WO2006026838A2

WO2006026838A2 - Floating energy converter

Info

Publication number: WO2006026838A2
Application number: PCT/BE2005/000134
Authority: WO
Inventors: P.J. Hendriks
Original assignee: Hendriks P I
Priority date: 2004-09-08
Filing date: 2005-09-07
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: WO2006026838A3

Abstract

Seaworthy pontoon consisting of two or several pontoons, which are linked together by a strong superstructure and a strong bottom plate. Seaworthy pontoon: the spaces of the lower half of the pontoon are equipped with strong metal wire cells, which in turn are filled with smaller metal wire cells (chicken wire) in which a mixture of ping pong balls and polystyrene foam parts is stored. Seaworthy pontoon equipped with several blades, the axes of which are linked on the port and starboard side to the necessary transmissions, which in turn transfer the power generated to the same number of generators to produce large quantities of environmentally friendly power. Seaworthy pontoon which, thanks to its unique construction, cannot capsize or sink, even in the most severe storms or a collision with a large ship. Seaworthy pontoon which on the upper side is equipped with a large number of vertically rotating wind turbines.

Description

DESCRIPTION Power plant on the sea in which Tidal movements, the Beating of the waves , Wind force and the rays of the Sun are used to a very great extent .(T₅B, W,S)

Such power plants can be constructed in different forms and sizes without transgressing the 5 framework of this invention . This power plant is partly built 'in' ( T & B ) and 'on' a unique pontoon

( W & S). This pontoon cannot capsize or sink and will remain fully stable on the water thanks to the heavy weight flowing through it. Equipped with these advantages all possible power plants in almost any conceivable form and size can be built. At the stern, the pontoon looks like a catamaran ship, the difference being, however, that the two pontoons are linked together at the bottom by means of a

10 strong bottom plate over the entire length of the pontoon. Very heavy quantities of water constantly flow over this additionally reinforced bottom plate Fig. S (1), providing the pontoon with extraordinary stability and enabling it to remain afloat horizontally (on the water). A pontoon which is equipped in this way will not pitch or roll even in high seas. Therefore, it is possible to install one after the other several large turbines equipped with tub-shaped blades Fig.3 The cross section of the

15 turbines can vary from 5 to 8 metres. Each turbine is installed on one central axis Fig. 5 (14) which both on the port and starboard side is linked with an adjusted transmission Fig. 4 & 5 ( 2) and on both sides is equipped with a powerful generator Fig. 4 & 5 ( 3) to produce electricity for a constant and, moreover, cost-free supply of energy. We believe that every generator can yield a power production of 6 to 10 megawatt. This 'extremely' prudent estimation is based on the energy

20 production of modern wind turbines which can produce 2 MW given the right wind force (not too much, not too little).

Source: Ministry of the Flemish Community, OSE (Organization for Sustainable Energy, Chapter 5 Wind energy ). On Fig. 1 (4) it is evident that a large number of square steel tubes have been mounted on the

25 pontoons which will of course be welded together. They are 100 x 100 cm in size. At the front side of every tube, the tubes are divided in 4 parts of 50 cm² each over a length of one metre. These small holes are necessary, as all tubes at the front are equipped with a welded metal fence, in order to prevent damage to the turbines by large fish, drift wood etc. Fig. 1 (5) . Through the six rows of tubes at the bottom a powerful tidal movement continuously enters the pontoon (in a calm sea the speed of

™ the current is 1 to 2 metres per sec, and in a storm it can increase to 40 metres per sec), in this way activating 'all turbines ' Fig.3 (6). The six rows of tubes on top can also be diverted to outside the hull, one half to the port side and one half to the starboard side, in order to ensure the maximum stability of the pontoon in heavy storms Fig. 1 (7), These forces can also be used by bending the tubes for the powerful water to be directed to the so-called 'midshot blade', whereby the speed of all

