JP2017101559A - Ocean current power generation device and ocean current power generation system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ocean current power generation device and an ocean current power generation system capable of being used over a long term and excellent in maintainability.SOLUTION: An ocean current power generation device 1 includes a body part 2 having a ballast tank, a dynamo 5 having a turbine 6 rotating with ocean current, and lift mechanisms 7, 8 configured to lift/lower the dynamo 5 to the body part 2. When a command of transferring to a power generation state is made, the lift mechanism 7, 8 move the dynamo 5 to a power generation position below the body part 2, and when a command of transferring to a power generation rest state is made, the lift mechanisms 7, 8 move the dynamo 5 at a power generation rest position above the body part 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater floating type ocean current power generation device and an ocean current power generation system including the ocean current power generation device.

  In recent years, research on environmentally friendly power generation using inexhaustible natural energy has been actively promoted. One of these is ocean current power generation, in which a turbine is rotated by ocean current, thereby generating power.

  As a conventional ocean current power generation system for ocean current power generation, for example, the one described in Patent Document 1 is known. This ocean current power generation system includes a power generation unit (sea current power generation device) floating in the sea, a V-shaped or Y-shaped mooring line connecting the power generation unit and the seabed, and a stretchable / shrinkable structure provided on the mooring line. With a special sail. According to this system, by expanding or contracting the sail, it is possible to sink the power generation unit to a depth suitable for power generation, or to float the power generation unit to the sea surface.

JP 2014-159750 A

  However, the ocean current power generation system is expected to be unable to withstand long-term use, especially the mechanism that expands / contracts the sail, since a large force from the ocean current continues to be applied to the sail while generating electricity by sinking the power generation section. Is done. In addition, the ocean current power generation system has a problem in that maintenance is difficult because the lower half of the turbine remains immersed in the sea even when the power generation unit is floated on the sea surface.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the said situation, The place made into the subject is providing the ocean current power generation apparatus and ocean current power generation system which can be used for a long term and were excellent in maintainability.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, the ocean current power generation device according to the present invention is a ocean current power generation device which is set to either a power generation state or a power generation halt state based on a command from the outside, and a main body having a ballast tank therein A generator having a turbine that rotates in response to the ocean current, an elevating mechanism that is provided between the main body and the generator, and that raises and lowers the generator with respect to the main body, and controls the elevating mechanism A lifting control unit, a depth detection unit that detects the depth of the main body unit, a ballast control unit that controls pouring and draining of the ballast tank, and a communication unit that communicates with the outside, and is in the power generation suspended state When the communication unit receives an instruction to shift to the power generation state, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting control unit moves the generator to a power generation position below the main body unit. And the ballast controller injects water into the ballast tank until the depth detected by the depth detector reaches a predetermined value, and shifts to the power generation halt state when the power generation state is entered. When the communication unit receives a command to the effect, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting control unit moves the generator to a power generation pause position above the main body unit, and the ballast control unit The ballast tank is drained to float the main body.

  The ocean current power generation device includes, for example, an elevating passage through which the main body portion penetrates in the vertical direction, the generator and the elevating mechanism are provided at positions corresponding to the elevating passage, and the elevating mechanism is the elevating passage. It can be set as the structure which raises / lowers the said generator through.

  In this case, the number of the elevating passages can be plural. More specifically, the number of the elevating passages may be m × n. Here, m is a number in the front-rear direction (an integer of 1 or more) that should be parallel to the ocean current, and n is a number in the left-right direction (an even number of 2 or more) that should be orthogonal to the ocean current.

  The ocean current power generation device may include a plurality of the generators arranged in a vertical direction at a position corresponding to the lift passage.

  The ocean current power generation device includes a posture control plate rotatably provided on the main body, a tilt detection unit that detects a tilt of the main body with respect to a horizontal plane, and the tilt detected by the posture detection unit is minimal. It is preferable to further include an attitude control unit that controls the rotation of the attitude control plate.

  Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, the ocean current electric power generation system which concerns on this invention is based on the instruction | command from the said command center connected to the said anchor via the command center, the anchor fixed to the seabed, and a mooring line. And a generator having a main body having a ballast tank therein and a turbine that rotates in response to the ocean current. And an elevating mechanism that is provided between the main body and the generator and raises and lowers the generator with respect to the main body, an elevating controller that controls the elevating mechanism, and a depth of the main body A depth detection unit, a ballast control unit that controls pouring and draining of the ballast tank, and a communication unit that communicates with the command center, are in the power generation suspended state. Sometimes, when the communication unit receives a command to shift to the power generation state, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting control unit moves the generator to a power generation position below the main body unit. The ballast control unit should inject water into the ballast tank until the depth detected by the depth detection unit reaches a predetermined value, and when the power generation state is entered, the power generation suspension state should be entered. When the communication unit receives an instruction to that effect, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting control unit moves the generator to a power generation pause position above the main body, and the ballast control unit moves the ballast tank. The main body is floated by draining water.

  In the ocean current power generation system, when the number of the ocean current power generation devices is two or more, each of the ocean current power generation devices includes a posture control plate provided rotatably on the main body portion, and an inclination of the main body portion with respect to a horizontal plane. It is preferable to further include an inclination detection unit that detects the inclination and an attitude control unit that controls the rotation of the attitude control plate so that the inclination detected by the attitude detection unit is minimized.

  In this case, each of the ocean current power generation devices further includes an absolute position detection unit that detects an absolute position, and the attitude control unit detects a predetermined target absolute position and an absolute position detected by the absolute position detection unit. More preferably, the rotation of the attitude control plate is controlled on the basis of the difference.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an ocean current power generation apparatus and an ocean current power generation system that can be used for a long period of time and have excellent maintainability.

It is a typical side view of the ocean current power generator in the first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of an ocean current power generation device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a typical front view of the ocean current power generator in 1st Example of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a front view when a generator takes a power generation position, (B) is when a generator takes a power generation rest position. FIG. It is a control block diagram of the ocean current power generation device in the first embodiment of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a typical side view of the ocean current power generation system in 1st Example of this invention, Comprising: (A) is a side view when an ocean current power generation device is made into an electric power generation state, (B) is an ocean current power generation device suspended power generation. It is a side view when it is set as a state. It is a typical top view which shows the row | line | column which consists of several ocean current power generators which comprise the ocean current power generation system in 2nd Example of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the ocean current power generator in 2nd Example of this invention. It is a typical top view which shows the row | line | column which consists of several ocean current power generators which comprise the ocean current power generation system in 3rd Example of this invention. It is a control block diagram of the ocean current power generator (the ocean current power generator 1B shown in FIG. 8) in the third embodiment of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of the ocean current power generator (1 C of ocean current power generator shown in FIG. 8) in 3rd Example of this invention. It is a typical front view of the ocean current power generator in the 1st modification of the present invention. It is a typical top view of the ocean current power generator in the 2nd modification of the present invention. It is a typical side view of the ocean current power generator in the 3rd modification of the present invention. It is a control block diagram of the ocean current power generator in the 4th modification of the present invention. It is a typical side view of the ocean current power generation system in the 5th modification of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the ocean current power generation apparatus and ocean current power generation system according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[First embodiment]
1 to 3 show the appearance of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in these drawings, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes a main body 2, a ladder 3 rotatably attached to the stern 2 b of the main body 2, and a side surface of the main body 2 near the stern 2 b. And a pair of left and right flaps 4 attached to be rotatable. The ladder 3 and the flap 4 correspond to the “posture control plate” of the present invention.

  The main body 2 has a bow 2a tapered to reduce resistance to ocean currents, the aforementioned stern 2b, and a flat deck 2c. The main body 2 has a longitudinal dimension of 130 [m] to be parallel to the ocean current and a lateral dimension of 70 [m] to be perpendicular to the ocean current. However, the dimension of the main-body part 2 is not limited to this.

  The main body 2 has a ballast tank (not shown) therein. The ballast tank is divided into four parts, front, rear, left and right, and can be individually poured.

