JP2020084888A - Water flow power generation device and repair method of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a water flow power generation device which enables repair of the water flow power generation device to be smoothly performed.SOLUTION: A water flow power generation device includes: a floating body 2 which is moored to an anchor 4 installed at a water bottom by a mooring rope 3, can float in water, and rotates a turbine 20 with water flow to generate electric power; and a cable 5 which is connected to the floating body 2, is installed along the water bottom through the anchor 4, and transmits the electric power generated by the floating body 2. The cable 5 is installed having a loose part 52 which can be drawn up to a water surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a water current power generation device and a method for repairing a water current power generation device.

Conventionally, as a water current power generation device, for example, as described in JP-T-2014-534375, a platform (floating body) is moored to a water bottom with a mooring rope, the platform is suspended in water, and a blade of the platform is caused by the water current. A device that rotates to generate electricity is known. On the other hand, as a method for repairing a water current power generator, for example, as described in JP 2011-132943 A, a float is attached to a generator (floating body) having a function of generating power using a water flow, There is known a method in which the power generator is placed on the water surface, the generator is pulled up to the water surface during maintenance, and the generator is maintained on the float.

Special table 2014-534375 gazette JP, 2011-132943, A

In such a hydroelectric power generation device and its repairing method, it is difficult to repair members arranged near the water bottom such as a rope mooring the floating body and an anchor supporting the water bottom side of the rope. That is, the anchor can be repaired if it can be lifted from the bottom of the water to the surface of the water, but it is difficult to lift the anchor, which is a heavy object, and the repair of the hydroelectric generator cannot be performed smoothly.

Therefore, it is desired to develop a water current power generation device and a method for repairing the water current power generation device that can smoothly repair the water current power generation device.

Therefore, a water current power generation device according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a floating body that is moored by an anchoring rope installed on the bottom of a water, is floatable in water, and rotates a turbine by water flow to generate electricity. And a cable that is installed along the water bottom via an anchor and that transmits the electric power generated by the floating body. The cable is installed with a slack portion that can be pulled up to the water surface. According to this water current power generation device, since the cable is installed with the slack portion that can be pulled up to the water surface, the cable installed at the bottom of the water can be easily pulled up to the water surface during repair. Therefore, by attaching a floating body or the like to the cable pulled up to the surface of the water and re-installing the hydroelectric power generating device, the parts of the hydroelectric power generating device such as the mooring rope can be smoothly repaired.

Further, in the water current power generation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the slack portion may be provided with a length that is at least twice the water depth. In this case, the cable can be reliably pulled up to the water surface by setting the length of the slack portion at least twice the water depth.

A method for repairing a water current power generation apparatus according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a cable connected to a floating body by mooring a floating body to a anchor installed on a water bottom with a mooring rope, causing the floating body to float in water and generating power by a water flow. A method of repairing a hydroelectric power generator that transmits power by means of an installation process that installs a slack on the cable and installs the cable along the bottom of the water, a cutting process that separates the floating body from the mooring rope, and a lifting slack. Cable pulling up the cable toward the water surface, cutting process cutting the cable pulled up to the water surface, attaching the cut cable to the floating body, attaching a new mooring rope and a new anchor to the floating body, adding a new anchor Is installed on the bottom of the water and the floating body is suspended in the water for installation. In the installation step, the slack portion is installed so that the cable can be pulled up to the water surface. According to this method for repairing a water current power generation device, since the slack portion is lifted with respect to the cable installed with the slack portion and the cable is pulled up, the cable can be easily pulled up to the water surface. Therefore, the parts of the hydroelectric generator, such as the mooring rope installed underwater, can be smoothly repaired.

Moreover, in the repair method for the water current power generation device according to one aspect of the present disclosure, the slack portion may be provided with a length that is at least twice the water depth in the installation step. In this case, the cable can be reliably pulled up to the water surface by setting the length of the slack portion at least twice the water depth.

According to the invention of the present disclosure, it is possible to smoothly repair a water current power generation device.

