GB2401153A

GB2401153A - System for continuous tidal power energy generation

Info

Publication number: GB2401153A
Application number: GB0313347A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Andrew May
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-04-28
Filing date: 2003-05-19
Publication date: 2004-11-03
Also published as: GB0313347D0

Abstract

A system of reservoirs 2,3, turbines 20-31, main pipelines 6-8 and valves 9-18 is enclosed by a sea wall 4 with the main pipelines protruding through the wall. When the rising tide on the outside of the wall 4 reaches one metre above the protruding pipelines 6-8, water enters and discharges through inlets and outlets 34-36. Tidal water can be kept flowing continuously through the twelve turbines 20-31 in a clockwise direction at all levels of the tide by the appropriately timed opening and closing of the valves 9-18. In emergency and for maintenance work, a turbine may be isolated by valves (37,38, fig.3) and bypassed by a bypass pipeline (40). The system could be built onshore, offshore or on land already below sea level.

Description

24011 53 Continuous Flowing Tidal Water This invention relates to a system

to harness an energy source using tidal power to provide a continuous supply of flowing water to turn the turbines to generate power.

There are many well-established systems throughout the world using tidal water to generate power. However all seem to lose valuable time when waiting for the tides to rise and fall each day, which amounts to a lot of energy lost in a year.

According to the present invention there is a specifically designed system built and constructed at the lowest spring tide level. The system comprises of reservoirs, turbines, main pipelines and by-pass pipelines, open and close valves and maintenance area. All are enclosed within a protective sea wall, apart from 3 open ended pipelines protruding through the sea wall. This system operates through the correct timing of opening and closing of a series of valves in the correct order during the rise and fall of the daily tides. The main objective is to provide continuous flowing water through the system in a clockwise direction to generate constant power regardless of which ever stage the tide is at outside the system. The system will therefore overcome the time lost between the rise and fall of the daily tides by providing a continuous supply of water.

A specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1. Shows an overview of the system.

Fig. 2. Shows a partial side view of the system in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3. Shows an exploded view of one of the 12 turbine sections 20 - 31, in the main pipelines 6 and 7 in Fig 1.

Fig. 1 Shows: 4 Protective Sea Wall 2 and 3 Reservoirs 6, 7, and 8 Main Pipelines 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, Turbine sections of main pipelines 26, 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 6 and 7, each turbine section contains a turbine, with a by-pass pipeline and three open and close valves. An exploded view of turbine section 20 is shown in Fig. 3 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, Open and Close Valves 16, 17 and 18 34, 35, and 36 Inlets and Outlets Lowest Spring Tide Level 32 Highest Spring Tide Level 33 Roadway and Maintenance Area 3.

Referring to the drawing Fig, 1.

The operation of the system begins when the rising tide on the outside of the sea wall reaches 1 metre above the protruding pipelines 6, 7 and 8 and enters and discharges through inlets and outlets 34, 35 and 36.

In order to keep the tidal water flowing continuously through twelve turbines in turbine sections 20 - 31 in clockwise direction at all levels of the tide. It is crucial that the open and close valves 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 are opened and closed in the correct order during the rise and fall of the tides.

The correct order of opening and closing the valves in one complete cycle of the tide from low to high and high to low is as follows: 1 Open 9, IS, 17, & 12 until reservoir 3 is full at Close 10, 11, 13, 14, 16 & 18 high tide 2 Open 14,17,11 & t6 until reservoir 2 reaches Close 15,18,12,13,9 & 10 same level as the outgoing tide 3 Open 18,11, & 16 until reservoirs 2 & 3 Close 9,10,12,13,14,15 & 17 reach the same level, at this stage the tide level outside the system will be lower than reservoirs 2 & 4 Open 18,11,15 & 14 until reservoir 3 empties Close 9,10,12,13,16 & 17 into the sea Open 10,15,17 & 13 until reservoir 2 empties Close 9,tl, 12,14,16 & 18 into the sea The whole sequence begins again on the next rising tide. 4.

Fig. 2 Shows a partial side-view of Fig. 1.

Referring to Fig. 2 and Fig. 1 this view shows the lowest spring tide level 5 at which the whole system must be constructed. It also shows a protective sea wall 4, which must be built to a height above the highest spring tide level 32.

The system could either be built near to the sea on land excavated down to level 5. It can also be built onshore, or offshore, again at level 5, or on land already below sea level.

Fig. 3. Shows an exploded view of turbine section 20 in pipeline 6 in Fig. 1.

It comprises of a turbine 20, a by-pass pipeline 40 and three open and close valves 37, 38 and 39.

In case of repair or replacement to any one of 12 turbines, there are 2 open and close valves 37 and 38 at either end of turbine 20 and when closed isolate turbine 20 from the main system. A by-pass pipeline 40 with open and close valve 39 at it's centre, when opened enables the whole system to operate continuously whilst a repair is carried out. This procedure only comes into operation for essential replacements or repair to turbines.

The exploded view of Fig. 3 applies to all twelve turbine sections 20 - 31 in Fig. 1. 6.

Claims

1 There is a specifically designed system built at the lowest spring tide level comprising of reservoirs, turbines, main pipelines and by-pass pipelines, open and dose valves and maintenance area. All are enclosed within a protective sea wall, apart from 3 open ended pipelines protruding through the sea wall. This system operates through the correct timing of opening and closing of a series of valves in the correct order during the rise and fall of the daily tides. The main objective is to provide continuous flowing water through the system in a clockwise direction to generate constant power regardless of which ever stage the tide is at outside the system. The system will therefore overcome the time lost between the rise and fall of the daily tides by providing a continuous supply of water.

2 A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the whole system is protected by a sea wall, except for 3 open ended pipelines protruding through the sea wall 4.

3 A system as claimed in Claim 1 to provide continuous flowing water at all levels of the tide.

4 A system as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 3 wherein continuous flowing tidal water is kept flowing in a clockwise direction.

A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the opening and closing of valves in the correct order is crucial to keep the whole system operating continuously.

6 A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein turbines are kept turning continuously.

7 A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein two large reservoirs connected to pipelines are operational at all levels of the tide.

8 A system as claimed in Claim 1 using a by-pass pipeline for emergency and maintenance world

9 A system as claimed in Claim I wherein a roadway built at the lowest spring tide level is provided for maintenance of the whole system.

A system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein a protective sea wall 4 must be built to a height above the highest spring level.

11 A system substantially described herein with reference to Figs. 1 - 3 of the accompanying drawings > ) - a, . . By.

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