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Description
of the Technology
This
technology comprises a cylindrical symmetry duct with hydroreactor profile that stands immersed in the streams, at some
depth bellow the water surface, attached to an elevating platform by
means of a bearing device, the platform connected by means of an
extensible part to an inert base anchored at the riverbed or seafloor.
The inside
duct channel is formed by an inlet converging zone of
compression, an intermediate zone of narrower cross section (gorge) where
flow loading is significantly higher than the
outside free stream loading and finally by an exhaust diverging zone where a suction effect is generated by diffusion of the inside flow and
deflection of the outside stream nearby the channel outlet.
The
duct edge if defined by a quadratic decrease of
the channel diameter and by a soft quadratic increase of the duct external surface diameter
at the inlet converging zone, a minimum constant channel diameter
at the intermediate zone where the channel is narrower (gorge), an
initial accentuated increase and almost null final increase of the channel diameter
at the outlet diverging zone, and slight linear decrease of the duct external surface
diameter with
same inclination at intermediate and outlet diverging zones.
The general
dimensions of the cylindrical symmetry duct with hydroreactor profile can be taken with relation to the diameter dt
of the channel at the narrower zone, being: the maximum diameter de of
the duct external surface about 4.5 times higher than dt
and the duct length about 7 times higher than dt.
The duct has one helm
being autonomously orientated according the streams direction and way of
flow, without the need to expend any external power, allowing to take
the maximum profit from marine an tidal streams.
A Selective Grid
stands attached to the duct, located immediately before the channel
inlet, to avoid the entrance of objects bigger than a specific size in
the channel.
In the narrower
channel zone works a low head (low pressure/high speed) axial flow
turbine that drives by means of a transmission device a low rpm
generator housed in one impervious chamber located at the duct edge.
The location is
signaled by a floating buoy, connected by means of a cable with some
allowance to the duct. The buoy keeps two pipes for air circulation
through the generator housing chamber, both with one of the ends always
above the water surface connected to the buoy and the other end
connected to the generator housing chamber.
Maintenance is
performed outside of water from an embarkation
anchored
with a rigid rod to the riverbed/seafloor, lifting the duct above the water surface. The platform has
a weight that enables autonomous diving of the duct and shrinking of the
extensible part after maintenance. At most of the time the extensible
part remains shrinked, expanding only for maintenance proposes.
The generated
electrical power is transmitted by electrical cables lied on the
riverbed of seafloor to a central station at the coast or river sides,
where electrical power storage and conversion is performed. The
electrical cable comprises two parts connected together by a sealed
rotating union nearby the duct, to avoid cumulative torsion and
consequent rupture.
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