Vertical axis water turbine and vertical axis wind turbine

Abstract

To easily install a vertical shaft hydraulic turbine.SOLUTION: A vertical axis water turbine 100 that generates a kinetic force by a water flow includes a support column 110 erected on a sea bottom 200 (water bottom), a platform 120 provided so as to be vertically movable along the support column 110, a guide member 130 provided on the platform 120 and forming a closed circulating track, and a water turbine member 140 provided with a blade member 142 that receives a force by the water flow and guided by the guide member 130 so as to be capable of circulating.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vertical axis water turbine that generates motive power using a water flow. [Background technology]

[0002] Tidal and ocean current power generation using water turbines have long been viewed with great expectations, alongside solar and wind power generation. Compared to wind power generation, which also utilizes the power of a fluid, the mass density of seawater is more than 800 times that of air, making its potential particularly great. In other words, if a water turbine is used with a wind turbine of the same size and at the same flow rate, more than 800 times the energy can be generated. Furthermore, compared to solar and wind power generation, which are unstable and unpredictable, tidal and ocean current power generation can be predicted with near-certain accuracy, and there is little risk of it being affected by factors like typhoons, gusts of wind, or other weather conditions.

[0003] For example, a vertical axis water turbine is known in which the vertical shaft of the water turbine is supported by bearings at the upper and lower ends (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the vertical axis water turbine, lift-type blades are connected to the center of the vertical shaft via support arms, and a generator is attached to the end of the vertical shaft to generate electricity. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-241613 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, because vertical axis water turbines are installed underwater, there are many practical hurdles to overcome, and they have not yet become widely used. For example, while wind power can be installed relatively easily by creating a support pillar to support the wind turbine, water turbines are often not so easy to install, including the method of installing and maintaining the structure.

[0006] Specifically, for example, if the support arms connected to the vertical shaft are lengthened or the blades are enlarged in order to make the turbine larger, the forces acting on the support arms, etc. and the rotational moment acting on the vertical shaft will increase, making it difficult to scale up from the perspective of manufacturing costs.

[0007] In view of the above, the present invention aims to fundamentally rethink the concept of conventional vertical axis water turbines and to make it possible to install vertical axis water turbines in a relatively easy manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, The present invention provides A vertical axis water turbine that generates motive power using water flow, A support erected on the bottom of the water; a platform that is provided so as to be movable up and down along the support; a guide member provided on the platform and forming a closed orbit; a waterwheel member provided with a blade member that receives a force from the water flow and is guided by the guide member so as to be rotatable; The present invention is characterized by the following features. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] In this invention, the water turbine member with the blade members is provided, and the platform is made vertically movable, so that it can be easily prevented from being affected by fluctuations in water level (tide level). Also, because the water turbine member with the blade members is guided and rotatably mounted on guide members mounted on the platform, the system can be easily enlarged. Therefore, for example, it can be easily put into practical use for tidal power generation and ocean current power generation. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] A vertical cross-sectional view showing the main parts of a vertical axis water turbine [Figure 2] Plan view showing the main parts of a vertical axis water turbine [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing the main part of a modified vertical axis water turbine. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] Cross section of line VV in Figure 4 [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to a modification of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to another modified example of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a side view schematically showing a main part of a vertical axis water turbine according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 11] Cross section of line XI-XI in Figure 10 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments and modifications, components having the same functions as those in other embodiments will be denoted by the same or corresponding reference numerals, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) 1 and 2, the vertical axis water turbine 100 includes a support 110 erected on the seabed 200 (bottom of the water), and a platform 120 that is movable up and down along the support 110 but whose rotation is restricted. More specifically, the platform 120 is formed in a disk shape having a support insertion hole 121 into which the support 110 is inserted, and the support 110 is loosely fitted into the support insertion hole 121, allowing the platform 120 to move up and down while restricting movement in the horizontal and rotational directions. A float member 160 is provided on the underside of the platform 120, so that, depending on the water level, at least the upper surface of the platform 120 always floats above the sea surface.

[0013] Near the outer edge of the platform 120, a guide member 130 (circumferential rail) that forms a circular track (closed circumferential track) is provided.

