JP6561548B2 - Underwater power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention is an underwater power generation device that is moored at a predetermined depth in the sea and generates power using ocean currents.In particular, the depth is set to a target depth when the depth changes up and down during operation at a fixed depth. The present invention relates to an underwater power generation device that enables automatic depth adjustment.

  Technologies for generating electricity using natural energy have been developed so far. Among them, there is a technology to generate electricity using the current of the ocean current.

  This underwater power generation technology makes it possible to stably generate power in water by converting the current of ocean currents into rotational energy of turbine blades and is expected to be realized.

  As one type of this underwater power generation technology, there is a so-called floating body type in which a power generation device is moored on a seabed via a mooring cable and held at a certain depth. This underwater power generation device does not always float on the sea surface, but it floats from the bottom of the sea, so it will be called a floating body type.

  A floating-type underwater power generation device basically has a structure in which a power generation device in which turbine blades are attached to a floating structure in which a generator is installed is moored on the sea floor via a mooring line and held at a predetermined depth. It is said that. Power generation is performed by rotating turbine blades while receiving water pressure due to ocean currents.

  In the case of such a floating body type underwater power generation apparatus, since it is necessary to float on the sea surface during maintenance, a mooring line having a length corresponding to the water depth is used. On the other hand, during operation, it is necessary to keep the power generator moored by such a long mooring line in a floating state at a certain target depth (set depth). It is necessary to control the balance between gravity and buoyancy of the power generation device against the working drag.

  However, the strength of the ocean current is not constant even at the constant depth. Therefore, when the strength of the ocean current at the set depth increases while the underwater power generator is in operation, the power generator is pushed down below the set depth by the drag acting on the turbine blades. On the other hand, when the strength of the ocean current at the set depth becomes weak, the power generation device floats above the set depth due to the superior buoyancy of the underwater power generation device.

  In this way, the underwater power generator in operation changes the depth above and below the set depth due to the change in the strength of the ocean current due to the drag acting on the turbine blades.In this case, the changed current depth of the underwater power generator It is considered necessary to maintain within a certain depth range for stable power generation. If the underwater power generation device can be controlled to the set depth, it is easy to maintain the submersible power generation device within a certain depth range. Therefore, the case where the underwater power generation device is controlled to the set depth will be described below.

  A device that can adjust the depth of the underwater power generation device has been proposed as a device that can follow such a concept.

  For example, a hydrofoil equipped with a ballast tank for buoyancy adjustment is equipped with a central section at the center, and a pitch adjustment stabilizer is attached to this central section, and the lift of the hydrofoil is adjusted by the pitch adjustment stabilizer. I can do it. A generator is liquid-tightly attached to both ends of the hydrofoil, and a turbine blade is connected to the generator. In addition, both ends of the hydrofoil and the center section are fixed to the seabed via separate mooring lines (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, when a power generator is connected to the control strut moored with a plurality of strut control mooring cables with respect to the current of the ocean current and the depth of the power generator is adjusted, one or a plurality of strut control moorings Some cable lengths are changed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 4920823 Japanese Patent No. 5189647

  However, since the adjustment described in Patent Document 1 is a combination of adjustment of buoyancy by a ballast tank and adjustment of lift of a hydrofoil by a stabilizer, there is a problem in responsiveness of depth adjustment. There is.

  Moreover, although what was described in patent document 2 changes the length of several support | pillar control mooring cables, it adjusts the depth of a power generator in water by changing the length of a mooring cable. Therefore, there is a problem in reliability and responsiveness of depth adjustment.

  Therefore, the present invention is intended to provide an underwater power generation device that improves the responsiveness of adjustment to a target depth when the depth is changed from the set depth to the upper or lower direction during operation. is there.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention includes a turbine blade and a generator that generates electric power by the rotation of the turbine blade, and is attached to a mooring line on the seabed so that the axis of the turbine blade faces the downstream side of the ocean current flow. The floating structure to be moored, the one buoyancy adjusting device provided in the floating structure, and the one provided with the one buoyancy adjusting device of the floating structure. or to reduce the buoyancy than buoyancy of the buoyancy device, and the other buoyancy devices wherein by increasing the buoyancy Conversely floating construction a is tilted serves as tilting kinematic mechanism that toward the turbine blade in the vertical direction A control device that gives a command to the other buoyancy adjusting device to tilt the floating structure when there is a difference between the current depth value measured during operation and the set depth value that is set. An underwater power generator .

