JP7347220B2 - Mooring structure of underwater floating water current power generation device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device.

2. Description of the Related Art Technologies related to underwater floating water current power generation are known. In underwater floating water current power generation, electricity is generated by rotating a turbine supported by a floating body suspended in water by a water current such as an ocean current. The floating body must be placed in a predetermined position in the water. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an underwater floating water current power generation system that includes a plurality of first mooring lines, a second mooring line, and a floating body.

In the underwater floating water current power generation system of Patent Document 1, one end of the plurality of first mooring lines is fixed to a position apart from each other on the seabed, the other end is bundled into one at a certain depth, and the plurality of first mooring lines are tied together at a certain depth. connected to one end. The floating body is connected to the other end of the second mooring line. Regardless of the direction of the ocean current, one of the multiple first mooring ropes on the upstream side of the ocean current will be under tension, and the other first mooring ropes will be in a relaxed state. . Regardless of the direction of the ocean current, the floating body is moored by one tensioned first mooring line and a second mooring line connected to the first mooring line.

Patent No. 6230838

By the way, in the underwater floating type water current power generation as described above, it is necessary to prevent the floating body from coming close to a ship navigating on the water surface due to unexpected surfacing of the floating body. On the other hand, in underwater floating water current power generation, it is desired that the floating body be easily levitated when it is necessary to levitate the floating body for maintenance or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device that can easily levitate a floating body when necessary while preventing the floating body from surfacing unexpectedly.

One form of the present invention is a mooring structure for a submersible floating water current power generation device that moores a floating body of the submersible floating water current power generation device to the bottom of the water, the mooring structure including a main support installed on the bottom of the water, and one end connected to the main support. The main mooring line is connected to the floating body at the other end, and the main mooring line is installed on the bottom of the water and pulls the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body to prevent the floating body from surfacing, and the release is to allow the floating body to rise. This is a mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device equipped with an auxiliary support that can switch between states.

According to this configuration, in the mooring structure of a submersible floating water current power generation device that moores a floating body of the submersible floating water current power generation device on the water bottom, one end is connected to the main support and the other end is connected to the main support tool installed on the water bottom. In addition to the main mooring line whose end is connected to the floating body, there is a traction state in which the floating body is restrained from surfacing by pulling the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body, which is installed on the bottom of the water, and a release state that allows the floating body to float to the surface. The device further includes an auxiliary support that can switch between states. Therefore, while preventing unexpected levitation of the floating body due to the towed state, the floating body can be easily levitated by setting the floating body to the released state when necessary.

In this case, in the towed state, the auxiliary support pulls the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body by applying magnetic force between the floating body and the auxiliary support, and in the released state, the auxiliary support pulls the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body. The floating body may be allowed to levitate by not applying magnetic force between them.

According to this configuration, in the towed state, by applying a magnetic force between the floating body and the auxiliary support, the auxiliary support pulls the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body, and in the released state, the floating body and the auxiliary support Since the floating body is allowed to levitate by not applying magnetic force between the floating body and the tool, it is possible to easily switch between the towed state and the released state with a simple configuration.

In this case, the floating body may include an electromagnet that generates magnetic force, and the auxiliary support may include a ferromagnetic body that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet.

According to this configuration, the floating body has an electromagnet that generates magnetic force, and the auxiliary support has a ferromagnetic material that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet, so the configuration of the auxiliary support installed on the bottom of the water can be simplified. can do.

Further, the auxiliary support may include an electromagnet that generates magnetic force, and the floating body may include a ferromagnetic body that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet.

According to this configuration, the auxiliary support has an electromagnet that generates magnetic force, and the floating body has a ferromagnetic material that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet. Even when it is impossible to generate magnetic force using the electromagnets in the auxiliary support, unexpected levitation of the floating body can be prevented by pulling the ferromagnetic material of the floating body using the magnetic force of the electromagnet of the auxiliary support.

Further, a plurality of auxiliary supports may be provided around the main support.