[0014] The water turbine member 140 is composed of an annular ring member 141 rotatably guided by the guide member 130, and blade members 142 that receive the force of the water flow hanging from the ring member 141, and the ring member 141 is rotatably guided by the guide member 130. The blade members 142 may be of any type that generates a rotational force for the water turbine member 140 due to the water flow, and various types and cross-sectional shapes may be used. Furthermore, for example, as shown in Figure 3, multiple blade members 142 may be provided, such as an inner turbine member 140' and an outer turbine member 140" that rotate in opposite directions, to obtain a greater rotational force from the water flow and to reduce the rotational moment (stress) acting on the support 110.

[0015] For example, a generator 150 is installed on the platform 120, and rotational force is transmitted from an internal gear 141a formed on the inner periphery of the ring member 141 of the water turbine member 140 via a transmission gear 151, thereby generating electricity.

[0016] As described above, blade members 142 are suspended from ring member 141, and ring member 141 is capable of moving up and down together with platform 120 and guide member 130, so that it is easy to avoid being affected by fluctuations in the water level (tide level). Note that the method for adjusting the height of platform 120 is not limited to using float member 160 as described above, and it is also possible to, for example, suspend platform 120 from the top of support 110 by a wire or the like and control the length of the wire, or to provide a rack and pinion between support 110 and platform 120 for drive.

[0017] Furthermore, since the blade members 142 are suspended from the ring member 141, even if the radius of the ring member 141 (guide member 130) is increased, the forces acting on the arms supporting the blade members 142 and the like remain almost unchanged, making it easy to increase the size of the system.

[0018] Furthermore, as described above, there is no physical axis of rotation, and the peripheral speed of the rotational motion of the ring member 141 is transmitted directly to the transmission gear 151 near the outer periphery of the platform 120, which makes it possible to simplify the configuration of the transmission even when the scale of the system is increased.

[0019] In the above example, no rotating shaft is provided and an annular one-piece ring member 141 is used, but the invention is not limited to the one-piece ring member 141. As long as there is a mechanism for transmitting energy and ensuring rotation on the rails in the parts that suspend the individual blade members 142, a member that is divided into individual units (multiple partial water turbine members) and connected by chains, belts, wire ropes, etc. may also be used. This also makes it easier to reduce manufacturing costs.

[0020] Furthermore, although an example in which a single support pillar with a circular cross section is provided as support pillar 110 has been shown, the present invention is not limited to this, and a support pillar with a polygonal cross section may be provided, or multiple support pillars may be provided.

[0021] Furthermore, a plurality of generators 150 and transmission gears 151 may be provided depending on, for example, the scale of the system. Furthermore, instead of the transmission gear 151, various other speed change mechanisms may be used, or the generator 150, etc. may be directly driven.

[0022] (Embodiment 2) The platform 120, guide member 130, and water turbine member 140 may have various configurations. For example, in the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, instead of the disk-shaped platform 120, a platform 220 is used that includes an inner ring portion 221 into which the support 110 is loosely fitted, an outer ring portion 222 on the outer periphery, and radial connecting portions 223 that connect these. (Note that the water turbine member 240 and other components are omitted from Figure 4.) A pair of inner and outer guide members 230 are fixed to the outer ring portion 222 via, for example, a triangular framework 231. The ring member 241 from which the blade members 242 hang down has a U-shaped cross section that is open at the top, and rollers 241a provided on the inside of its side walls clamp and rotatably guide the guide member 230. Although gears and generators are omitted in Figures 4 and 5, an internal gear may be provided in the ring member 241 as in embodiment 1, or the generator may be driven via a gear provided in another part.

[0023] (Embodiment 3) Furthermore, the orbit is not limited to the circular guide member 130 as in the first and second embodiments, but may be at least partially linear. Specifically, in the third embodiment of the present invention, for example, as schematically shown in FIG. 6 , the orbit may be formed by a guide member 330 having an oval shape with a pair of linear portions connected by folded portions at both ends, and the blade member holder 341 of the water turbine member 340 may move linearly in a direction perpendicular to the water flow, etc., on the pair of linear portions. The structure for forming the orbit as described above is not particularly limited, and a plate-like platform 320 such as the platform 120 in the first embodiment may be shaped to correspond to the orbit, or a platform may be constructed using a framework as in the second embodiment, and the guide member 330 corresponding to the orbit may be provided on these platforms.

