Interference prevention device

Abstract

To prevent interference between a structure of a floating body and a tether.SOLUTION: An interference prevention device includes: a position stipulation unit for stipulating a position for feeding out / feeding in a tether for retaining a flying body in a floating body composing a tether type wind power generation system; and a guide unit for retaining the position stipulation unit to be capable of movement in an outer periphery range more outside the floating body than a structure on the floating body with the floating body in a plan view.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of an interference prevention device that prevents interference between a floating body structure and a tether in a tether-type wind power generation system that flies a kite from an ocean floating body.

Background Art

[0002] As the floating body, for example, a ship equipped with a winch at the stern has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] For example, the tether that moors the kite to the floating body is affected by changes in the wind direction and wind speed at the flight altitude of the kite, the flight attitude and flight control state of the kite, the navigation direction and navigation speed of the floating body, and changes in the wind direction and wind speed of the wind near the floating body. Then, there is a technical problem that the direction in which the tether extends near the floating body and the degree of sag of the tether change unexpectedly, and there is a possibility that the floating body structure and the tether interfere with each other.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, for example, and an object thereof is to provide an interference prevention device that can prevent interference between a floating body structure and a tether.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An interference prevention device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a position defining portion that defines a position for feeding in / out a tether for mooring a flying object in a floating body constituting a tethered wind power generation system, and a guide portion that movably holds the position defining portion in an outer peripheral region outside the floating body rather than a structure on the floating body when the floating body is viewed in plan view.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] An embodiment of the interference prevention device will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the wind power generation system 1 includes a floating body 10 and a kite 20. The floating body 10 includes a hull 11, legs 12 installed on the hull 11, and a deck 13 supported by the legs 12. The floating body 10 includes a mast 14 installed on the deck 13 and a sail 15 attached to the mast 14 and rotatable about the mast 14. The floating body 10 includes a winch 16 that may also function as a power generation device. The kite 20 is moored to the floating body 10 via a tether 30 wound around a drum of the winch 16.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 1(b), the floating body 10 may include two hulls 11. That is, the floating body 10 may be a catamaran. In addition, the floating body 10 may be a multi-hull ship as shown in FIG. 2(a), or may be a single-hull ship as shown in FIG. 2(b). In addition, the sail 15 may be formed of a flexible sheet, or may be at least partially formed of a relatively rigid material. In FIG. 1, a winch 16 is disposed on the deck 13. However, the winch 16 may be disposed not only on the deck 13 but also at any location. For example, the winch 16 may be disposed below the deck 13 (i.e., on the side of the surface of the deck 13 facing the hull 11), or may be disposed on the hull 11. In addition, the shape of the deck 13 when the floating body 10 is viewed in plan is not limited to a circle (including an ellipse), and may be a polygon such as a triangle or a quadrilateral, for example.

[0010] In the wind power generation system 1, when the kite 20 ascends, the tether 30 is paid out from the winch 16 as the kite 20 ascends. Due to this payout operation of the tether 30, the drum of the winch 16 rotates. Then, power generation is performed by the rotation of the generator as the drum rotates. After the tether 30 is paid out to a predetermined length or after a predetermined time elapses, the drum of the winch 16 is rotated in the direction of winding up the tether 30 by a motor included in the winch 16. As a result, the kite 20 descends due to the winding-up operation of the tether 30. The wind power generation system 1 generates power by repeatedly performing the payout operation and the winding-up operation of the tether 30.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, a mast 14, a sail 15, and a winch 16 are installed on the deck 13 of the floating body 10. On the deck 13, for example, at least one of a generator and a holding mechanism for the kite 20 may be installed. That is, it can be said that structures used for at least one of the navigation of the floating body 10 and wind power generation are installed on the deck 13.

[0012] If the tether 30 extends from the winch 16 towards the flying kite 20, for example, the tether 30 may interfere with the sail 15. Here, due to changes in the wind direction and wind speed at the flying altitude of the kite 20, the flying attitude and flight control state of the kite 20, the sailing direction and sailing speed of the floating body 10, and changes in the wind direction and wind speed in the vicinity of the floating body 10, etc., the direction in which the tether 30 extends in the vicinity of the floating body 10 and the degree of sag of the tether 30 change. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to assume in advance (for example, at the time of designing the floating body 10) the direction in which the tether 30 extends in the vicinity of the floating body 10 and the degree of sag of the tether 30.

[0013] Therefore, the wind power generation system 1 includes an interference prevention device 40. In other words, the floating body 10 includes an interference prevention device 40. The interference prevention device 40 may include a pulley 41 and a guide rail 42. As shown in Fig. 1(a), the tether 30 extending from the winch 16 is connected to the kite 20 via the pulley 41. Therefore, it can be said that the tether 30 extends from the pulley 41 towards the flying kite 20. Here, the tether 30 can be regarded as being paid out from the pulley 41. Similarly, the tether 30 can be regarded as being reeled into the pulley 41. Therefore, it can be said that the pulley 41 defines the pay-out / reel-in position of the tether 30. For this reason, the pulley 41 may be referred to as a position defining portion.

