JP6132089B2 - Ocean current power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an underwater floating type ocean current power generation apparatus capable of floating and sinking a pod including a turbine and a generator.

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, ocean current power generation apparatuses that generate power using the energy of seawater flow such as ocean currents and tidal currents have been developed.
In general, an ocean current power generation apparatus arranges a turbine that rotates in response to the flow of seawater, and generates electricity by driving a generator by the rotation. Examples of the turbine include a horizontal axis turbine whose rotation axis is parallel (horizontal) to the flow of seawater, and a vertical turbine whose rotation axis is perpendicular to the flow of seawater.

  As a specific ocean current power generation device, each of the three hollow columns disposed at the apexes of the triangle in a top view includes a propeller turbine (horizontal shaft turbine) that rotates in response to the flow of seawater. A semi-submersible ocean current power generation device that generates power by being driven by the rotation of a propeller turbine has been developed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-114904 A

In the case of the semi-submersible ocean current power generation device described in Patent Document 1, between the operation state in which the propeller turbine is submerged by pouring water in the hollow column and the maintenance state in which the propeller turbine is exposed on the sea surface. The state can be changed.
On the other hand, as the ocean current power generation device, there is a so-called underwater floating power generation device in which a pod provided with a turbine and a power generation device is completely submerged in seawater, and the pod is moored and suspended from the seabed. In such a power generation apparatus, a configuration in which a ballast tank is provided in the pod and the buoyancy of the pod is adjusted by pouring and draining the ballast tank can be considered. However, if the ballast tank is drained while the pod is in the water, there is a problem that the pressure inside the ballast tank is reduced and the load on the pump that drains is increased accordingly. Further, if the air inside the ballast tank does not escape during the water injection, the pressure inside the ballast tank becomes high, and the load on the pump for water injection increases.

As another buoyancy adjusting means, there is a method in which a fixed ballast is provided in advance, and the fixed ballast is levitated by throwing the fixed ballast in the sea when ascending. However, in this method, if the fixed ballast is discarded, it is difficult to sink again, and fine buoyancy adjustment cannot be performed.
The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and the object of the present invention is to enable smooth water injection and drainage without deteriorating pump performance even in a submerged floating ocean current power generation device. Then, it is providing the ocean current power generator which can perform quick buoyancy adjustment.

In order to achieve the above-described object, the ocean current power generation apparatus according to claim 1 includes a turbine that rotates by a flow of seawater, and a pod that supports the turbine and houses a power generation unit that generates power by the rotation of the turbine. In a submerged floating ocean current power generation device, a buoyancy adjustment unit that adjusts buoyancy by pouring or draining water, one end opening on the sea surface, the other end is connected to the buoyancy adjustment unit, and the buoyancy adjustment unit An air circulation means communicating with the surface of the sea , wherein the air circulation means is a tube member made of a telescopic mechanism .

One Oite the marine current power equipment according to the reference example, the air circulation means is characterized in that from the downstream side of ocean current from the turbine of the pod is a tube member extending on the sea surface.
Oite the marine current power equipment according to another reference example, the air circulation means comprises a first tubular member rigid extending from the pod to the sea side, extends from the distal end of the first tubular member on the sea surface And a flexible second pipe member.

Further Oite the marine current power equipment according to another reference example, the air circulation means is characterized in that it is retractable relative to the pod.
In the marine current power device 請 Motomeko 2, Oite to claim 1, wherein the air circulation means is characterized in that for sucking air into the buoyancy section when performing drainage of the buoyancy unit.

According to the present invention using the above means, in the submerged floating current generator, the buoyancy adjusting unit that adjusts the buoyancy by pouring drainage is provided with the air circulation means that communicates with the surface of the sea, so that the drainage from the buoyancy adjusting unit is performed. When done, air can be inhaled from above the sea surface.
Thereby, the low pressure of the buoyancy adjustment unit can be prevented, and even in an underwater floating type ocean current power generation device, smooth drainage can be performed without deteriorating the pump performance, and thus quick buoyancy adjustment can be performed.

1 is an overall configuration diagram of an ocean current power generation device according to a reference embodiment of the present invention. It is an internal block diagram of the pod which concerns on one reference form of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operating state of the ocean current power generator concerning one reference form. It is explanatory drawing which shows the operation state of the ocean current power generator concerning 1st Embodiment of this invention . It is explanatory drawing which shows the operating state of the ocean current electric power generating apparatus which concerns on another reference form.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an overall configuration diagram of an ocean current power generation device according to a reference embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 is a so-called twin ocean current in which a pair of left and right pods 2, 2 are connected by a connecting beam 3, and a turbine 4, 4 is provided at the tail of each pod 2, 2. It is a power generation device.