A first floating structure having a turbine blade and a generator for generating electric power by the rotation of the turbine blade, the axis of the turbine blade being directed to the downstream side of the ocean current flow; And a second floating structure that is moored by a mooring line on the sea floor, and is interposed between the upper surface on the other end side of the base of the second floating structure and the first floating structure. A tilting mechanism comprising a support column and a hydraulic cylinder device for tilting the first floating body structure with the upper end of the support column as a fulcrum so that the turbine blades are directed in the vertical direction; and measured during operation An underwater power generation comprising: a control device that gives a command to the hydraulic cylinder device of the tilting mechanism to tilt the first floating structure when there is a difference between the current depth value and the set depth value that has been set A device .

According to the underwater power generation device of the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.
(1) The depth adjustment is performed by tilting the floating structure to which the turbine blades are attached so as to face the downstream side of the ocean current flow and controlling the pitch angle of the turbine blades in the vertical direction. The floating structure can be immediately raised or lowered by the vertical component acting on the turbine blades when working, and at this time, the amount of buoyancy adjustment can be reduced by the amount of the vertical component.
(2) According to the above (1), the responsiveness of the depth adjustment can be greatly improved and the depth adjustment can be performed quickly compared to the case where the depth is adjusted by buoyancy adjustment while the floating structure is in a horizontal state. Can be made.

The outline | summary of the underwater electric power generating apparatus of 1st Embodiment is shown, and it is a schematic side view of the state to which the depth currently hold | maintained changed. FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 1. It is a schematic side view which shows an example when adjusting to the original setting depth, when the depth of an underwater power generation device will be in the state shifted | deviated from the setting depth as shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a control block diagram for performing depth adjustment as shown in FIG. 3. The outline | summary of the underwater electric power generating apparatus of 2nd Embodiment is shown, and it is a schematic side view of the state to which the depth currently hold | maintained changed. FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating an example when the underwater power generation apparatus is adjusted to the original set depth when the underwater power generation device is shifted from the set depth as in the case of FIG. 3. It is a control block diagram for performing depth adjustment as shown in FIG.

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

[First Embodiment]
1 to 4 show an outline of the underwater power generator according to the first embodiment.

  The underwater power generation apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is configured to moor a floating structure 2 including buoyancy adjusting apparatuses 3 and 4 via a mooring line 5.

  The floating structure 2 has a rectangular planar shape. The floating structure 2 is provided with buoyancy adjusting devices 3 and 4 at two locations on the front end side where the mooring line 5 is attached and the rear end side opposite to the mooring line 5. The buoyancy can be adjusted by injection and discharge. In addition to the above, the buoyancy adjusting device may be provided at the center portion and the left and right side portions of the floating structure 2. The front end side of the floating structure 2 is located upstream of the flow of the ocean current 11, and the rear end side of the floating structure 2 is located downstream of the flow of the ocean current 11.

  A turbine 7 and a generator 8 are installed on the left and right side portions on the rear end side of the floating structure 2. Two turbine blades 10 are attached to each turbine 7 via a turbine shaft 9 so as to rotate in reverse so as to rotate in reverse, and the two turbine blades 10 rotate by receiving the water pressure of the ocean current 11 to rotate the turbine. 7 is driven, and the generator 8 can generate power.

  A turbine shaft 9 having a turbine blade 10 attached to one end is inserted into a through hole 12 on the rear end surface of the floating structure 2. A seal member (not shown) is attached to the through hole 12 on the rear end surface of the floating structure 2 so that the turbine shaft 9 can be sealed and rotated.

  The buoyancy adjusting device 4 is configured to function as a tilting mechanism that performs a pitching operation by vertically displacing the rear end side of the floating structure 2. Therefore, as described above, the buoyancy adjusting device 4 can adjust the buoyancy separately from the buoyancy adjusting device 3 on the front end side of the floating structure 2. Thereby, with respect to the buoyancy adjustment device 4, when the buoyancy is made smaller than that of the buoyancy adjustment device 3 by injection of ballast water, the floating body structure 2 is tilted so that the rear end side is directed downward. Has been. On the contrary, when the ballast water is discharged to the buoyancy adjusting device 4 and the buoyancy is increased as compared with the buoyancy adjusting device 3, the floating structure 2 is tilted so that the rear end side is upward. It is configured.

