speed of the propeller 3 falls within a predetermined range, Even without an expensive frequency converter, it is possible to connect to a commercial power source and supply power.

Further, both front side portions of the floating tidal current power generator 1 and both end portions of the mooring guide yoke 8 are connected to each other by a mooring chain 6.
Moreover, the front center upper part of the floating tidal power generator 1 and the central part of the mooring guide yoke 8 are connected by the front stopper chain 5 so that the floating tidal power generator 1 does not turn abnormally.
Further, the other end of the mooring anchor 9 (the side opposite to the side where the guide yoke support shaft 14 and the mooring guide yoke 8 are attached) and the rear end lower part of the diffusion device 4 (that is, the rear end of the bottom plate 23) are: They are connected by a rear stopper chain 7.

The length of the rear stopper chain 7 is such that when the floating tidal power generator 1 floats and automatically reverses depending on the direction of tidal current, the turning angle is 180 ° or less so that it does not turn more than 180 °. Length.
That is, if the length of the swirl is larger than 180 °, when the flow direction of the tidal current is reversed, the floating tidal power generator 1 swivels to the opposite side and the rear stopper chain 7 is fully extended, and the floating This is because there is a possibility that the tidal power generation device 1 will not be directed in the direction of the tidal current.
The length of the rear stopper chain 7 is set to such a length that the floating tidal current power generation device 1 turns around 180 °, for example, less than 180 °, so that when the tidal current direction is reversed, the diffusion device 4 However, since it is always tilted toward the rear stopper chain 7 side (for example, 5 °) with respect to the direction of the tidal current, a turning force that turns toward the rear stopper chain 7 side is generated, so that it is more reliably reversed automatically. Can be made.

Next, the operation of automatically turning in the tidal direction will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 3, for example, when a strong tidal current (strong east current) flows from the left (east) side of FIG. 3, the floating tidal power generator 1 turns to the right (west) side of FIG. 3. To do.
The strong east current is introduced into the diffusion device 4 from the front end of the diffusion device 4 to rotate the propeller 3.
The rotational force of the propeller 3 is transmitted to the generator 2 shown in FIG. 1 to generate power.

  Thereafter, when the flow velocity of the tidal current weakens and reverses, and a weak tidal current (weak west current) starts to flow from the right (west) side of FIG. 4 as shown in FIG. Start turning in the direction in which 7 is connected.

The front stopper chain 5 and the mooring chain 6 may be a connecting member such as a wire, but the rear stopper chain 7 is preferably a heavy iron (metal) chain.
That is, by making the rear stopper chain 7 a heavy chain, the floating tidal power generator 1 is automatically connected to the rear stopper chain 7 by the weight of the rear stopper chain 7 when the tidal current is weakened. This is because it comes to face in the direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, when a strong tidal current (strong west current) flows from the right (west) side of FIG. 4, the floating tidal current power generator 1 is in the opposite direction (west) to that illustrated in FIG. 3. Is turning.
The strong west flow is introduced into the diffusion device 4 from the front end of the diffusion device 4 to rotate the propeller 3.
The rotational force of the propeller 3 is transmitted to the generator 2 shown in FIG. 1 to generate power.

  In this way, the floating tidal current power generation device 1 effectively and efficiently converts the tidal current into electric power by turning (reversing) so that the front of the diffusion device 4 automatically faces in the direction of the tidal current. It becomes possible.

The floating tidal power generator 1 is floated near the sea surface, the upper water turbine column 16 and the diffusion device 4 are connected via a rotating shaft, and the lower water turbine column 16 can be divided in the middle. good.
By adopting such a structure, it is possible to rotate and maintain the water turbine support 16, the propeller 3 and the nacelle 17 on the upper surface and maintain and inspect them.

  Next, based on FIG. 6, FIG. 7, it demonstrates per modification.

In the first modification shown in FIG. 6, the difference from the one shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is that a water collecting device 31 is additionally provided in front of the diffusion device 32 having the same shape as the diffusion device 4. is there.
1 and 2, the anchor anchor 9, the guide yoke support shaft 14, the anchor guide yoke 8, the diffusion device 4, the propeller 3, the generator 2, the front stopper chain 5, and the rear stopper chain 7. , Mooring chain 6, electric wire 10, electric wire protection tube 11, support column 13, buoyancy chamber 15, water wheel support column 16, nacelle 17, control device 18, and the like.

