Power Generation System

Abstract

A power generation system (100) comprising at least one power generation device (20, 20') removably secured by a holding device (14, 14', 15, 15') to a mounting device (10) formed as a floating body or fixed infrastructure, the power generation device (20, 20') being bidirectionally symmetrical and comprising a hydro-turbine operatively connected to a generator (24), the generator (24) comprising a helical gearbox, the generator (24) being a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor, the generator (24) comprising an incremental encoder, the rotation of the generator (24) being monitorable by a signal generated from the incremental encoder, and electrical energy being generated by the mounting device (10). ), electrical energy can be conducted from the mounting device (10) to a power plant (50), the nose and tail cones (20a, 20b, 20a', 20b') are coated with at least two layers of anti-biofouling paint, the turbine blades (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') are responsive to bidirectional water flow (A, B), the power line inlets (27, 27) are located at the top of the housings (25', 25'), the power generation devices (20, 20') include a control panel, and the power generation system (100) is operatively connectable to an information and communication network (40).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] This application relates to power generation systems. [Background technology]

[0002] The potential for sustainable ocean energy technologies is enormous. Tidal hydrodynamic energy in particular is a potentially infinite renewable resource for energy generation due to its complete predictability and availability. This vast resource allows tidal energy converters to help meet global energy demands.

[0003] However, due to complex technical challenges, it is a relative latecomer to the renewable energy market. The European Union and the UK were quick to recognise its potential and provided government funding for tidal energy development, with the focus on developing large-scale systems of 1 MW to provide utility-scale electricity.

[0004] However, for a viable system this requires very large and expensive turbines and mounting structures, and very fast currents of over 3m / s, which are available in very few places in the world, and where they are available, most are located in deep waters.

[0005] Patent Document 1 discloses a rotor for a generator. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2016 / 145477 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved power generation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The improved power generation system At least one power generation device is removably fixed to a mounting device formed as a floating body or fixed infrastructure by a holding device, where the power generation device is bidirectionally symmetrical and includes a hydroelectric turbine operatively connected to a generator, the generator having a helical gearbox, the generator being a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor, the generator including an incremental encoder, the rotation of the generator can be monitored by a signal generated from the incremental encoder, electrical energy can be conducted through a power line leading from the generator through the outside of the mounting device, the electrical energy can be conducted from the mounting device to a power plant, the nose cone and the tail cone are painted with at least two layers of anti-biofouling paint, the turbine blades are responsive to bidirectional water flow, the power line inlet is located at the top of the housing, the power generation device includes a control panel, and the power generation system can be operatively connected to an information and communication network.

[0009] In this way, electrical energy can be generated by the water current below the mounting device. The mounting device can be, for example, a bridge pier in a river or bay, or a floating body attached to it. Helical gears allow the rotational speeds of the turbine and the generator to be matched, thus resulting in the appropriate rotational speed. The symmetrical design of the housing allows the deliberate release of the current in both directions to generate electrical energy.

[0010] In one embodiment the mounting device is a bridge or a floating body. Thus, the electrical energy system can be fixed to both fixed infrastructure and to movable objects.

[0011] In further embodiments, the floating body is one of a barge, a catamaran, a moored platform, existing fixed infrastructure, a mobile platform, or a waterborne vehicle.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the power generating unit can be attached to a handrail of the floating body. In this way, multiple power generating units can be removably fixed to the floating body.

[0013] According to yet another embodiment, the power generating device can be mounted in an opening located in the bottom of the floating body.

[0014] In yet another embodiment, the electrical energy of the power generation system can be conducted through power lines leading from the generators through the outside of the mounting device, in this way power lines through the bottom of the floating body can be avoided, for example power lines from the turbines can be led to the top of the barge and then to the control panel.

[0015] In yet another embodiment, the material of the improved power plant housing, called the nacelle, is made of stainless steel (SS316L) and the nose cone and tail cone sections are made of at least one of fiberglass and fiber reinforced plastic.

[0016] In a further embodiment, the nacelle of the power plant does not require additional painting, which can reduce the environmental impact.

[0017] In a further embodiment, the nose cone and tail cone are coated with at least two layers of an anti-biofouling coating.

[0018] In yet another embodiment, cathodic protection is accomplished by utilizing sacrificial anodes attached to the turbine.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the blades of the tidal turbine react to the water flow in both directions, thus supporting optimal energy utilisation.

[0020] In a further embodiment, the blade material includes at least one of an aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, glass reinforced plastic, composite material, and recycled plastic material.