According to this configuration, since the plurality of auxiliary supports are provided around the main support, the auxiliary support located downstream of the main support among the plurality of auxiliary supports can be adjusted according to the change in the direction of the water flow. By having the floating body pulled by the device, it is possible to respond to changes in the direction of the water flow.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the floating body can be easily levitated when necessary while preventing the floating body from levitating unexpectedly.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a mooring structure of the underwater floating water current power generation device according to the first embodiment. (A) is a side view showing the released state of the mooring structure of the underwater floating water current power generation device according to the first embodiment, and (B) is a side view showing the towed state of (A). (A) is a side view showing the released state of the mooring structure of the underwater floating water current power generation device according to the second embodiment, and (B) is a side view showing the towed state of (A). It is a top view which shows the mooring structure of the underwater floating water current power generation device based on 3rd Embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, the terms "upstream" and "downstream" are used with reference to water flow. Moreover, the word "front" means the upstream side of the water flow, and the word "rear" means the downstream side of the water flow. For example, when a downwind type turbine is used, blades are placed on the rear side of the pod.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in this embodiment, an underwater floating water current power generation device 100A includes a mooring structure 1A that moores a floating body 10A submerged below a water surface WS on a water bottom WB such as a seabed. The mooring structure 1A includes a main support 21 installed on the water bottom WB, a main mooring rope 2 whose one end 2a is connected to the main support 21 and whose other end 2b is connected to the floating body 10A, and an auxiliary support 30A. Be prepared.

The floating body 10A is installed and floats in water such as seawater, for example, and generates power using a water current FL1 such as an ocean current. The floating body 10A includes a pair of pods, a first pod 12A and a second pod 12B, which are spaced apart from each other in the left and right directions, and a cross beam 13 that connects the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B.

A turbine 14A is provided at the rear of the first pod 12A. Turbine blades 16A are attached to the turbine 14A. A turbine 14B is provided at the rear of the second pod 12B. Turbine blades 16B are attached to the turbine 14B. Each of the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B rotatably supports the turbines 14A, 14B and provides appropriate buoyancy to the turbines 14A, 14B. The first pod 12A and the second pod 12B have a cylindrical shape, and have, for example, the same size and structure.

The turbines 14A and 14B applied to the floating body 10A are so-called downwind type turbines. The first pod 12A and the second pod 12B float in positions facing the direction of the water flow FL1. In this floating state, the turbines 14A and 14B are rotated by the water flow FL1, so that generators (not shown) housed in the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B generate electricity.

The cross beam 13 of the floating body 10A includes a control section 17 and an electromagnet 18 that generates electromagnetic force. The electromagnet 18 can be switched between an excited state in which it generates magnetic force and a non-excited state in which it does not generate magnetic force, according to an excitation and de-excitation command signal from the control unit 17. In the excited state, the electromagnet 18 generates magnetic force using electric power generated by generators (not shown) housed in the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B. Note that the floating body 10A has a storage battery (not shown), and in the excited state, the electromagnet 18 may generate magnetic force using the power of the storage battery. Moreover, the electromagnet 18 may be accommodated in the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B of the floating body 10A.

The main mooring rope 2 is a cable such as a wire rope. In the main mooring rope 2, a first mooring rope 2A on one end 2a side and a pair of second mooring ropes 2B, 2C on the other end 2b side are connected by a connector 2D between one end 2a and the other end 2b. They are connected in a Y shape. The power transmission cable 4 is provided along the first mooring rope 2A and the second mooring ropes 2B, 2C, and transmits power from the floating body 10A to the main support 21. The power transmitted to the main support 21 is transmitted to the outside of the underwater floating water current power generation device 100A via the power transmission cable 22.

The auxiliary support 30A is installed on the water bottom WB. The distance between the auxiliary support 30A and the main support 21 on the water bottom WB corresponds to the length of the main mooring rope 2. The auxiliary support 30A can switch between a traction state in which the floating body 10A is inhibited from floating by pulling the floating body 10A with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A, and a release state in which the floating body 10A is allowed to float. In the towed state, the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A may or may not be in contact with each other. Specifically, in the towed state, by applying a magnetic force between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, the auxiliary support 30A pulls the floating body 10A with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A. On the other hand, in the released state, no magnetic force is applied between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, thereby allowing the floating body 10A to float.

The auxiliary support 30A includes a support 31 installed on the water bottom WB and a ferromagnetic body 32 supported by the support 31. The ferromagnetic body 32 is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet 18 of the floating body 10A. The height of the upper surface of the ferromagnetic body 32 supported by the strut 31 from the water bottom WB is set higher than the radius of the turbines 14A, 14B in order to avoid interference between the turbines 14A, 14B and the water bottom WB. In this embodiment, the position and shape of the ferromagnetic body 32 of the auxiliary support 30A correspond to the position and shape of the electromagnet 18 of the cross beam 13 of the floating body 10A. In addition, when the electromagnet 18 is accommodated in the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B of the floating body 10A, the position and shape of the ferromagnetic body 32 of the auxiliary support 30A are the same as the first pod 12A and the second pod 12B of the floating body 10A. It may correspond to the position and shape of the electromagnet 18 of the pod 12B.