It is a figure showing an outline of a water current power generator concerning an embodiment of this indication. It is explanatory drawing of the power generation pod in the water current power generator of FIG. It is a figure which shows the disconnection process in the repair method of the water current power generation device which concerns on embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows the pulling up process in the repair method of the water current power generator which concerns on embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows the pulling up process in the repair method of the water current power generator which concerns on embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows the reinstallation process in the repair method of the water current power generator which concerns on embodiment of this indication. It is a figure which shows the reinstallation process in the repair method of the water current power generator which concerns on embodiment of this indication.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same elements will be denoted by the same reference symbols, without redundant description.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a water current power generation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the water current power generation device 1 is a device that floats a floating body 2 in water, rotates a turbine 20 provided on the floating body 2 by a water flow FW, and generates power by rotating the turbine 20. For example, the water current power generation device 1 is installed in the ocean and generates power by the ocean current. The floating body 2 is moored to the anchor 4 by a mooring rope 3. The floating body 2 is configured by connecting two right and left power generation pods 21 by a beam 22. The beam 22 is provided, for example, by arranging rectangular plate-shaped bodies horizontally. One end of the mooring rope 3 is attached to the power generation pod 21, and the other end of the mooring rope 3 is attached to the anchor 4 installed at the bottom of the water.

The mooring rope 3 is a rope material for mooring the floating body 2 to the anchor 4, and is made of a strong rope material such as a wire rope. In FIG. 1, as the mooring rope 3, a rope member whose end on the floating body 2 side is branched into two is used. That is, one of the two ends of the mooring rope 3 on the floating body 2 side is attached to the right power generation pod 21, and the other end is attached to the left power generation pod 21. The anchor 4 is a structure for holding the floating body 2 so as not to be flown by the water flow FW, and is made of concrete or metal, for example. The anchor 4 may be a sinker that maintains its position by its own weight of a heavy structure, or may be a type that maintains its position by using a supporting force such as a ground anchor.

A cable 5 is connected to the floating body 2. The cable 5 is a power transmission cable for transmitting the electric power generated by the floating body 2. The cable 5 is connected to the power generation pod 21, is provided along the mooring rope 3, and is attached to the anchor 4. The cable 5 is arranged on the water bottom from the anchor 4 toward the land side. A connector 51 is attached to the cable 5. The connector 51 is an underwater connector and is attached to the cable 5 at a position between the floating body 2 and the anchor 4. The connector 51 is used for disconnecting the cable 5, and is configured to be separable and connectable. The connector 51 is also used for disconnecting the mooring rope 3, and is also attached to the mooring rope 3 at a position between the floating body 2 and the anchor 4. That is, the connector 51 is in a coupled state during normal use and connects the cable 5 and the mooring rope 3. Then, at the time of disconnection, the connector 51 is separated into two parts to disconnect the cable 5 and the mooring rope 3.

The cable 5 is provided with a slack portion 52. The slack portion 52 is a portion in which the cable 5 is provided in a slack state, and includes a portion of the cable 5 that is arranged in a direction different from the power transmission direction. For example, the slack portion 52 is provided by reciprocating the cable 5 in a direction different from the direction of transmitting power. Further, the slack portion 52 may be provided by reciprocating the cable 5 in the power transmission direction as long as the slack portion 52 is provided in a slack state. Further, the slack portion 52 may be provided by being wound in a circular shape. The slack portion 52 is provided, for example, at a position near the anchor 4. Specifically, the cable 5 hooked on the anchor 4 forms a slack portion 52 at a position where the cable 5 is pulled out from the anchor 4.

The slack portion 52 is provided in a slack state so that the cable 5 can be pulled up to the water surface. For example, the slack portion 52 is provided so that the cable 5 in the slack portion 52 can be pulled up to the water surface by pulling the cable 5 upward. Here, the water surface also includes the position of almost the water surface. That is, the slack portion 52 may be provided so that the cable 5 can be pulled up to a position near the water surface.