  The tilting of the floating structure 2 in the vertical direction is controlled based on a command c from the control device 13.

  Therefore, as shown in an example in FIG. 2, a control device 13 and a depth meter 14 are attached to the floating structure 2 so that the current depth value b from the depth meter 14 is input to the control device 13. It has become.

  The control device 13 is given a set value (set depth value) a of a target fixed depth (set depth). Therefore, if there is a difference between the current depth value b that is always input and the set depth value a that is set, the control device 13 buoyancy adjustment device 4 when necessary to adjust the current depth to the set depth. A command c for adjusting the buoyancy is sent separately to 3 and 3.

  In FIG. 4, the control for sending the buoyancy adjustment command c from the control device 13 to the buoyancy adjustment device 3 is performed when the underwater power generation device 1 is set to the initial set depth and when the underwater power generation device 1 described later is used. This is performed when the floating structure 2 is changed from the tilting posture to the horizontal posture when the depth is adjusted during operation.

  Moreover, in FIG. 2, the attachment position to the floating structure 2 of the control apparatus 13 and the depth meter 14 shows an example, and you may make it attach in places other than the illustrated position.

  Reference numeral 15 denotes a fixing point of the mooring line 5 to the seabed 6.

  Since the underwater power generation device 1 of the present embodiment is configured as described above, when the operation is performed, first, the underwater power generation device 1 is shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 defined as an initial position for starting operation. Set to the set depth and hold the mooring.

  This operation is performed when the underwater power generation device 1 is adjusted to a position near the set depth indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, based on the depth measurement by the depth meter 14 and the command from the control device 13. Using 3 and 4, finely adjust the depth of the floating structure 2 to the set depth. In this fine adjustment, the current depth value b measured by the depth meter 14 is input to the control device 13, and the input current depth value b is compared with the set depth value a in the control device 13. As a result, it is performed when there is a difference between the current depth value b and the set depth value a. That is, if there is a difference between the current depth value b and the set depth value a, fine adjustment of buoyancy adjustment by the buoyancy adjustment devices 3 and 4 is performed until the current depth value b matches the set depth value a.

  In the present embodiment, the position of the underwater power generation device 1 indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 is set as the set depth to be initially set, and the operation is performed while maintaining the set depth. Here, the set depth is a target depth, which means a depth that is determined to be a depth at which stable and efficient power generation is performed by keeping the depth constant and operating. . Specifically, the set depth is determined based on a depth at which a stable flow velocity of the ocean current 11 can be obtained over a long period of time, a depth at which the ocean current 11 has the fastest velocity, or the like. If the underwater power generation device 1 can be controlled to the set depth, it is easy to maintain the underwater power generation device 1 in a certain depth range as described above. The underwater power generation device 1 may be damaged when it collides with the seabed. When the underwater power generation device 1 approaches the sea surface, the underwater power generation device 1 is affected by a collision with a ship or a wave or a wave. Is preferred.

  When the underwater power generation device 1 of the present embodiment is in a state where it is held at the set depth indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1, the operation is started.

  In the underwater power generation device 1 of the present invention, the front end side of the floating structure 2 is located on the upstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11, and the turbine blade 10 is located on the downstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11. Since it faces, the drag acts on the front end face of the floating structure 2 and the turbine blade 10, but the drag acting on the turbine blade 10 is the largest. However, if the flow of the ocean current 11 is constant, the underwater power generation apparatus 1 is set to the initial set depth by balancing the drag, the gravity of the floating structure 2 and the entire buoyancy including the buoyancy adjusting devices 3 and 4. Retained.

  The operation of the underwater power generator 1 is performed by the turbine blade 10 rotating while receiving water pressure from the ocean current 11 flowing from the front side of the floating structure 2 to the downstream side along the floating structure 2.

  Each turbine blade 10 is connected to the turbine 7 via the turbine shaft 9, and the turbine 7 is connected to the generator 8. Therefore, when each turbine blade 10 rotates while receiving the water pressure, the generator 8 generates power. Will be done.