[0021] In a further embodiment, the power line inlet is located at the top of the housing, thus facilitating improved and easy power line routing.

[0022] In yet another embodiment, the power plant includes a control panel, thus facilitating performance monitoring and control of the entire system.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the power plant can be functionally connected to an information and communication network, thus supporting a centralized control of the system.

[0024] An inner edge of each blade can be provided between two opposing disks, the inner edge being disposed adjacent to the two opposing disks such that the disks act to prevent the blade from bending.

[0025] The disk and blades are made to rotate on an axis. In the tide the turbine blades are subjected to thrust loads which cause them to bend in the direction of the tide. As the tide reverses every six hours, the forces on the blades also reverse, causing fatigue in the blades. Two circular plates support the blades on either side to minimise or eliminate deformation of the blades.

[0026] The disc may also include at least one rib to prevent the disc from bending.

[0027] Rib means an elongated protuberance having an arcuate cross section. Ribs are formed on the surface of the disk and can be straight or circular.

[0028] The ribs act to strengthen the disc, thereby preventing it from bending, and also serve to reduce the weight of the disc, in that a ribbed disc can have the same resistance to bending as a thicker, and therefore heavier, disc without ribs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0029] The subject matter of this specification will now be explained in more detail with reference to certain figures. [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a side view of one embodiment of an improved power generation system. [Diagram 2] 2 shows a top view of a further embodiment of the power generation system of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one embodiment of a power generation device of the power generation system of FIG. [Figure 4] 11A-11C are different views of an improved circular plate support for the blade. [Diagram 5] 1 shows plate ribs to minimize plate deformation; [Figure 6] 1 shows deployment data for one implementation of the power generation system 100 at Sentosa Boardwalk, the data relating to monthly power generation. [Figure 7] 1 shows the results of a computer simulation or calculation for one implementation of the improved turbine of power generation system 100. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0030] In the following description, certain features are provided to describe embodiments of the power generation system. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that embodiments may be practiced without such specific features and / or other corresponding features.

[0031] In the following description, it should be noted that the numerical values ​​of the embodiments are merely examples, and therefore, those skilled in the art can use other numerical values ​​for systems, devices, components, elements, diameters, materials, etc., without departing from the scope of the power generation system.

[0032] Some parts of the embodiments shown in the figures may have similar parts. The similar parts may have the same name or may have similar reference numbers using leading numbers and / or letters. The description of such similar parts may also be extended by reference to other similar parts as appropriate, thereby reducing repetition of the description without limiting the present disclosure.

[0033] The small and versatile tidal turbines of the improved power generation system support multiple installation options and can be deployed side-by-side, such as under bridges, on moored platforms, on existing fixed infrastructure, on mobile platforms, and on water vehicles. The disclosed small-scale tidal turbines can harness mechanical flow energy from low-flow sources found primarily in coastal waters and / or remote islands, as well as in rivers of suitable depth and flow velocity.

[0034] Improved power generation systems offer great opportunities for smaller, affordable devices that can operate in areas with weak currents, typically found in coastal waters within about 10 km (kilometers) of the coastline. Current velocities in such areas range from about 0.6 m / s to more than about 3.0 m / s. In this way, renewable marine energy is made available to end users in a plug-and-play operating system that covers a wide range of customizable products and services.

[0035] What is proposed is an affordable, small-scale, improved tidal turbine that can harness ocean energy, deployed singly or in arrays, removably secured to mounting devices constructed on bridges, floating bodies, or existing infrastructure, thus providing a means to harness a particular form of renewable energy (hydrodynamic energy) to a largely untapped non-utility market in off-grid islands, rapids under bridges, rivers, irrigation canals, and streams after hydroelectric dams, anywhere with flow velocities between about 0.6m / s and about 3m / s.

[0036] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of an improved power generation system 100. The power generation system 100 comprises a mounting arrangement 10 formed as a floating body, preferably a barge, to which at least one power generation unit 20, 20' is removably secured. Each power generation unit 20, 20' comprises a turbine having blades 21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n' and an enclosed generator 24 that can be driven by the turbine. In this way a tidal current turbine is provided. The multiple power generation units 20 may be removably secured to a railing 11 of the floating body.

[0037] The blades 21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n' of the tidal turbine react to the water flow in two directions. "Responsive" in this context means that the rotation of the blades 21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n' can be caused by different water flow directions, in particular flow directions A and B. In this way, optimal energy utilization is supported.

