JP6148803B1 - Turbine and tidal current power generator - Google Patents

Abstract

A turbine that can be manufactured at low cost and easy to maintain and a tidal current power generation apparatus including the turbine are provided. A rotor 3 rotating around a central axis C along tidal currents T1 and T2 and a radial direction of the rotor 3 so that the rotor 3 rotates in the same direction even when tidal currents T1 and T2 opposite to each other are received. It includes a plurality of blades 4 supported by the rotor 3 so as to be tiltable about the first axis a <b> 1 including the components, and a stopper 5 that regulates the tilt position of each blade 4. Each blade 4 has a blade end portion 4d located in a direction orthogonal to the first axis a1 along the surfaces 4b and 4c that receive the tidal currents T1 and T2. The stopper 5 applies resistance to the blade end 4d to restrict the blade 4 to the first position 4A when the tidal current T1 flows in the first direction t1, and the tidal current T2 is opposite to the first direction t1. When flowing in the second direction t2, the blade 4 is restricted to the second position 4B. [Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a turbine for a tidal power generator and a tidal power generator including the turbine.

  In recent years, tidal power generators capable of systematic power generation have attracted attention. In a tidal current power generation device, it is required to improve power generation efficiency by rotating a turbine for rotating a generator in the same direction even when receiving a tidal current in opposite directions.

  Patent Document 1 below proposes a turbine for a tidal current power generation apparatus that includes a rotor that rotates about a central axis along a tidal current and a blade that rotates the rotor. In the turbine of Patent Document 1, the tidal current moves the slide collar and tilts the blade via the slide collar, so that the turbine is rotated in the same direction even when the tidal currents are opposite to each other.

JP 2013-060939 A

  Since the turbine of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1 is provided with a slide collar and a lever in order to tilt the turbine, the structure is complicated, and there is a possibility that the manufacturing cost and the maintenance cost are high.

  The present invention has been devised in view of the actual situation as described above, and is based on the inclusion of a stopper that provides resistance to the blade end, and can be manufactured at low cost, and can be easily maintained. The main purpose is to provide a tidal current power generation device.

  The present invention relates to a turbine for a tidal current power generation device, the rotor rotating about a central axis along the tidal current, and the rotor so that the rotor rotates in the same direction even when receiving the tidal currents in opposite directions. A plurality of blades supported by the rotor so as to be tiltable about a first axis including a radial direction component, and a stopper for restricting the tilting position of each blade, and each of the blades on a surface receiving the tidal current A blade end positioned in a direction perpendicular to the first axis along the stopper, and the stopper imparts resistance to the blade end so that the blade flows first when the tidal current flows in the first direction. The blade is restricted to a position, and the blade is restricted to a second position when the tidal current flows in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

  In the turbine according to the present invention, it is preferable that each of the blades is an elastic body and bends in a direction protruding toward the downstream side of the tidal current by receiving the tidal current and the resistance from the stopper.

  In the turbine according to the present invention, the stopper is preferably a pair of stopper pins protruding from the rotor.

  In the turbine according to the present invention, it is preferable that the stopper is regulated so that the tilt angle of the blade is 80 to 170 °.

  The present invention is preferably a tidal current power generation device including the above-described turbine and at least one generator coupled to the turbine.

  In the turbine of the present invention, the stopper provides resistance to the blade end portion to restrict the blade to the first position when the tidal current flows in the first direction, and the tidal current is the second direction opposite to the first direction. The blade is restricted to the second position when flowing in the direction.

  Such a turbine has a simple structure and can reduce the number of parts. For this reason, the turbine of the present invention can be manufactured at low cost, and maintenance is easy, so that maintenance costs can be suppressed.

It is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the turbine of the present invention. It is a side view showing a turbine when a tidal current flows in a first direction. It is a side view which shows a turbine when a tidal current flows in a 2nd direction. It is a side view which shows a braid | blade and a stopper. It is a side view which shows the braid | blade and stopper of other embodiment. It is a side view which shows the braid | blade and stopper of other embodiment. It is a side view which shows the braid | blade and stopper of other embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the braid | blade and stopper of other embodiment. It is a side view which shows the turbine of other embodiment. FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of the turbine of FIG. 9. It is a side view of a tidal current power generation device including a turbine. It is a front view of the tidal current power generation device of FIG.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a turbine 1 of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the turbine 1 of the present embodiment is a tidal power generation installed in the vicinity of the sea bottom where tidal currents T1 and T2 in opposite directions in the first direction t1 and the second direction t2 flow according to time. It is suitably used for the apparatus 2 (shown in FIG. 11). FIG. 1 shows a state where the tidal current T1 is flowing in the first direction t1.

