APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER FROM A SUB-SURFACE WATER CURRENT

• US 20090091135A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gulfstream Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gulfstream Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Janca, Phillip Todd, Janca, Phillip Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,664,784 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/062 with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/065 the flow engaging parts having a cyclic movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/244 of the cross-flow, e.g. Banki, Ossberger type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/25 helical
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/10 for water-driven turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

A subsurface power generating system in one embodiment includes a frame, an electric generator supported by the frame and operably connected to a first vertical rotor, another electric generator supported by the frame and operably connected to a second vertical rotor, a first louver operably connected to the first vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a first position whereat the backside is in contact with a first pivot limiting structure, and a second position whereat the backside is not in contact with the first pivot limiting structure, and a second louver operably connected to the second vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a third position whereat the backside is in contact with a second pivot limiting structure, and a fourth position whereat the backside is not in contact with the second pivot limiting structure.

Claims

1. A subsurface power generating system comprising:

a frame;

a first electric generator supported by the frame, the first electric generator operably connected to a first vertical rotor;

a second electric generator supported by the frame, the second electric generator operably connected to a second vertical rotor;

a first louver operably connected to the first vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a first position whereat the backside is in contact with a first pivot limiting structure, and a second position whereat the backside is not in contact with the first pivot limiting structure; and

a second louver operably connected to the second vertical rotor and including a front side, and a back side, and pivotable between a third position whereat the backside is in contact with a second pivot limiting structure, and a fourth position whereat the backside is not in contact with the second pivot limiting structure.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first louver pivots about a first pivot axis;

the first pivot axis extends through the first louver at a location closer to a leading edge of the first louver than to a trailing edge of the first louver, such that water impinging on the front side of the first louver generates a force biasing the first louver toward the first position;

the second louver pivots about a second pivot axis; and

the second pivot axis extends through the second louver at a location closer to a leading edge of the second louver than to a trailing edge of the second louver, such that water impinging on the front side of the second louver generates a force biasing the second louver toward the third position.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first pivot axis is substantially parallel to the first vertical rotor; and

the second pivot axis is substantially parallel to the second vertical rotor.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first pivot limiting structure is a leading edge portion of a third louver; and

the second pivot limiting structure is a leading edge portion of a fourth louver.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first pivot limiting structure is a first pivot pin; and

the second pivot limiting structure is a second pivot pin.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first louver is pivotally mounted to an end plate;

the end plate includes a receiving area; and

the first pivot limiting structure is a first wall portion of the receiving area.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the front side of the first louver is in contact with a second pivot limiting structure when the first louver is in the second position.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the second pivot limiting structure is a second wall portion of the receiving area, the second wall portion oriented at an angle with respect to the first wall portion.

9. A method of generating electrical power from a water current comprising:

positioning a first louver within a water current;

impinging a front side of the first louver with the water current;

pivoting the first louver into contact with a first pivot limiting structure using a first force generated by the impinging water current;

transferring a second force from the water current to the first pivot limiting structure; and

rotating a first vertical rotor operably connected to a first electrical generator with the transferred second force.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

positioning a second louver within the water current;

impinging a front side of the second louver with the water current;

pivoting the second louver into contact with a second pivot limiting structure using a third force generated by the impinging water current;

transferring a fourth force from the water current to the second pivot limiting structure; and

rotating a second vertical rotor with the transferred fourth force.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein:

pivoting the first louver comprises pivoting the first louver about a first axis of rotation which is perpendicular to a velocity vector of the water current; and

pivoting the second louver comprises pivoting the second louver about a second axis of rotation which is perpendicular to the velocity vector of the water current.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein:

pivoting the first louver comprises pivoting the first louver into contact with a third louver; and

pivoting the second louver comprises pivoting the second louver into contact with a fourth louver.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein:

pivoting the first louver comprises pivoting the first louver into contact with a first pivot pin; and

pivoting the second louver comprises pivoting the second louver into contact with a second pivot pin.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein:

pivoting the first louver comprises pivoting the first louver into contact with a first wall portion of a louver receiving area of an end plate.

15. A subsurface power generating system comprising:

a frame;

a first electric generator supported by the frame, the first electric generator operably connected to a first vertical rotor;

a first louver operably connected to the first vertical rotor and including a front portion, and a back portion, and pivotable between a first position whereat the back portion is in contact with a first pivot limiting structure, and a second position whereat the back portion is not in contact with the first pivot limiting structure; and

a first pivot extending through the first louver and defining a first of rotation for the first louver such that the distance from the first axis of rotation to a leading end of the first louver is shorter than the distance from the first axis of rotation to a trailing end of the first louver.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a second electric generator supported by the frame, the second electric generator operably connected to a second vertical rotor;

a second louver operably connected to the second vertical rotor and including a front portion, and a back portion, and pivotable between a third position whereat the back portion is in contact with a second pivot limiting structure, and a fourth position whereat the back portion is not in contact with the third pivot limiting structure; and

a second pivot extending through the second louver and defining a second axis of rotation for the second louver such that the distance from the second axis of rotation to a leading end of the second louver is shorter than the distance from the second axis of rotation to a trailing end of the second louver.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the first electric generator is operably connected to the first vertical rotor through a first clutch; and

the second generator is operably connected to the second vertical rotor through a second clutch.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein:

the first louver is located within a turbine;

the turbine includes an end plate with a first wall portion within a receiving area;

the first wall portion defines the first pivot limiting structure; and

first louver is pivotally connected to the end plate at the receiving area.

19. The system of claim 18, the receiving area further comprising:

a second wall portion angling away from the first wall portion, the second wall portion positioned to contact the front portion when the first louver is in the second position.

20. The system of claim 19, the receiving area further comprising:

a stabilizer spaced apart from the first wall portion and the second wall portion, the stabilizer positioned to contact the back portion when the first louver is in the second position.