[0038] It is designed to be streamlined and preferably symmetrical, which can reduce water resistance and therefore allow the inflowing water to easily rush past the power generating device 20. The flow direction A, B of the inflowing water is aligned with the longitudinal axis of the axial flow tidal turbine, mainly because any change in the angle of attack can reduce the power generation at design conditions.

[0039] The floating body can be formed as, for example, a boat, a catamaran, a floating dock, a mooring platform, a water vehicle, etc. A mobile and transportable floating body can transport the attached tidal turbine to any location where there is usable tide with a corresponding water flow. The tidal current can be utilized to drive the tidal turbine with the generator 24, thereby generating electricity.

[0040] The generators 20, 20' are fixed to the mounting device 10 by holding elements 13, 13', which can also be used to guide the power lines 15, 15' of the generators 20, 20'. The power line inlets 27, 27' are arranged at the top of the housings 25, 25' of the generators 20, 20'. The folding devices 14, 14' allow each generator 20, 20' to be pulled separately into and out of the mounting device 10. In this way, the system 100 can be operated even when one of the generators 20, 20' is not present for replacement, maintenance, repair, etc. To send electrical energy from the power generation system 100 to a remote power plant 50, the electric current can be transmitted separately through the respective power lines 15, 15' or through a single power line 15, 15'.

[0041] The operation of the power generation system 100 can be controlled by a control panel 30 connectable to an information and communication network 40 .

[0042] Alternatively, the mounting apparatus 10 can be constructed as a fixed bridge or existing infrastructure (not shown). In this manner, at least one, and preferably multiple, power generating units 20, 20' can be mounted to a fixed bridge, thereby utilizing the water flow under the bridge for generating electricity.

[0043] The above described method provides a cost-effective tidal turbine energy solution applicable to the Southeast Asian context, for example, which has a different tidal energy resource to that available in Europe or North America, for example. The resource in Southeast Asia consists of low to medium peak tidal currents (~0.6m / s to ~3m / s) in nearshore and shallow waters.

[0044] The tidal turbines can be used to convert hydrodynamic energy into electricity, both in fast-flowing rivers in these regions and in slower tidal currents in the ocean.

[0045] In contrast, large tidal turbines designed for high flows (e.g. MW scale per turbine unit) installed in other parts of the world are therefore not suitable for Southeast Asia, have a poor track record of installation failures, and are unlikely to achieve the required energy costs to be viable in these locations.

[0046] The power generation system 100 has various features, the examples of which are listed below. - Fewer components to assemble and easier to manufacture. - Focusing on turbine units with electrical output of about 7kW to about 100kW, equipment sizes of about 1.5m to 5m in length and weight of about 400kg to 1,000kg are achieved. -The Company's in-house developed software for control and system optimization, supporting the Internet of Things (IOT). - Small compact design allows easy installation on the support structure. - Can be customized to place turbines on barges, platforms, bridges, wharves, river and canal walls, water vehicles, etc. Larger units can also be placed, for example, on the ocean floor. -Cost-effective manufacturing, assembly and logistics. -When used near existing infrastructure or at sea, costs are reduced as heavy lift vessels are not required for transportation. -Tidal turbines in power generation systems can achieve large electrical outputs by using horizontally scaled configurations in arrays of multiple tidal turbines. -This is more cost effective than scaling up a single turbine to a larger size and also reduces the risk of unit failure. -Further cost reductions can be achieved by standardizing electrical infrastructure, such as drive units, inverters, and power system connections.

[0047] Power generation system 100 can generate clean renewable energy at sea and represents a turnkey solution for clean tidal energy supply to offshore islands, small power grids, and the emerging blue economy, including, for example, design, construction, installation, electrical connections, metering, operation, and maintenance.

[0048] The power generation system 100 includes a mounting arrangement 10 with a number, preferably 4-6, 10 kW tidal current turbines removably secured to the mounting arrangement 10. The mounting arrangement 10, constructed as a floating body, may be formed as a barge or catamaran or other type of waterborne vehicle.

[0049] Thus, other possible designs of the mounting device 10 also allow for the installation of more tidal turbines. The electricity generated by the tidal turbines is initially supplied to end users through power lines at sea. Storing the energy on floating platforms at sea and distributing it to a local island power grid can be easily achieved with the power generation system 100.

[0050] Operation of the power generation system 100 is at least partially or fully autonomous and its performance is monitored remotely on the mainland, for example through internet-based means. The end user is thus provided with a plug-and-play electric energy station at sea, offering a complete solution for clean marine energy generation, storage and distribution.