Hereinafter, the operation of the mooring structure 1A of this embodiment will be explained. As shown in FIG. 2(A), during power generation by the floating body 10A and maintenance of the floating body 10A, the auxiliary support 30A is brought into a released state that allows the floating body 10A to float. The electromagnet 18 is brought into a de-energized state by a de-energization command signal from the control unit 17, and by not applying magnetic force between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, floating of the floating body 10A is allowed.

On the other hand, when a ship is sailing on the water surface WS, the floating body 10A is submerged to the depth of the upper surface of the ferromagnetic body 32 of the auxiliary support 30A, as shown in FIG. 2(B). After the floating body 10A is submerged to the depth of the upper surface of the ferromagnetic body 32, the auxiliary support 30A is brought into a towing state in which it is inhibited from floating by pulling the floating body 10A with a force F greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A. be done. The electromagnet 18 is brought into an excited state by an excitation command signal from the control unit 17, and by applying a magnetic force between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, the auxiliary support 30A moves the floating body with a force F greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A. Tows 10A.

The excited electromagnet 18 and the ferromagnetic body 32 of the auxiliary support 30A are bonded together, and the floating body 10A is kept on standby until a ship sailing on the water surface WS passes by. After the ship has passed, the auxiliary support 30A is brought into the released state again as shown in FIG. is allowed. Further, when the floating body 10A needs to float, such as during power generation by the floating body 10A or maintenance of the floating body 10A, the auxiliary support 30A is released.

According to this embodiment, in the mooring structure 1A of the underwater floating water current power generation device 100A that moores the floating body 10A of the underwater floating water current power generation device 100A on the water bottom WB, the main support 21 installed on the water bottom WB, and one end 2a. is connected to the main support 21, and the other end 2b is connected to the floating body 10A. The floating body 10A is further provided with an auxiliary support 30A that can switch between a towed state that prevents the floating body 10A from floating and a released state that allows the floating body 10A to float. For this reason, the floating body 10A can be easily levitated by setting the floating body 10A to the released state when necessary, while preventing unexpected floating of the floating body 10A in the towed state. For example, when it is necessary to levitate the floating body 10A during maintenance of the floating body 10A, the floating body 10A can be floated to the water surface WS without requiring large-scale construction work such as cutting mooring lines using an ROV (Remotely operated vehicle) or the like. be able to.

Further, according to this embodiment, in the towed state, by applying a magnetic force between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, the auxiliary support 30A pulls the floating body 10A with a force F that is greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A. In the released state, no magnetic force is applied between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A, allowing the floating body 10A to levitate, so it is possible to easily switch between the towed state and the released state with a simple configuration.

Furthermore, according to the present embodiment, the floating body 10A has the electromagnet 18 that generates magnetic force, and the auxiliary support 30A has the ferromagnetic body 32 that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet 18, so that it cannot be installed on the water bottom WB. The configuration of the auxiliary support 30A can be simplified.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIGS. 3(A) and 3(B), in the mooring structure 1B of the underwater floating water current power generation device 100B of this embodiment, the auxiliary support 30B has an electromagnet 33 that generates magnetic force, The floating body 10B has a ferromagnetic body 19 that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet 33. Similar to the ferromagnetic body 32 of the first embodiment, the electromagnet 33 is supported by the support column 31. The electromagnet 33 can be switched between an excited state in which it generates magnetic force and a non-excited state in which it does not generate magnetic force, by an excitation and de-excitation command signal from a control unit (not shown). Further, similar to the electromagnet 18 of the first embodiment, a ferromagnetic body 19 is arranged on the cross beam 13 of the floating body 10B. Similar to the first embodiment, the position and shape of the electromagnet 33 of the auxiliary support 30B correspond to the position and shape of the ferromagnetic body 19 of the floating body 10B.

As shown in FIG. 3(A), in the released state, the electromagnet 33 of the auxiliary support 30B is in a de-energized state, and no magnetic force is applied between the floating body 10B and the auxiliary support 30B, thereby causing the floating body 10B to float. is allowed. As shown in FIG. 3(B), in the towed state, the electromagnet 33 of the auxiliary support 30B is in an excited state, and by applying magnetic force between the floating body 10B and the auxiliary support 30B, the auxiliary support 30B is The floating body 10B is pulled by a force F that is greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10B, and floating of the floating body 10B is suppressed.

