JP2009209778A - Float type fluid machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To install an underwater generator stably underwater, to stably convert a fluid energy to an electric energy and to cut cost. <P>SOLUTION: A float type fluid machine includes a float body 11, anchor members for placing the float body 11 at a predetermined place on a water surface and an underwater turbine 51. The underwater turbine 51 includes a wing support part and a plurality of wings. Each of the wings is formed by curving a metal plate and has a first wing element arranged to be extended radially outward from a first attaching position in the wing support part, a second wing element arranged to be extended radially outward from a second attaching position in the wing support part and a third wing element for connecting the first and second wing elements. As the underwater turbine 51 is supported by the float body 11, the underwater turbine 51 can be stably placed underwater and a direction of a shaft of the underwater turbine 51 does not change in accordance with rotation of respective wings. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a floating fluid machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an underwater power generator has been provided in which a horizontal axis turbine is disposed in water using a floating body to convert fluid energy into electric energy.

In the underwater generator, a stator core housing and a rotor are disposed, and the rotor includes turbine blades respectively attached to a pair of counter-rotating turbine hubs. In addition, the underwater generator is connected to an underwater anchor disposed on the bottom of the water by a mooring wire and is located in the water. The electric power generated by the underwater generator is sent to the underwater anchor via a transmission line held by a mooring wire, and is sent to a land power facility via another transmission line (see, for example, Patent Document 1). ).
JP 2007-16786 A

  However, in the conventional underwater generator, since it is connected to the underwater anchor by one mooring wire, it cannot be stably placed in the water, and as the turbine blades rotate, the rotor The direction of the axis changes.

  Moreover, when the flow velocity of water becomes high, the underwater generator is pushed forward with respect to the underwater anchor, moves on an arc whose radius is the maximum length of the mooring wire, and moves toward the bottom of the water. On the other hand, when the flow velocity of water becomes low, the underwater generator is pushed upward by buoyancy, moves on an arc having the radius of the maximum length of the mooring wire, and moves in the water surface direction.

  As described above, the direction in which the rotor axis faces is changed or the position where the underwater generator is placed in water changes depending on the flow rate of water, so that fluid energy cannot be stably converted into electric energy. .

  Further, in this type of underwater generator, in order to increase the output of the underwater generator, it is necessary to make the diameter of the turbine blade longer than 10 [m]. However, since turbine blades are usually manufactured from castings (things), it is difficult to increase the size of the turbine blades. Even if manufactured, the turbine blades are extremely heavy, and the underwater generator is left floating in the water. Will become difficult.

  Therefore, in order to increase the output of the underwater generator, for example, by supplying water into the duct, a water flow rate is increased, and a method of disposing the underwater generator therein is provided. It is necessary to arrange an incidental facility for supplying water into the duct, which increases the cost.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional underwater generator, can stably arrange the underwater generator in the water, can stably convert the fluid energy into electrical energy, and can reduce the cost. It is an object of the present invention to provide a floating fluid machine that can lower the height.

  Therefore, the floating fluid machine of the present invention includes a floating body, an anchor member for placing the floating body at a predetermined position on the water surface, and an underwater turbine supported by the floating body below the floating body.

  The underwater turbine includes a blade support portion that is rotatably supported, and a plurality of blades that are formed to protrude radially outward at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the blade support portion.

  Further, each of the blades is formed by bending a metal plate, and the first blade element is disposed extending radially outward from the first attachment position in the blade support portion, and the blade support. And a third blade element that connects the first and second blade elements. The second blade element is disposed to extend radially outward from the second attachment position in the section.

  According to the present invention, a floating fluid machine includes a floating body, an anchor member for placing the floating body at a predetermined position on the water surface, and an underwater turbine supported by the floating body below the floating body.

  The underwater turbine includes a blade support portion that is rotatably supported, and a plurality of blades that are formed to protrude radially outward at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the blade support portion.

  Further, each of the blades is formed by bending a metal plate, and the first blade element is disposed extending radially outward from the first attachment position in the blade support portion, and the blade support. And a third blade element that connects the first and second blade elements. The second blade element is disposed to extend radially outward from the second attachment position in the section.

  In this case, since the underwater turbine is supported by the floating body, the underwater turbine can be stably placed in the water, and the direction of the axis of the underwater turbine does not change as each blade rotates. Moreover, even if the flow rate of water becomes high and the floating body is pushed forward, the floating body and the underwater turbine do not move in the bottom direction.

  Therefore, the direction in which the axis of the submerged turbine is directed does not change, and the position where the submerged turbine is placed in the water does not change, so that fluid energy can be stably converted into electric energy.