  The turbine 1 of the present embodiment includes a rotor 3 that rotates about a central axis C along the tidal currents T1 and T2, and a plurality of blades 4 that rotate the rotor 3 when receiving the tidal currents T1 and T2. Each blade 4 can tilt around the first axis a1 including the radial direction component of the rotor 3 so that the rotor 3 rotates in the same direction indicated by the arrow r even when receiving the tidal currents T1 and T2 opposite to each other. It is desirable to be supported by the rotor 3. The turbine 1 of the present embodiment further includes a stopper 5 that regulates the tilt position of each blade 4.

  The rotor 3 is preferably substantially cylindrical. The rotor 3 of the present embodiment has a radially outer outer surface 3a and a radially inner inner surface 3b. Such a rotor 3 has low resistance when rotating, and has good rotation efficiency.

  The rotor 3 of the present embodiment includes a plurality of support pins 3A that protrude radially outward from the outer surface 3a along the first axis a1. The support pins 3 </ b> A are desirably provided at substantially equal intervals along the circumferential direction of the rotor 3. Such a support pin 3A has a simple structure and high durability, and can support the blade 4 in a tiltable manner over a long period of time.

  In the blade 4 of the present embodiment, a blade support portion 4a is supported by a support pin 3A of the rotor 3 so as to be tiltable. The blade 4 is, for example, a plate member whose surfaces 4b and 4c that receive the tidal currents T1 and T2 are substantially rectangular. The blade support portion 4a preferably forms one side of the surfaces 4b and 4c that receive the tidal currents T1 and T2. Each blade 4 of the present embodiment further has a blade end 4d positioned in a direction orthogonal to the first axis a1 along the surfaces 4b and 4c that receive the tidal currents T1 and T2. The blade end portion 4d preferably constitutes one side of the surfaces 4b and 4c that receive the tidal currents T1 and T2.

  FIG. 2 is a side view of the turbine 1 when the tidal current T1 flows in the first direction t1. As shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of blades 4 are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotor 3. A plurality of blades 4 arranged in the circumferential direction constitute a blade row 6. The blade rows 6 are arranged in a plurality of rows along the axial direction of the rotor 3, two rows in this embodiment. Such a blade row 6 can efficiently transmit the energy of the tidal current T1 to the rotor 3. Note that the blade row 6 may be one row depending on the installation form of the turbine 1.

  The blade row 6 of this embodiment includes a first blade row 6A and a second blade row 6B. The blades 4 of the first blade row 6A and the blades 4 of the second blade row 6B are preferably arranged at positions that do not overlap in the circumferential direction of the rotor 3. Thus, in the pair of blade rows 6 adjacent to each other in the axial direction of the rotor 3, each blade 4 of each blade row 6 is arranged at a position that does not overlap in the circumferential direction of the rotor 3, whereby the energy of the tidal current T 1 is transferred to the rotor 3 can be transmitted efficiently.

  The stopper 5 of the present embodiment includes a first stopper 5A that restricts the blade 4 to the first position 4A when the tidal current T1 flows in the first direction t1 by applying resistance to the blade end 4d. For this reason, the blade 4 receives the tidal current T1 on the surface 4b that receives the tidal current T1, tilts toward the first position 4A, and gives resistance to the blade end 4d by the first stopper 5A. Regulated by

  FIG. 3 is a side view of the turbine 1 when the tidal current T2 of the present embodiment flows in the second direction t2. As shown in FIG. 3, the stopper 5 of the present embodiment applies resistance to the blade end 4 d so that the tidal current T <b> 2 flows in the second direction t <b> 2 opposite to the first direction t <b> 1. A second stopper 5B that restricts the second position 4B is included. For this reason, the blade 4 receives the tidal current T2 on the surface 4c that receives the tidal current T2, tilts to the second position 4B side, and gives resistance to the blade end 4d by the second stopper 5B, whereby the second position 4B. Regulated by

  The stopper 5 regulates the tilt angle θ of the blade 4 to be preferably 80 to 170 °, more preferably 90 to 150 °. For this reason, the angle formed between the first position 4A and the second position 4B of the blade 4 is preferably regulated to 80 to 170 °, more preferably 90 to 150 °. If the tilt angle θ of the blade 4 is smaller than 80 °, the energy of the tidal currents T1 and T2 may not be efficiently transmitted to the rotor 3. If the tilt angle θ of the blade 4 is larger than 170 °, the tilt time of the blade 4 becomes long, and the rotor 3 may not be efficiently rotated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the stopper 5 of the present embodiment is composed of, for example, a pair of stopper pins 5 </ b> C that protrude radially outward from the outer surface 3 a of the rotor 3. Such a stopper 5 can give resistance to the blade end portion 4d of the blade 4 with a simple structure, and can reliably restrict the tilting of the blade 4.

