JP6119971B2 - Ocean current power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a submerged floating ocean current power generation apparatus that can float and sink, and includes a power generation unit having a turbine that rotates in response to an ocean current (tidal current).

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ocean current power generation apparatuses that generate electricity using a seawater flow such as an ocean current (tidal current) have been developed.
As an ocean current power generation device that generates power using such a flow of seawater, for example, there is a device described in Patent Document 1, and this ocean current power generation device is a so-called twin underwater floating power generation device, A pair of power generation units having a horizontal axis turbine that rotates in response to the ocean current, a connection beam that connects these power generation units in parallel, and a pair of power generation units integrated by the connection beam are moored on the seabed. Has multiple mooring lines.

  In this ocean current power generation device, the depth of a pair of power generation units is controlled by changing the length of a plurality of mooring lines with a plurality of hoisting machines.

Special table 2010-531956

In the underwater floating type ocean current power generation apparatus as described above, the pair of power generation units have a buoyancy enough to balance with a relatively large drag generated by turning the turbine in the sea during power generation.
For this reason, when a current generator is installed in a sea area suitable for power generation, when a pair of power generation units in a state where the turbine is stopped is submerged in the sea, a downward force exceeding the buoyancy of the pair of power generation units is applied. In the ocean current power generation apparatus described above, a pair of power generation units are submerged in the sea by winding a plurality of mooring lines with a plurality of hoisting machines for depth control.

  Therefore, the above-described ocean current power generation apparatus has a problem in that when a pair of power generation units are submerged in the sea, the power generation cost is increased by the amount of use of a plurality of hoisting machines (heavy machines). It has become a conventional problem.

  The present invention has been made by paying attention to the above-described conventional problems, and without requiring a large-scale heavy machine, the power generation unit can be submerged in the sea and floated at a suitable position. It aims at providing the ocean current power generator which can implement | achieve reduction of this.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 6, in the above-described underwater floating type ocean current power generation device 1, when power is generated by turning a turbine in the sea, a relatively large drag is loaded by turning this turbine. The power generation unit 1 has a structure with buoyancy enough to balance this drag force.

  In order to sink such a power generation unit that generates a large buoyancy in the sea without using a large heavy machine, in the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention, a power generation unit having a turbine that rotates and generates power by an ocean current; In the ocean current power generation apparatus provided with a mooring line for mooring the power generation unit, the mooring line is provided with a position adjustment unit for adjusting the position of the power generation unit in the water depth direction, and the position adjustment unit receives the ocean current. A resistance body that transmits the generated resistance force to the power generation unit through the mooring line as a force in a direction to increase the depth, and a configuration that includes a pressure-receiving area variable mechanism that changes an area of the resistor that receives a sea current; The ocean current power generation apparatus having this configuration is used as a means for solving the above-described conventional problems.

  Here, a turbine that generates about 40 m in diameter is used as a turbine that generates electric power by rotating due to ocean currents, and a power generation unit having this turbine is moored at a position of about 50 m in depth, which is a so-called twin-engine underwater floating power generator. In this case, the power generation capacity is approximately 2 MW. The power generation capacity varies depending on the difference in specifications.

In addition, the power generation unit is preferably moored with two mooring lines stretched in a V-shape or Y-shape, but in the unlikely event that the mooring line is cut, for example, the total of two on each side It is also possible to moor the power generation unit with four mooring lines.
Therefore, in the ocean current power generation device according to claim 2 of the present invention, between the two mooring lines in which at least two power generation units are moored by the mooring lines arranged and stretched in a V shape or a Y shape. The sail that is stretched and converged by the pressure receiving area variable mechanism is configured as the resistor of the position adjusting unit, and a ball screw mechanism, a gear mechanism, and a cylinder mechanism can be adopted as the pressure receiving area variable mechanism. Yacht sails and nets can be used.

The ocean current power generation device according to claim 3 of the present invention is configured to include an attitude control unit having a stable blade body in a direction orthogonal to the resistor of the position adjusting unit, and according to claim 4 of the present invention. The ocean current power generation apparatus includes a pair of the power generation units, a connection beam that connects the pair of power generation units, and a rectangular bar or a circular bar that protrudes from the connection beam in the direction of the ocean current. The position adjusting unit including the resistor includes a movable cable disposed between the connection beam and the two mooring lines, and the resistor is disposed between the mooring line and the movable cable. The movable cable has one end that moves along the rectangular bar or the circular bar, and the stable wing body is similar to the sail described above. Can be used.

In the ocean current power generation device according to the present invention, the resistance generated by the position adjusting unit disposed on the mooring line is subjected to the ocean current through the mooring line as a force in the direction of increasing the depth to the power generation unit. The power generation unit can be settled to a desired depth.
In addition, the pressure receiving area of the resistor can be adjusted by the operation of the pressure receiving area variable mechanism of the position adjusting unit.

