Method of controlling depth of a buoyant submersible apparatus in a fluid flow
US9080548B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 2015 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 30, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/30
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An underwater apparatus for generating electric power from ocean currents and deep water tides. A submersible platform including two or more power pods, each having a rotor with fixed-pitch blades, with drivetrains housed in pressure vessels that are connected by a transverse structure providing buoyancy, which can be a wing depressor, hydrofoil, truss, or faired tube. The platform is connected to anchors on the seafloor by forward mooring lines and a vertical mooring line that restricts the depth of the device in the water column. The platform operates using passive, rather than active, depth control. The wing depressor, along with rotor drag loads, ensures the platform seeks the desired operational current velocity. The rotors are directly coupled to a hydraulic pump that drives at least one constant-speed hydraulic-motor generator set and enables hydraulic braking. A fluidic bearing decouples non-torque rotor loads to the main shaft driving the hydraulic pumps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.