[0051] 2 is a top view of a power generation system 100 with power generation units 20, 20' in another removable installation option on a mounting device 10 constructed as a float. The power generation units 20, 20' (shown in dotted lines) can be attached to openings 12, 12' at the bottom of the float. In this way, multiple power generation units 20 can be removably fixed to the float and can be easily submerged and lifted out of the water, for example for maintenance, replacement, repair, etc.

[0052] Figure 3 shows one embodiment of the power plant 20 in more detail in an exploded view, showing the enclosed case of the generator 24. The wake dynamics are closely related to the design of the tail section 20b of the power plant 20. The design of an improved tidal turbine does not rely solely on the efficiency of a single tidal turbine, but also on the interaction between multiple tidal turbines during operation.

[0053] The amount of electrical energy available from each tidal turbine strongly depends on the energy flux from the flow passing through the turbine, which in turn is affected by the flow topology in the turbine wake. The tail section 20b is preferably designed with these aspects in mind, towards achieving a smaller wake area with less unsteady vortex shedding.

[0054] The power plant 20 includes a mounting portion 25a and two eye hooks (not shown) that allow the power plant 20 to be lifted onto a vehicle (eg, truck, boat, plane, etc.).

[0055] As a material choice for the nose and tail cones of the powerplant 20, preferably at least the forward and tail sections 20a, 20b, fiberglass or fiber reinforced plastic may be preferably used.

[0056] The preferred material is low maintenance and can optionally include a marine paint (not shown) as a base coating and a gel coating (not shown) on the surface, thus supporting a long service life. Periodic cleaning, such as washing off biofouling and reapplying the gel coating, can help maintain the efficiency of water flow and drag on the blades 21a,...,21n.

[0057] An important consideration in the design of the blades is the variation of the turning angle along the blade length. At the root of the blade, the radial velocity is low and therefore a larger turning angle is required. At the tips 21a, ..., 21n of the blades, the radial velocity and also the turning angle are maximum. This is to avoid the occurrence of mixed flows along the length of the blade and to maximise the energy available from the incoming tides. The blades 21a, ..., 21n are preferably designed to capture the tidal currents of both directions A and B. In other words, the blades 21a, ..., 21n react "bi-directionally".

[0058] The improved tidal turbine blades 21a, . . . , 21n may preferably be manufactured using any of the following materials: -Aluminium alloy, proven for turbine blades (wind and water turbines). - Carbon fiber, which is the usual choice for wind turbines, but is fairly expensive. -Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP)

[0059] Cheaper materials and / or other materials are possible in place of those listed above.

[0060] The blade hub 22 to which the blades 21a, ..., 21n are secured may be made, for example, of two identical 3 mm stainless steel (SS316L) circular plates reinforced with circular ribs and flat bars of a thickness of about 3 mm. The overall diameter of the blade hub 22 is preferably in the range of about 650 mm to about 750 mm, more preferably about 700 mm. The blade hub 22 is designed to withstand thrust forces of up to about 20 kN in both directions of the blade hub 22. The blades 21a, ..., 21n may be secured to the blade hub 22, such as with specially designed Delrin material attachments. Delrin is not hydrophobic and does not adversely affect the environment.

[0061] The mounting, conceptually designed with a propeller taper, comprises a mounting element 23 which is used to secure the shaft of the tidal turbine rotor to the blade hub 22. A mechanical seal 26 is used to secure the mounting element 23 to the geared motor 24.

[0062] The front circular plate of the blade hub 22 is fitted with a vertical ring (not shown) approximately 20 mm wide which can be used to attach the front portion 20a to the blade hub 22.

[0063] It is envisaged that an enclosure 25 will enclose the tidal turbine with generator 24. The flanged body of the enclosure can be manufactured, for example, from schedule 10 stainless steel (SS316L) pipe with an outer diameter of about 500mm. The front of the enclosure 25 is preferably a standard closed flange of about 700mm. The rear of the enclosure 25 is an extension of schedule 10 stainless steel (SS316L) pipe with an outer diameter of about 400mm. The flanged mounted geared generator 24 is sealed and protected within the enclosure 25 by a mechanical seal.

[0064] The inlets 27, 27' for the power lines (e.g. marine cables) are preferably mounted on the top of the housing body. A vertical ring about 20 mm wide formed on the rear face of the turbine housing 25 is used for mounting the tail section 20b on the housing 25.