  Further, since each blade is not a casting but formed by bending a metal plate, there is no restriction on diameter, weight, and the like. As a result, the cost of the floating fluid machine can be reduced.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a floating fluid machine in an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of an underwater turbine in the embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 11 is a floating body arranged floating on the water surface, and the floating body 11 has a catamaran shape, a pair of trunk parts 101 arranged in parallel at a predetermined distance, and A deck 102 is provided between the upper surfaces of the trunk portions 101 so as to be installed between the upper surfaces. Reference numeral 12 denotes a generator chamber disposed in the center of the upper surface of the deck 102, and a generator (not shown) is disposed in the generator chamber 12. A ballast chamber as a hollow chamber (not shown) is formed in each of the barrel portions 101, and gives sufficient buoyancy to each barrel portion 101.

  Below the floating body 11, an underwater turbine 51 and a fluid pump 53 supported horizontally by the floating body 11 are disposed. For this purpose, a pair of stays 19 are extended from the body portions 101 so as to be inclined downward, and a front bearing 71 and a rear bearing 72 are attached to the lower ends of the stays 19, respectively. The underwater turbine 51 is rotatably supported by the bearings 71 and 72. The underwater turbine 51 is disposed so that the rotation axis thereof is directed to the water flow direction.

  The submerged turbine 51 includes a shaft 55 supported by the bearings 71 and 72, a front hub 56 as a first hub fixed to the front end of the shaft 55, a predetermined distance from the front hub 56, and A rear hub 57 as a second hub fixed to the rear end of the shaft 55 adjacent to the fluid pump 53, and a plurality of books erected between the front hub 56 and the rear hub 57 In the embodiment, three wings 61 are provided. Each wing 61 is formed by bending a metal plate. The shaft 55, the front hub 56, and the rear hub 57 constitute a blade support portion.

  In order to hold the floating body 11 in a predetermined position on the water surface, a horizontal member 105 is provided between the front stays 19 (right side in FIG. 1), and a horizontal member 105 is provided between the rear stays (left side in FIG. 1). 106 is constructed, and a front buoy 14 as a first buoy is placed at a predetermined distance from the floating body 11 on the front side of the floating body 11, and a predetermined distance from the floating body 11 is placed on the rear side of the floating body 11. A rear buoy 15 as a second buoy is arranged floating on the water surface. The horizontal member 105 and the front buoy 14 are connected by a wire 17 as a front connection member, and the horizontal member 106 and the rear buoy 15 are connected by a wire 18 as a rear connection member. Further, in the present embodiment, a predetermined location on the deck 102, the wall of the generator chamber 12 and the front buoy 14 are connected by a wire 16 as a connecting member.

  Further, a plurality of underwater anchors 22 as a pair of anchor members in the present embodiment are disposed on the front side of the floating body 11 at a predetermined distance in the water flow direction. And the front buoy 14 are connected by a mooring wire 23. In addition, a plurality of underwater anchors 24 as a pair of anchor members in the present embodiment are disposed on the rear side of the floating body 11 at a predetermined distance in the water flow direction. 24 and the rear buoy 15 are connected by a mooring wire 25. A floating fluid machine is configured by the floating body 11, the generator chamber 12, the front buoy 14, the rear buoy 15, the underwater anchors 22 and 24, the mooring wires 23 and 25, the underwater turbine 51, and the like.

  In the present embodiment, for example, it is assumed that power generation is performed using tidal currents. However, when power generation is performed at low tide and at high tide, water flows from the front side to the rear side of the floating body 11, or floating body 11 flows from the rear side to the front side. In this case, a reversible type is used as the underwater turbine 51. In addition, in both cases where water flows from the front side to the rear side of the floating body 11 and when water flows from the rear side to the front side of the floating body 11, it is necessary to place the floating body 11 at a predetermined position. 23, the underwater anchor 24 and the mooring wire 25 are required.

  On the other hand, for example, when power generation is performed using a warm current, a cold current or the like, water flows only from the front side to the rear side of the floating body 11. In this case, an irreversible type is used as the underwater turbine 51. In addition, the underwater anchor 24 and the mooring wire 25 are not necessarily required because the floating body 11 only needs to be placed at a predetermined position when water flows from the front side to the rear side of the floating body 11.

  Then, the fluid pump 53 and a fluid motor (not shown) connected to the generator are connected via pipe lines 121 and 122, and oil as a medium is supplied via the pipe lines 121 and 122. Pumped. The fluid pump 53, the generator and the pipes 121, 122 constitute a rotation transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation of the submerged turbine 51 to the generator.