The length of the cable 5 in the slack portion 52 is, for example, twice or more the depth of water. That is, in the water area where the slack portion 52 is installed, the slack portion 52 is provided with a length that is at least twice the depth of the water area. Thereby, the slack part 52 can be lifted and the cable 5 can be reliably pulled up to the water surface. If the cable 5 can be pulled up to a position near the water surface, the cable 5 can be easily cut compared to the case where the cable 5 is cut near the bottom of the water. By providing the slack portion 52 in this manner, the water current power generation device 1 can be repaired smoothly. Further, the length of the cable 5 in the slack portion 52 may be, for example, twice or more the length of the cable 5 from the floating body 2 to the anchor 4. Further, the length of the cable 5 in the slack portion 52 may be, for example, twice or more the length of the cable 5 from the connector 51 to the anchor 4. In these cases as well, the slack portion 52 can be lifted to pull up the cable 5 to the water surface or a position near the water surface.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the power generation pod 21.

As shown in FIG. 2, the power generation pod 21 is configured by providing the turbine 20 at the rear part of the main body 211. The main body 211 of the power generation pod 21 is formed of, for example, a hollow cylindrical body whose front part and rear part are closed. In addition, in this embodiment, a "front part" means the upstream part of the water flow FW and a "rear part" means the downstream part of the water flow FW. Further, “forward” means an upstream side of the water flow FW, and “rearward” means a downstream side of the water flow FW. In the floating body 2 and the power generation pod 21, a portion arranged in the water on the upstream side of the water flow FW is a front portion, and a portion arranged on the downstream side of the water flow FW is a rear portion.

The turbine 20 includes a blade 20a and a hub 20b. The blade 20a is a wing member that receives the water flow FW and generates a rotational force, and a plurality of blades 20a are provided on the outer periphery of the hub 20b in the radial direction. Although FIG. 2 shows the turbine 20 having two blades 20a, a turbine having three or more blades 20a may be used. The hub 20b is rotatably provided around an axis line extending in the front-rear direction of the power generation pod 21, is attached to, for example, the rotating shaft 23a of the generator 23, and rotates integrally with the rotating shaft 23a.

The generator 23 is a device that converts the kinetic energy of rotation of the turbine 20 into electrical energy, and receives the rotational force of the turbine 20 to generate electricity. A power conditioner 24 is connected to the generator 23. The generator 23 outputs generated power to the power conditioner 24. The power conditioner 24 adjusts the generated power of the generator 23 and controls the power generation operation. The adjustment of the generated power is performed by converting the generated power, which is AC power, into DC power, and converting the DC power into AC power so as to have a desired frequency. A high voltage power receiving unit 25 is connected to the power conditioner 24. The high voltage power receiving unit 25 transforms the AC power output from the power conditioner 24. The power output from the high voltage power receiving unit 25 is transmitted to the land side through the cable 5.

A system control unit 26 is connected to the high voltage power receiving unit 25. The system control unit 26 controls the floating body 2 and the power generation pod 21 as a whole. The power generation pod 21 is provided with a ballast tank (not shown) for adjusting buoyancy. Water is taken in and out of the ballast tank in response to a command from the system control unit 26, and the buoyancy of the floating body 2 is adjusted by the water taken in and out.

The mooring rope 3 is attached to the lower portion of the power generation pod 21. The mooring rope 3 is hooked and attached to a fastener 211a attached to the lower portion of the power generation pod 21, for example.

Next, a method of repairing the water current power generation device 1 according to this embodiment will be described.

The repair of the hydroelectric power generation device 1 is performed by repairing a damaged component among the components of the hydroelectric power generation device 1 or replacing the damaged component. Here, a case will be described in which the damaged mooring rope 3 is replaced and repaired in the hydroelectric generator 1.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the cable 5 is provided with the slack portion 52, and the water current power generation device 1 is installed. That is, the floating body 2 is moored to the anchor 4 by the mooring rope 3, and the water current power generation apparatus 1 is installed with the cable 5 extending from the floating body 2 provided with the slack portion 52. FIG. 1 shows an installation situation of the water current power generation apparatus 1 before repair. By providing the slack portion 52 on the cable 5 and installing the water current power generation device 1 in advance, the cable 5 can be easily pulled up to the water surface by using the slack portion 52.

