Hydroelectric turbine

• US 8,466,595 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 06/18/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
• Original Assignee: OpenHydro Group Limited
• Inventors: Spooner, Ed
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US12/373,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 290/54
• US Class Current: 310/216.002
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/083 The generator rotor being mounted as turbine rotor rim
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7064 of the alternating current (A.C.) type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/05 Rectifiers associated with casings, enclosures or brackets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 16/02 Machines with one stator and two or more rotors
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/28 Layout of windings or of connections between windings windings for pole-changing H02K17/06, H02K17/14, H02K19/12, H02K19/32
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/47 Air-gap windings, i.e. iron-free windings
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• 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

A hydroelectric turbine having a stator and a rotor housed concentrically within the stator, the turbine having a circumferentially disposed array of magnets on a rim of the rotor, and wherein the stator is slotless in configuration and is formed from a wire winding as opposed to the conventional toothed laminations, the turbine further having an annular array of individual coils mounted on the stator concentrically inwardly of the wire winding, each coil being provided with a dedicated rectifier to convert AC current induced in the coil into DC, preferably for transmission to a remote location.

Claims

1. A hydroelectric turbine comprising a rotor;

an array of magnets disposed about an outer rim of the rotor and forming a radial magnetic field;

a slotless stator concentrically surrounding the rotor and comprising a ferromagnetic wire winding which defines a magnetic flux return path for the magnets, the stator winding being formed from non-insulated iron wire; and

a plurality of coils on the stator.

2. A turbine according to claim 1 in which the coils are disposed radially inwardly of the wire winding.

3. A turbine according to claim 1 in which the individual coils are mechanically attached to the stator without being intertwined therewith.

4. A turbine according to claim 1 in which the coils are not intertwined with one another.

5. A turbine according to claim 1 in which the coils are arranged side by side to define an annular array concentrically surrounding the array of magnets.

6. A turbine according to claim 1 in which the induced electromotive force in the coils are not all of the same phase.

7. A turbine according to claim 1 in which each coil is bonded to the stator.

8. A turbine according to claim 1 in which each coil is provided with a dedicated rectifier.

9. A turbine according to claim 8 in which the rectifiers are mounted on the stator.

10. A turbine according to claim 8 in which each coil and respective rectifier are encased together in a fluid tight coating or housing.

11. A turbine according to claim 8 in which each rectifier comprises a diode bridge or half bridge.

12. A turbine according to claim 8 in which the rectifiers are connected to a common DC output.

13. A turbine according to claim 8 in which the rectifiers are connected together to form a plurality of groups in each of which the rectifiers are connected in parallel, the plurality of groups being connected together in series.

14. A turbine according to claim 1 in which each rectifier is mounted in close proximity to the respective coil.

15. A turbine according to claim 1 in which each coil is encased in a fluid tight coating or housing.

16. A turbine according to claim 15 in which the coating or housing is electrically insulating.