  In the floating fluid machine configured as described above, when water flows, the underwater turbine 51 is rotated by the fluid energy, and the fluid pump 53 is driven. Along with this, the fluid pump 53 discharges the oil flowing in through the pipe 121 through the pipe 122 and supplies the oil to the fluid motor. The fluid motor is rotated as the oil is supplied, drives the generator, and generates electricity. In this way, fluid energy can be converted into electrical energy. In this embodiment, the rotation of the underwater turbine 51 is transmitted to the generator by circulating oil. However, the rotation of the underwater turbine 51 is generated by a rotation transmission mechanism such as a gear mechanism or a chain. Can be transmitted to the machine.

  In this way, in the present embodiment, the underwater turbine 51 is supported by the floating body 11 and the front buoy 14 is disposed upstream of the floating body 11 in the water flow direction, so that the underwater turbine 51 is stabilized. Thus, the direction in which the shaft 55 faces does not change as the wing 61 rotates. Moreover, even if the flow rate of water becomes high and the floating body 11 is pushed forward with respect to the underwater anchors 22 and 24, the floating body 11 and the underwater turbine 51 do not move in the bottom direction.

  Therefore, the direction in which the shaft 55 faces does not change or the position at which the underwater turbine 51 is placed in water does not change depending on the flow rate of water, so that fluid energy can be stably converted into electric energy.

  Further, since each of the blades 61 is not a casting but is formed by bending a metal plate, there is no restriction on the diameter, weight, and the like. That is, for example, a blade 61 having a diameter of 30 [m] and a weight of 20 [t] can be manufactured using a commercially available metal plate. In order to increase the output of the generator, for example, by supplying water into a duct (not shown), it is not necessary to increase the flow rate of water and to dispose the underwater turbine 51 therein. Is no longer necessary. Moreover, power generation of 3000 [kW] can be performed even with a tidal current of 3 [m / s]. Therefore, the cost of the floating fluid machine can be reduced.

  Next, the underwater turbine 51 having the above configuration will be described.

  3 is a perspective view of an underwater turbine according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a front view showing a rotating body in the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing the rotating body in the embodiment of the present invention. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE in FIG. 3, FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line FF in FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line GG in FIG. FIG. 10 is a developed view of the wing in the embodiment of the present invention.

  3-8, 51 is a submerged turbine, 53 is a fluid pump, 54 is a rotary body, 71, 72 is a bearing (The bearing 72 is shown by FIG. 2). The rotating body 54 is rotatably supported by the bearings 71 and 72. The rotating body 54 includes a shaft 55, a front hub 56 fixed to the front end of the shaft 55, a predetermined distance from the front hub 56, and adjacent to the generator 53. A rear hub 57 fixed to the end, and three wings 61 installed between the front hub 56 and the rear hub 57 are provided. The shaft 55, the front hub 56, and the rear hub 57 constitute a blade support portion 62. In the present embodiment, the blade support portion 62 is configured by the shaft 55, the front hub 56, and the rear hub 57, but the blade support portion 62 may be configured by a single hub.

  The blades 61 are formed to protrude radially outward at equal angles to each other at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the blade support portion 62, in this embodiment, three locations. The wing 61 is formed of a thin metal plate, for example, a stainless steel plate, has a loop shape, is radially outward from the first mounting position p1 on the front hub 56, and is obliquely rearward. A front wing portion 64 as a first wing element that extends, and a rear wing portion 65 as a second wing element that extends radially outward from the second attachment position p2 of the rear hub 57 and obliquely forward. And the front wing portion 64 and the rear wing portion 65 are connected at a portion having the maximum radius, and a central wing portion 66 as a third wing element extending substantially flat at an equal distance from the wing support portion 62 is provided. .

  Next, the wing 61 having the above configuration will be described.

  In FIG. 9, when water flows into the wing 61 in the arrow Z direction, rotational force F1 and lift F2 are generated, the wing 61 is moved in the arrow X ′ direction, and the rotating body 54 moves in the arrow X direction. (FIG. 3). Also, ε is the blade thickness center line of the blade 61, q1 is the leading edge of the blade 61, q2 is the trailing edge of the blade 61, M1 is a line segment connecting the leading edge q1 and the trailing edge q2, and M2 is the blade 61. It is a line segment extended in the moving direction (arrow X 'direction). L1 is a chord length representing a linear distance between the leading edge q1 and the trailing edge q2, θ is a pitch angle representing an angle formed by the line segment M1 and the line segment M2, and f is the blade thickness center line. It is a camber representing the maximum distance between ε and the line segment M1.

  In the submerged turbine 51 having the above-described configuration, when water flows in the arrow Z direction, fluid energy is converted into mechanical energy by the blades 61, the rotating body 54 is rotated in the arrow X direction, and the fluid pump 53 is driven. That is, energy conversion can be performed not only for water flowing in from the front but also for water flowing obliquely.