  If the underwater power generation device 1 is maintained at the initial set depth indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1, the operation may be continued in that state.

  However, the underwater power generation device 1 may be moved to a depth different from the set depth during operation (in operation).

  The reason why the depth of the underwater power generation device 1 can be moved during operation is that the flow of the ocean current 11 is not constant.

  For example, when the flow of the ocean current 11 is intense and the flow velocity becomes high, the underwater power generation device 1 is moved to a depth as shown by a one-dot chain line in FIG. 1 due to the drag acting on the turbine blades 10 of the underwater power generation device 1. .

  On the other hand, when the flow of the ocean current 11 becomes weak and the flow velocity becomes slow, the overall buoyancy including the buoyancy adjusting devices 3 and 4 is superior to the drag acting on the turbine blade 10 of the underwater power generation device 1. Thus, the underwater power generation device 1 is moved to a depth as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG.

  As described above, when the underwater power generation device 1 changes the depth upward or downward during operation, the depth adjustment for returning to the original depth is performed in order to improve the power generation capacity.

  The operation will be described in two cases.

(I) First, the case of returning to the set depth indicated by the solid line from the floated position as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 will be described.

  In the underwater power generation device 1 of this embodiment, the depth meter 14 measures the depth at the position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The measured current depth value b is input to the control device 13 as shown in FIG. Since the set depth value a is set in the control device 13, the current depth value b input to the control device 13 is compared with the set depth value a. As a result of the comparison, when the current depth value b and the set depth value a have a difference, the control device 13 adjusts the buoyancy adjustment so that the buoyancy adjustment device 4 adjusts the buoyancy reduction according to the difference. A command c for adjusting the buoyancy is sent to the device 4. As a result, when the buoyancy of the buoyancy adjustment device 4 becomes smaller than the buoyancy of the buoyancy adjustment device 3, the underwater power generation device 1 is lowered at the rear end side, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The side is tilted downwards at a low angle. Along with this, the turbine shaft 9 is tilted downward at the rear end side at the same time, and the turbine blade 10 facing the downstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11 rather than the floating structure 2 is controlled so that the pitch angle is downward. become.

  In this state, a downward vertical component acts on the turbine blade 10 when the flow of the ocean current 11 acts on the turbine blade 10 controlled to be inclined downward in the underwater power generation device 1. Due to the downward vertical component acting on the turbine blade 10, the underwater power generation device 1 can easily move downward while maintaining the posture shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3. At this time, there is an advantage that the buoyancy adjustment amount by the buoyancy adjustment device 4 can be reduced by the amount of the downward vertical component acting on the turbine blade 10. Thereby, there is an advantage that the amount of adjustment of the necessary buoyancy can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the depth adjustment of the underwater power generation device is performed in a horizontal state only by the buoyancy adjustment of the buoyancy adjustment device.

  In this way, when the underwater power generation device 1 descends around the fixing point 15 to the seabed 6 of the mooring line 5, when the rear end side of the floating structure 2 is lowered to the set depth, the floating structure 2 is It adjusts to a horizontal state and it is made to return to the position shown with each continuous line of FIG.1 and FIG.3. For this adjustment, the buoyancy adjustment of the buoyancy adjustment device 3 and the buoyancy adjustment device 4 of the floating structure 2 may be performed by a command c from the control device 13 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14. Since the floating structure 2 includes the two buoyancy adjusting devices 3 and 4, the depth and the pitch angle can be easily controlled.

  Thus, in this embodiment, when adjusting the depth of the underwater power generation device 1 from the depth indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 to the set depth indicated by the solid line, the rear end of the floating structure 2 where the turbine blade 10 is located. Since the side is tilted downward and lowered, there is an advantage that the buoyancy can be reduced and the responsiveness of depth adjustment can be improved.

(II) Next, the case of returning from the depth position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line to the set depth indicated by the solid line will be described.