  The stopper pin 5 </ b> C of the present embodiment has a length in the protruding direction that is longer than the length of the blade end 4 d of the blade 4. Such a stopper pin 5 </ b> C can reliably regulate the tilting of the blade 4 regardless of the material of the blade 4. When the rigidity of the blade end portion 4d is high, the length of the stopper pin 5C in the protruding direction may be reduced to give resistance to a part of the blade end portion 4d.

  FIG. 4 is a side view showing the blade 4 and the stopper 5. As shown in FIG. 4, each blade 4 of the present embodiment is an elastic body. It is desirable that the blade 4 bends in a direction protruding toward the downstream side of the tidal current T1 by receiving the tidal current T1 and the resistance from the stopper 5. Such a blade 4 receives the tidal current T1 and can efficiently rotate the support pin 3A of the rotor 3 in the direction of the arrow r. Even when the blade 4 is curved, the tilt angle θ (shown in FIG. 3) of the blade 4 is regulated by the angle before the blade 4 is curved.

  The blade 4 of the present embodiment is formed of a material containing carbon fiber, for example, carbon fiber reinforced plastic. Such a blade 4 can achieve both an appropriate strength and an appropriate elasticity, and can reduce the weight of the blade 4. The blade 4 may be a material containing cellulose nanofibers, for example.

  In the stopper 5 of the present embodiment, the first stopper 5A and the second stopper 5B are each composed of one stopper pin 5C. Such a stopper 5 can be manufactured at low cost, and maintenance is easy, so that maintenance cost can be suppressed.

  In addition, each stopper pin 5C may be comprised so that it can protrude and retract from the outer surface 3a of the rotor 3, for example. In this case, it is desirable that the stopper 5 has a configuration in which the stopper pin 5C on the downstream side of the tidal currents T1 and T2 protrudes and the stopper pin 5C on the upstream side is buried. The stopper pin 5 </ b> C appears and disappears in conjunction with the tilting of the blade 4, for example. Such a stopper 5 can significantly reduce the rotational resistance of the rotor 3 and can rotate the rotor 3 efficiently.

  Further, although the blade 4 of the present embodiment is disposed radially outward from the outer surface 3 a of the rotor 3, the blade 4 may be disposed radially inward from the inner surface 3 b of the rotor 3. In this case, it is desirable that the stopper 5 protrudes radially inward from the inner surface 3 b of the rotor 3. Such a rotor 3 can flow tidal currents T1 and T2 inside thereof.

  FIG. 5 is a side view showing a blade 4 and a stopper 5 of another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, in the stopper 5 of this embodiment, the first stopper 5A and the second stopper 5B are respectively composed of two stopper pins 5D and 5E. Even if such a stopper 5 is a blade 4 made of a material having a small elastic modulus and is easily deformed, the blade 4 can be bent into a predetermined shape.

  The two stopper pins 5D and 5E include an outer stopper pin 5D disposed on the blade end 4d side of the blade 4 and an inner stopper pin 5E disposed on the support pin 3A side of the outer stopper pin 5D. Such an outer stopper pin 5 </ b> D can regulate the tilt angle θ (shown in FIG. 3) of the blade 4. Further, the inner stopper pin 5E can regulate the degree of bending of the blade 4.

  FIG. 6 is a side view showing a blade 7 and a stopper 8 of still another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the blade 7 of this embodiment also has a blade support portion 7 a supported by the support pin 3 </ b> A of the rotor 3 so as to be tiltable. The stopper 8 of this embodiment is composed of a string-like member 8A having one end attached to the outer surface 3a (shown in FIG. 1) of the rotor 3.

  The string-like member 8A is, for example, a wire rope. Such a stopper 8 can transmit the energy of the tidal current T1 to the rotor 3 efficiently because there is no element that disturbs the tidal current T1 upstream of the blade 7 in the tidal current T1. Further, the stopper 8 made of the string-like member 8A can reduce the rotational resistance of the rotor 3, and can efficiently rotate the rotor 3.

  The blade end portion 7b of the blade 7 of this embodiment has a fixing portion 7c to which the other end of the string-like member 8A is attached. The blade end portion 7b having the fixing portion 7c desirably has high rigidity. In such a blade 7, tilting of the blade 7 is restricted by the resistance applied to the fixing portion 7 c. Further, the blade end portion 7b can maintain the shape of the blade 7 without being deformed by the resistance applied to the fixing portion 7c. In this embodiment as well, the blade 7 may be curved in a direction protruding toward the downstream side of the tidal current T1.