35 blades is increased considerably Fig.3 (25) . The four upper rows of tubes are linked with a large water collector Fig. 3 (8) which will fill during a storm on the sea with very high waves (7 to 10 m), whereby the water pumps Fig. 3 (9) will be shut off automatically and temporarily. The same effect is obtained in case of heavy and long-lasting rainfall. In these cases, we have a temporary perpetuum mobile effect. In the event of extremely high waves (over 10m.) the top of the waves will

40 be directed back to the sea thanks to the adjusted form of the bow, while the greatest forces generated by the beating of the waves are constantly pushed in the desired direction by means of the lower tubes. In order to prevent a disruption of power production during the change from low to high tide and vice versa, during which there is hardly any sea current , we use a fraction of the power which has been generated in great quantities and store this in a series of so-called 'half- traction ' batteries

45 which have a capacity of 2,25 Amp. per hour Fig. 3 (10). In this way, the water pumps will supply the blades with the necessary water weight Fig.3 (ll).Consequently, during a tidal change power production can only be generated by means of : 1) the overshot blades, 2) the vertically rotating wind turbines Fig. 3 (24) and during the day time possibly by means of 3) solar panels. On a calm sea, the turbines are primarily rotated by means of the force of the tidal movements on the undershot

50 blade and will get extra impulses from the overshot blades. On the first blade, tub-shaped blades are clearly visible, while with the next turbines the blades on the side are covered by a broad bumper. This is a necessary application in order to prevent the added water power from unnecessarily flowing out through the overshot blade and the midshot blade on both sides / ends. Over the entire length, the pontoons are divided into two separate spaces. In the upper spaces, the transmissions and generators

^ are installed Fig. 5 (12). The lower spaces must only keep the pontoon afloat under 'all' circumstances. Therefore they are divided into a number of small cells which are obtained by using stiff steel nets welded onto the inside of the pontoon (see dotted line). These cells are filled with pins —pong balls and/or polystyrene foam parts which have been previously been packed in square casings consisting of the smallest-sized chicken wire Fig. 5 (13). Taking such a preventive measure guarantees that during a possible heavy collision with a large ship damage will be limited to a side being torn open and the loss of a few ping pong balls and/or polystyrene foam parts. Capsizing and consequently sinking as happened recently with the "Tricolore" on the Belgian coast is impossible. ^ Following a possible collision, it will be necessary to tow the pontoon to a dry dock in order to carry out the necessary repairs. In this case, the anchoring cable Fig. 2 f 15) must be detached and fitted with a colourful and light-emitting buoy Fig. 2 (16) awaiting the return of the pontoon. The transportation cable to land must also be detached from the pontoon and temporarily fitted with a recognition buoy. Depending on the available space between the pontoons it is advisable to install one " or several support joints, which considerably reinforce the entire construction while increasing the stability of the pontoon Fig. 5 (17). Of course, it is necessary to keep such a power plant floating in one and the same place, given the connection with the energy discharge cable to land Fig. 2 (17). Under normal circumstances, the pontoon will remain floating in the same place thanks to heavy container (s) on the bottom of the sea filled with concrete, except during the change from low to high 5 tide and vice versa Fig. 2 (18).. On FIG 3 (24) vertical windmills are depicted. Contrary to common wind turbines, these have a number of advantages. They do not need wings, a gondola, high- rising pylons , or anchoring technique with the bottom of the sea. Our wind turbines do not pollute the horizon and do not constitute any danger for migrating or other sea birds. In short, they are several times cheaper than windmills equipped with wings and they keep rotating in the same direction regardless of the direction of the wind. At the bottom of every vertical axis, there is one large conical gear which is linked to an adjusted generator Fig. 3 (26) by a small conical gear. A connection with a long axis, per row of five or more wind turbines, with a very powerful generator on both ends, constitutes another option. As is evident on Fig 1 (20) there is also a possibility of first constructing a large building and placing the aforementioned windmills and solar panels on top of it. These types of buildings get very bad press, since there is a great lack of such buildings and it therefore does not seem inappropriate to suggest this idea to the Minister of Justice. In any case, with or without a prison, on the top floor there is ample room for the installation of a lot of solar panels Fig. 1 (21) and Fig. 3 (27), to provide for own needs such as lighting, heating, air conditioning, water pumps etc.. The excess of power generated is of course delivered to the grid by means of a connection cable with the plant on land. The amount of water flowing via the bow to the stern through the pontoon and keeping 'all' turbines activated can never reach a greater depth than 6m due to the installation of two rows of square water columns with water flowing through which, from beginning to end, have an opening of Im². As for the sizes of the two water columns with water flowing through, they are W. 2 x 3 m, L.70 m, H. 6 m, which means 2.520 m³ or an extra ballast weight of 2.520 tons. If a small wave can be considered to weigh 7 tons (Source: Bernouille-effect by Jan Ploeg) , we can rightly claim that a pontoon equipped with a stabilizer weighing 2.520 tons can suffer a heavy blow Fig. 3 (22). Since the pontoon with its streamlined bow constantly lies in the direction of waves which are possibly coming, the main forces are received by the six rows of tubes lying below the waterline. Various types of pontoons can be built as depicted in Fig. S & 6. On the port and starboard side two smaller turbines were added in support of broader turbines in the middle of the pontoon Fig. 5 (23). The water flowing through (in) these additional production lines is 600m³ on every line, resulting in a total water ballast of 1.200 tons + 2520 tons of the central water, ballast = 3.720 tons, serving as a stabilizer and which can at the same time be used as a very efficient power source. In Fig. 3 (28) a kind of hydraulic pump system attached to both ends of the blades can be seen, with which it can be lifted out of the water until just above the water line during the change from high to low tide and vice versa. In this way, the blades ,on the basis of the supply from the overshot blade, will not be limited by the temporarily motionless water at the bottom and will therefore rotate faster, thus .considerably increasing the power production.