  In the underwater power generation device 1 of the present embodiment, the depth meter 14 measures the depth at the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. The measured current depth value b is input to the control device 13 as shown in FIG. Since the set depth value a is set in the control device 13, the current depth value b input to the control device 13 is compared with the set depth value a. As a result of the comparison, when the current depth value b and the set depth value a have a difference, the buoyancy adjustment device 4 is adjusted so that the buoyancy adjustment device 4 adjusts the buoyancy increase according to the difference. The control device 13 sends a command c for adjusting the buoyancy. Thereby, when the buoyancy of the buoyancy adjustment device 4 becomes larger than the buoyancy of the buoyancy adjustment device 3, the underwater power generation device 1 tilts with the rear end side being lifted obliquely upward. Accordingly, the turbine shaft 9 is tilted obliquely upward at the rear end side at the same time, and the pitch angle of the turbine blade 10 facing the downstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11 is controlled upward.

  If it will be in this state, when the flow of the ocean current 11 acts on the turbine blade 10 controlled diagonally upward in the underwater power generation device 1 of the present embodiment, an upward vertical component acts on the turbine blade 10. Due to the upward vertical component acting on the turbine blade 10, the underwater power generation device 1 can easily move upward. At this time, there is an advantage that the buoyancy adjustment amount by the buoyancy adjustment device 4 can be reduced by the upward vertical component acting on the turbine blade 10. Thereby, there is an advantage that the amount of adjustment of the necessary buoyancy can be significantly reduced as compared with the case where the depth adjustment is performed while the underwater power generation device is in the horizontal state only by the buoyancy adjustment of the buoyancy adjustment device.

  In this way, the underwater power generation device 1 rises from the depth indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 1 in the tilted posture as described above, so that the rear end side of the floating structure 2 reaches the set depth indicated by the solid line in FIG. When raised, the floating structure 2 is adjusted to a horizontal state and returned to the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. For this adjustment, the buoyancy adjustment of the buoyancy adjustment device 3 and the buoyancy adjustment device 4 of the floating structure 2 may be performed by a command c from the control device 13 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14.

  As described above, regarding the underwater power generation device 1 according to the present embodiment, when the depth change occurs while the underwater power generation device 1 is operating at the set depth, the case has been described in which the original set depth is returned to operate at a fixed location. However, the present invention is not limited to this.

  For example, the underwater power generation device 1 is held at a place where the flow velocity of the ocean current 11 is the fastest, and when the flow velocity of the ocean current 11 changes during operation, the underwater power generation device 1 is set to a depth where the flow velocity of the ocean current 11 is the fastest. It can also be adjusted to obtain maximum power generation.

  In this case, in the underwater power generation device 1, the float structure 2 is provided with a current meter.

  As the anemometer, for example, an ultrasonic multilayer flow direction anemometer (ADCP) is used.

  When installed in water, the underwater power generation apparatus 1 to which such an ultrasonic multilayer flow direction anemometer (ADCP) is installed underwater measures the flow velocity distribution of the ocean current in the depth direction in the sea area, and determines the depth of a region where the flow velocity is intense (fast). Try to ask.

  However, depending on the sea area, the current flow velocity may change from moment to moment.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, the underwater power generation apparatus 1 is always moved to the depth where the current velocity of the ocean current is fast, and is operated by measuring the current velocity with the current meter as described above.

  In this case, when the depth at which the flow velocity of the ocean current is the fastest is in a region deeper than the depth of the currently operating underwater power generation device 1, the underwater power generation device 1 is lowered.

  On the other hand, when the depth where the flow velocity of the ocean current is the fastest is in a region shallower than the depth of the currently operating underwater power generation device 1, the underwater power generation device 1 is raised.

  The depth adjustment of the descent or rise of the underwater power generation device 1 is performed in the same manner as described above.

  That is, when lowering the operating underwater power generation device 1, the same operation as in the above (I) may be performed. Moreover, what is necessary is just to perform operation similar to said (II), when raising the underwater electric power generating apparatus 1 in operation.

  As a result, the underwater power generation apparatus 1 can be adjusted to a place where the flow velocity of the ocean current is the fastest with a small amount of adjustment of buoyancy and good responsiveness as in the case of the above embodiment. In addition, the amount of power generation can be maximized by moving the underwater power generation apparatus 1 to the place where the flow velocity of the ocean current is the fastest.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, FIG. 5 thru | or FIG. 8 shows the outline | summary of the underwater electric power generating apparatus of 2nd Embodiment.