[0024] The pair of straight sections are arranged at an optimal angle, such as perpendicular to (or intersecting with) the water flow. That is, when the ocean current is constant, or when the direction of the water flow can be predicted to be constant, the straight sections may be installed in a fixed direction. Furthermore, when the direction of the water flow is not constant, the platform 320 may be provided rotatable about a predetermined rotation axis, so that the arrangement can be automatically or manually controlled according to the water flow.

[0025] The water turbine member 340 is configured by connecting a plurality of blade member holding sections 341 (partial water turbine members) that are each divided so as to be able to move along the guide member 330, for example, by a chain (not shown), so that driving force can be transmitted to a generator, etc., via the chain, etc.

[0026] A blade member 342 is mounted on blade member holder 341 via a rotation shaft 343 and is rotatable between a pair of blade member restricting portions 344a and 344b fixed to blade member holder 341. More specifically, assuming that the water flow is from right to left in FIG. 7, the rotational position of blade member 342 mounted on the upstream straight portion is restricted by blade member restricting portion 344a so that the force acting on the blade member 342 moves downward in the figure due to the water flow. Meanwhile, the rotational position of blade member 342 mounted on the downstream straight portion is restricted by blade member restricting portion 344b so that the force acting on the blade member 342 moves upward in the figure due to the water flow, i.e., so that the force acts in the same circular direction. This allows both straight portions to generate driving force, thereby easily increasing efficiency. Moreover, by lengthening the length of the straight portion and increasing the number of blade members 342, the vertical axis water turbine 100 can be easily enlarged even if each blade member 342 itself is small.

[0027] The set angle formed by the blade member restricting portions 344a and 344b and the linear portion of the guide member 330 can be adjusted to maximize the energy absorption efficiency of the water turbine.

[0028] (Embodiment 4) To increase the size of the vertical axis water turbine 100 whose orbital path has a pair of straight sections as described above, it is not necessary to lengthen the straight sections. Instead, multiple orbital paths (platforms 320) may be arranged side by side in the direction of the water flow, as shown in FIG. 7. In this case, the platforms may be connected by connecting frames 371. When the vertical axis water turbine 100 is installed in a location where the water flow direction is not constant, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, the connecting frame 371 may be rotatably mounted on a rotating shaft 372 attached to the support 110 as in the first embodiment, and the straight sections of the orbital path may be automatically or manually controlled to be perpendicular to the water flow according to the water flow. When multiple orbital paths having straight sections are provided as described above, by rotating the blade members 342 in different directions as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible to easily cancel out the rotational moment acting on the platforms 320 and the force acting in a direction perpendicular to the water flow. However, this is not limiting, and the blade members 342 may be rotated in the same direction.

[0029] It is not limited to the above-described arrangement in which a pair of straight sections are connected by folded sections at both ends to form an oval circular orbit, but may also be arranged such that, for example, as shown in Figure 9, multiple straight sections are connected in sequence in an accordion-like manner by folded sections at the ends, and each blade member holding section 341 moves in a serpentine manner.

[0030] (Embodiment 5) In the water turbine member 140 etc. of the first to fourth embodiments, examples have been shown in which the blade members 142, 242, and 342 hang down from the ring members 141 and 241 and the blade member holding portion 341, but this is not limiting, and the water turbine member 440 may be supported between a pair of guide members 430 arranged above and below, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. More specifically, similar to the water turbine member 340 of the third embodiment, a plurality of water turbine members 440 are provided, each comprising a blade member holding portion 441, a blade member 442, and a rotating shaft 443 that rotatably supports the blade member 442, as well as a blade member restricting portion (not shown) that restricts the rotational position of the rotating shaft 443, similar to the blade member restricting portions 344a and 344b of the third embodiment.

[0031] A pair of blade member holding portions 441 are provided, one above the other, each including a side roller 441a and a horizontal roller 441b, and supported so that movement in the width direction and up and down directions of guide member 430 is restricted, and provided so that they can move while being guided in the longitudinal direction of guide member 430. Upper and lower ends of rotation shaft 443 are rotatably supported by upper and lower blade member holding portions 441. The upper blade member holding portions 441 and the lower blade member holding portions 441 are connected to each other via connecting joint 441c so that they can rotate relatively around a central axis in the up and down direction, but that relative movement in the up and down direction is restricted.

