Method and apparatus for energy generation

• US 9,689,368 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2011
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OneSubsea IP UK Limited (SLB)
• Original Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Hopper, Hans P
• Primary Examiner(s): Laurenzi, Mark
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stanek, Kelsey
• Application Number:
  US13/976,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20130333370A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,008 Days
• Field of Search: 60495, 60502, 60503, 415 1, 417 3, 137 14, 290 54, 418104
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/00 Water-power plants; Layout, construction or equipment, methods of, or apparatus for, making same
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/04 Free-flow canals or flumes; Intakes gratings or screens therefor E02B5/08
• CPC Class Codes: E02B 9/08 Tide or wave power plants water-pressure machines, tide or wave motors F03B
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 11/006 Sealing arrangements F03B3/14, F03B3/183, F03B13/083 takes precedence; sealings in general F16J
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/08 Machine or engine aggregates in dams or the like; Conduits therefor , e.g. diffusors bulb groups F03B13/105
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/26 using tide energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/264 using the horizontal flow of water resulting from tide movement
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/268 making use of a dam
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/14 by or of water level
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/063 the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/065 the flow engaging parts having a cyclic movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/12 Blades; Blade-carrying rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 7/003 with buckets receiving the liquid
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/13 to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• 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 system for the generation of energy from the flow of water in a body of water is provided, the system comprising a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water; a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly, each rotor assembly comprising a vertical hub rotatable about a vertical axis and a plurality of vertical blades extending radially from the hub, the first and second rotor assemblies being arranged such that the volume swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps the volume swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly. The system may be used to generate energy, for example electricity. In addition, the system may be used to control the level of water on the upstream side of the installation, for example in the cases of flooding.

Claims

1. A system for the generation of energy from a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the system comprising:

a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water;

a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a first rotor assembly and a second rotor assembly, each rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub; and

means to variably limit the speed of rotation of one or more of the first and second rotor assemblies and thereby control the water level upstream of the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly comprises a fixed structure extending from the bed of the body of water.

3. The system according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of generator assemblies.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly extends across the body of water.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the banks of the body of water.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the general direction of flow of water in the body of water.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the means to variably limit the speed of rotation comprises one of a brake acting upon the hub of the first rotor assembly and the second rotor assembly and a variable speed energy take-off system.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein each hub comprises a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing, wherein the blades are mounted to the housing such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, and wherein the hub is configured to allow water to flow between adjacent blades and into the annular cavity of each housing.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the housing of each hub comprises an inner hub portion and a plurality of plates extending radially outward from the inner hub portion, the inner portion of the blades mounted to an outer edge of the plates.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising a gate configured to selectively close the annular cavity in each hub to prevent water flowing therethrough.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blades are planar.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the blades are provided with a curved portion at their edge.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the generator assembly is disposed in a conduit extending through the support assembly.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the axis of the conduit is parallel with the general direction of the flow of water.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the rotor assemblies are arranged to extend on a line perpendicular to the axis of the conduit.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the rotor assemblies extend across the width of the conduit, thereby presenting an obstacle to the flow of water therealong.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the opposing sides of the conduit are each provided with a seal assembly to cooperate with the outer edges of the blades.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein the outer edges of the blades are provided with seals.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rotor assemblies are arranged such that a volume of water swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps a volume of water swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly, and wherein a seal assembly is disposed on an upstream side of the rotor assemblies to prevent water entering the overlapping swept volume of the rotor assemblies.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second rotor assemblies are arranged such that a volume of water swept by the blades of the first rotor assembly overlaps a volume of water swept by the blades of the second rotor assembly, and wherein a seal assembly is disposed on a downstream side of the rotor assemblies to prevent water entering the overlapping swept volume of the rotor assemblies.

21. The system according to claim 1, wherein a flow guide assembly is disposed on an upstream side of the rotor assemblies to direct water onto the upstream blades of the rotor assemblies at an angle to the general direction of the flow of water.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein a flow guide assembly is disposed on a downstream side of the rotor assemblies to direct water onto the upstream blades of the rotor assemblies at an angle to the general direction of the flow of water.

23. A system for the generation of energy from a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the system comprising:

a support assembly extending across at least a portion of the body of water;

a generator assembly mounted in the support assembly, the generator assembly comprising a rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub, adjacent blades of the rotor assembly defining between them a blade cavity;

wherein the hub comprises a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing,

wherein the blades are mounted to the housing such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, and

wherein the hub is configured to allow water to flow from a first blade cavity of the rotor assembly to a second blade cavity of the rotor assembly through the annular cavity of the hub.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein the support assembly comprises a fixed structure extending from the bed of the body of water.

25. The system according to claim 23, comprising a plurality of generator assemblies.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein the support assembly extends across the body of water.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the banks of the body of water.

28. The system according to claim 24, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the general direction of flow of water in the body of water.