Next, as shown in FIG. 3, a step of separating the floating body 2 is performed. This separating step is a step of separating the floating body 2 from the mooring rope 3. That is, the connector 51 is disconnected, and the mooring rope 3 and the cable 5 are separated at the intermediate position. As a result, the floating body 2 is separated from the mooring rope 3 and the cable 5. The work of separating the connector 51 may be performed, for example, by a diver or an unmanned submersible. Further, the connector 51 may be separated after the floating body 2 is floated on the water surface as shown in FIG. By floating the floating body 2 on the water surface and reducing the tension of the mooring rope 3, the connector 51 can be smoothly separated. The mooring rope 3 needs to be repaired at a position below the installation position of the connector 51.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, weights 7 are attached to lower portions of the mooring rope 3 and the cable 5. And the lower part of the mooring rope 3 and the cable 5 is sunk in the water bottom with the weight 7. The weight 7 is composed of a heavy object having a specific gravity larger than that of water, such as a metal such as iron or a concrete structure. The lower portions of the mooring rope 3 and the cable 5 are attached to the weight 7 and are sunk so that they are prevented from floating in the sea. The mooring rope 3, the cable 5 and the weight 7 that have been sunk can be used as a fish reef.

Then, the pulling up process of the cable 5 is performed. The pulling-up step is a step of lifting the slack portion 52 and pulling the cable 5 toward the water surface. In this pulling up process, the portion of the cable 5 on the land side (power transmission side) of the anchor 4 is pulled up toward the water surface. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the slack portion 52 of the cable 5 is lifted toward the water surface by using the crane of the work boat 6 or the like. At this time, since the slack portion 52 is provided with an allowance in the length of the cable 5, the cable 5 can be smoothly moved to the water surface without applying excessive tension to the portion of the cable 5 on the land side of the slack portion 52. Can be raised up to. Further, by providing the slack portion 52 with a length that is at least twice the water depth, the cable 5 can be reliably pulled up to the water surface.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the cable 5 is pulled up to the water surface, a cutting process of the cable 5 is performed. The cutting of the cable 5 may be performed onboard the ship, or may be performed outside the ship near the water surface. By cutting the cable 5, the cable 5 laid on the water bottom can be reused.

Then, the re-installation process of the water current power generation device 1 is performed. In the re-installation process, the cut cable 5 is attached to the floating body 2, a new mooring rope 3 and a new anchor 4 are attached to the floating body 2, the new anchor 4 is sunk on the bottom of the water, and the floating force is adjusted to adjust the floating body 2. Is a process of arranging in the vicinity of the original underwater position to float and re-installing the water current power generation device 1. First, as shown in FIG. 6, the anchor 4 is sunk. The anchor 4 is replaced with a new one. A cable 5 is hooked on the anchor 4. The end of the cable 5 is connected to the floating body 2. The mooring rope 3 is attached to the anchor 4. This mooring rope 3 is also replaced with a new one. By this exchange, the mooring rope 3 is repaired. The anchor 4 is sunk toward the water bottom using the work boat 6.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, when the anchor 4 is sunk on the bottom of the water, the floating body 2 is suspended in the water. As a result, the hydroelectric power generator 1 can be reinstalled in the same water area as before the repair, and the repair of the parts of the hydroelectric power generator 1 is completed. Further, at this time, the slack portion 52 may be provided in the portion of the cable 5 on the land side of the anchor 4. Thereby, when the anchor 4 or the mooring rope 3 is damaged, or when the anchor 4 or the mooring rope 3 needs to be replaced, the repair can be smoothly performed.

As described above, according to the water current power generation device 1 and the repair method for the water current power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the cable 5 is provided with the slack portion 52 so that the cable 5 is installed at the bottom of the water at the time of repair. The cable 5 can be easily pulled up to the water surface. As a result, the parts such as the mooring rope 3 installed in the water can be smoothly repaired. Further, by providing the cable 5 with the slack portion 52 and installing it, the repaired water current power generation device 1 can be installed again in the same water area as before the repair.

For example, if the cable 5 can be pulled up to the water surface, the cable 5 can be easily cut. Therefore, the cut cable 5 can be connected to the floating body 2, a new anchor 4 and a new mooring rope 3 can be attached to the floating body 2, the floating body 2 can be placed in water, and the hydroelectric generator 1 can be operated. Therefore, the anchor 4 and the mooring rope 3 can be replaced with new ones to smoothly repair the water current power generation device 1.