[0065] The material of the housing 25 may be, for example, 316L stainless steel type, and the generator 24 and its gearbox are all enclosed and protected within a housing 25 of such material. 316L stainless steel is a type of stainless steel metal alloy that is austenitic and contains nickel and molybdenum, making it corrosion resistant. This allows for a significant reduction in the maintenance and painting of the housing 25.

[0066] The housing body can include an upper standard flange that serves as a mounting interface 25a between the turbine and the support structure 25b. The mounting interface 25a allows flexibility in the design of the support structure 25b that holds the tidal turbine for any installation, yet utilizes standard flange sizes that are convenient for any end user.

[0067] The generator 24 is preferably constructed as a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor with a flange mount. The flange mount can be used to mount the generator 24 to a mounting element 23 that is attached to the blade hub 22. The permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor includes a gearbox, which is preferably a helical gearbox filled with an environmental protection oil. By means of the gearbox, the rotational speed of the blade hub 22 with the blades 21a, ..., 21n is applied to the generator 24 in such a way that the rotational speeds of the blade hub 22 and the generator 24 are appropriately matched. The helical gearbox is used to adjust the transmission ratio of the rotational speed of the blade hub 22, the rotational speed of which is preferably monitored by an encoding signal generated by an incremental encoder.

[0068] The shaft seal of the generator 24 is fitted with a mechanical seal with a diameter of 50 mm, which may be covered with an O-ring protector at the sealing end. A mechanical seal is a device used to seal the inlet or outlet of a rotating shaft. Mechanical seals are used to prevent high pressure fluids from leaking into low pressure fluids. In this way, the tidal turbine can be submerged in the sea where pressures of the order of 1 bar are applied to the turbine, where reliable mechanical seal performance is useful. The mechanical seal selected places emphasis on higher performance characteristics and allows the tidal turbine to operate even under the harshest conditions.

[0069] Optionally, a temperature sensor (not shown) is incorporated within the generator 24. Additionally, at least a vibration sensor and / or at least a water leak detector (not shown) may be incorporated within the generator 24. Other condition monitoring sensors include at least a humidity sensor and / or a radial vibration sensor and / or an axial vibration sensor.

[0070] The above-mentioned sensors enable sensor-based data collection that assists in monitoring the condition of tidal turbines during operation. This collected data can assist in planning future maintenance schedules and advanced anomaly detection.

[0071] The tidal turbine may be provided with a watertight bulkhead screw connector for connection to the control panel 30.

[0072] The control system of the improved tidal turbine includes a variable frequency drive (VFD), a programmable logic controller (PLC), and a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) unit. For this purpose, a VFD controller can be used for turbine control. The electrical output generated by the tidal turbine is sent to the grid through an active front-end (AFE) controller, and the overall power generation is controlled by the programmable logic controller PLC.

[0073] Furthermore, internet based access with control and monitoring capabilities is also envisaged. Preferably, the tidal turbine is designed with remote monitoring and access capabilities. All collected data is stored, for example, on a cloud server where the necessary information can be processed and shared with customers and authorities.

[0074] The marine monitoring system for the power generation system 100 includes at least one of the following: - Undersea camera -Hydrophone -CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, and Density) -turbulence -ADCP -Active fish-finding sonar -Real-time monitoring means - "Best practice" principles for monitoring during deployment

[0075] Data collected from the undersea camera and hydrophones can be used (e.g., by utilizing an AI platform) to monitor the power generation system 100 and further monitor interactions between the power generation system 100 and fish and mammals.

[0076] The power generation system 100 allows for the harnessing of mechanical flow energy from both upstream and downstream flows.

[0077] The power generation system 100 may provide a variety of data, such as performance data, site condition data, ecological monitoring data, etc., that can be used to analyze and improve the use of the power generation system 100 .

[0078] Specific embodiments of the power generation system 100 are described below.

[0079] This embodiment is intended to operate in environments where low flow rates and flow velocities in the range of about 0.5 m / s to about 2 m / s result in a slow operating rotation range of about 25 to about 120 RPM (revolutions per minute).

[0080] To operate in such an environment, the power generation system 100 is configured or selected as follows.

[0081] The gearbox for a particular embodiment of the power generation system 100 is selected based on the following criteria to couple the blade hubs and the servo motors for optimal or improved power generation speed.

[0082] The axial or thrust force on the gearbox due to the impact of flowing water has been calculated to be approximately 10kN (kiloNewtons). For safety and to allow for additional load factors for wind currents and wave loads, the thrust force is assumed to be approximately 20kN. The gearbox is selected to withstand a thrust or axial load of approximately 20kN.