  The main body 2 has four elevating passages 9FR, 9FL, 9BR, 9BL (hereinafter also referred to as “elevating passage 9” without distinction) penetrating in the vertical direction. More specifically, the main body 2 includes a lifting passage 9FR that opens on the front right side of the deck 2c, a lifting passage 9FL that opens on the front left side, a lifting passage 9BR that opens on the rear right side, and a lifting passage 9BL that opens on the rear left side. (See FIG. 2 in particular).

  The ocean current power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes four generators 5FR, 5FL, 5BR, and 5BL (hereinafter also referred to as “generator 5” without distinction) and four fixed to the rotating shaft of each generator 5. Turbines 6FR, 6FL, 6BR, 6BL (hereinafter also referred to as “turbine 6” without distinction), and four pairs of generator support portions 7FR, 7FL with racks for supporting each generator 5 so as to be sandwiched from the left and right. 7BR, 7BL (hereinafter also referred to as “generator support 7” without distinction) and four pairs of pinions 8FR, 8FL, 8BR, 8BL that can be engaged with each rack-equipped generator support 7 (hereinafter, distinction) It is also referred to as “pinion 8”. The generator support part 7 with a rack and the pinion 8 correspond to the “elevating mechanism” of the present invention.

  The generator 5FL, the turbine 6FL, the rack-equipped generator support portion 7FL, and the pinion 8FL are provided at positions corresponding to the lifting passage 9FL. Similarly, one (or a pair) of generators 5, turbines 6, generators with racks 7, and pinions 8 are also provided at positions corresponding to the other elevating passages 9 FR, 9 BR, 9 BL. .

  The pinion 8 is rotatably attached to the inside of the main body 2 via a rotation axis parallel to the front-rear direction. When the pinion 8 rotates about the rotation axis, the generator support portion 7 with the rack engaged with the pinion 8 moves up and down (up and down), and the generator 5 (turbine 6) supported by the generator support portion 7 with the rack. Also moves up and down through the lifting passage 9. Thereby, the generator 5 and the turbine 6 are either the power generation position below the main body 2 (see FIG. 3A) or the power generation stop position above the main body 2 (see FIG. 3B). Take.

  The diameter of the turbine 6 is 20 [m]. However, the dimension of the turbine 6 is not limited to this. The opening size of the lifting / lowering passage 9 is designed so that the turbine 6 being lifted / lowered and the inner wall of the lifting / lowering passage 9 do not contact each other.

  FIG. 4 shows a control block diagram of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1. As shown in the figure, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 includes a ballast control unit 11, an attitude control unit 12, a lift control unit 13, a power transmission control unit 14, a depth detection unit 15, a tilt detection unit 16, and an abnormality. A detection unit 17 and a communication unit 20 are further provided. These are configured by dedicated hardware for realizing each function and / or a computer program executed on a microprocessor.

  The communication unit 20 includes a communication interface that performs communication with the outside via the communication cable 107. The communication unit 20 receives at least the state command signal. Moreover, the communication part 20 transmits an abnormality detection signal when some abnormality occurs.

  When the communication unit 20 receives a state command signal indicating that it should shift to a power generation state, the ocean current power generation device 1 is in a power generation state until another state command signal is received. On the other hand, when the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal indicating that the power generation suspension state should be entered, the ocean current power generation device 1 is placed in the power generation suspension state until another state command signal is received.

  The depth detection unit 15 includes a sensor that can detect the depth (distance from the sea surface) of the main body unit 2. The depth detection unit 15 indirectly detects the depth by detecting the water pressure, and outputs a depth signal related to the detected depth to the ballast control unit 11. The depth detection unit 15 may detect the depth by other methods.

  The ballast controller 11 controls the pouring / draining of the ballast tank 10 based on the state command signal received by the communication unit 20 and the depth signal output from the depth detector 15.

  More specifically, when the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal indicating that the ballast control unit 11 should shift to the power generation state, the depth signal indicates a predetermined depth (30 [m] in the present embodiment). Water is poured into the ballast tank 10. Thereafter, the ballast controller 11 continues to feedback control the pouring of the ballast tank 10 so that the depth of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 during power generation is maintained at 30 [m]. On the other hand, the ballast control part 11 will drain the ballast tank 10, if the communication part 20 receives the state command signal to the effect of shifting to a power generation halt state. As a result, the ocean current power generation device 1 floats on the sea surface.

