APPARATUS FOR POWER GENERATION IN A FLUID SYSTEM

• US 20170306725A1
• Filed: 09/29/2015
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tendeka AS (Tendeka Oil & Gas Services Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Tendeka AS (Tendeka Oil & Gas Services Ltd.)
• Inventors: HUNTER, John
• Granted Patent: US 11,028,671 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 44/00 Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

A turbine has a flow pathway with an inlet in communication with the fluid channel. A rotor is disposed in the flow pathway and is rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway. The rotation axis of the rotor is oblique to an axis extending along the fluid channel. The outlet of flow pathway may return fluid to the fluid channel. The turbine may also be provided with a flow control arrangement so as to vary the flow of fluid past the rotor and to prevent the rotor from damage. The rotor may be positioned apart from the fluid channel and so as not to obstruct the fluid channel.

Claims

1. A turbine for extracting energy from fluid flowing along a fluid channel having an axis;

the turbine comprising;

a flow pathway having an inlet configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel and an outlet; and

a rotor disposed within the flow pathway and rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway;

wherein the rotation axis is oblique to the axis extending along the fluid channel.

2. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the outlet of the flow pathway is configured to be placed in communication with the fluid channel, such that fluid flowing along the flow pathway may be returned to the channel, in use.

3. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the axes are orthogonal.

4. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises one or more rotor blades, extending from a hub.

5. The turbine according to claim 1, configured so that, in use, fluid flows past or through the rotor along the flow pathway obliquely to the rotation axis.

6. The turbine according to claim 1, comprising more than one flow pathway, each having an inlet and an outlet.

7. The turbine according to claim 1, configured to operate bi-directionally.

8. The turbine according to claim 7, configured to extract energy from fluid flowing in either direction along the flow pathway.

9. The turbine according to claim 1, wherein the inlet and/or the outlet of the flow pathway is provided with a flow control arrangement, configured to vary the rate of fluid flow along the flow pathway and/or the proportion of fluid flowing from the fluid channel and into the flow pathway.

10. The turbine according to claim 9, comprising an autonomous flow control arrangement, responsive to changes in flow or fluid conditions.

11. The turbine according to claim 9, wherein the outlet comprises a flapper valve, operable to prevent fluid from flowing into the fluid channel against the flapper valve.

12. The turbine according to claim 1, comprising an electrical rotor and stator;

the stator comprising a permanent magnet or one or more conductive coils; and

the rotor comprising the other of a permanent magnet or one or more conductive coils.

13. The turbine according to claim 12, comprising or configured to be coupled to a chargeable cell or battery.

14. The turbine according to claim 1, comprising or configured to be coupled to an energy storage arrangement.

20. The apparatus according to claims 15, comprising a turbine according to claim 1.

15. Apparatus for use in a fluid flow system comprising;

a body defining a fluid channel having an axis; and

a turbine coupled to the body and comprising;

a flow pathway having an inlet communicating the fluid channel and an outlet; and

a rotor disposed within the flow pathway and rotatable around a rotation axis under the action of fluid flowing along the flow pathway;

wherein the rotation axis is oblique to the axis extending along the fluid channel.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the body is a fluid conduit or a tubular.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the body comprises a mandrel and the turbine is recessed into the mandrel.

18. The apparatus according to claim 15, comprising or configured for connection to an inflow control device, a sensor and/or a logging tool.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein, in use, energy extracted or generated by the turbine is supplied to a said inflow control device, a sensor and/or a logging tool.

21. A method for extracting energy from fluid flowing along a fluid channel, comprising;

passing fluid from the fluid channel through an inlet to a flow pathway and to an outlet from the flow pathway;

past a rotor disposed in the flow pathway; and

rotating the rotor under the action of the fluid flowing in the flow pathway, around a rotation axis which is oblique to an axis extending along the fluid channel.

22. The method according to claim 21, comprising passing only a portion of fluid flowing along the fluid channel through the flow pathway.

23. The method according to claim 21, comprising varying the flow of fluid along the flow pathway and/or varying the proportion of fluid from the fluid channel which flows along the flow pathway.

24. The method according to claim 21, comprising storing the extracted energy.

25. (canceled)

26. (canceled)