  FIG. 7 is a side view showing a blade 7 and a stopper 8 of still another embodiment. As FIG. 7 shows, the string-like member 8B which is the stopper 8 of this embodiment is a chain. Such a stopper 8 has a small resistance applied to the blade 7 while the blade 7 is tilted, and the blade 7 can be tilted smoothly. In this embodiment as well, the blade 7 may be curved in a direction protruding toward the downstream side of the tidal current T1.

  FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a blade 9 and a stopper 10 of still another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, also in the blade 9 of this embodiment, the blade support portion 9 a is supported by the support pin 3 </ b> A of the rotor 3 so as to be tiltable. The stopper 10 of this embodiment is formed of a groove 10A formed in the rotor 3 and into which the blade end portion 9b is inserted. The groove 10A has, for example, a large groove width in the vicinity of the end face that restricts the tilting of the blade 9. Such a stopper 10 is capable of permitting the curving and restricting the magnitude of the curving even when the blade 9 is curled by the end face of the groove 10A.

  The blade 9 of this embodiment has a protruding portion 9A that is formed at the blade end portion 9b and abuts against the end surface of the groove 10A. The protrusion 9A has, for example, a columnar shape that protrudes from the blade end 9b toward the rotor 3 side. Such a protruding portion 9A of the blade 9 can smoothly move inside the groove 10A. Note that the protruding portion 9A may have a flange 9B for retaining it on the tip side.

  FIG. 9 is a side view showing a turbine 11 of another embodiment, and FIG. 10 is a front sectional view of the turbine 11. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the turbine 11 of this embodiment includes a rotor 12 that rotates about a central axis C along the tidal current T1, and a plurality of blades that rotate the rotor 12 when receiving the tidal current T1. 13 and so on. Each blade 13 is preferably supported by the rotor 3 so as to be tiltable. The turbine 11 of this embodiment further includes a stopper 14 that regulates the tilt position of each blade 13. In this embodiment, the blade 13 is configured as one blade row 15.

  The rotor 12 of this embodiment includes a plurality of support holes 12A penetrating from the outer surface 12a to the inner surface 12b. The blade 13 is preferably supported by the blade support portion 13a so as to be tiltable in the support hole 12A of the rotor 12. The blade 13 is preferably formed of an elastic body that can achieve both moderate strength and moderate elasticity. Such a blade 13 can be curved in a direction that is convex toward the downstream side of the tidal current T1.

  The blade support portion 13a of the blade 13 has a blade pin 13A that can be inserted into the support hole 12A of the rotor 12, for example. The blade 13 of this embodiment has a protruding portion 13B that protrudes from the blade end portion 13b toward the rotor 12 side. The blade pin 13A and the projection 13B are preferably connected by an arm 13C provided on the inner peripheral side of the rotor 12. Since the blade 13 has a configuration in which the blade pin 13A and the protruding portion 13B are firmly connected, the blade 13 itself may not have high strength. For this reason, the blade 13 may be formed from a cloth-like member, for example.

  The stopper 14 of this embodiment includes a string-like member 14 </ b> A having one end attached to the outer surface 12 a of the rotor 12 and a groove 12 </ b> B formed in the rotor 12. The other end of the string-like member 14A is preferably attached to a fixing portion 13c provided on the blade end portion 13b of the blade 13. The fixing portion 13c of this embodiment is located on the radially outer side of the blade end portion 13b. It is desirable to insert the protrusion 13B of the blade end 13b into the groove 12B.

  Such a stopper 14 can reliably regulate the tilting position of the blade 13 with the string-like member 14A and the end face of the groove 12B even when a large force of the tidal current T1 acts on the blade 13. Further, even when such a stopper 14 has a problem with one stopper 14 during use, the other stopper 14 can restrict the tilt position of the blade 13.

  FIG. 11 is a side view of the tidal power generation device 2 including the turbine 1, and FIG. 12 is a front view of the tidal power generation device 2. As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the tidal current power generation device 2 includes, for example, a turbine 1, at least one generator 16 connected to the turbine 1, and at least one turbine that supports the turbine 1 and the generator 16. And a support portion 17. The generator 16 of the present embodiment includes two generators 16. The turbine support part 17 of this embodiment and the two turbine support parts 17 are included. Such a tidal current power generation device 2 can continue the power generation with the other generator 16 even when a malfunction occurs in one of the generators 16.