  The ocean current is stronger the closer to the sea surface. For this reason, as the depth of the ocean current power generation device 1 is reduced, the turbine 5 rotates more vigorously and the power generation amount increases. On the other hand, if the ocean current power generation device 1 is too close to the sea surface, the attitude of the ocean current power generation device 1 may be disturbed due to the swell (wave) of the sea surface, which may cause an unexpected trouble. Considering these things, in this embodiment, the depth of the ocean current power generation device 1 in the power generation state is set to 30 [m]. This value can be changed as appropriate.

  The inclination detection unit 16 includes an inclination sensor that detects the inclination of the main body 2 with respect to a horizontal plane. The inclination detection unit 16 indirectly detects the inclination of the main body 2 by detecting acceleration, and outputs an inclination signal related to the detected inclination to the attitude control unit 12. The inclination detector 16 may detect the inclination by other methods.

  The attitude control unit 12 controls the rotation of the ladder 3 and the flap 4 as the attitude control plate based on the state command signal received by the communication unit 20 and the inclination signal output from the inclination detection unit 16.

  More specifically, the attitude control unit 12 is configured to output a ladder based on the inclination signal when the ocean current power generation device 1 is in a power generation state (that is, when the ocean current power generation device 1 performs power generation while floating in the sea). 3 and the flap 4 are rotated so that the inclination of the main body 2 with respect to the horizontal plane is minimized (preferably zero). On the other hand, the attitude control unit 12 does not control the ladder 3 and the flap 4 when the ocean current power generation device 1 is in a power generation suspended state (that is, when the ocean current power generation device 1 is floating on the sea surface).

  The lift control unit 13 controls the rotation of the pinion 8 as the lift mechanism based on the state command signal received by the communication unit 20.

  More specifically, when the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal indicating that the power generation state should be generated, the elevating control unit 13 rotates the pinion 8 in a direction to push down the generator support unit with rack 7, thereby generating the generator 5. The turbine 6 is moved to the power generation position (see FIG. 3A). On the other hand, when the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal indicating that the power generation suspension state is to be established, the elevating control unit 13 rotates the pinion 8 in a direction to push up the generator support unit with rack 7, thereby generating the generator 5 and The turbine 6 is moved to the power generation pause position (see FIG. 3B).

  The power transmission control unit 14 transmits power generated by the four generators 5FR, 5FL, 5BR, and 5BL based on the state command signal received by the communication unit 20.

  More specifically, the power transmission control unit 14 adds the AC power generated by each of the generators 5 when the ocean current power generation device 1 is in a power generation state, and uses the power cable 106 for the total power obtained thereby. Power is transmitted through. On the other hand, the power transmission control unit 14 stops power transmission when the ocean current power generation device 1 is in a power generation suspended state. The power transmission control unit 14 may have a function of arbitrarily changing the amplitude, frequency, and the like of the total power to be transmitted. Further, the power transmission control unit 14 may transmit power after converting the combined power to DC.

  The power transmission control unit 14 also detects the power generated by each of the generators 5. The power transmission control unit 14 outputs a power signal related to the detected power of each generator 5 to the abnormality detection unit 17.

  The abnormality detection unit 17 detects the presence / absence of an abnormality in the generator 5 and the turbine 6 based on the power signal output from the power transmission control unit 14.

  More specifically, the abnormality detection unit 17 is connected via the communication unit 20 only when the power signal output from the power transmission control unit 14 indicates that there is an unacceptable difference in the power generation amount of each generator 5. Output an abnormality detection signal to the outside.