  Therefore, in the ocean current power generation device according to the present invention, the buoyancy provided in the power generation unit (the load on the power generation unit during power generation in the sea) is not required without requiring heavy machinery such as a large hoisting machine required by the conventional ocean current power generation device. The power generation unit can be submerged to the desired depth and the depth of the power generation unit can be adjusted, and the power generation cost can be reduced accordingly. It becomes.

In addition, since the ocean current power generation device according to claim 2 of the present invention has a simple and light-weight structure, the power generation cost can be further reduced. In the ocean current power generation device according to claim 3 of the present invention, In the ocean current power generator according to claim 4 of the present invention, a rectangular bar or circle in which one end of the movable cable included in the position adjustment unit projects in the ocean current direction with respect to the connection beam. since moves along the shape of bars, i.e., the resistance of the position adjusting unit From Teitsubasatai as also functions to Runode, resistor and by the amount it is not necessary to provide a separate stabilization wings body, the power generation cost Further reduction will be achieved.

  In the ocean current power generation apparatus according to the present invention, the power generation unit can be submerged in the sea without using a large-scale heavy machine, and can be suspended at a suitable position. Therefore, it is possible to realize a reduction in power generation cost. Excellent effect.

The explanatory view (a) which looked at the state which folded the sail which shows the ocean current power generator by one example of the present invention from the downstream side of the ocean current, the explanatory view (b) which looked at the state which expanded the sail from the downstream side of the ocean current, It is side surface explanatory drawing (c) of the condition which an apparatus main body sinks by expanding a sail. The explanatory view which looked at the state which folded the sail which shows one modification of the ocean current power generation device by one example of the present invention from the downstream side of the ocean current, and the explanatory view which saw the state which expanded the sail from the downstream side of the ocean current (B). It is explanatory drawing which looked at the state which expanded the sail which shows the other modification of the ocean current power generator by one Example of this invention from the downstream of the ocean current. It is side explanatory drawing (a) of the state which folded the stable wing | blade body which shows the ocean current power generator by other Examples of this invention, and explanatory drawing (b) seen from the downstream of the ocean current. It is explanatory drawing (a), (b) which looked at the apparatus main body part of the state which folded the sail which shows the ocean current electric power generating apparatus by further another Example of this invention from the downstream of the ocean current. It is a schematic diagram for comparing the force received when the device main body of the ocean current power generation device rises to the sea surface and the force received during power generation in the sea.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an ocean current power generation apparatus according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 1, this ocean current power generation device 1 is a so-called twin-engine underwater floating power generation device, which includes a pair of power generation units 4 and 4 each having a horizontal shaft type turbine 3 that rotates by receiving a current. The apparatus main body 2 provided with the connecting beam 5 that connects the power generation units 4 and 4 in parallel with each other, and two mooring lines 6 and 6 for mooring the apparatus main body 2 to the seabed B are provided.

  The turbines 3, 3 of the pair of power generation units 4, 4 rotate in directions opposite to each other so as to cancel each rotational torque. In addition to the built-in depth meter and angle sensor, the pair of power generation units 4 and 4 has a built-in ballast tank for adjusting the depth during power generation in the sea. Accordingly, the connecting beam 5 is also arranged.

  One end of each of the two mooring lines 6 and 6 is connected to both ends of the connecting beam 5, and the other end is connected to a sinker 7 installed on the seabed B. That is, the two mooring lines 6 and 6 are stretched so as to form an inverted triangular gap together with the connecting beam 5, and each transmission cable (not shown) from the power generation units 4 and 4 is connected to these mooring lines 6 and 6. 6 is provided.

  Further, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 includes a position adjustment unit 10 that adjusts the position of the apparatus main body 2 in the water depth direction. The position adjustment unit 10 includes a screw shaft 11 disposed along the connection beam 5, and A motor 12 capable of supplying a rotational force in the forward / reverse direction to the screw shaft 11 and two screws that are fitted to the screw shaft 11 via a ball (not shown) and are moved closer to and away from each other by the forward / reverse rotation of the screw shaft 11. A ball screw mechanism (a pressure receiving area variable mechanism) including nuts 13 and 13 is provided.

  In this case, the position adjusting unit 10 includes two movable cables 14 and 14 disposed in the inverted triangular gap between the two mooring cables 6 and 6 and the connecting beam 5, and two sails (resistors) 15. It has. One end of each of the two movable ropes 14, 14 is connected to the two nuts 13, 13 of the ball screw mechanism, and the other end is connected to the sinker 7, respectively. Are arranged between the mooring line 6 and the movable line 14 located on the same side of the inverted triangular gap.

