F03B13/26

SYSTEM FOR COLLECTING ENERGY FROM A MOVING MASS
20170226985 · 2017-08-10 ·

A system is provided comprising a tunnel for immersion in a moving mass. Energy from the mass passing through said tunnel converts to rotational force. An energy collector is provided having open and collapsed states, the open state resisting the mass. Bidirectional converter systems convert said rotational force to constant singular direction. A mechanical converter comprises an input shaft turned bidirectionally by said rotational force and two gears driven by the input shaft in opposite rotational directions, the gears separately attached to idler gears causing output gears attached to the idler gears to engage an output shaft in a same rotational direction. A hydraulic converter comprises a hydraulic pump turned bidirectionally by said rotational force. Check valves positioned between the pump and a hydraulic motor enable control of pressure and volume in one direction at the pump.

Method and apparatus for generating energy from a flowing water current
09719483 · 2017-08-01 · ·

A system for generating energy from a water current flowing in a body of water. For example, the system may have a generator assembly operable to generate energy in response to the flow of the current and an anchor assembly located at the bed of the body of water, where the generator assembly is attached to the anchor assembly, is held between the bed and the surface of the body of water, and is rotatable about a substantially vertical axis with respect to the anchor assembly. For another example, the generator assembly may include a housing that is held in an upstream orientation when in use, and an impellor assembly located within the housing and including a plurality of blades arranged to be contacted by the flow of the water when in use.

Water current power generation installations
09719484 · 2017-08-01 · ·

An infrastructure arrangement for use in an underwater power generation installation includes a support structure adapted for engagement with a bed of a body of water, and an infrastructure module adapted to house infrastructure equipment for connection to power generating units of the installation. The infrastructure module is releasably engageable with the support structure.

Hydraulic Based Efficient Renewable Energy Storage And Regeneration System
20170279303 · 2017-09-28 · ·

An energy storage and regeneration system that converts irregular, non-constant, and variable input power to regular, constant, and controlled output power using hydraulics whereby the irregular input power is used to pump hydraulic fluid into an accumulator array where it is stored pressurized. Energy is released in a controlled fashion using a hydraulic motor operated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the accumulator array, in accordance with the specified power demand. One or more power units may be deployed depending on the amount of energy required at the output. Each power unit includes a hydraulic motor and associated floating accumulator whose internal pressure is controlled to maintain a substantially constant pressure differential across its associated motor. The system can be integrated into various energy system sources including renewable energy such as wind, PV or thermal solar, wave, tidal, etc.

Hydraulic Based Efficient Renewable Energy Storage And Regeneration System
20170279303 · 2017-09-28 · ·

An energy storage and regeneration system that converts irregular, non-constant, and variable input power to regular, constant, and controlled output power using hydraulics whereby the irregular input power is used to pump hydraulic fluid into an accumulator array where it is stored pressurized. Energy is released in a controlled fashion using a hydraulic motor operated by the pressurized hydraulic fluid from the accumulator array, in accordance with the specified power demand. One or more power units may be deployed depending on the amount of energy required at the output. Each power unit includes a hydraulic motor and associated floating accumulator whose internal pressure is controlled to maintain a substantially constant pressure differential across its associated motor. The system can be integrated into various energy system sources including renewable energy such as wind, PV or thermal solar, wave, tidal, etc.

Flowing-water driveable turbine assembly
09771922 · 2017-09-26 · ·

A flowing-water driveable turbine assembly (104) for location in river or sea areas with unidirectional and bidirectional water flows. The turbine assembly comprises a turbine support (106) with positive buoyancy in water. The turbine support (106) is arranged to be anchored by an anchoring system (108) to a water bed. The turbine assembly comprises at least one turbine (110). The positive buoyancy of the turbine assembly in water has an upward force to constrain the turbine support 106 and the at least one turbine (110) to a position of floating equilibrium against a downward force of the anchoring system (108). The turbine assembly may have variable buoyancy, a duct around each turbine for directing water through the turbine to generate power from water flow, and a winch or winches for submerging the turbine assembly or parts thereof.

Underwater device

A pod of an ocean current power generation device which is serving as an underwater floating-type underwater device is provided with a ballast tank and an air storage tank. When discharging water from the ballast tank, by opening a water discharge valve and driving a water discharge pump, water inside the ballast tank is discharged to the outside through a water conduit. When supplying water, by opening a water supply valve while the water pressure outside the pod is greater than the water pressure inside the ballast tank, water is made to flow from the outside of the pod through an aperture portion, and into the ballast tank via the water conduit.

ALGAE CULTIVATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS WITH BORE WAVES
20170318771 · 2017-11-09 ·

An algae cultivation system includes generating a translating hydraulic jump wave that travels across a gas-liquid interface of an algae cultivation fluid contained in the algae cultivation system. The translating hydraulic jump wave has Froude number greater than 1.

Multifunctional carrying device for tidal stream generator and using method thereof
09809283 · 2017-11-07 · ·

A multifunctional carrying device for a tidal stream generator and a using method thereof, the multifunctional carrying device for a tidal stream generator comprises: an elongated main floating body; carrying frames, horizontally extending towards the left side and the right side from the center part of the elongated main floating body, an end part of the carrying frames being used for carrying the tidal stream generator; the elongated main floating body being a central floating control pipe (100) with two ends sealed, cable tying locations being positioned at the two ends of the central floating control pipe (100), a pipe air inlet/outlet (702) being disposed above one end of the central floating control pipe (100) and a pipe water inlet/outlet (704) being disposed below the other end of the central floating control pipe (100); a remote air pipe (700), having one end connected to the pipe air inlet/outlet (702) and the other end connected to a control switch (707); the central floating control pipe (100) being connected to the carrying frames using orthogonal node components; and automatic depth-fixing and stabilizing parts (400), evenly disposed, along a vertical bisection plane of the orthogonal node components, on rigid parts that are directly connected to the orthogonal node components. The device has an efficient floating and sinking control function and an automatic depth-fixing and stabilizing function.

Multifunctional carrying device for tidal stream generator and using method thereof
09809283 · 2017-11-07 · ·

A multifunctional carrying device for a tidal stream generator and a using method thereof, the multifunctional carrying device for a tidal stream generator comprises: an elongated main floating body; carrying frames, horizontally extending towards the left side and the right side from the center part of the elongated main floating body, an end part of the carrying frames being used for carrying the tidal stream generator; the elongated main floating body being a central floating control pipe (100) with two ends sealed, cable tying locations being positioned at the two ends of the central floating control pipe (100), a pipe air inlet/outlet (702) being disposed above one end of the central floating control pipe (100) and a pipe water inlet/outlet (704) being disposed below the other end of the central floating control pipe (100); a remote air pipe (700), having one end connected to the pipe air inlet/outlet (702) and the other end connected to a control switch (707); the central floating control pipe (100) being connected to the carrying frames using orthogonal node components; and automatic depth-fixing and stabilizing parts (400), evenly disposed, along a vertical bisection plane of the orthogonal node components, on rigid parts that are directly connected to the orthogonal node components. The device has an efficient floating and sinking control function and an automatic depth-fixing and stabilizing function.