In the turbine 4, two blades 6, 6 extend from a hub portion 5 at the center of rotation in directions opposite to each other perpendicular to the rotation axis direction. The turbines 4, 4 provided in the pair of left and right pods 2, 2 are opposite in rotation direction and counter-rotate to cancel the rotational torque accompanying the rotation of both turbines 4, 4.
One end of a mooring line 7 is connected to the center part of the lower surface of each pod 2, and each mooring line 7 joins in the middle to form a Y-shape as a whole. The other end of the mooring line 7 is a sinker 8. It is connected to the. The sinker 8 is fixed to the seabed, and moors the pods 2 and 2 via a mooring line 7. Although not shown, a power transmission cable extends from each of the pods 2 and 2 in parallel with the mooring cable 7, and the power transmission cable is connected to a transformer provided on the seabed.

  Moreover, in the tail part of each pod 2, 2, the air pipes 9 and 9 (air distribution means) are extended toward the downstream side of the ocean current from the hub parts 5 and 5 of the turbines 4 and 4. The air pipes 9 and 9 are made of a flexible material, and are connected to floating bodies 10 and 10 that float on water at one end. The air pipes 9 and 9 have a sufficient length so that the floating bodies 10 and 10 float on the sea even when the pods 2 and 2 are suspended in water. The floating bodies 10 and 10 are configured to open on the sea without closing one end of the air tubes 9 and 9.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, the internal structure of one pod 2 is shown. Since the other pod 2 has the same configuration, the description of the other pod 2 is omitted (hereinafter, the same applies to FIGS. 3 and 4).
As shown in FIG. 2, a generator 12 (power generation unit) connected to the hub 5 of the turbine 4 via a rotating shaft 11 is provided in the pod 2. The generator 12 generates power by rotating the rotating shaft 11 as the blades 6 and 6 receive the flow of seawater and rotates the hub portion 5, and transmits power via a power transmission cable (not shown). It is.

In the pod 2, a ballast tank 13 (buoyancy adjustment unit) for adjusting the buoyancy of the pod 2 is provided. The ballast tank 13 is provided with an injection / drainage pump 14 that can drain water (seawater) stored inside the ballast tank 13 to the outside and can inject water (seawater) inside. Yes.
Further, the other end of the air pipe 9 is connected to the ballast tank 13 via an intake / exhaust pump 15. The air pipe 9 extends from the hub portion 5 through the rotary shaft 11 and the generator 12 to the intake / exhaust pump 15 so as not to be affected by the rotation of the turbine 4 inside the pod 2. In this way, the air pipe 9 communicates the ballast tank 13 and the sea surface.

  The intake / exhaust pump 15 sucks air into the ballast tank 13 from the sea surface via the air pipe 9 according to the amount of drained water when draining from the ballast tank 13 is performed by the pouring / draining pump 14. To do. The intake / exhaust pump 15 discharges air in the ballast tank 13 to the outside on the sea surface via the air pipe 9 when water is poured into the ballast tank 13 by the pouring / draining pump 14.

Hereinafter, the effect of the ocean current power generation device configured as described above will be described.
Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown an explanatory diagram showing an operating state of the ocean current power generation device according to one reference embodiment, which will be described below with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the pod 2 moored and suspended in the water via the mooring cable 7 is in a posture facing the direction of the ocean current. And the power generation by the generator 12 is performed because the turbine 4 rotates in response to the flow of seawater by the current. As the turbine 4 rotates and a load is applied to the pod 2, the mooring line 7 is stretched, and the mooring line 7 and the sinker 8 are moved to the downstream side using the connecting portion between the mooring line 7 and the sinker 8 and settling down. The amount of water in the ballast tank 13 is adjusted so that the ballast tank 13 stays at an appropriate water depth while receiving a load due to the rotation of the turbine 4.

At this time, the floating body 10 floating on the water floats on the sea surface, and the air pipe 9 extending rearward from the hub portion 5 extends to the sea surface while being flowed downstream from the pod 2 by the sea current, and the sea surface via the floating body 10 Open at the top.
When the pod 2 needs to be lifted for fine adjustment of the floating position of the pod 2 due to changes in the strength of the ocean current or for maintenance, the water in the ballast tank 13 is discharged by the pouring / draining pump 14. (Drain). At the same time, the intake / exhaust pump 15 sucks (intakes) air into the ballast tank 13 through the air pipe 9 in accordance with the amount of drainage from the ballast tank 13.

In this way, the pressure in the ballast tank 13 can be prevented by sucking air from the outside through the air pipe 9 extending to the sea together with the drainage of the ballast tank 13. Thereby, an excessive load is not applied to the pouring / drainage pump 14, and smooth drainage can be performed.
Further, when the pod 2 needs to be settled in order to finely adjust the floating position of the pod 2, water (seawater) is injected (injected) into the ballast tank 13 by the injection / drainage pump 14. At the same time, the intake / exhaust pump 15 discharges (exhausts) the air in the ballast tank 13 through the air pipe 9 according to the amount of water injected into the ballast tank 13.