[0083] Due to the above, special reinforced bearings are selected to withstand this thrust force.

[0084] Regarding radial loads (forces acting in the radial direction), shaft diameters and bearings are selected that can withstand the radial loads acting during operation at depths of up to 15m.

[0085] The gear ratio is selected as 1.0:17.5 based on compatibility with high-precision servo motors.

[0086] The weight and size of the gearbox have been selected to make the entire turbine lightweight and compact, which aids in easy deployment and installation.

[0087] For mechanical connection and mounting, flange type mounting is selected for the gearbox to align the shaft, mechanical seal, gearbox, and servo motor. The flange type gearbox connection is aligned with the blade hub by mounting to the turbine housing flange 23. The selection of the turbine housing flange 23 (ANSI150# standard flange) takes into account the seawater pressure (1.5 bar) at a water depth of 15 m. This prevents deformation of the turbine housing flange 23 and provides an additional watertight mechanical seal.

[0088] For the gear oil, a mineral high-performance gear oil (oil CLPISO VG220) is chosen. Modern high-performance gear oils based on specially selected base oils exhibit excellent thermal stability, good ageing stability and impressive wear protection properties whilst being an environmentally acceptable lubricant. The gearbox only contains around 2 litres of oil. This also reduces the environmental impact in case of a leak into the water.

[0089] For the servo geared motor of the generator 24 in the particular embodiment of the power generation system 100, the gearbox and the servo geared motor are selected from the same manufacturer, Siemens, for better reliability and compatibility.

[0090] In particular, a servo geared motor that provides high accuracy and precision control is selected.

[0091] In natural currents that produce fluctuating speeds, the selected servo geared motor can control the turbine speed with high precision.

[0092] Servo geared motors are also lighter and smaller than standard low-speed permanent magnet motors, which are about five times heavier and larger and cannot be controlled with precision speed.

[0093] The servo geared motor is designed to operate without external cooling, with heat being dissipated through the motor surface and the gearbox mounting surface. Natural seawater temperatures will be sufficient to cool the housing surface through which heat from the motor is also dissipated.

[0094] For the particular embodiment of the mechanical seal 26 of the power generation system 100, the seal 26 is mounted on the inside of the turbine housing flange and on the shaft. Most turbines have a double O-ring and the seal 26 is located on the outer surface of the shaft that is exposed to seawater.

[0095] By locating the mechanical seal 26 within the housing, the seal 26 is protected from corrosion, biofouling, and deterioration, and importantly, this extends its life and prevents leaks.

[0096] In a particular embodiment of the power generation system 100, a turbine lifting mechanism is provided.

[0097] The platform can have two moonpools, or it can use a single moonpool, which allows the turbine to be lowered from the platform deck into the water and hoisted up. For this method the deck is provided with a davit system coupled to the support structure, with the option of using A-frames.

[0098] For efficient deployment and retrieval, all davit systems associated with the support structure will be equipped with electric wire rope hoists, as will the A-frames on deck.

[0099] As a backup, it includes the option to manually raise and lower the turbine by turning a crank.

[0100] All wire ropes offered are approved for use in marine environments. Wire ropes include stainless steel wire or marine grade wire.

[0101] Further embodiments of improved blade hubs 22 are provided for particular embodiments of power generation system 100 and are described below.

[0102] The tidal current turbine system includes three blades with individual retainers and two circular disks 28, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. The inner end of each blade is attached to a retainer. Each retainer is disposed between and fixedly attached to two opposing circular disks 28. The disks 28 also include ribs 29, as shown in Figure 5.

[0103] The rib 29 has an elongated protuberance having an arc-shaped cross section.

[0104] Functionally, the blade hub serves as a circular disk support means for the blades. The circular disk 28 and the blades are adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis. Each retainer serves to support a respective blade.

[0105] In a tidal current, tidal turbine blades are subjected to excessive thrust loads and bend with the current. As the current reverses every six hours, the forces on the blades also reverse, causing fatigue in the blades.

[0106] The water flow acts to impart a bending load that bends the blades in the direction of the flow, causing power losses and reduced electricity production in tidal turbines. To minimise deformation of the blades, two circular plates support the blades on either side.

[0107] Ribs 29 on disc 28 also serve to strengthen disc 28, thereby preventing disc 28 from bending while reducing weight.

[0108] In an embodiment using a single very thick side plate, the deformation is over 14 mm, but using two stainless steel circular plates on either side of the blade (3 mm thick stainless steel circular plates) reduces the deformation to 0.8 mm.