  Each generator 16 of the present embodiment is coupled to both axial ends of the turbine 1. The generator 16 is preferably fixed to the inside of the turbine support portion 17 by a fixing portion (not shown). The generator 16 and the turbine 1 are not shown, but may be connected via a clutch, a speed governor, or the like.

  Each turbine support portion 17 of the present embodiment is disposed on both axial sides of the turbine 1. The turbine support portion 17 supports, for example, the turbine 1 via a bearing 18 and supports the generator 16 via a fixed portion (not shown). The turbine support 17 is preferably streamlined at the axial tip.

  The tidal current power generation apparatus 2 of the present embodiment further includes an outer portion 19 that guides the tidal currents T1 and T2 around the turbine 1. The outer portion 19 preferably includes an outer outer portion 19A having a substantially rectangular cross section orthogonal to the axial direction, and an inner outer portion 19B having a cross section orthogonal to the axial direction changing from a substantially rectangular shape to a substantially circular shape.

  The outer shell portion 19A has, for example, a substantially rectangular tube shape. The inner outer portion 19B is preferably inserted on the inner peripheral side of the outer outer portion 19A. The inner shell portion 19B preferably includes a central portion 19a that is located around the turbine 1 and has a substantially circular cross section orthogonal to the axial direction, and an intermediate portion 19b that is connected from the central portion 19a to the outer outer portion 19A. .

  The central portion 19a is, for example, a substantially cylindrical shape. In the intermediate portion 19b, for example, the cross-sectional area of the cross section orthogonal to the axial direction gradually decreases from the contact point with the outer outer portion 19A to the central portion 19a, and the cross-sectional shape changes from a substantially rectangular shape to a substantially circular shape. . Such an outer portion 19 can efficiently guide the tidal currents T <b> 1 and T <b> 2 around the turbine 1.

  A space 20 is formed between the outer outer portion 19A and the inner outer portion 19B of the present embodiment. The space 20 preferably includes an upper first space 20A and a lower second space 20B. For example, air is injected into the first space 20 </ b> A when the tidal power generation device 2 is levitated and transported, and seawater is injected when the tidal power generator 2 is subsidized. For example, a weight 20a is injected into the second space 20B. As for the weight 20a, what has a larger specific gravity than seawater like sand is desirable, for example. Such a space 20 can maintain the vertical direction of the tidal current power generation device 2 when the tidal current power generation device 2 is sunk to the seabed.

  It is desirable that an air tank 21 for sealing compressed air is provided above the outer portion 19. By supplying the air in the air tank 21 to the first space 20A, the seawater in the first space 20A is discharged, and the tidal current power generation device 2 can be easily levitated. For this reason, the tidal current power generation device 2 can be easily pulled up to the sea, and is excellent in maintenance performance. Note that the tidal current power generation device 2 may be levitated by, for example, developing a floating balloon (not shown) with air in the air tank 21.

  The turbine support part 17 and the outer shell part 19 of this embodiment are connected to a base 22 provided on the seabed. The base 22 preferably has anchors 23 on the upstream side and the downstream side of the tidal currents T1 and T2, respectively. The tidal current power generation device 2 including such a base 22 is merely submerged to the bottom of the sea, and is not moved by the tidal currents T1 and T2.

  As mentioned above, although the especially preferable embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail, this invention is not limited to embodiment of illustration, It can deform | transform and implement in a various aspect.

3 Rotor 4 Blade 4d Blade end 4A First position 4B Second position 5 Stopper

Claims (6)

A turbine for a tidal current generator,
A rotor that rotates about the central axis along the tide, the tide in a first axis including a radial component of the rotor to rotate the rotor in the same direction even when receiving the power flow in the reverse direction to each other includes a plurality of blades that are supported tiltably said rotor receiving with, and a stopper for restricting the tilting position of said each blade,
Each of the blades has a blade end located in a direction perpendicular to the first axis along the surface receiving the tidal current;
The stopper applies resistance to the blade end portion to restrict the blade to the first position when the tidal current flows in the first direction, and the tidal current is a second direction opposite to the first direction. A turbine that regulates the blade to a second position when flowing in a direction.   2. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein each of the blades is an elastic body, and is curved in a convex direction toward the downstream side of the tidal current by receiving the tidal current and the resistance from the stopper.   The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is a pair of stopper pins protruding from the rotor. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the stopper is formed by a groove formed in the rotor and into which the blade end portion is inserted . The turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the stopper regulates the tilt angle of the blade to be 80 to 170 degrees. A turbine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, tidal power generation device comprising at least one generator coupled to the turbine.

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