Power Generation Unit For Oceanographic Sensor Moorings

• US 20180291867A1
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Published: 10/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Original Assignee: Memorial University of Newfoundland
• Inventors: Cook, Andrew, Press, Adam, Holden, Geoff
• Granted Patent: US 10,641,237 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 2035/4466 for converting water energy into electric energy, e.g. from tidal flows, waves or currents
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 22/04 Fixations or other anchoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7068 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• 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

An oceanographic sensor mooring section for use with standard oceanographic moorings comprising: mooring oceanographic equipment, such as floatation devices and sensors; and a subsurface power generation unit connected to the mooring oceanographic equipment, wherein the mooring section has connective swivels at opposing ends thereof for attachment of the mooring section to standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors, to allow the mooring section to independently orient in the direction of current flow. The subsurface power generation unit comprises a battery and power management/tracking electronics and a rim turbine generating unit that harnesses the power of underwater currents to power any sensors and related electronics equipment.

Claims

1. An oceanographic sensor mooring section for use with standard oceanographic moorings comprising:

mooring oceanographic equipment; and

a subsurface power generation unit connected to said mooring oceanographic equipment,

wherein said mooring section has connective swivels at opposing ends thereof for attachment of said mooring section to standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors, to allow said mooring section to independently orient in the direction of current flow.

2. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mooring oceanographic equipment comprises a floatation device.

3. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 2 wherein the mooring oceanographic equipment further comprises a sensor for measuring one or more of physical, chemical or biological processes in an undersea environment.

4. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 1 wherein said subsurface power generation unit harnesses power from underwater currents.

5. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 4 wherein said subsurface power generation unit comprises a battery and power management/tracking electronics, and a rim turbine generating unit, each connected to a frame.

6. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 5 wherein said battery and power management/tracking electronics comprises a lithium battery pack and associated electronics housed in a pressure housing.

7. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rim turbine generating unit comprises a blade and rotor assembly rotatably connected to and within a venturi cowling and stator assembly by means of a shaft connected to said stator assembly that passes through the centre of said blade and rotor assembly.

8. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 7 wherein said blade and rotor assembly comprises at least three turbine blades the distal ends of which are attached to a cylindrical rotor thereof comprising magnets arranged in a Halbach array configuration, wherein said blade and rotor assembly is capable of rotating on the shaft that passes through the centre of said blade and rotor assembly on bearings.

9. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 8 wherein said rim turbine generating unit further comprises a venturi cowling cap releasably connected to the venturi cowling and stator assembly and a nose cone releasably connected to a free end of the shaft of the venturi cowling and stator assembly.

10. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 7 wherein said venturi cowling and stator assembly comprises coils, a venturi cowling mount and at least 3 venturi cowling support rods.

11. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 10 wherein said coils comprises at least 36 coils, each of said coils comprising 55 turns of 18 awg magnet wire and configured for 3 phase power output.

12. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 9 wherein said venturi cowling cap increases flow speed near the tips of the turbine blades and provides drag to orient the rim turbine generating unit in the direction of current flow.

13. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 5 wherein said rim turbine generating unit is associated with an alignment fin that assists in keeping said unit aligned in the direction of current flow.

14. An oceanographic sensor mooring section as claimed in claim 13 wherein said rim turbine generating unit and said alignment fin pivot about a pivot point to allow the rim turbine generating unit to be self-compensating for mooring inclination.

15. A subsurface power generation unit that harnesses power from underwater currents for use with standard oceanographic moorings comprising:

a battery and power management/tracking electronics; and

a rim turbine generating unit, wherein each of said battery and power management/tracking electronics and rim turbine generating unit is connected to a perpendicular frame, and

wherein said frame has connective swivels at opposing ends thereof for attachment of said subsurface power generation unit to mooring oceanographic equipment, standard oceanographic moorings, mooring lines, or mooring anchors, to allow said subsurface power generation unit to independently orient in the direction of current flow.

16-24. -24. (canceled)

25. An underwater rim turbine generating unit for use with standard oceanographic moorings that is capable of harnessing power from underwater currents comprising a blade and rotor assembly connected to a venturi cowling and stator assembly by means of a shaft connected to said venturi cowling and stator assembly and that passes through the centre of said blade and rotor assembly.

26-30. -30. (canceled)