IE20140016U1 - A module to generate electricity using tidal energy - Google Patents

ABSTRACT The present invention relates to an electricity generating module. In particular the invention has two spherical floats 30m in diameter with a connecting beam which supports a water turbine suspended on a steel shaft. The turbine assembly has a buoyancy which will allow it to be pulled into the prevailing tidal flow. The structure is made from steel. It has a buoyancy chamber which is filled with air, and when the tidal flow tums the turbine this rotation is transferred to the generator drive disc by the shait. The structure is anchored to the sea bed by cable. This module uses an axe] flux generator but could be adapted to use conventional generators.

Title: A module to generate Electricity using tidal energy Field of Invention The present invention relates to the generation of electricity. In particular the invention relates to harnessing energy.

Background to the invention A tidal power module is a device for harnessing the sea’s energy and converting it to electricity. Tidal power comes from the tide in the sea and in particular channels and inlets.There are many devices in existence that sit on the seabed. These are anchored down principally by weights and have limited power.

Summerv of Invention The module is a structure that floats on the surface of the water.

The structure consists of a turbine, a buoncy chamber,two spherical floats each float 30mts in diameter connected together by a 30mt beam.

The floats are anchored to the sea-bed by cable attached to mouring points. at the outer side of each float. In the centre of this beam there is a bearing compartment which supports a 40 meter shaft. A turbine assembly is connected to one end of the shaft which consists of a bouyancy chamber, turbine blades and cowel.

The opposite end of the shaft is connected to a drive disc which is the centre of an axel flux generator. The generator is connected to the beam by a generator rack. when there is no tide flowing (i.e. full tide )the turbineassembly will hang down from the beam due to turbine assembly having a 10% negative bouyancy (achieved by bounancy chamber) . During a tidal flow the assembly will swing into a working position. This turns the turbine assembly and generator disc drive by way of the shaft. The turbine assembly will rotate in the same direction at all times in either a backward or forward tidal flow so enabling the use of parabolic curved turbine blades.

Brief Description of Drawings Figure 1/5. Isometric Plan Figure 2/5. Side Elevation Figure 3/5. Side Elevation Figure 4/5 Front Elevation Figure 5/5 Cut-away Section of Bearing Compartment and Generator Detailed Description of Drawings 1.Speherical Floats ’ 2.Mouring Point .Beam .Shaft .Turbine Cowel . Turbine Blades . Buoyancy Chamber . Bairing Comprtment 9.Axel Fux Generator . Bearings . Drive Disc . Magnets . Coils and Iron Cores 14. Generator Rack Referring to Figure 1. ' - shows the spherical floats 1.0ne mouring point on outer side of both floats 2.In the centre of beam 3. there is a bearing compartment 8.housing two bearings 10. There is a shaft 4. in these bearings which is connected at one end at the buoancy chamber 7.and at the opposite end is connected to the disc drive 11. in the axe! flux generator 9. The generator 9. consists of magnets 12. and coils with iron cores 13. These coils and iron cores 13. are fixed to the beam 3. by the generator rack 14. The turbine baldes 6. are mounted on the buoancy chamber 7. and are reinforced by turbine cowel 5.

Referring_to Figure 2.

Shows the module in working position in tidal flow float 1. mouring point 2 at the outer side of _float_.1. turbine assembly being dragged into working position by ticlalaction. ' ‘ " ' ' ‘ ‘ 'iE14o016 Referring to Figure 3. ~ Shows moduie in “no ticie" position- hanging down.

Referring to Figure 4. ~ Shows module in operational position.Turbine cowel 5. shaft.4 floats«1.axel flux generator 9.

Referring to Figure 5. V Shows position of bearings 10. in the compartment 8. and generator 9.

Driye disc 11. is rotated by shaft 4. supporting magnets 12. which energise the coiis and iron cores 13. connected to beam 3. by generator rack 14.

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