Submarine power station and assembly thereof

• US 8,692,403 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Voith Patent Gmbh
• Inventors: Holstein, Benjamin, Perner, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, VIET P
• Application Number:
  US12/737,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20110170954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,740 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/54, 415/3.1, 415/2.1, 415/42, 415/53, 603/98, 606/98
• US Class Current: 290/54
• 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 transport of wind turbines or equipments therefore F03D13/40
• 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

An installation method for an underwater power plant includes a nacelle comprising a nacelle housing having a first nacelle housing section, a water turbine including a drive connection to a drive shaft, the drive shaft being mounted inside the first nacelle housing section, an electrical generator, comprising a generator rotor and a generator stator, and a generator housing. The electrical generator and the generator housing from a separate generator module that can be handled and installed as a whole, and an adjustment of bearings for the drive shaft is executed before a production of a coupling between the generator module and the drive shaft, and the generator housing is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the first nacelle housing section and the generator is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the drive shaft, the generator rotor being carried by the drive shaft after the coupling.

Claims

1. An installation method for an underwater power plant having:

a nacelle comprising a nacelle housing having a first nacelle housing section with bearings;

a water turbine including a drive connection to a drive shaft, the drive shaft being mounted inside the first nacelle housing section and the drive shaft is carried by the bearings;

an electrical generator, comprising a generator rotor and a generator stator; and

a generator housing;

wherein the electrical generator and the generator housing form a separate generator module that is handled and installed as a whole, and

wherein an adjustment of the bearings within the first nacelle housing section for the drive shaft is executed before a production of a coupling between the generator module and the drive shaft, and

wherein the generator housing of the generator module is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the first nacelle housing section and the generator rotor is coupled in a rotationally-fixed manner to the drive shaft, wherein the generator rotor is carried by the drive shaft after the coupling such that the bearings within the first nacelle housing section are the only bearings of the generator rotor.

2. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the generator module is provided with a transport safeguard for the generator rotor until the coupling of the generator module.

3. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein a realignment of the bearings of the drive shaft is performed after the coupling of the generator module.

4. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein a realignment of the bearings of the drive shaft is performed after the coupling of the generator module.

5. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the generator module is coupled axially onto the drive shaft in relation to a rotational axis of the drive shaft.

6. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein the generator module is coupled axially onto the drive shaft in relation to a rotational axis of the drive shaft.

7. The installation method according to claim 3, wherein the generator module is coupled axially onto the drive shaft in relation to a rotational axis of the drive shaft.

8. The installation method according to claim 4, wherein the generator module is coupled axially onto the drive shaft in relation to a rotational axis of the drive shaft.

9. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein a connection means for coupling the generator rotor to the drive shaft are accessible via a passage opening located centrally in the generator module.

10. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein a connection means for coupling the generator rotor to the drive shall are accessible via a passage opening located centrally in the generator module.

11. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein an air gap between the generator rotor and the generator stator is flooded.

12. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein an air gap between the generator rotor and the generator stator is flooded.

13. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of a buoyant body and a liquid-tight encapsulated buoyant volume is assigned to at least one of the drive shaft and the generator rotor.

14. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein at least one of a buoyant body and a liquid-tight encapsulated buoyant volume is assigned to at least one of the drive shaft and the generator rotor.

15. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the generator housing forms a second nacelle housing section, wherein a flow is around the second nacelle housing section in operation of the underwater power plant, after the coupling of the generator module.

16. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein the generator housing forms a second nacelle housing section, wherein a flow is around the second nacelle housing section in operation of the underwater power plant, after the coupling of the generator module.

17. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the water turbine and the drive shaft are connected to form a detachable revolving unit that is connectable in a rotationally-fixed manner.

18. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein the water turbine and the drive shaft are connected to form a detachable revolving unit that is connectable in a rotationally-fixed manner.

19. The installation method according to claim 1, wherein the nacelle housing is fastened on a support structure and the generator module and the water turbine are situated on opposing sides in relation to the fastening on the support structure.

20. The installation method according to claim 2, wherein the nacelle housing is fastened on a support structure and the generator module and the water turbine are situated on opposing sides in relation to the fastening on the support structure.