Improvements in Turbines

• US 20130309071A1
• Filed: 12/03/2010
• Published: 11/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wave Power Renewables Limited
• Original Assignee: Oceanlinx Ltd
• Inventors: Hunter, Scott, Nanehkaran, Ali Mohammad Baghaei
• Granted Patent: US 9,574,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/146
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 11/004 Valve arrangements F03B3/10 takes precedence; adjustable wicket gates F03B3/183; valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/142 which creates an oscillating water column
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/22 using the flow of water resulting from wave movements to drive a motor or turbine F03B13/144 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/24 to produce a flow of air, e.g. to drive an air turbine F03B13/142 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/02 by varying liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/06 Regulating, i.e. acting automatically
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2210/404 bidirectional, i.e. in opposite, alternating directions
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/12 Fluid guiding means, e.g. vanes
• 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

This invention relates to a turbine for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid. The turbine includes a housing defining a flow passage for the working fluid. An energy conversion unit is disposed in the housing. Flow control means is selectively movable to occlude a predetermined portion of the flow passage such that the working fluid is directed to act on a certain section of the energy conversion unit.

Claims

1. A turbine for extracting energy from an oscillating working fluid, the turbine including:

a housing defining a flow passage for the working fluid;

an energy conversion unit disposed in the housing; and

flow control means, the flow control means being selectively movable to occlude a predetermined portion of the flow passage such that the working fluid is directed to act on a certain section of the energy conversion unit.

2. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the flow control means is movable to change the configuration of the flow passage between a first configuration in which the flow control means occludes a first portion of the flow passage such that the working fluid can act on a first operating section of the energy conversion unit, and a second configuration in which the flow control means occludes a second portion of the flow passage such that the working fluid can act on a second operating section of the energy conversion unit.

3. A turbine according to claim 2, wherein the flow control means changes the configuration of the flow passage in response to changes in the direction of flow of the working fluid.

4. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the flow control means has a first control mechanism on a first side of the energy conversion unit and a second control mechanism on a second side of the energy conversion unit.

5. A turbine according to claim 4, wherein, when the working fluid is flowing in a first predetermined direction, the first control mechanism occludes a portion of the flow passage so that the working fluid can act on only the first operating section of the energy conversion unit;

and when the working fluid is flowing in a second predetermined direction, the second control mechanism occludes another portion of the flow passage so that the working fluid can act on only the second operating section of the energy conversion unit.

6. A turbine according to claim 4, wherein the first and second control mechanisms are slidable between their respective occluding and open positions.

7. A turbine according to claim 4, wherein the first and second control mechanisms are rotatable between their respective occluding and open positions.

8. A turbine according to claim 7, wherein the first control mechanism includes a rotatable element and the second control mechanism includes a rotatable element, the rotatable elements being arranged to selectively occlude respective portions of the flow passage.

9. A turbine according to claim 8, wherein the rotatable elements correspond in shape to at least a portion of a cross-section of the flow passage.

10. A turbine according to claim 9, wherein the rotatable elements are one of semicircular shaped discs and annular shaped discs.

11. A turbine according to claim 8, wherein the rotatable elements are offset by 180 degrees relative to each other such that they occlude opposite halves of the cross-section of the flow passage.

12. A turbine according to claim 11, wherein both rotatable elements rotate simultaneously through 180 degrees relative to each other in response to changes in the direction of fluid flow from a first flow direction to a second flow direction, such that the working fluid can act on the first and second operating sections of the energy conversion unit, respectively.

13. A turbine according to claim 4, wherein the first control mechanism includes a first gate-type mechanism movable between an open position and a closed position for occluding the first portion of the flow passage, and the second control mechanism includes a second gate-type mechanism movable between an open position and a closed position for occluding the second portion of the flow passage.

14. A turbine according to claim 13, wherein the first and second gate-type mechanisms include a segmented array of gates.

15. A turbine according to claim 1, including a first nozzle for directing working fluid flowing in a first predetermined direction towards the first operating section of the energy conversion unit, the first nozzle being arranged upstream of the energy conversion unit when the working fluid is flowing in the first predetermined direction.

16. A turbine according to claim 15, including a second nozzle for directing working fluid flowing in a second predetermined direction towards the second operating section of the energy conversion unit, the second nozzle being arranged upstream of the energy conversion unit when the working fluid is flowing in the second predetermined direction.

17. A turbine according to claim 16, wherein the first and second nozzles are arranged on geometrically opposed halves of the cross-section of the flow passage and on opposite sides of the energy conversion unit.

18. A turbine according to claim 15, wherein the first nozzle includes a plurality of guide vanes arranged so as to have a circumferential extent of approximately 180 degrees around the cross-section of the flow passage.

19. A turbine according to claim 16, wherein the second nozzle includes a plurality of guide vanes arranged so as to have a circumferential extent of approximately 180 degrees around the cross-section of the flow passage.

20. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an inner housing and an outer housing arranged such that a cross-section of the flow passage is an annulus.

21. A turbine according to claim 1, wherein the energy conversion unit includes a rotor supported for rotation within the flow passage.

22. A turbine according to claim 21, wherein the rotor is adapted for rotation in a single direction, the direction of rotation being independent of the direction of flow of the working fluid.

23. A turbine according to claim 21, wherein the rotor has a central hub and a plurality of blades arranged about and extending from the periphery of the hub such that the plurality of blades are disposed within the flow passage.

24. A turbine according to claim 23, wherein the rotor is arranged to be substantially normal to the direction of fluid flow such that the rotor rotates about an axis substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the housing.

25. A turbine according to claim 23, wherein each blade has a pressure side surface and a suction side surface.

26. A turbine according to claim 25, wherein the pressure side surface of each blade is concave and each suction side surface is convex.

27. A turbine according to claim 21, wherein the first and second operating sections of the energy conversion unit are each a predetermined portion of the rotor.

28. A turbine according to claim 27, wherein the first and second operating sections are predetermined circumferential extents of the rotor.

29. A turbine according to claim 28, wherein the first and second operating sections are each approximately one half of an operating surface of the rotor.

30. A turbine according to claim 27, wherein the first and second operating sections are each a predetermined number of sequential rotor blades.