COUNTER ROTATION SUBSURFACE CURRENT GENERATOR

• US 20110109091A1
• Filed: 04/06/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul A. Greyshock
• Original Assignee: Paul A. Greyshock
• Inventors: GREYSHOCK, Paul A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,461,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• 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 13/26 using tide energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

An invention for capturing and converting the hydro kinetic energy in ocean and tidal currents into mechanical energy for generating electricity. An internal turbine enclosed in a external turbine cylinder rotates opposite of internal turbine. Current is compressed into high pressure within internal turbine, the high pressure is vented into the rear low pressure side of external turbine producing additional energy. The internal and external turbines are enclosed in a cowling to maximize current through both counter rotating turbines. Permanent magnet rings are coupled to both turbine tips that rotate peripheral to stators. The cowling and turbines are balanced around the main center shaft, it is finned at the rear to steer the apparatus into the current. Counter rotation produces a neutral output torque with increased energy output that is transmitted via underwater cable to onshore grid.

Claims

1. The apparatus is an invention that generates clean energy from free flowing ocean currents. It has two turbines shrouded in an external cowling, interior turbine and exterior turbine have opposite pitched blades fabricated onto the interior turbine cone that tapers from small at front to larger at rear, and is enclosed in the exterior cylinder. The external turbine blades are fabricated onto the external side of cylinder that extend outward to the external cowling. The interior turbine rotates freely in one direction around the center shaft, and the external turbine cylinder is strut braced front and rear on bearings and, rotates freely in the opposite direction around the center shaft. The external cowling (shroud) is strut braced front and rear, centered and set around the center shaft. The current flow is maximized as it flows through the cowling, and rotates both turbines in counter rotation (opposite) directions.

2. The apparatus for generating power from the current according to claim 1, wherein:

counter rotation of turbines produces a neutral output torque from the kinetic energy in current allowing the apparatus to be anchored in deep water and tether freely in the current.

3. The apparatus for generating increased power from ocean currents according to claim 2, wherein:

neutral output torque from current flow is compressed into high pressure within interior turbine from the tapered cone. As the flow begins to restrict within the enclosed external cylinder it compounds pressure, this pressure is vented through regulation ports towards the rear of the external cylinder into the low pressure area of the external turbine, increasing draft and propulsion converted into mechanical energy used to generate additional electrical energy.

4. The apparatus for generating electrical power from ocean currents according to claim 3, wherein:

The compressed high pressure from internal turbine to external turbine area creates the Bernoulli effect that increases the cube to power relationship between the velocity of the working medium for additional power. This increased power is transferred to the external turbine cylinder and blade tips that are coupled with rotating permanent magnet rings moving across large areas of stator surface conductor, where the increase of Electra Magnetic Flux (EMF) is generated into the stator windings producing higher levels of electrical energy output.

5. The apparatus for generating electrical power from ocean currents according to claim 4, wherein:

rotating permanent magnet rings built into the apparatus rotating around center shaft stator, mid dual stator, and exterior cowling stator eliminates a sealed open contact generator working underwater with exterior pressures of 150 psi, results in a simple water cooled, automated/regulated generator system.

6. The apparatus for generating electrical power from ocean currents according to claim 5, wherein:

attached to the exterior cowling is compartment component that houses;

ballast tubes, switch gear, batteries, and oxygen compressor that automatically regulates system output and ballast for submerging and raising. The apparatus is positive buoyant and can be floated for towing to and from offshore current farms for placement or service.

The system workings will become clear in the abstract and drawings.