Claims

CONCLUSIONS

1. Power plant on seas and fast-running rivers, which fully uses the force of tidal movements, the beating of the waves, wind force and sun rays.

2. Power plant on the sea according to conclusion 1, with the characteristic that it is composed of two or more pontoons which are strongly linked to each other and in particular at the bottom.

3. Power plant according to conclusions 1 and 2, with the characteristic that large blades (turbines) have been installed.

4. Power plant according to conclusions 1, 2 and 3, with the characteristic that on the stems square steel tubes have been fitted which will direct the incoming water even in the event of storms.

5. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3, and 4, with the characteristic that the turbines have been installed on a central axis, the beginning and end of which are linked with an appropriate transmission and generator.

6. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4 and 5, with the characteristic that one or more vertical support joints have been installed between the pontoons to reinforce the pontoon construction and enhance its stability .

7. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4,5 and 6, with the characteristic that the inside of the pontoons is divided into numerous cells of ± 2 m³ which are entirely filled with a mixture of numerous ping-pong balls and polystyrene foam parts (maximum size ± 5 cm³ ) ; these are held together in square casings of the smallest- sized chicken wire.

8. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4,5,6 and 7, with the characteristic that a water collector is installed above the turbines and constantly held at the same height by means of one water pump per blade. At the bottom of the collector large slots are made over the entire width, which supply the turbines on top with water over the entire width. In this way, extra energy is generated by means of the overshot blade.

9. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8, with the characteristic that the turbines will produce power without interruption thanks to the power transmission of the tidal movements via the undershot blade. The added water weight on the overshot blade means that power production will also be increased considerably. When changing from low to high tide and vice versa, the turbines can only rely on the force of the overshot blade guaranteeing an output of 80 to 90 %.

10. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 and 9, with the characteristic that a number of wind turbines, equipped with a vertical axis on which 3 or more vertical flanges are fitted, have been placed on top of the pontoon, and this in such a way that they rotate with the wind. At the bottom of each vertical axis, conical gear joints have been installed which in turn are linked to the same number of generators.

11. Power plant according to conclusions 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10, with the characteristic that on the roof of the sun collectors a large number of solar panels have been installed which in turn provide a part of the electricity produced .