Even in this case, high pressure in the ballast tank 13 can be prevented by discharging the air onto the sea surface through the air pipe 9 together with the water injection of the ballast tank 13. Thereby, an excessive load is not applied to the pouring / drainage pump 14, and smooth water pouring can be performed.
In addition, since the air pipe 9 extends downstream from the hub portion 5 of the turbine 4 at the tail of the pod 2, it can safely intake and exhaust air without interfering with the blade 6 even when it is swept by the ocean current. It can be carried out.

From these facts, the ocean current power generation device according to one embodiment can prevent low pressure and high pressure inside the ballast tank 13, and even in the submerged floating power generation device, smooth drainage can be performed without deteriorating the pump performance. As a result, quick buoyancy adjustment can be performed.
Although the description about one reference form of the ocean current power generation apparatus according to the present invention is finished as described above, the one reference form is not limited to the above configuration.

For example, in addition to the configuration of the above one reference embodiment, a winding device for the air tube 9 may be provided in the pod 2 so that the air tube 9 can be expanded and contracted with respect to the pod 2. By providing the take-up device, the air pipe 9 is taken up when the intake / exhaust is not required, so that the load applied to the pod 2 due to the extension of the air pipe 9 and the air pipe 9 and the obstacles are increased. Can be prevented, and safer and more efficient operation can be realized.

Further, as indicated by a chain line in FIG. 3, the floating body 10 may be replaced with the route mark 16. In this way, by using the floating body 10 as the route mark 16, it is not necessary to provide a route mark separately.
In addition to the hub portion 5 of the turbine 4, the air pipe 9 may be configured to extend from other portions as long as it does not interfere with the rotating blade 6.

Next, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic configuration diagram of the ocean current power generation device in the first embodiment is shown. Incidentally, in ocean current power generation system of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals refer to like parts of the one reference embodiment, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
The ocean current power generation apparatus 20 shown in FIG. 4 is replaced with an air pipe 21 (air circulation means) that can be expanded and contracted by a telescopic mechanism in place of the air pipe 9 and the floating body 10 provided in each pod 2 of the ocean current power generation apparatus 1 of the above-mentioned reference embodiment. ) Is provided.

The air pipe 21 extends from the head side of the pod 2 so that the tip opens on the sea surface when the ocean current power generation device 20 is in operation. Moreover, the said air pipe | tube 21 is formed with the hard material which can oppose the flow of seawater. The air pipe 21 communicates with the ballast tank 13 through the intake / exhaust pump 22 at the root portion.
The ocean current power generation device 20 according to the first embodiment configured as described above discharges water in the ballast tank 13 by the pouring / draining pump 14 and floats on the sea surface by the intake / exhaust pump 22 when the pod 2 is floated. Air is sucked into the ballast tank 13 through the air pipe 21 extending to the end. When the pod 2 is allowed to settle, water is injected into the ballast tank 13 by the pouring / draining pump 14, and air in the ballast tank 13 is discharged via the air pipe 21 by the intake / exhaust pump 15.

The timing at which the air pipe 21 expands and contracts is set based on the performance of the pouring / draining pump 14. For example, after monitoring the efficiency of the pouring / draining pump 14 and considering the expansion / contraction time of the air pipe 21, the time when the efficiency of draining or water pouring begins to deteriorate from a predetermined value is the time when the expansion / contraction of the air pipe 21 is started. Set.
Thereby, like the said one reference form, the inside of the ballast tank 13 does not become low pressure and high pressure, but can perform smooth drainage and water injection to the said ballast tank 13.

Further, the air pipe 21 is formed of a hard material capable of resisting the flow of seawater, so that it can safely intake and exhaust air without interfering with the blade 6 even if it extends from the head side of the pod 2. Can do.
Further, since the air tube 21 can be expanded and contracted by a telescopic mechanism, the air tube 21 can be contracted and stored in the pod 2 when there is no need for intake and exhaust. As in the above-described one reference embodiment, this can prevent an increase in the load applied to the pod 2 due to the extension of the air pipe 21 and contact between the air pipe 21 and the obstacle, which is safer and more efficient. Operation can be realized.

Next, another reference embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a schematic configuration diagram of an ocean current power generation device according to another reference embodiment. In addition, in the ocean current power generation device in the other reference form , the same reference numerals are given to the same configuration as the configuration of the one reference form, and the detailed description is omitted.
The ocean current power generation device 30 shown in FIG. 5 replaces the air tube 21 of the telescopic mechanism of the first embodiment with a first air tube 31a (first tube member) made of a hard material and a first material made of a flexible material. A connected air pipe 31 (air circulation means) connected to the two air pipes 31b (second pipe member) is provided.