  That is, in the position adjusting unit 10, two nuts 13, 13 that are separated from each other (state shown in FIG. 1A) by rotating the screw shaft 11 in one direction by the operation of the motor 12 are replaced with two nuts 13, 13. The movable ropes 14 and 14 are brought close to each other, and the sails 15 and 15 that are deployed thereby cover the gaps of the inverted triangle (the state shown in FIG. 1B).

  As described above, the position adjusting unit 10 covers the inverted triangular gap between the two mooring lines 6 and 6 and the connecting beam 5 with the sails 15 and 15, and the resistance generated by the sails 15 and 15 receiving the ocean current. By transmitting the force to the apparatus main body 2 via the mooring lines 6 and 6, the apparatus main body 2 can be set down to a desired depth as indicated by a virtual line in FIG. Then, by appropriately operating the ball screw mechanism including the motor 12, the depth of the device body 2 can be adjusted by changing the area of the sails 15 and 15 that receives the ocean current, that is, by changing the pressure receiving area. It can be done.

  Therefore, a description will be given of how to start power generation after the apparatus body 2 floating on the sea surface of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 is submerged to a desired depth.

  First, the turbines 3 and 3 of the pair of power generation units 4 and 4 are locked so as not to rotate, and the motor 12 of the ball screw mechanism in the position adjustment unit 10 is operated. By rotating the screw shaft 11 in one direction, the two nuts 13 and 13 that are separated from each other are brought close together with the two movable cables 14 and 14, and the sails 15 and 15 that are deployed thereby form an inverted triangular shape. Cover the gap.

  In this way, when the gaps of the inverted triangle are covered with the sails 15, 15, the resistance force generated by the sails 15, 15 receiving the ocean current is transmitted to the device body 2 via the mooring lines 6, 6, and FIG. As shown in phantom lines in (c), the apparatus main body 2 begins to sink.

  During the settling of the apparatus body 2, the turbines 3 and 3 in the pair of power generation units 4 and 4 are unlocked and rotated to adjust the position while gradually increasing the rotational speed of the turbines 3 and 3. The motor 12 of the ball screw mechanism in the portion 10 is operated in the reverse direction, and the deployed sails 15 and 15 are gradually folded by the rotation of the screw shaft 11 in the other direction by the operation of the motor 12.

  Then, when the apparatus main body 2 reaches a desired depth and the turbines 3 and 3 of the pair of power generation units 4 and 4 come to rotate at the rated rotational speed, the ball screw mechanism including the motor 12 is appropriately oriented. The power generation is started after adjusting the pressure receiving areas of the sails 15 and 15 so that the apparatus main body 2 is operated to maintain a desired depth.

  On the other hand, when it becomes necessary to float the apparatus main body 2 on the sea surface, while stopping the power generation, while gradually reducing the rotational speed of the turbines 3, 3 of the pair of power generation units 4, 4, By operating the motor 12 of the ball screw mechanism in the position adjusting unit 10 and rotating the screw shaft 11 in the other direction by the operation of the motor 12, the sails 15 and 15 that have been deployed with an appropriate pressure receiving area are gradually folded.

  Then, in the final stage of the rising of the apparatus body 2, the sails 15, 15 are completely folded by the position adjustment unit 10 while locking the turbines 3, 3 of the pair of power generation units 4, 4 so that neither of them rotates.

As described above, in the ocean current power generation device 1 according to this embodiment, the two movable cables 14 and 14 are moved closer to each other by the operation of the motor 12 of the position adjusting unit 10, and the two mooring cables 6 and 6 and the connecting beam are connected. The gap between the inverted triangles 5 is covered with sails 15, 15, and the resistance force generated by the sails 15, 15 receiving the ocean current is transmitted to the apparatus body 2, thereby sinking the apparatus body 2 to a desired depth. Can do.
In addition, in the ocean current power generation device 1 according to this embodiment, the pressure receiving area of the sails 15, 15 covering the inverted triangular gap can be adjusted by the operation of the position adjustment unit 10 in the appropriate direction of the motor 12.

  Therefore, in the ocean current power generation device 1 according to this embodiment, the buoyancy of the device main body 2 (the device main body 2 during power generation in the sea) is not required without requiring heavy machinery such as a large hoisting machine required by the conventional current generator. It is possible to overcome the large buoyancy that is balanced with the drag force that is loaded, and to sink the device body 2 to a desired depth, or to adjust the depth of the device body 2, and the power generation cost can be reduced accordingly. Will be illustrated.

  In the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 according to this embodiment, the sails 15 of the position adjusting unit 10 are arranged so as to cover all the inverted triangular gaps formed between the two mooring lines 6 and 6 and the connecting beam 5. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and like the current generator 1A according to a modification shown in FIG. The sails 15, 15 of the position adjustment unit 10 </ b> A may be arranged so that they do not become necessary.