[0109] For the tidal turbine of the particular embodiment of the power generation system 100, the turbine is designed to harvest power in a forward flow. Therefore, the turbine can only harvest energy during forward motion. The tidal turbine has a unique modified geometry with an airfoil that is symmetrical at both the leading and trailing edges of the blades 21a,...,21n, which induces positive lift on the blades 21a,...,21n in both forward and reverse flows, resulting in increased energy production in the same tidal conditions. This allows for energy extraction in both directions of the open sea tides when used in tidal turbines.

[0110] The blades 21a,...,21n include a change in turning angle along the blade length. At the root of the blade, the radial velocity is low and therefore a larger turning angle is required. At the tip of the blade 21a,...,21n, the radial velocity is maximum and therefore the turning angle is small. This is to avoid mixing along the blade length and to maximise the energy available from the incoming tides.

[0111] The blades 21a,...,21n are also designed to capture currents in both directions.

[0112] For the housing 25 of the particular embodiment of the power generation system 100, a stainless steel material is selected so that the housing 25 can have excellent corrosion resistance as well as good stability, appearance, durability, luster, strength, and rigidity.

[0113] Regarding the forward and aft sections 20a, 20b of the particular embodiment of the power generation system 100, they have lower manufacturing costs and are less maintenance intensive, which allows for lower life cycle costs and reduced weight overall while providing the necessary hydrodynamic performance.

[0114] For the particular embodiment of the control panel 30 or system for the tidal turbine of the power generation system 100, the control panel 30 is designed to be automated by an embedded computer-based system where a software controller fully controls the tidal turbine. This component monitors the operating conditions of the turbine equipment, reads information from various sensors and other components, and acts on this information to keep the system operating within certain operating limits.

[0115] The variable voltage output from each generator is sent to a control panel 30 where it is converted through its own converter to DC voltage and then through an inverter to a 415V AC three phase output connected to the grid. This 415V AC three phase output is supplied via an undersea cable to the onshore facility which is the facility dedicated to the utility.

[0116] Using these circumstances and improved turbine design, power generation and thrust loads from flowing water can be simulated or calculated using computer simulation or calculation.

[0117] FIG. 6 shows data for the deployment of one implementation of the power generation system 100 at Sentosa Boardwalk, the data relating to monthly power generation.

[0118] FIG. 7 shows the results of a computer simulation or calculation for one implementation of the improved turbine of power generation system 100.

[0119] Itemized List of Embodiments The embodiments may also be described by the following list of features or elements, which may be organized into a separate list: Each combination of features disclosed in the separate list is considered as an independent object and may also be combined with other features of the present application.

[0120] 1. A power generation system (100), comprising: at least one generator set (20, 20') removably secured to the mounting device (10) by a retaining device (14, 14', 15, 15'); The power generating device (20, 20') is bidirectionally symmetrical and includes a water turbine operatively connected to a generator (24), the generator (24) having a helical gearbox, the generator (24) being a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor, the generator (24) including an incremental encoder, and the rotation of the generator (24) can be monitored by signals generated from the incremental encoder.

[0121] 2. The power generation system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the mounting device (10) is a bridge or a floating body.

[0122] 3. The power generation system (100) of claim 2, wherein the floating body is one of a barge, a catamaran, a moored platform, existing fixed infrastructure, a mobile platform, and a waterborne vehicle.

[0123] 4. The power generation system (100) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the power generation device (20, 20') is attachable to a handrail (11) of the float.

[0124] 5. The power generation system (100) according to any one of paragraphs 2 to 4, wherein the power generation device (20, 20') is attachable to an opening (12) located at the bottom of the floating body (10).

[0125] 6. The power generation system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein electrical energy is conducted through power lines (15, 15') leading from the generator (24) through the outside of the mounting device (10).

[0126] 7. The power generation system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the housing (25) of the power generation device (20, 20') is at least one of stainless steel, glass fiber, and fiber-reinforced plastic.

[0127] 8. The power generation system (100) of paragraph 7, wherein the nose cone and tail cone (20a, 20b) are coated with at least two layers of an anti-biofouling paint.

[0128] 9. A power generation system (100) according to one of the preceding clauses, wherein the turbine blades (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') react to bidirectional water flows (A, B).

[0129] 10. The power generation system (100) according to paragraph 9, wherein a material of the blades (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') comprises at least one of an aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, glass reinforced plastic, and recycled materials.