  The underwater power generation device 1a in the present embodiment is a floating structure corresponding to the floating structure 2 in the first embodiment. The first floating structure 16 provided with the buoyancy adjusting device 18, the second floating structure 17 provided with the buoyancy adjusting device 20 on one end side (front end side) of the base 21, and the second floating structure. 17 includes a tilting mechanism 19 that tilts the first floating structure 16 in the vertical direction on the rear end side. Here, the front end side means the upstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11, and the rear end side means the downstream side of the flow of the ocean current 11.

  In the first floating body structure 16, the buoyancy adjusting device 18, the turbine 7, and the generator 8 are housed and installed in a case 23 having a sealed structure. The turbine 7 and the generator 8 are connected and installed on the left and right ends of the case 23. Each turbine 7 is connected to a turbine shaft 9 having a turbine blade 10 attached to the rotor at the end, and is attached at a reverse pitch so that each turbine blade 10 rotates in the reverse direction. The relationship between each turbine shaft 9 and the rear end face of the case 23 is the same as that of the floating structure 2 shown in FIG.

  In the second floating structure 17, the buoyancy adjusting device 20 is disposed on the upper surface on the front end side of the plate-shaped pedestal 21, for example, at the center portion and the left and right ends as shown in FIG. It is the structure covered with. A mooring line 5 is attached to the front end side of the base 21.

  The tilting mechanism 19 includes a support column 24 and a hydraulic cylinder device 25. The support column 24 is planted on the upper surface of the rear end side of the base 21 of the second floating structure 17, and the upper end portion is coupled to the lower surface of the rear end side of the case 23 by a hinge 24 a so as to rotate in the vertical direction. It can be moved.

  The hydraulic cylinder device 25 is interposed at a plurality of locations (showing two locations in FIG. 6) between the upper surface of the central portion of the base 21 of the second floating structure 17 and the front end side of the case 23. Each hydraulic cylinder device 25 is extended from the state shown in FIG. 5 so that the rear end side of the first floating structure 16 is inclined obliquely downward about the hinge 24a. When each hydraulic cylinder device 25 is shortened from the state shown in FIG. 5, the rear end side of the first floating structure 16 is tilted obliquely upward about the hinge 24a.

  Other configurations are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  When using the underwater power generation device 1 of this embodiment, similarly to the case of the first embodiment, a target depth is initially set as a set depth, and the underwater power generation device 1a is held at this set depth.

  When adjusting the depth of the underwater power generation device 1a, the hydraulic cylinder device 25 is expanded and contracted to tilt the first floating structure 16 in the vertical direction and tilt the turbine shaft 9 in the vertical direction. .

  In the above, when the depth of the underwater power generation device 1a is changed, when the power generation is always performed at a constant depth by returning the depth of the underwater power generation device 1a to the original depth, for example, the second floating structure 17 The current depth value b measured by the depth meter 14 attached to (see FIG. 8) is input to the control device 13 provided in the second floating structure 17, for example. Since the set depth value a for generating power at a constant depth is set in the control device 13, the set depth value a and the current depth value b from the depth meter 14 are compared. If there is a difference as a result of the comparison, an extension operation or shortening operation instruction d is sent from the control device 13 to the hydraulic cylinder device 25 so that the difference is eliminated.

  Now, when the current depth of the underwater power generation device 1a is higher than the set depth, an extension operation command d is given from the control device 13 to the hydraulic cylinder device 25 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14. . Accordingly, since the hydraulic cylinder device 25 is extended from the state of FIG. 5, the first floating structure 16 tilts obliquely downward on the rear end side around the hinge 24 a as shown in FIG. 7. Accordingly, the rear end side of the turbine shaft 9 tilts downward, and the pitch angle of the turbine blade 10 is controlled downward. Thereafter, similar to the case shown in FIG. 3 in the first embodiment, the same operation as the above (I) is automatically performed, and the underwater power generation device 1a can be rapidly lowered.

  In this way, when the underwater power generation device 1a descends around the fixed point 15 of the mooring line 5 to the seabed 6, the first floating body structure 16 descends to the set depth. The floating structure 16 is adjusted to a horizontal state. This adjustment may be performed by sending a shortening operation command d from the control device 13 to the hydraulic cylinder device 25 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14.

