SUBMARINE POWER STATION AND ASSEMBLY THEREOF

• US 20110170954A1
• Filed: 07/03/2009
• Published: 07/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh (Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA)
• Original Assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh (Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA)
• Inventors: Perner, Norman, Holstein, Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 8,692,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 405/195.1
• 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 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/14 Casings, housings, nacelles, gondels or the like, protecting or supporting assemblies there within
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/02 Transport, e.g. specific adaptations or devices for conveyance
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

The present invention relates to an underwater power plant for obtaining energy from a water current, comprising

• • a nacelle having a nacelle housing, which the water current flows around, the nacelle housing comprising the first nacelle housing section;
  • a water turbine driven by the water current, which has a drive connection to the drive shaft, the drive shaft being mounted inside the first nacelle housing section;
  • an electrical generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator;
  • a generator housing.

The invention is characterized in that

• • the electrical generator and the generator housing form a separate generator module, which can be handled and installed as a whole; and
  • connection means are provided to couple the generator housing to the first nacelle housing section and to couple the generator rotor to the drive shaft in a rotationally-fixed manner.

Claims

1. An installation method for an underwater power plant having

1.1 a nacelle (1) comprising a nacelle housing (2) having a first nacelle housing section (4);

1.2 a water turbine (3), which has a drive connection to a drive shaft (5), the drive shaft (5) being mounted inside the first nacelle housing section (4);

1.3 an electrical generator (6), comprising a generator rotor (7) and a generator stator (8);

1.4 a generator housing (9);

characterized in that

1.5 the electrical generator (6) and the generator housing (9) form a separate generator module (10), which can be handled and installed as a whole, and an adjustment of the bearings (18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4) for the drive shaft (5) is executed before the production of a coupling between the generator module (10) and the drive shaft (5); and

1.6 the generator housing (9) is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the first nacelle housing section (4) and the generator rotor (7) is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the drive shaft (5), the generator rotor (7) being carried by the drive shaft (5) after the coupling.

2. The installation method according to claim 1, characterized in that the generator module (10) is provided with a transport safeguard (23) for the generator rotor (7) until the coupling.

3. The installation method according to one of claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a realignment of the bearings (18.1, 18.2, 18.3, 18.4) of the drive shaft (5) is performed after the coupling of the generator module (10).

4. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generator module (10) is coupled axially onto the drive shaft (5) in relation to its rotational axis (17).

5. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection means (12.1, 12.2) for coupling the generator rotor (7) to the drive shaft (5) are accessible via a passage opening (13) located centrally in the generator module (10).

6. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the air gap (14) between the generator rotor (7) and the generator stator (8) is flooded.

7. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a buoyant body and/or a liquid-tight encapsulated buoyant volume is assigned to the drive shaft (5) and/or the generator rotor (7).

8. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the generator housing (9) forms a second nacelle housing section (15), which has flow around it in operation of the underwater power plant, after the coupling.

9. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the water turbine (3) and the drive shaft (5) are connected to form a detachable revolving unit, which is connectable in a rotationally-fixed manner.

10. The installation method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the nacelle housing (2) is fastened on a support structure (16) and the generator module (10) and the water turbine (3) are situated on opposing sides in relation to the fastening (25) on the support structure.