  As described above, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can take the power generation pause position in which the generator 5 and the turbine 6 are located above the main body 2, so that the maintenance of the generator 5 and the turbine 6 is easy. . Moreover, since the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 in the present embodiment does not use a sail that directly receives the force of the ocean current as in the prior art, it can be used over a long period of time.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the ocean current power generation system according to the present embodiment includes the ocean current power generation device 1, an anchor 104 fixed to the seabed 100, a mooring line 105 that connects the anchor 104 and the ocean current power generation device 1, A command center 102 installed in the unit 101 is provided. The ocean current power generation system in the present embodiment also includes a power cable 106 and a communication cable 107. The power cable 106 and the communication cable 107 have one end connected to the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 and the other end connected to the command center 102.

  The command center 102 can transmit a state command signal to the ocean current power generation apparatus 1. The command center 102 can also receive an abnormality detection signal transmitted from the ocean current power generation device 1.

  When a state command signal indicating that the power generation state should be shifted is transmitted from the command center 102 to the ocean current power generation device 1 and the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal, the ocean current power generation device 1 shifts to the power generation state (FIG. 5 ( A) and FIG. 3 (A)). The electric power generated by the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 in the power generation state is sent to the system via the power cables 106 and 108. On the other hand, when the state command signal indicating that the power generation suspension state should be shifted is transmitted from the command center 102 to the ocean current power generation device 1 and the communication unit 20 receives the state command signal, the ocean current power generation device 1 transitions to the power generation suspension state. (See FIGS. 5B and 3B). The command center 102 shifts the ocean current power generation device 1 to the power generation suspended state when receiving an abnormality detection signal or during regular maintenance.

[Second Embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 6, the ocean current power generation system according to the second embodiment includes a plurality of ocean current power generation devices 1A (leading ocean current power generation device 1A) connected to anchors 104 and mooring lines behind each of the leading ocean current power generation devices 1A. 109 is different from the first embodiment in that it includes a plurality of ocean current power generators 1 </ b> A (following ocean current power generators 1 </ b> A) connected via 109. Further, each ocean current power generation apparatus 1A is different from the first embodiment in that it includes an attitude control unit 12A instead of the attitude control unit 12 and further includes an absolute position detection unit 18A ( (See FIG. 7).

  The absolute position detector 18A includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from GPS satellites. The absolute position detection unit 18A obtains the current absolute position based on the received radio wave and outputs a position signal related to the obtained absolute position to the posture control unit 12A. The absolute position detector 18A may detect the absolute position by other methods.

  The posture control unit 12A, in addition to the state command signal received by the communication unit 20 and the tilt signal output from the tilt detection unit 16, adds the ladder 3 and the flap 4 based on the position signal output from the absolute position detection unit 18A. Control the rotation.

  More specifically, the attitude control unit 12A compares a predetermined target absolute position with the absolute position indicated by the position signal when the ocean current power generation device 1A is in the power generation state. If there is a difference between the two, the ladder 3 and the flap 4 are rotated to correct the current absolute position to the target absolute position. The target absolute position differs for each ocean current power generation apparatus 1A.

  According to the ocean current power generation system in the present embodiment, the attitude control unit 12A performs the above-described control, thereby preventing a plurality of ocean current power generation apparatuses 1A forming a formation from colliding with each other.

[Third embodiment]
As shown in FIG. 8, in the ocean current power generation system according to the third embodiment, one of the plurality of ocean current power generation devices forming the platoon is the ocean current power generation device 1C (first ocean current power generation device 1C), and the other is the ocean current power generation device 1B. This is different from the second embodiment in that it is (leading ocean current power generation device 1B, subsequent ocean current power generation device 1B). The ocean current power generation device 1B includes a posture control unit 12B instead of the posture control unit 12A, a point provided with an absolute position detection unit 18B instead of the absolute position detection unit 18A, and a control unit 20 instead. The second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that the controller 20B is provided (see FIG. 9). Further, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1C further includes a row controller 19, a point provided with an attitude controller 12C instead of the attitude controller 12A, and an absolute position detector instead of the absolute position detector 18A. The second embodiment is different from the second embodiment in that 18C is provided and in that a control unit 20C is provided instead of the control unit 20 (see FIG. 10).