  Contrary to the above, when the current depth of the underwater power generation device 1a is below the set depth, the control device 13 sends a shortening operation command d to the hydraulic cylinder device 25 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14. Is given. As a result, the hydraulic cylinder device 25 is shortened from the state shown in FIG. 5, and the first floating body structure 16 tilts the rear end side obliquely upward about the hinge 24a. Accordingly, the rear end side of the turbine shaft 9 is tilted upward, and the pitch angle of the turbine blade 10 is controlled upward. Thereafter, the same operation as (II) in the first embodiment is automatically performed, and the underwater power generation device 1a can rapidly rise.

  In this way, when the underwater power generation device 1a rises and the rear end side of the first floating structure 16 rises to the set depth, the first floating structure 16 is then adjusted to a horizontal state. This adjustment may be performed by sending an extension operation command d from the control device 13 to the hydraulic cylinder device 25 based on the current depth value b from the depth meter 14.

  Moreover, the depth of the underwater power generation device 1a can always be adjusted to the depth where the flow velocity of the ocean current is the fastest. In this case, for example, a flow velocity meter such as an ultrasonic multilayer flow direction flow velocity meter (ADCP) similar to that described above may be attached to the second floating structure 17 and the same operation as described above may be performed. In this case, when adjusting by lowering or raising the depth based on the signal from the anemometer, the hydraulic cylinder device 25 is extended and contracted by a command from the control device 13 as in the case shown in FIG. Or it may be shortened.

  Thereby, also by this embodiment, there can exist an effect similar to the case of 1st Embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the depth adjustment is performed by actively operating the hydraulic cylinder device 25 and controlling the pitch angle of the turbine blade 10, so that the depth adjustment operation can be performed easily and quickly. There is an advantage that can be surely performed.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the mooring line is shown as being moored by one mooring line 5. 5 may be two or more. Further, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 shows an example, and is not limited to the illustrated configuration. The support column 24 and the hydraulic cylinder device 25 may be installed opposite to each other. Alternatively, the number, installation location, and the like of the buoyancy adjusting device 20 to the second floating structure 17 may be determined according to the size of the buoyancy adjusting device 20. Further, in FIGS. 2 and 6, the case where the turbine blade 10 is two and the twin-engine type is shown, but the size of the floating body structure 2 and the first and second floating body structures 16 and 17 are changed, It is arbitrary to use one turbine blade 10 or three or more turbine blades.

  Of course, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

1, 1a Underwater power generation device, 2 Floating structure, 3 Buoyancy adjustment device, 4 Buoyancy adjustment device (tilting mechanism), 5 Mooring line, 8 Generator, 9 Turbine shaft (shaft), 10 Turbine blade, 11 Current, 13 Control Device, 16 first floating structure (floating structure), 17 second floating structure (floating structure), 19 tilting mechanism, 24 support column, 24a hinge, 25 hydraulic cylinder device, a set depth value, b Current depth value, c command, d command

Claims (2)

A floating structure that includes a turbine blade and a generator that generates electric power by rotation of the turbine blade, and is moored by a mooring line on the seabed so that the axis of the turbine blade faces the downstream side of the flow of the ocean current;
One buoyancy adjustment device provided in the floating structure ;
The floating body is provided at a location different from the location where the one buoyancy adjusting device of the floating structure is provided, and the buoyancy is made smaller than the buoyancy of the one buoyancy adjusting device or vice versa. and other buoyancy device functioning as tilting kinematic mechanism that toward the turbine blade in the vertical direction structure is tilted,
A control device that gives a command to the other buoyancy adjustment device to tilt the floating structure when there is a difference between the current depth value measured during operation and the set depth value that has been set An underwater power generator characterized by this. A first floating structure including a turbine blade and a generator configured to generate electric power by rotation of the turbine blade, the shaft of the turbine blade being directed to the downstream side of the ocean current flow;
A second floating structure provided at one end of the pedestal and moored by a mooring line on the sea floor;
A support column interposed between the upper surface on the other end side of the pedestal of the second floating structure and the first floating structure, and tilting the first floating structure with the upper end of the support column as a fulcrum a tilt mechanism comprising a hydraulic cylinder device is allowed to direct the turbine blade in the vertical direction,
A control device that gives a command to the hydraulic cylinder device of the tilt mechanism to tilt the first floating structure when there is a difference between the current depth value measured during operation and the set depth value that has been set And an underwater power generation device.

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