The first air pipe 31a extends longer than the length of the blade 6 from the head side of the ocean current power generation device 30 toward the sea surface. The first air pipe 31 a communicates with the ballast tank 13 through the intake / exhaust pump 32 at the root portion.
The second air pipe 31b extends from the front end of the first air pipe 31a to the sea surface, and a floating body 33 similar to that of the one reference embodiment is provided at the front end. Moreover, the 2nd air pipe 31b can be wound up in the 1st air pipe 31a and the pod 2 by providing the winding apparatus in the pod 2, for example.

When the pod 2 is floated, the ocean current power generation apparatus 30 according to another reference embodiment configured as described above discharges the water in the ballast tank 13 by the pouring / draining pump 14 and also by the intake / exhaust pump 32 on the sea surface. Air is sucked into the ballast tank 13 through the connecting air pipe 31 extending to the end. When the pod 2 is allowed to settle, water is injected into the ballast tank 13 by the pouring / draining pump 14, and air in the ballast tank 13 is discharged by the intake / exhaust pump 15 through the connection air pipe 31. In addition, about the time which expands / contracts the 2nd air pipe 31b, it is the same as that of the air pipe 21 of the said 1st Embodiment, for example.

Thereby, similarly to the one reference embodiment and the first embodiment, the inside of the ballast tank 13 is not reduced in pressure and pressure, and smooth drainage and water injection into the ballast tank 13 can be performed.
The first air pipe 31a of the connection air pipe 31 extends longer than the length of the blade 6, and the second air pipe 31b made of a flexible material extends from the tip of the first air pipe 31a. Even if the second air pipe 31 b receives the flow of the ocean current and flows downstream, the intake and exhaust can be performed safely without interfering with the blade 6.

Further, if the second air pipe 31b can be wound up, the second air pipe 31b can be wound up and stored in the second air pipe 31b and the pod 2 when there is no need for intake and exhaust. This can prevent an increase in the load on the pod 2 due to the extension of the second air pipe 31b, contact between the second air pipe 31b and the obstacle, etc., and realize safer and more efficient operation. be able to. Note that the first air pipe 31a may be configured to be extendable and contractable, for example, like the air pipe 21 of the first embodiment.

End of the description to other reference embodiment according to the present invention above, embodiments are not limited to the first embodiment form state.
For example, although the turbine 4 in each of the above embodiments includes two blades 6 and 6, the number of blades is not limited to this.
In each of the above embodiments, when water is poured into the ballast tank 13, air is discharged through the air pipes 9 and 21, but the air pipe is at least capable of performing intake during drainage. The internal air may be discharged into the seawater without using an air pipe when the ballast tank is poured.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the ballast tank 13 is provided inside each of the pair of pods 2, but the configuration of the ballast tank is not limited to this, and for example, the ballast tank is provided in the connecting beam. The present invention can also be applied to the configuration. Furthermore, even if the pod is not provided as a single ballast tank, the present invention can also be applied to a case where a plurality of portions for adjusting buoyancy by pouring water into the pod are provided. .

  In the above embodiment, the mooring line 7 has a Y-shape as a whole. However, the shape of the mooring line is not limited to this. For example, the two mooring lines can reach the sinker without joining in the middle. It may be V-shaped extending or I-shaped consisting of a single mooring line.

1, 20, 30 Current generator 2 Pod 3 Connection beam 4 Turbine 5 Hub 6 Blade 7 Mooring line 8 Sinker 9, 21 Air tube (air circulation means)
10, 33 Floating body 11 Rotating shaft 12 Generator (power generation unit)
13 Ballast tank (buoyancy adjuster)
14 Injecting / draining pumps 15, 22, 32 Intake / exhaust pump 16 Navigation sign 31 Connected air pipe (air circulation means)
31a First air pipe 31b Second air pipe

Claims (2)

A turbine that rotates by the flow of seawater;
In an underwater floating type ocean current power generation apparatus provided with a pod that supports the turbine and accommodates a power generation unit that generates power by rotation of the turbine,
A buoyancy adjustment unit that adjusts buoyancy by pouring or draining water;
One end is opened on the sea surface, the other end is connected to the buoyancy adjustment unit, and the air flow means for communicating the buoyancy adjustment unit and the sea surface,
Equipped with a,
The ocean current power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the air circulation means is a pipe member made of a telescopic mechanism . It said air flow means, ocean current power generator according to claim 1, characterized that you intake air into the buoyancy section when performing drainage of the buoyancy unit.

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