In the case of the first modification, the front stopper chain 5 and the mooring chain 6 are connected to the front end of the water collecting device 31 instead of the front end of the diffusion device 32.
Further, the water collecting device 31 may have the same cone shape as that of the diffusion device 32, and further, the length of the water collecting device 31 may be shortened.
Thus, by additionally installing the cone-shaped water collecting device 31 in front of the diffusing device 32, it is possible to further increase the ability to collect the tidal current.

Next, the second modification shown in FIG. 7 differs from that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the diffusion device 35 has a cylindrical trapezoidal shape (cone shape) and is arranged in front of the diffusion device 35. The water device 34 is additionally provided.
1 and 2, the anchor anchor 9, the guide yoke support shaft 14, the anchor guide yoke 8, the diffusion device 4, the propeller 3, the generator 2, the front stopper chain 5, and the rear stopper chain 7. , Mooring chain 6, electric wire 10, electric wire protection tube 11, support column 13, buoyancy chamber 15, water wheel support column 16, nacelle 17, control device 18, and the like.

In the case of this second modification, the front stopper chain 5 and the mooring chain 6 are connected to the front end of the water collecting device 34.
Further, the water collecting device 34 may have the same cone shape as that of the diffusing device 35, and the length of the water collecting device 34 may be shortened.
Thus, by additionally installing the cylindrical trapezoidal water collecting device 34 in front of the diffusing device 35, it is possible to further enhance the ability to collect tidal currents.

In the above-described embodiment of the present invention, the floating tidal power generator 1 is connected by the mooring chain 6 or the like.
The conventional apparatus as shown in FIG. 8 has a problem that since the equipment such as the four legs and the platform is large and the equipment cost is high, the unit price of generated power is high and it is difficult to put it into practical use.
Furthermore, since the four large legs 102 are provided, the tidal current is difficult to flow into the turbine housing depending on the direction of the tidal current.
And since it becomes a large-scale installation, there existed a problem that it cannot be installed in the place with a water depth restriction | limiting in the area etc. which a ship navigates, for example.

  However, by adopting a simple structure in which the floating tidal power generator 1 is connected by the mooring chain 6 or the like, in addition to the effect that the tidal current can be effectively and effectively collected and converted into electric power, the floating tidal power generation The equipment cost of the apparatus 1 can be greatly reduced, and the tidal current is not hindered by the large four legs 102, and it is possible to install the apparatus 1 in a place where the water depth is limited.

Note that the floating tidal power generation device 1 is not necessarily limited to that connected by a chain, and when installed in a sea area where there is no water depth limitation, or in a sea area that does not interfere with the navigation of a ship, it is illustrated in FIG. The floating tidal current power generator 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be disposed on the platform in place of the turbine housing 122.
By adopting such a structure, it is possible to effectively and effectively collect the tidal current and convert it into electric power.

In addition, the floating tidal current power generation device 1 can be provided on a support erected on the seabed so as to be freely turnable via a turning shaft.
Furthermore, it is also possible to pivotally attach to a column suspended from a floating body moored by an anchor chain or the like on the seabed via a pivot shaft.

  As mentioned above, although the present invention was explained about the tidal current power generation device of the embodiment of the present invention, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications are made to the specific structure within the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying.

1 is an overall perspective view of a tidal power generation facility according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the diffusion device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the strong tidal current which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the weak tidal current which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing at the time of the strong tidal current of the opposite direction which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the 1st modification of the spreading | diffusion apparatus provided with the water collecting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is an expansion perspective view of the 2nd modification of the spreading | diffusion apparatus provided with the water collecting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the conventional subsea hydroelectric power plant.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Floating type tidal current generator 2 Generator 3 Propeller 4 Spreading device 5 Front stopper chain 6 Mooring chain 7 Rear stopper chain 8 Mooring guide yoke 9 Mooring anchor 10 Electric wire 11 Electric wire protection tube 12 Submarine 13 Post 14 Guide yoke support shaft 15 Buoyancy chamber 16 Turbine column 17 Nacelle 18 Control device 20 Top plate 21, 22 Side plate 23 Bottom plate 24 Side plate extension 30, 33 Floating tidal power generation device 31, 34 Water collection device 32, 35 Diffusion device

Claims (2)

  A floating tidal current power generation device having a power generation water turbine, a generator, and a diffusion device, a mooring anchor fixed to the seabed, a mooring guide yoke rotatably provided on the mooring anchor, and the mooring guide yoke A floating tidal current power generation facility comprising a mooring chain connecting the front of the tidal power generation device.   The floating tidal current according to claim 1, further comprising a stopper chain that connects a rear portion of the floating tidal power generator and the mooring anchor so that the tidal power generator does not turn more than 180 °. Power generation equipment.

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