In this embodiment, the auxiliary support 30B has an electromagnet 33 that generates magnetic force, and the floating body 10B has a ferromagnetic body 19 that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet 33. Therefore, for example, the floating body 10B is unable to generate electricity. Even when it is impossible to generate magnetic force using the electromagnets provided on the floating body 10B, the ferromagnetic body 19 of the floating body 10B is pulled by the magnetic force of the electromagnet 33 of the auxiliary support 30B, so that the floating body 10B is Unexpected surfacing can be prevented.

A third embodiment of the present invention will be described below. As shown in FIG. 4, in the mooring structure 1C of the underwater floating water current power generation device 100C of this embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary supports 30A similar to those of the first embodiment are provided around the main support 21. Each of the plurality of auxiliary supports 30A is arranged on the water bottom WB so as to be spaced from the main support 21 by an equal distance corresponding to the length of the main mooring rope 2, for example.

In this embodiment, since the plurality of auxiliary supports 30A are provided around the main support 21, depending on the change in the direction of the water flow FL1, among the plurality of auxiliary supports 30A, the downstream of the water flow FL1 of the main support 21 is By causing the floating body 10A to be towed by the auxiliary support 30A located at , it is possible to respond to changes in the direction of the water flow FL1. For example, even if the direction of the water flow FL1 changes to the direction of the water flow FL2, the floating body 10A can be pulled by the auxiliary support 30A located downstream of the water flow FL2. Note that, like the second embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary supports 30B similar to the first embodiment are provided around the main support 21, and among the plurality of auxiliary supports 30B, the water flow of the main support 21 is Floating body 10B may be towed by auxiliary support 30B located downstream of FL1.

The present invention has been described above in detail based on the embodiments thereof. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. The present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist thereof. For example, in the towed state, the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A are mechanically coupled, so that the auxiliary support 30A tows the floating body 10A with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body 10A, and in the released state, the floating body 10A is mechanically coupled to the auxiliary support 30A. The floating body 10A may be allowed to float by releasing the mechanical connection between the floating body 10A and the auxiliary support 30A. Further, the configuration of the main support 21 and the main mooring rope 2 may be of a type other than the above embodiment, for example, the structure described in Patent Document 1 mentioned above may be used.

1A, 1B, 1C Mooring structure 2 Main mooring rope 2A First mooring rope 2B Second mooring rope 2C Second mooring rope 2D Connector 2a One end 2b Other end 4 Power transmission cables 10A, 10B Floating body 12A First pod 12B Second pod 13 Cross beams 14A, 14B Turbines 16A, 16B Turbine blades 17 Control section 18 Electromagnet 19 Ferromagnetic body 21 Main support 22 Power transmission cables 30A, 30B Auxiliary support 31 Support column 32 Ferromagnetic body 33 Electromagnet 100A, 100B, 100C Underwater floating water flow Power generation device WS Water surface WB Water bottom FL1, FL2 Water flow F Force

Claims (4)

A mooring structure for a submersible floating water current power generation device that moores a floating body of the submersible floating water current power generation device on the bottom of the water,
a main support installed on the bottom of the water;
a main mooring cable, one end of which is connected to the main support and the other end of which is connected to the floating body;
An auxiliary support installed on the bottom of the water and capable of switching between a traction state in which the floating body is inhibited from floating by pulling the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body, and a release state in which the floating body is allowed to float. ingredients and
Equipped with
The other end of the main mooring cable is not connected to the downstream part of the floating body located downstream of the water flow during normal operation, but is connected to the upstream part of the floating body located upstream of the water flow. is,
In the towing state, by applying a magnetic force between the floating body and the auxiliary support, the auxiliary support pulls the floating body with a force greater than the buoyancy of the floating body;
In the released state, the mooring structure of the underwater floating water current power generation device allows the floating body to float by not allowing the magnetic force to act between the floating body and the auxiliary support. The floating body has an electromagnet that generates the magnetic force,
The mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary support has a ferromagnetic material that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet. The auxiliary support has an electromagnet that generates the magnetic force,
The mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device according to claim 1 , wherein the floating body has a ferromagnetic body that is pulled by the magnetic force generated by the electromagnet. The mooring structure for an underwater floating water current power generation device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , comprising a plurality of the auxiliary supports around the main support.

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