Power generation unit for oceanographic sensor moorings

• US 10,641,237 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Original Assignee: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Inventors: Cook, Andrew, Press, Adam, Holden, Geoff
• Primary Examiner(s): Gugger, Sean
• Application Number:
  US15/766,224
• Publication Number:
  US 20180291867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/4466 for converting water energy into electric energy, e.g. from tidal flows, waves or currents
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/04 Fixations or other anchoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

An oceanographic sensor mooring section for use with standard oceanographic moorings comprising: mooring oceanographic equipment, such as floatation devices and sensors; and a subsurface power generation unit connected to the mooring oceanographic equipment, wherein the mooring section has connective swivels at opposing ends thereof for attachment of the mooring section to standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors, to allow the mooring section to independently orient in the direction of current flow. The subsurface power generation unit comprises a battery and power management/tracking electronics and a rim turbine generating unit that harnesses the power of underwater currents to power any sensors and related electronics equipment.

Claims

1. An oceanographic sensor mooring section for use with standard oceanographic moorings comprising:

mooring oceanographic equipment having at least one sensor for measuring one or more of physical, chemical, or biological processes in an undersea environment; and

a subsurface power generation unit connected to said mooring oceanographic equipment, wherein the power generation unit is mounted within a rigid frame that surrounds the entire power generation unit to protect same without significantly blocking water flow, and wherein the subsurface power generation unit comprising;

a battery pack system comprising a battery operatively connected to the at least one sensor in the mooring oceanographic equipment for powering said at least one sensor, and associated power management and tracking electronics for measuring power going to the battery, adjusting voltage going to the battery, and recharging the battery, said battery pack system housed within a pressure housing; and

a rim turbine generating unit without a gearbox that is configured to generate electricity from underwater water currents and transmit same to the battery pack system to which it is operatively connected, wherein said rim turbine generating unit comprises three essential components, namely

a first component comprising a venturi cowling and stator assembly having at least three venturi cowling support rods each mounted at peripheral ends thereof to an inner circumferential surface of the venturi cowling and stator assembly and attached at inner opposing ends thereof to a venturi cowling mount located in the center of the venturi cowling and stator assembly, said venturi cowling mount having a shaft extending in the center of the stator assembly therefrom, and coils embedded within an entire outer circumference of the venturi cowling and stator assembly,

a second component comprising a blade and rotor assembly that is rotatably mounted on the shaft of the venturi cowling and stator assembly such that an outer circumference of the blade and rotor assembly rotatably fits within the inner circumferential surface of the venturi cowling and stator assembly, wherein said blade and rotor assembly comprises at least two turbine blades, and wherein the entire outer circumference of the blade and rotor assembly comprises magnets arranged in a Halbach array configuration embedded there within, such that when the blade and rotor assembly is spinning around the shaft of the venturi cowling and stator assembly as a result of water currents pushing against the turbine blades, a flux from the magnets in the blade and rotor assembly induces an electric current in the coils embedded in the venturi cowling and stator assembly that is transmitted to the battery pack system, and

a third component comprising a venturi cowling cap that is capable of releasably coupling with the venturi cowling and stator assembly when the rim turbine generating unit is fully assembled,

wherein the subsurface power generation unit is further associated with an alignment fin that assists in keeping said power generation unit aligned in the direction of current flow,

and wherein said oceanographic sensor mooring section has connective swivels at opposing ends thereof for attachment of said mooring section to the standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors, the connective swivels configured to allow said mooring section to orient in the direction of water current flow independently of an orientation of the standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors.

2. The oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coils comprises at least 36 coils, each of said coils comprising 55 turns of 18 awg magnet wire and configured for 3 phase power output.

3. The oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 1 wherein said rim turbine generating unit and said alignment fin pivot about a pivot point to allow the rim turbine generating unit and alignment fin to be self-compensating for mooring inclination.