  Moreover, like the ocean current power generation apparatus 1B according to another modified example shown in FIG. 3, the elevating ring 17 constituting the position adjusting unit 10B is disposed across the end portions on the sinker 7 side of the two mooring lines 6 and 6. In this case, the lifting ring 17 is raised while pulling the two mooring lines 6 and 6 and the pressure receiving area of the sails 15 and 15 is reduced as shown by the phantom line. The drag generated by the ocean current can be reduced. In other words, the effective range of the sail 15 can be reduced, which is suitable for a sea area where the flow of tide is fast.

  Furthermore, in the ocean current power generators 1, 1A, 1B according to the above-described embodiments, the sails 15, 15 of the position adjusting units 10, 10A, 10B are deployed and converged in a double-open state, but the sail 15 is in a single-open state. You may make it expand and converge.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the ocean current power generation apparatus according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 4, this ocean current power generation device 1 </ b> C is different from the ocean current power generation device 1 according to the previous embodiment in that it is orthogonal to a sail 15 (not shown in FIG. 4) that is a resistor of the position adjustment unit 10. An attitude control unit 20 having a stable blade sail 25 as a directional stable wing body is provided.

  The posture control unit 20 includes a screw shaft 21 arranged orthogonal to the connecting beam 5, a motor 22 capable of supplying forward and reverse rotational force to the screw shaft 21, and a ball (not shown) on the screw shaft 21. And a ball screw mechanism including two nuts 23 and 23 which are fitted and separated from each other by rotation of the screw shaft 21 in the forward and reverse directions.

  The posture control unit 20 includes two movable cables 24, 24, and one ends of the movable cables 24, 24 are connected to the two nuts 23, 23 of the ball screw mechanism, respectively. Each other end is connected to the sinker 7, and the stable wing sail 25 is disposed between the movable cables 24, 24.

  In this attitude control unit 20, when the angle sensor built in the power generation unit 4 detects the rolling or yawing of the apparatus main body 2, the posture control unit 20 is brought close to each other by the rotation of the screw shaft 21 in one direction by the operation of the motor 22 (FIG. 4). The two nuts 23, 23 in the state (a) are separated from each other together with the two movable cables 24, 24, and the restoring moment around the sinker 7 generated when the developing stable wing sail 25 receives an ocean current. As shown in FIG. 4B, rolling and yawing of the apparatus main body 2 can be suppressed. If the ocean current is stable and it is not necessary to perform posture control to suppress rolling or yawing, the stable blade sail 25 may be folded by rotating the screw shaft 21 in the other direction by the operation of the motor 22. .

  The configuration of the ocean current power generation device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. For example, ocean current power generation devices 1D and 1E partially shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) A configuration may be adopted in which each end 14a, 14a of the movable ropes 14, 14 is moved along a rectangular bar 11D or a circular bar 11E extending in the direction (perpendicular to the paper surface). Since the body also has a function as a stable wing body, depth control and posture control of the apparatus main body 2 can be performed simultaneously.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, the device main body 2 is moored by the two mooring lines 6 and 6 that are stretched in a V shape or a Y shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the unlikely event that the mooring line 6 is cut, for example, the apparatus main body 2 may be moored by a total of four mooring lines 6 on each side.

1, 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, 1E Current generator 3 Turbine 4 Power generation unit 6 Mooring lines 10, 10A, 10B Position adjustment unit 11 Screw shaft (ball screw mechanism; pressure receiving area variable mechanism)
12 Motor (ball screw mechanism; variable pressure receiving area mechanism)
13 Nut (ball screw mechanism; variable pressure receiving area mechanism)
15 Sail (resistor)
20 Attitude Control Unit 25 Stable Wing Sail (Stable Wing Body)

Claims (4)

A power generation unit having a turbine that rotates and generates electric power by ocean current;
In the ocean current power generator with a mooring line mooring this power generation unit,
The mooring line is provided with a position adjustment unit that adjusts the position of the power generation unit in the water depth direction,
The position adjusting unit transmits a resistance force generated by receiving a sea current to the power generation unit as a force in a direction to increase the depth through the mooring line, and
An ocean current power generation apparatus comprising a pressure receiving area variable mechanism for changing an area of the resistor that receives an ocean current.   2. The sail that is moored by the mooring lines in which at least two of the power generation units are arranged and is stretched and converged by the pressure receiving area variable mechanism between the two mooring lines is used as the resistor of the position adjustment unit. The ocean current power generator described. The ocean current power generation device according to claim 2 , further comprising an attitude control unit having a stable wing body in a direction orthogonal to the resistor of the position adjustment unit. A pair of the power generation units are provided, a connection beam connecting the pair of power generation units, a rectangular bar or a circular bar protruding from the connection beam in the ocean current direction, and the resistor. The position adjusting unit includes a movable cable disposed between the coupling beam and the two mooring lines, and the resistor is disposed between the mooring line and the movable cable. The ocean current power generation device according to claim 2 , further comprising an end that moves along the rectangular bar or the circular bar .

Images