[0014] The guide rail 42 is provided in the outer peripheral region Ar2 outside the floating body 10 rather than in the interference region Ar1 (the shaded portion in Fig. 1(b)) shown in Fig. 1(b). In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the guide rail 42 is installed along the outer edge of the deck 13. The pulley 41 is configured to be movable along the guide rail 42. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, since the guide rail 42 has an orbit that circles the outer edge of the deck 13, the pulley 41 can circle the outer edge of the deck 13 along the guide rail 42. That is, the pulley 41 is a movable pulley. Incidentally, the pulley 41 may roll or slide on the guide rail 42.

[0015] The interference area Ar1 means an area where, without taking any countermeasures, the structure on the floating body 10 (specifically, on the deck 13) and the tether 30 may interfere. For example, the sail 15 rotates around the mast 14 due to the influence of the wind near the floating body 10. Thus, there is a structure with a variable position on the floating body 10. Therefore, the interference area Ar1 may include, in addition to the area where the structure actually exists, an area where a structure with a changing position may exist (in other words, an area where a structure with a changing position can move). In the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the interference area Ar1 may include an area where the sail 15 may exist due to the rotation of the sail 15.

[0016] In addition, in the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the guide rail 42 is provided along the outer edge of the deck 13. However, the guide rail 42 may be provided at any position in the outer peripheral area Ar2. Also, the guide rail 42 does not necessarily have an orbit that circles the outer edge of the deck 13. In this case, the guide rail 42 may have an orbit along a part of the outer edge of the deck 13, for example. That is, the guide rail 42 may have an orbit provided in at least a part of the outer peripheral area Ar2. Since various existing aspects can be applied to the configuration of the pulley 41 as a mobile pulley and the configuration of the guide rail 42, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

[0017] (Technical effect) Depending on the flight state of the kite 20 (i.e., flight altitude, flight attitude, flight control status, tension state received from the tether 30, etc.), wind direction and wind speed at high and low altitudes, navigation direction and navigation speed of the floating body 10, etc., at least one of the kite 20 and the tether 30 may move around in various directions in the vicinity of the structure on the floating body 10 including the sail 15. Without taking any countermeasures, there is a possibility that the structure on the floating body 10 and the tether 30 may interfere.

[0018] However, the wind power generation system 1 is provided with an interference prevention device 40. The pulley 41 of the interference prevention device 40 defines the pay-out / reel-in position of the tether 30 in the outer peripheral region Ar2 outside the interference region Ar1 in a plan view of the floating body 10. As a result, interference between the tether 30 extending toward the flying kite 20 and the structure on the floating body 10 can be prevented.

[0019] In addition, the pulley 41 is movable along the guide rail 42 of the interference prevention device 40. For this reason, even if the direction in which the tether 30 extends changes due to a change in the flight state of the kite 20, the pulley 41 can move along the guide rail 42 according to the direction in which the tether 30 extends. That is, even if the relative positional relationship between the floating body 10 and the kite 20 changes, interference between the tether 30 and the structure on the floating body 10 can be prevented by the pulley 41 moving along the guide rail 42.

[0020] It is also conceivable to configure the winch 16 to be movable along the guide rail 42. However, for example, the drum of the winch 16 around which the tether 30 of 100 meters or more is wound becomes relatively large and relatively heavy. For this reason, the winch 16 holding the drum also becomes relatively large and relatively heavy. Moving such a winch 16 along the guide rail 42 is unrealistic, for example, from the viewpoints of safety and the stability of the floating body 10. Also, even if the direction in which the tether 30 extends changes due to a change in the flight state of the kite 20, the position of the relatively heavy winch 16 does not change. For this reason, in order to move the winch 16 along the guide rail 42, power for moving the winch 16 is required. Then, the power generation efficiency of the wind power generation system 1 decreases by the amount of energy consumed for moving the winch 16. From such a viewpoint as well, it is unrealistic to move the winch 16 along the guide rail 42.

[0021] (First Modified Example) A first modification example of the wind power generation system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the wind power generation system 1 according to the first modification example may include an interference prevention device 40a instead of the interference prevention device 40. In other words, the floating body 10 may include the interference prevention device 40a. The interference prevention device 40a includes a pulley 41 and a guide rail 42a. As shown in FIG. 3, the guide rail 42a has an elliptical orbit. The guide rail 42a having an elliptical orbit may be provided along the outer edge of the deck 13 of the floating body 10. Note that a part of the guide rail 42a may be provided at a position deviated from the deck 13 (for example, a part of the guide rail 42a may be provided in the air).