[0130] 11. The power generation system (100) according to any one of paragraphs 7 to 10, wherein a power line inlet (27, 27) is arranged at the top of the housing (25', 25').

[0131] 12. The power generation system (100) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the power generation device (20, 20') comprises a control panel.

[0132] 13. The power generation system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the power generation system (100) is operatively connectable to an information and communication network (40).

[0133] 14. A power generating device (20, 20') configured to be removably fixed to a mounting device (10) in the form of a floating body (10) or fixed infrastructure, The power generating device (20, 20') is bidirectionally symmetric and includes a water turbine operatively connected to a generator (24), the generator (24) having a helical gearbox, the generator (24) being a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor, the generator (24) including an incremental encoder, and the rotation of the generator (24) can be monitored by signals generated from the incremental encoder.

[0134] 15. A power generation system (100) according to one of the above paragraphs, A power generation system (100) in which an inner end of each blade (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') is disposed between and adjacent to two opposing disks, the disks acting to prevent the blade from bending.

[0135] 16. The power generation system (100) of paragraph 15, wherein the disk includes ribs to prevent the disk from bending. [Explanation of symbols]

[0136] 10 Mounting device 11 Handrails 12 Opening 13, 13' holding element 14, 14' Folding device 15, 15' power line 20, 20' Generator 20a Front 20b Tail 21a, ..., 21n blades 21a', ..., 21n' Blades 22 Blade Hub 23 Mounting elements 24 Generator 25 Case 25a Mounting Contact 25b Support structure 26 Mechanical seal 27, 27' Power Line Entrance 28 Discs 29 Ribs 30 Control Panel 40 Information and Communication Networks 50 Power Plant 100 Power Generation System A, B flow direction

Claims

1. A power generation system (100), comprising: The system comprises at least one power generating unit (20, 20') removably fixed by a holding device (14, 14', 15, 15') to a mounting device (10) formed as a floating body or fixed infrastructure, said power generating device (20, 20') is bidirectionally symmetrical and comprises a water turbine operatively connected to a generator (24); - said generator (24) comprises a helical gearbox; - said generator (24) is a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor; - said generator (24) includes an incremental encoder; - the rotation of the generator (24) can be monitored by the signal generated by the incremental encoder; - electrical energy can be conducted through power lines (15, 15') leading from the generator (24) outside the mounting device (10); - said electrical energy can be conducted from said mounting device (10) to a power plant (50); the nose and tail cones (20a, 20b, 20a', 20b') are coated with at least two layers of anti-biofouling paint; - the blades (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') of said turbine react to the bidirectional water flow (A, B); - the power line inlets (27, 27) are located at the top of the housing (25', 25'), - said generator (20, 20') is provided with a control panel, - said power generation system (100) is functionally connectable to an information and communication network (40); A power generation system (100).

2. The power generation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the mounting device (10) is a bridge.

3. The power generation system (100) of claim 1, wherein the floating body is one of a barge, a catamaran, a mooring platform, a mobile platform, and a water vehicle.

4. The power generation system (100) of claim 3, wherein the mounting device (10) is attachable to a handrail (11) of the floating body.

5. The power generation system (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the power generation device (20, 20') is mountable in an opening (12) in the bottom plate of the floating body (10).

6. The power generation system (100) of claim 1, wherein a material of the housing (25, 25') of the power generation device (20, 20') is at least one of stainless steel, fiberglass, and fiber-reinforced plastic.

7. 2. The power generation system (100) of claim 1, wherein a material of the blades (21a, ..., 21n, 21a', ..., 21n') comprises at least one of an aluminum alloy, carbon fiber, glass reinforced plastic, and recycled materials.

8. a power generation unit (20, 20') configured to be removably secured to a mounting device (10) in the form of a floating body (10) or fixed infrastructure, said power generation unit (20, 20') being bidirectionally symmetrical and comprising a water turbine operatively connected to a generator (24); - said generator (24) comprises a helical gearbox; - said generator (24) is a permanent magnet synchronous servo geared motor; - the generator (24) includes an incremental encoder, the rotation of the generator (24) being monitorable by signals generated by the incremental encoder; A power generating device (20, 20').

9. 2. The power generation system (100) of claim 1, wherein an inner end of each of the blades (21 a, ..., 21 n, 21 a', ..., 21 n') is provided between two opposing disks and positioned adjacent to the two opposing disks, and the disks (28) act to prevent the blades from bending.

10. The power generation system (100) of claim 9, wherein the disk (28) comprises at least one rib (29) for preventing the disk (28) from bending.

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