  In this case, the front wing portion 64 is positioned on the upstream side in the rotation direction of the rotator 54, and the rear wing portion 65 is positioned on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the rotator 54. The side wing portion 65 precedes the front wing portion 64 by 15 ° or more. Therefore, when the rotating body 54 is rotated at a low speed, the rear wing portion 65 is not affected by the front wing portion 64 with respect to the water flowing in the arrow Z direction. On the other hand, when the rotating body 54 is rotated at a high speed, the upstream side of the subsequent wing 61, that is, the rear wing part 65 of the subsequent wing 61 is affected by the front wing part 64, and the rotating body 54 is stalled. It will be in a braked state. That is, in the low speed region, the three blades 61 have substantially the same function as the case where the six blades are rotated, and a large torque can be generated. It is possible to prevent a large torque from being generated with little bending. That is, the output of the underwater turbine 51 can be limited.

  Further, since the wing 61 has a loop shape, it is possible to reduce an impact when an object hits the rotating wing 61.

  The front wing portion 64 is formed from the front hub 56, and the rear wing portion 65 is formed to protrude radially outward from the rear hub 57, and is connected by the central wing portion 66 at the tip, so that it receives an external force. Sometimes, the stress acting on the root 67 of the front wing part 64 and the rear wing part 65 can be reduced. Therefore, the blade 61 can be prevented from being damaged, and the durability of the blade 61 can be improved. Further, since the stress acting on the root 67 can be reduced, even if the load applied to the front wing portion 64 and the rear wing portion 65 fluctuates, the deflection generated in the wing 61 can be reduced. Further, when the load applied to the front wing portion 64 and the rear wing portion 65 is small, the bending moment generated at the root 67 of the front wing portion 64 and the rear wing portion 65 is reduced by the centrifugal force generated in the central wing portion 66. be able to.

  As a result, pulsation, reaction force, and the like are not applied to the wing 61 with the rotation of the rotating body 54, and vibrations of the wing 61 can be suppressed. Further, the durability of the blade 61 can be improved, and the blade 61 can be thinned by an amount that can reduce the deflection generated in the blade 61. Therefore, the rotating body 54 can be reduced in weight.

  Further, the central wing portion 66 is formed, and the pressure on the blade surface of the wing 61 continuously changes from the positive pressure in the rear wing portion 65 to the negative pressure in the front wing portion 64. Can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the generation of vibration and noise in the blade 61 due to the tip vortex. For example, the noise level can be suppressed by 10 [dB] or more, and the sound intensity can be suppressed by 7 times or more.

  Since the central wing portion 66 is flat, the central wing portion 66 can be held and stopped by hand, and the rotating body 54 rotates by hooking a locking member (not shown) on the loop of the wing 61. Can be prevented. Therefore, the rotating body 54 can be stopped during a typhoon or the like, so that safety can be improved.

  In FIG. 10, Ls is a skew line (wing span center line), Lf is a forward skew set downstream from the reference line GL, and Lb is a backward skew set upstream from the reference line GL. As shown in the figure, in the rotation direction of the rotating body 54 (arrow X direction), the front wing portion 64 is positioned upstream of the reference line GL of the wing 61 and the rear wing portion 65 is positioned downstream of the reference line GL. The reference line GL and the skew line Ls are crossed at the central wing portion 66.

  In the present embodiment, the underwater anchors 22 and 24 are arranged on the bottom of the water, but the anchor members can be arranged on land.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

1 is a conceptual diagram of a floating fluid machine in an embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the underwater turbine in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of an underwater turbine in an embodiment of the invention. It is a front view which shows the rotary body in embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows the rotary body in embodiment of this invention. It is EE sectional drawing of FIG. It is FF sectional drawing of FIG. It is GG sectional drawing of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the wing | blade in embodiment of this invention. It is an expanded view of the wing | blade in embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Floating body 12 Generator room 14 Front side buoy 15 Rear side buoy 22, 24 Underwater anchor 23, 25 Mooring wire 51 Submerged turbine 61 Blade 62 Blade support part 64 Front side wing part 65 Rear wing part 66 Central wing part p1 First attachment position p2 Second mounting position

Claims (2)

(A) a floating body;
(B) an anchor member for placing the floating body at a predetermined position on the water surface;
(C) having an underwater turbine supported by a floating body below the floating body;
(D) The underwater turbine includes a blade support portion that is rotatably supported, and a plurality of blades that are formed to protrude radially outward at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction of the blade support portion,
(E) Each of the blades is formed by bending a metal plate, and the first blade element is disposed extending radially outward from a first attachment position in the blade support portion, and the blade A second blade element that is arranged to extend radially outward from a second mounting position in the support portion; and a third blade element that connects the first and second blade elements. Featuring a floating fluid machine.   The floating fluid machine according to claim 1, wherein the floating body is connected to a buoy on a water surface.

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