[0022] (Technical effect) According to the first modification example, similarly to the above-described embodiment, interference between the tether 30 extending toward the flying kite 20 and the structure on the floating body 10 can be prevented.

[0023] (Second modification example) A second modification example of the wind power generation system 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the wind power generation system 1 according to the second modification example may include an interference prevention device 40b instead of the interference prevention device 40. In other words, the floating body 10 may include the interference prevention device 40b. The interference prevention device 40b includes a guide arm 43 whose one end is movable in the outer peripheral region Ar2 when the floating body 10 is viewed in plan, and a pulley 41 attached to one end of the guide arm 43. The guide arm 43 may be configured such that the one end is rotatable coaxially with the sail 15 in the outer peripheral region Ar2. That is, the guide arm 43 may be configured to be rotatable about the mast 14.

[0024] Further, the guide arm 43 may not be rotatable 360 degrees around the mast 14, for example. The guide arm 43 may be rotatable around a part of the periphery of the mast 14, for example. That is, the guide arm 43 may be configured such that the end to which the pulley 41 is attached is movable along at least a part of the outer peripheral region Ar2. Incidentally, the pulley 41 may be completely fixed to one end of the guide arm 43. The pulley 41 may be attached to the guide arm 43 so as to be slightly movable in any direction under the condition of being within the outer peripheral region Ar2.

[0025] (Technical effect) One end of the guide arm 43 (that is, the end to which the pulley 41 is attached) is configured to move along the outer edge of the deck 13, for example. For this reason, even if the kite 20 turns in the sky near the sail 15 or makes a complex movement including a turning operation, the guide arm 43 to which the pulley 41 is attached turns in a manner following the movement of the kite 20 and the tether 30. As a result, interference between the tether 30 extending toward the flying kite 20 and the structure on the floating body 10 can be prevented.

[0026] Aspects of the invention derived from the embodiments and modifications described above will be described below.

[0027] An interference prevention device according to an aspect of the invention includes a position defining portion that defines a payout / reel-in position of a tether for mooring a flying object in a floating body constituting a tether type wind power generation system, and a guide portion that movably holds the position defining portion in an outer peripheral region outside the floating body with respect to a structure on the floating body when the floating body is viewed in plan view. In the above-described embodiment, "pulley 41" corresponds to an example of the "position defining portion", and "guide rails 42 and 42a" and "guide arm 43" correspond to examples of the "guide portion".

[0028] In this aspect, the structure may include a sail. The outer peripheral region may be a region outside the floating body with respect to the outer edge of the region where the sail rotates when the floating body is viewed in plan view.

[0029] In the interference prevention device, the guide part may include a guide rail having a track provided in at least a part of the outer peripheral region. The position defining part may include a movable pulley movable along the guide rail.

[0030] Alternatively, in the interference prevention device, the guide part may include a guide arm whose one end is movable in at least a part of the outer peripheral region when the floating body is viewed in plan. The position defining part may include a pulley attached to the one end. In this aspect, the structure may include a sail. The one end may be rotatable coaxially with at least a part of the outer peripheral region when the floating body is viewed in plan.

[0031] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be appropriately modified without departing from the gist or idea of the invention read from the claims and the entire specification, and an interference prevention device accompanied by such a modification is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

Explanation of Signs

[0032] 1... Wind power generation system, 10... Floating body, 13... Deck, 14... Mast, 15... Sail, 16... Winch, 20... Kite, 30... Tether, 40, 40a, 40b... Interference prevention device, 41... Pulley, 42, 42a... Guide rail, 43... Guide arm

Claims

1. In a floating body constituting a tethered wind power generation system, a position defining part that defines the payout / receipt position of a tether for mooring a flying object, and In a plan view of the floating body, a guide part that movably holds the position defining part in an outer peripheral region outside the floating body than a structure on the floating body, An interference prevention device, characterized by comprising these.

2. The structure includes a sail, The outer peripheral region is a region outside the floating body than the outer edge of the region where the sail rotates in a plan view of the floating body. The interference prevention device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The guide part has a guide rail having a track provided in at least a part of the outer peripheral region, The position defining part includes a movable pulley movable along the guide rail. The interference prevention device according to Claim 1, characterized by this.

4. The guide part has a guide arm whose one end is movable in at least a part of the outer peripheral region in a plan view of the floating body, The position defining part has a pulley attached to the one end. The interference prevention device according to Claim 1.

5. The structure includes a sail, The one end is rotatable coaxially with the sail in at least a part of the outer peripheral region in a plan view of the floating body. The interference prevention device according to Claim 4, characterized by this.

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