Tidal/water current electrical generating system

• US 20090146430A1
• Filed: 12/10/2007
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Walter Edmond Sear
• Original Assignee: Walter Edmond Sear
• Inventors: Sear, Walter Edmond
• Application Number:
  US12/001,038
• Publication Number:
  US 20090146430A1
• 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 13/264 using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• 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 integral system to utilize the flow of water, fresh or ocean, to generate electric power from river flow or tidal currents, consisting of three parts, an especially designed impeller to convert the water flow into rotary mechanical motion, a totally encapsulated alternator/generator, and a pedestal upon which the entire device is mounted which is set into the sea bed or river bed and which is fitted with a swivel bearing which allows a limited rotation of the alternator/impeller assembly, and with fins to keep the impeller pointed into the existing current and which also serve as heatsinks for the alternator/generator.

Claims

1. ) an impeller of such design as to maximize the mechanical force of flowing water and to convert this energy into a rotary mechanical motion.

2. ) a suitable safety screen around the impeller to divert any solid and floating materials from coming into contact with the rotating impeller.

3. ) a magnetic clutch to transmit the rotational energy from the impeller to the alternator/generator through a waterproof barrier.

4. ) a totally sealed alternator/generator housing which can be filled with dry nitrogen or inert gasses before being sealed.

5. ) a totally sealed alternator/generator housing into which a desiccant is inserted prior to sealing.

6. ) fins which both direct the device into the water current as well as acting as a heat sink to dissipate generated heat into the surrounding water.

7. ) a mounting with rotating bearings which allows the alternator/generator and impeller assembly to rotate through a prescribed arc.

8. ) a system for generating electricity by forcing a fixed magnetic field into oscillation from the rotating force of attracting and opposing rotor magnets.

9. ) a system for generating electricity where both rotor and stator magnets have windings, either around each permanent magnet or in close proximity to each magnet, the magnetic force fields thus crossing the coils to produce an electrical current.