System for Offshore Power Generation

Abstract

This document describes an offshore power generating system comprising a T-shaped hub connected to propeller blades and generators on a common shaft in a generator housing. The hub transfers the variable torque of the respective propeller blades, with flaps to a common shaft where generators are connected by means of couplings.

Claims

1. An offshore power generating system (100) comprising: a T-shaped hub (110) comprising a rotating shaft (110a), and radial out from the rotating shaft (110a) two arms (110b) connected to propeller blades (120), and at least two generators (135) arranged on a common shaft (133) in a generator housing (130); wherein the common shaft (133) is connected to the rotating shaft (110a) of the hub (110) by means of a coupling (134); and the hub (110) transfers variable torque from each propeller blade (120) to the common shaft (133), wherein each propeller blade (120) comprises a plurality of flaps (122), and each generator (135) is connected to the common shaft (133) by means of couplings (136).

2. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the common shaft (133) is fixed or releasably connected to the rotating shaft (110a) of the T-shaped hub (110).

3. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the generators (135) are fixed or releasably connected to the common shaft (133).

4. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the generator housing (130) comprises transverse bulkheads (132) for support of the rotating shaft (110a) and common shaft (133) and for dividing the generator housing (130) into separate compartments.

5. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 4, wherein the rotating shaft (110a) is supported in the transverse bulkheads (132) by means of bearings (131) and the common shaft (133) is supported in the transverse bulkheads (132) by means of bearings (137).

6. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, where each propeller blade (120) in the propeller plane has a swept-back leading edge (121) with a radius corresponding to approximately the diameter of the propeller.

7. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 6, wherein a distance between respective fastening points for the propeller in the T-shaped hub are approximately 10% of the propeller diameter of the system.

8. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 7, wherein a plurality of separate flaps (122) are arranged at the trailing edge of each propeller blade (120).

9. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 8, wherein each flap (122) is rotatable about 45 degrees to both sides from its normal position about its respective axis of rotations (123).

10. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the length of the flaps (122) is - of the total length L of the blade profile.

11. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 10, wherein each flap (122) is regulated by means of an actuator.

12. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 11, wherein the actuator is controlled by a central unit receiving data from groups of sensors (151) installed on propeller blades (120), flaps (122), generators (135), couplings (134, 136) etc. for monitoring the load and output of the system (100).

13. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the generator housing (130) is cylindrical or approximately cylindrical.

14. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1, wherein a streamlined capsule (138) encloses the generator housing (130).

15. The offshore power generating system (100) according to claim 1 wherein the generator housing (130) is connected to a streamlined mast (140) supporting the power generating system (100).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0072] Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein:

[0073] FIG. 1 shows schematically and in perspective one possible embodiment of a system for optimal power generation where the system shows a T-shaped hub connected to a propeller blade with a generator unit comprising a number/plurality of generators.

[0074] FIG. 2 shows schematically a cross-section through the propeller blade showing an embodiment of flaps where the respective flaps are individually rotatable about an axis parallel with the trailing edge of the propeller/blade.

[0075] FIG. 3 shows schematically and in a vertical section through the generator units one possible embodiment showing the connection between the propeller blades and the generator units by a T-shaped hub and the generators interconnection on a common shaft.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0076] The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference number in the different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention or the scope of protection, the scope of protection being defined by the person skilled in the art's interpretation of the scope of the appended claims.

[0077] Reference throughout the specification to one embodiment or an embodiment means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrases in one embodiment or in an embodiment in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

[0078] FIG. 1 shows schematically and in perspective one possible embodiment of a system 100 for offshore power generation. The system 100 shows a T-shaped hub 110 fixedly connected to two propeller blades 120 and to the generators in a generator housing 130 which in turn is connected to a mast 140. The propeller blades 120 is fixedly connected to the hub 110 at a distance between the propeller blades constituting approximately 10% of the propeller diameter of the system and comprises of a plurality of sections, here showing 4 section, an where a number of flaps 122 are arranged at the trailing edge of each section, here are 3 flaps shown on each section. The leading edge 121 of the propeller blades 120 has a deflected shape in the propeller plane P with a radius in meters corresponding approximately to the propeller diameter of the system (not shown).

[0079] FIG. 2 shows schematically in a cross-section through one possible embodiment of the propeller blade 120 with flaps 122 where the distance from the trailing edge of the cross-section to the axis of rotation 123 of the flaps is about to of the total length L of the section and where the deflection of the flaps in both direction from normal position is about 45 degrees.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows schematically in a vertical section through the generator housing 130 one possible embodiment showing the T-shaped hub 110 supported in the bearings 131 which in turn are fixed in the transverse bulkheads 132 in the generator housing 130 and connected with the generator shaft 133 with a coupling 134.

[0081] A plurality of generators 135, here is 3 generators shown, are installed in a common shaft 133 with couplings 136 between the units and where the generators' bearings 137 of are fixed in transverse bulkheads 132 in the generator housing 130. The generator housing 130 is in turn connected with a streamlined mast 140 which supports the power generating system.

[0082] A central control unit 150 is installed in the generator housing 130 with sensors 151 distributed in the wind turbine, (not shown) an actuator connected to flaps 122 and generators 135. A streamlined capsule 138 encloses the generator housing.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 100 Offshore power generating system 110 T-shaped hub 110a Rotating shaft 110b Arm 120 Propeller blades 121 Leading edge of the propeller blade 122 Flaps 123 Axis of rotation of the flaps 130 Generator housing 131 Bearing 132 Transverse bulkhead 133 Generator shaft 134 Coupling between hub 110 and generator shaft 133 135 Generators 136 Coupling between generators 135 137 Bearing for generator 138 Streamlined capsule 140 Mast 150 Central control unit 151 Sensors 152 Actuators