[0032] In the vertical axis water turbine 100 configured as described above, by arranging the guide member 430 in the same manner as the guide member 330 in the third and fourth embodiments and the modified examples, a driving force can be generated in any of the straight sections of the guide member 430, which makes it easy to increase efficiency and also makes it easy to increase the size of the vertical axis water turbine 100.

[0033] Furthermore, each waterwheel member 440 is guided and supported by the upper and lower guide members 430, and multiple waterwheel members 440 are connected by connecting joints 441c so that relative vertical movement is restricted, making it easy to ensure that the force generated by the water flow is reliably received.

[0034] The configuration in which the guide members 430 are arranged above and below as described above may be applied when the orbit is circular as in embodiments 1 and 2, or when the orbit has a straight portion as in embodiments 3 and 4.

[0035] Furthermore, the components and functions described in the above embodiments may be combined in various ways within a logically possible range.

[0036] Also, some of the above examples may be applied to vertical axis wind turbines. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 100 Vertical axis water turbine 110 Post 120 Platform 121 Support insertion hole 130 Guide member 140 Waterwheel components 140' Inner turbine component 140" outer turbine component 141 Ring member 141a Internal gear 142 Blade member 143 Frame Border 150 generator 151 Transmission gear 160 Float member 200 Undersea 220 Platform 221 Inner ring part 222 outer ring part 223 Connection 230 Guide member 231 Frame 240 Waterwheel parts 241 Ring member 241a Laura 242 Blade member 320 Platform 330 Guide member 340 Waterwheel parts 341 Blade member holding part 342 Blade member 343 Rotation Axis 344a Blade member regulation part 344b Blade member regulation part 371 Connecting Frame 372 Rotational Axis 430 Guide member 440 Waterwheel parts 441 Blade member holding part 441a Side Roller 441b Horizontal roller 441c Connecting Joint 442 Blade member 443 Rotational Axis

Claims

1. A vertical axis water turbine that generates motive power using water flow, A support erected on the bottom of the water; a platform that is provided so as to be movable up and down along the support; a guide member provided on the platform and forming a closed orbit; a waterwheel member provided with a blade member that receives a force from the water flow and is guided by the guide member so as to be rotatable; A vertical axis water turbine characterized by comprising:

2. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 1, the platform has a support post insertion hole into which the support post is inserted, and is provided so as to be unable to rotate relative to the support post; The water turbine member is a vertical axis water turbine characterized in that the blade members are provided on a ring member that is rotatably guided by the guide member.

3. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 1, A vertical axis water turbine characterized in that the water turbine members have an inner water turbine member on which the blade members move around in an inner circumferential direction, and an outer water turbine member on which the blade members move around in an outer circumferential direction.

4. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 1, The orbit of the guide member is formed to have at least one pair of linear portions and folded portions at both ends, A vertical axis water turbine, characterized in that the water turbine members are each equipped with the blade members and are formed by connecting a plurality of partial water turbine members that are guided by the guide members so as to be able to move in circles.

5. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 4, The orbit is arranged in a direction in which the pair of straight line portions intersect with the direction of the water flow, The blade members are arranged to be rotatable within a range that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the direction of the straight section, and the blade members located on the straight section upstream of the water flow and the blade members located on the straight section downstream are set in a direction that acts in the same circumferential direction.

6. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 4, A vertical axis water turbine characterized in that a plurality of the orbital tracks are provided, and the straight portions are arranged so as to be parallel to each other and aligned in the direction of the water flow.

7. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 4, A vertical axis water turbine characterized in that the plurality of straight sections are connected in sequence in an accordion-like manner at the folded-back portions at the ends, and each partial water turbine member is arranged to move in a serpentine manner.

8. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 1, A vertical axis water turbine, characterized in that the guide members are provided above and below the water turbine members, and guide the upper and lower parts of the water turbine members, respectively.

9. The vertical axis water turbine of claim 1, A vertical axis water turbine characterized in that the platform has a float member that causes at least a portion of the platform to float above the water surface.

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