When the anchor 4 or the mooring rope 3 is repaired, it is possible to raise the anchor 4 and the mooring rope 3 to the surface of the water for repair. However, since the anchor 4 is a heavy object, it is not easy to pull up the anchor 4. If the anchor 4 is to be pulled up, it is necessary to use a large crane ship or the like, which increases repair costs. Further, since the mooring rope 3 is connected to the anchor 4, it is difficult to raise only the mooring rope 3 without raising the anchor 4. In particular, when the damaged portion of the mooring rope 3 is a portion near the anchor 4, the mooring rope 3 alone cannot be pulled up.

Here, it is conceivable to repair the anchor 4 and the new mooring rope 3 without pulling up the anchor 4. However, it becomes difficult to reuse the cable 5 laid along the bottom of the water. That is, it is difficult to pull up the cable 5 laid on the water bottom, and it is difficult to connect the cable 5 to the floating body 2. Therefore, in the water current power generation device 1 and the repair method for the water current power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the slack portion 52 is provided in the cable 5 in advance so that the cable 5 laid on the bottom of the water can be laid up to the water surface during repair. It can be pulled up easily. As a result, the cable 5 laid on the bottom of the water can be reused and the parts of the hydroelectric generator 1 such as the mooring rope 3 can be smoothly repaired.

Further, in the water current power generation device 1 and the repair method for the water current power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, the slack portion 52 of the cable 5 is provided with a length that is at least twice the water depth. Therefore, the cable 5 laid on the bottom of the water can be reliably pulled up to the water surface.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention can be implemented in various modified modes without departing from the scope of the claims.

For example, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the floating body 2 in which the left and right two power generation pods 21 are connected by the beam 22 is used has been described, but the floating body is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the floating body may include a central pod between two power generation pods 21 on the left and right, or may include one power generation pod 21. Further, it may include three or more power generation pods 21.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the mooring rope 3 is connected to the power generation pod 21 has been described, but the mooring rope 3 may be connected to a portion of the floating body 2 other than the power generation pod 21. .. For example, the mooring rope 3 may be connected to the beam 22 provided between the left and right power generation pods 21. Even in this case, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the water flow power generation device and the water flow power generation device repair method according to the above-described embodiments.

Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the hydroelectric power generation device is installed in the sea has been described, but the hydrostatic power generation device according to the present invention may be installed in water such as a river or a lake. Even in this case, if power generation by water flow is possible, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as those of the water flow power generation devices according to the above-described embodiments.

1 Water Flow Power Generator 2 Floating Body 3 Mooring Rope 4 Anchor 5 Cable 20 Turbine 20a Blade 20b Hub 21 Power Generation Pod 22 Beam 23 Generator 24 Power Conditioner 25 High Voltage Power Receiver 26 System Control Unit 51 Connector 52 Loose Part 211a Fastener FW Water Flow

Claims (4)

A floating body moored by a mooring rope to the anchor installed on the bottom of the water, capable of floating in water, and rotating a turbine by water flow to generate electricity.
A cable that is connected to the floating body, is installed along the water bottom through the anchor, and transmits the electric power generated by the floating body,
The cable is installed with a slack that can be pulled up to the water surface,
Water flow generator. The slack portion is provided with a length of at least twice the water depth,
The water current power generation device according to claim 1. It is a method of repairing a hydroelectric generator, in which a floating body is moored to an anchor installed on the bottom of the water with a mooring rope, the floating body is suspended in water to generate electricity by a water flow, and power is transmitted by a cable connected to the floating body. hand,
An installation step of providing a slack in the cable and installing the cable along the water bottom;
A separation step of separating the floating body from the mooring rope,
A lifting step of lifting the slack portion and pulling the cable toward the water surface;
A cutting step of cutting the cable pulled up to the water surface,
The cutting cable is attached to the floating body, a new mooring rope and a new anchor are attached to the floating body, and a re-installation step of setting the new anchor to the bottom of the water and floating the floating body in water.
Including,
In the installation step, the slack part is installed by slackening the cable so that the cable can be pulled up to the water surface.
How to repair a hydroelectric generator. In the installation step, the slack portion is provided with a length that is at least twice the water depth,
The method for repairing a water current power generation device according to claim 3.

Images