  Similar to the absolute position detector 18A, the absolute position detector 18B of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1B includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from GPS satellites. The absolute position detection unit 18B obtains the current absolute position based on the received radio wave and outputs a position signal related to the obtained absolute position to the communication unit 20B. The absolute position detector 18B may detect the absolute position by other methods.

  Similar to the communication unit 20, the communication unit 20 </ b> B of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 </ b> B includes a communication interface that performs communication with the outside via the communication cable 107. The communication unit 20B receives a state command signal and transmits an abnormality detection signal. The communication unit 20B also transmits the position signal output from the absolute position detection unit 18B to the ocean current power generation device 1C and receives the attitude control command signal transmitted from the ocean current power generation device 1C.

  Similarly to the absolute position detector 18A, the absolute position detector 18C of the ocean current power generation device 1C includes a GPS receiver that receives radio waves from GPS satellites. The absolute position detector 18C obtains the current absolute position based on the received radio wave and outputs a position signal related to the obtained absolute position to the platoon controller 19. The absolute position detector 18C may detect the absolute position by another method.

  Similar to the communication unit 20, the communication unit 20 </ b> C of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 </ b> C includes a communication interface that performs communication with the outside via the communication cable 107. The communication unit 20C receives a state command signal and transmits an abnormality detection signal. The communication unit 20C also receives a position signal transmitted from the ocean current power generation device 1B and transmits an attitude control command signal to the ocean current power generation device 1B.

  The row control unit 19 of the ocean current power generation device 1C outputs the position signal regarding the current absolute position of the ocean current power generation device 1C output from the absolute position detection unit 18C and the current absolute position of each ocean current power generation device 1B received by the communication unit 20C. The attitude control command signal for each of the ocean current power generation devices 1B and 1C is generated based on the position signal relating to.

  More specifically, the platoon controller 19 compares the target absolute position and the current absolute position of each of the predetermined ocean current power generation apparatuses 1B and 1C. If there is a difference between the ocean current power generation devices 1C, an attitude control command signal is output to the attitude control unit 12C. On the other hand, when there is a difference in any or all of the ocean current power generation devices 1B, an attitude control command signal is output to the ocean current power generation device 1B via the communication unit 20C.

  The attitude control unit 12B of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1B and the attitude control unit 12C of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1C control the rotation of the ladder 3 and the flap 4 based on the attitude control command signal in addition to the state command signal and the inclination signal.

  More specifically, the attitude control units 12B and 12C rotate the ladder 3 and the flap 4 based on the attitude control command signal when the ocean current power generation device 1A is in the power generation state, and set the current absolute position to the target absolute Correct to position.

  According to the ocean current power generation system in the present embodiment, as in the second embodiment, the attitude control units 12B and 12C perform the above-described control, so that the ocean current power generation device 1C and the plurality of ocean current power generation devices 1B forming a formation collide with each other. Can be prevented.

  As mentioned above, although the Example of the ocean current power generation apparatus and ocean current power generation system which concern on this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the structure of an Example, For example, the following modifications can be considered.

[First Modification]
The number of generators provided at the position corresponding to each lift passage is not limited to one, and may be plural. In the example shown in FIG. 11, generators 5FR and 5FR ′ are provided in the vertical direction at positions corresponding to the lifting passage 9FR, and turbines 6FR and 6FR ′ are fixed to the respective rotation shafts. Further, in this example, generators 5FL and 5FL ′ are provided in the vertical direction at positions corresponding to the lifting passage 9FL, and turbines 6FL and 6FL ′ are fixed to the respective rotation shafts. The same applies to other lift passages 9 not shown.

  According to this modification, more electric power can be obtained with one ocean current power generation device.

[Second Modification]
The number of elevating passages provided in the main body 2 is not limited to four (the product of 2 which is the number in the front-rear direction and 2 which is the number in the left-right direction), and the number in the front-rear direction is m (however, m May be an integer of 1 or more) and the number in the left-right direction may be n (where n is an even number of 2 or more). That is, the number of lifting passages may be m × n. In the example shown in FIG. 12, 2 × 3 = 6 elevating passages 9FR, 9FL, 9MR, 9ML, 9BR, and 9BL are provided in the main body 2.