29. The system of claim 24, further comprising a means to variably limit the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly, to thereby control the water level upstream of the system.

30. The system according to claim 23, wherein the housing of the hub comprises an inner hub portion and a plurality of outer plates extending radially outward from the inner hub portion, the inner portion of the blades mounted to an outer edge of the plates.

31. The system according to claim 23, further comprising a gate configured to selectively close the annular cavity in the hub to prevent water flowing therethrough.

32. The system according to claim 23, wherein the blades are planar.

33. The system according to claim 23, wherein the blades are provided with a curved portion at their edge.

34. The system according to claim 23, wherein the generator assembly is disposed in a conduit extending through the support assembly.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the axis of the conduit is parallel with the general direction of the flow of water.

36. The system according to claim 35, wherein the system comprises two rotor assemblies disposed within the conduit, the rotor assemblies being arranged to extend on a line perpendicular to the axis of the conduit.

37. The system according to claim 34, wherein the rotor assemblies extend across the width of the conduit, thereby presenting an obstacle to the flow of water therealong.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the opposing sides of the conduit are each provided with a seal assembly to cooperate with the outer edges of the blades.

39. The system according to claim 23, wherein the outer edges of the blades are provided with seals.

40. A system to control a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the system comprising:

a support assembly having a conduit through which the water may flow;

a rotor assembly disposed in the conduit, the rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub;

the conduit comprising first and second opposing surfaces contacted by the radially outer edge regions of each blade as the blades of the rotor assembly sweep by the first and second opposing surfaces, whereby there is at least one position of the rotor assembly when a blade is in contact with each of the first and second opposing surfaces; and

means to variably limit the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly and thereby control the water level upstream of the system.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the banks of the body of water.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein the support assembly extends perpendicular to the general direction of flow of water in the body of water.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein the hub comprises a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing, wherein the blades are mounted to the housing such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, and wherein the hub is configured to allow water to flow between adjacent blades and into the annular cavity of the housing.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein the housing of the hub comprises an inner hub portion and a plurality of plates extending radially outward from the inner hub portion, the inner portion of the blades mounted to an outer edge of the plates.

45. The system according to claim 43, further comprising a gate to selectively close the annular cavity in the hub to prevent water flowing therethrough.

46. The system according to claim 40, wherein the blades are planar.

47. The system according to claim 40, wherein the blades are provided with a curved portion at their edge.

48. The system according to claim 40, wherein the axis of the conduit is parallel with the general direction of the flow of water.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein the system comprises a plurality of rotor assemblies, the rotor assemblies being arranged to extend on a line perpendicular to the axis of the conduit.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein the rotor assemblies extend across the width of the conduit, thereby presenting an obstacle to the flow of water therealong.

51. The system according to claim 40, wherein the opposing sides of the conduit are each provided with a seal assembly to cooperate with the outer edges of the blades.

52. The system according to claim 40, wherein the outer edges of the blades are provided with seals.

53. The system according to claim 40, wherein the means to variably limit the speed of rotation comprises one of a brake acting upon the rotor assembly and a variable speed energy take-off system.

54. The system according to claim 40, further comprising a motor for rotating the rotor assembly.

55. A method for controlling a flow of water having a general direction from upstream to downstream in a body of water having a bed and banks, the method comprising:

providing an obstacle to the flow of water;

providing a conduit in the obstacle for the passage of water therethrough;

providing a rotor assembly in the conduit, the rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis and a plurality of blades extending radially from the hub;

the conduit comprising first and second opposing surfaces contacted by the radially outer edge regions of each blade as the blades of the rotor assembly rotates sweep by the first and second opposing surfaces, whereby there is at least one position of the rotor assembly when a blade is in contact with each of the first and second opposing surfaces; and

variably limiting the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly through the rotor assembly, thereby controlling the water level upstream of the system.

56. The method according to claim 55, wherein one of a brake acting upon the hub of the rotor assembly and a variable speed energy take-off system is used to variably limit the speed of rotation of the rotor assembly.

57. A method for generating energy from a flowing body of water, the method comprising:

providing an obstacle to the flow of water;

providing a conduit in the obstacle for the passage of water therethrough;

providing a rotor assembly in the conduit, the rotor assembly comprising a hub rotatable about an axis, the hub comprising a housing formed about the axis with an annular cavity extending between the axis and the housing and a plurality of blades mounted to the housing and extending radially from the hub such that an inner portion of each blade is spaced from the axis, adjacent blades of the rotor assembly defining between them a blade cavity such that the hub is configured to allow water to flow from a first blade cavity of the rotor assembly to a second blade cavity of the rotor assembly through the annular cavity of the hub; and

retrieving kinetic energy from rotation of the rotor assembly.

58. The method according to claim 57, further comprising converting kinetic energy from rotation of the rotor assembly to electrical energy.

59. The method according to claim 57, further comprising selectively opening and closing the annular cavity of the hub with a gate.