[Third Modification]
The generator support part 7 with a rack that constitutes the lifting mechanism is not limited to a single bar-like member extending in the vertical direction, and as shown in FIG. 13, a plurality of generator support parts 7 arranged side by side in the front-rear direction at a predetermined interval. It may be a rod-shaped member.

  According to this modification, the generator 5 can be supported more reliably. But the raising / lowering mechanism of this invention is not limited to what is comprised with the generator support part 7 with a rack and the pinion 8. FIG.

[Fourth Modification]
As illustrated in FIG. 14, the ocean current power generation device may further include a storage battery 21 and may include a power transmission control unit 14 </ b> D instead of the power transmission control unit 14. The power storage unit 21 stores part of the power generated by the generator 5 in the power generation state. Further, the power transmission control unit 14D not only transmits the power generated by the generator 5, but is also stored in the storage battery 21 at the time of transition from the power generation state to the power generation halt state and at the time of transition from the power generation halt state to the power generation state. The turbine 6 can also be braked by rotating the power generator 5 in the direction opposite to that during power generation using electric power.

  According to this modification, the attitude of the ocean current power generation apparatus at the time of settling / levitation can be further stabilized by making the turbine 6 stationary.

[Fifth Modification]
Communication between the ocean current power generation device and the command center is not limited to wired communication, and may be wireless communication. As an example, the ocean current power generation system shown in FIG. 15 includes a wireless communication device 110 floated on the sea surface 103, and the wireless communication device 110 and the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 are connected by a communication cable 107. The state command signal is transmitted to the ocean current power generation device 1 via the wireless communication device 110, and the abnormality detection signal is transmitted to the command center 102 via the wireless communication device 110. Communication between the ocean current power generation devices 1A, 1B, and 1C and the command center 102 and communication between the ocean current power generation device 1B and the ocean current power generation device 1C can also be wireless communication.

[Other variations]
The turbine 6 may be connected to the generator 5 via a transmission. By appropriately adjusting the transmission gear ratio according to the strength of the ocean current, the generator 5 can be operated at the highest power generation efficiency.

  The mooring lines 105 and 109 may be attached to the ocean current power generation device via a cable length adjusting mechanism such as a winch. By adjusting the lengths of the mooring lines 105 and 109, it is possible to prevent the adjacent current generators from colliding with each other when the formation is greatly disturbed due to fluctuations in the ocean current.

  The number of divisions of the ballast tank of the main body 2 is not limited to four. By increasing the number of divisions, it becomes easy to make the ocean current power generation apparatus have an arbitrary posture, particularly during subsidence / floating.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C Current generator 2 Main body 3 Ladder (Attitude control board)
4 Flap (Attitude control board)
5, 5FR, 5FL, 5BR, 5BL Generator 6, 6FR, 6FL, 6BR, 6BL Turbine 7, 7FR, 7FL, 7BR, 7BL Generator support with rack (elevating mechanism)
8,8FR, 8FL, 8BR, 8BL Pinion (elevating mechanism)
9, 9FR, 9FL, 9MR, 9ML, 9BR, 9BL Elevating passage 10 Ballast tank 11 Ballast control unit 12, 12A, 12B, 12C Attitude control unit 13 Elevation control unit 14, 14D Power transmission control unit 15 Depth detection unit 16 Inclination detection unit 17 Abnormality detection unit 18A, 18B, 18C Absolute position detection unit 19 Convoy control unit 20, 20B, 20C Communication unit 21 Storage battery 100 Seabed 101 Coastal part 102 Command center 103 Sea surface 104 Anchor 105 Mooring line 106 Power cable 107 Communication cable 108 Power cable 109 Mooring cable 110 Wireless communication device

The ocean current power generation device includes a rotatably provided a position control plate to said main body portion, and the inclination detector which detects an inclination of the main body portion relative to the horizontal plane, the inclination and the minimum detected by the inclination detector It is preferable to further include an attitude control unit that controls the rotation of the attitude control plate.

In the ocean current power generation system, when the number of the ocean current power generation devices is two or more, each of the ocean current power generation devices includes a posture control plate provided rotatably on the main body portion, and an inclination of the main body portion with respect to a horizontal plane. It is preferable to further include an inclination detection unit that detects the inclination and an attitude control unit that controls the rotation of the attitude control plate so that the inclination detected by the inclination detection unit is minimized.

Claims (9)

An ocean current power generation device that is set to either a power generation state or a power generation halt state based on an external command,
A main body having a ballast tank inside,
A generator having a turbine that rotates in response to an ocean current;
An elevating mechanism provided between the main body and the generator, and elevating the generator relative to the main body;
A lifting control unit for controlling the lifting mechanism;
A depth detector for detecting the depth of the main body,
A ballast controller that controls the pouring and draining of the ballast tank;
A communication unit that communicates with the outside,
With
When the communicator receives a command to shift to the power generation state when the power generation is suspended, the power generation position where the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting controller is below the main body The ballast control unit injects water into the ballast tank until the depth detected by the depth detection unit reaches a predetermined value.
When the communication unit receives an instruction to shift to the power generation halt state when the power generation state is set, the power generation suspension in which the lifting mechanism controlled by the lift control unit is above the main body portion The ocean current power generator characterized by moving the said generator to a position, and the said ballast control part drains the said ballast tank, and raises the said main-body part. The main body has a lifting passage penetrating in the vertical direction,
The generator and the lifting mechanism are provided at positions corresponding to the lifting passage,
The ocean current power generator according to claim 1, wherein the elevating mechanism elevates and lowers the generator through the elevating passage. The main body has a plurality of the elevating passages,
The ocean current power generation device according to claim 2, wherein the generator and the lifting mechanism are provided at positions corresponding to the plurality of lifting passages. The main body is arranged in m pieces (where m is an integer of 1 or more) in the front-rear direction to be parallel to the ocean current, and n pieces (where n is an even number of 2 or more) in the left-right direction to be orthogonal to the ocean current. The ocean current power generation device according to claim 3, wherein the ocean current power generation device includes m × n lift passages. The ocean current power generator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a plurality of the generators arranged in a vertical direction are provided at positions corresponding to the lift passages. A posture control plate rotatably provided on the main body,
An inclination detector for detecting the inclination of the main body with respect to a horizontal plane;
A posture control unit that controls the rotation of the posture control plate so that the inclination detected by the posture detection unit is minimized;
The ocean current power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: Command center,
An anchor fixed to the seabed,
At least one ocean current power generation device connected to the anchor via a mooring line and set to either a power generation state or a power generation halt state based on a command from the command center;
With
The ocean current power generation device is provided between a main body having a ballast tank therein, a generator having a turbine that rotates in response to an ocean current, and the main body and the generator. Elevating mechanism for elevating the machine, elevating control unit for controlling the elevating mechanism, depth detecting unit for detecting the depth of the main body unit, ballast control unit for controlling pouring / draining of the ballast tank, and the command center, And when the communication unit receives a command to shift to the power generation state when the power generation is in a suspended state, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lifting control unit Moves the generator to a power generation position below the main body, and the ballast control unit moves the ballast control unit until the depth detected by the depth detection unit reaches a predetermined value. When the communication unit receives a command to shift to the power generation halt state when water is poured into the strike tank and the power generation state is set, the lifting mechanism controlled by the lift control unit An ocean current power generation system characterized in that the generator is moved to a power generation stop position located above, and the ballast control unit drains the ballast tank to float the main body unit. The number of the ocean current power generation devices is 2 or more,
Each of the ocean current power generation devices includes a posture control plate that is rotatably provided on the main body, an inclination detection unit that detects an inclination of the main body with respect to a horizontal plane, and the inclination detected by the posture detection unit. The ocean current power generation system according to claim 7, further comprising a posture control unit that controls rotation of the posture control plate so as to be minimized. Each of the current generators further comprises an absolute position detector that detects an absolute position,
9. The posture control unit controls rotation of the posture control plate based on a difference between a predetermined target absolute position and an absolute position detected by the absolute position detection unit. The ocean current power generation system described.

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