Underwater equipment for increasing the velocity of ocean currents and its use

Abstract

To provide an underwater facility for increasing a flow rate of tidal currents in a predetermined sea area at a predetermined water depth in the sea, which flow in laminar manner in one direction.SOLUTION: Along each of right and left side surfaces of a predetermined sea area having a right-left width L0, a plurality of plate-shaped underwater vertical floats KF with a narrow right-left width t and a depth difference h, and with a dimension p extending in a flow velocity direction, are provided in an upstream direction; the right and left underwater vertical floats KF widen their interval in a V-shape along the upstream side to form an induction water channel that increases a flow velocity; and each underwater vertical float is moored to a large sea surface float SF and a seabed anchor AN with a number of wires W in the front-back, right-left, top-bottom directions to hold it approximately vertically in the sea.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention is an underwater facility that can increase the flow velocity of the ocean current in a specific sea area where there is an ocean current in the sea. As a utilization method, if a tidal power generation device is installed in a specific section of this sea area, the output can be greatly increased. Or, by providing a sea area with a fast flow velocity for the fish living in the sea area, the momentum of the fish can be increased so that it can be cultured into natural-like live fish. Or it relates to the utilization invention of an underwater facility that can utilize a fast ocean current.

Background Art

[0002] Natural disasters due to global climate change are becoming increasingly severe, and even the survival of humanity on Earth is beginning to be feared. COP26 warns that if the emission of CO2, which is the main cause of global warming, is not reduced to zero by 2050, the Earth will become uninhabitable. Although the whole world is desperately working hard to reduce CO2 emissions, the achievements so far are insufficient, and pessimistic predictions have also begun to emerge in the future. As a specific example, first, in the onshore industry, the use of coal-fired power has stagnated in terms of reduction due to practical economy, and in renewable energy, the main solar power generation and wind power generation have suffered a significant output shortage due to bad weather. In ocean energy, technological development has stagnated due to technical and cost difficulties. In ocean current power generation, although the global energy endowment distribution is almost infinite, there are many technical problems such as deep sea, open ocean, and variable movement. In tidal power generation, the energy endowment distribution is small, and the sea areas with high-speed currents required for power generation are limited. Most of the existing tidal power generation devices use the horizontal axis propeller type derived from the propeller blades of onshore wind power. However, since the density of water is 800 times that of air, there are limitations in terms of strength and installation when making the wing length long. Therefore, the output of a single unit is also considered to be limited. The current largest example is also about 2MW with a wind power of 200mD× Compared to 9MW, the tidal power generation system has a capacity of 20mD× This also reconfirms the technical and cost difficulties of tidal power generation.

[0003] Techniques for increasing the movement of fish and improving the environment of fish pens by using pumps to create a high flow velocity in the seawater within the pens are well known. However, equipment that improves the environment of a fish farm by operating a pump to generate seawater currents or by installing a rotating body that rotates within the fish farm using a rotating device is well known.

[0004] However, in order to operate the pump or the rotating mechanism, the engine must be run using electrical energy or fuel. Therefore, it required the use of electricity or the cost of engine fuel. A problem arose with prolonged use, as electricity and fuel costs became high.

[0005] Furthermore, as a method for doubling the flow velocity in a portion of a body of water, such as seawater, rivers, or water conduits, it is a well-known technique, widely recognized as Bernoulli's theorem, that reducing the channel area will increase the flow velocity through that smaller channel area. Structures that increase flow velocity in onshore channels can be easily fabricated and constructed using concrete blocks, or plastic or steel channels. However, increasing the velocity of seawater can be achieved by constructing a channel embankment (channel wall) using strong materials such as concrete blocks or steel products to gradually reduce the channel area within a given sea area. However, constructing such a large-scale channel dam underwater would involve large-scale seabed construction work, which would be costly due to the manufacturing and transportation costs of the channel dam blocks and the large-scale seabed construction work required to install them on the seabed.

[0006] In particular, in tidal power generation, the global distribution of tidal energy reserves is small, and the high-speed current areas necessary for power generation are limited. Furthermore, existing tidal power generation equipment is installed on the seabed, so it is dependent on the shape of the seabed, further limiting the sea surface in which it can be installed. Tidal currents are thought to be generated by the movement of seawater on the surface due to the gravitational forces of the Earth, Moon, and Sun. High-speed tidal currents are understood to be the result of narrow channels and straits accidentally created by natural land and coastlines, which accelerate the currents. In reality, there are not many places where such currents occur, and the global energy reserves are small. Consequently, the contribution of global tidal power generation to green electricity is small and limited, and investment is sluggish. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-2220 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 4717966 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] This invention provides underwater equipment and utilization technologies for tidal power generation devices, underwater aquaculture equipment, etc., which utilize the same equipment. This equipment can be used to increase the speed of naturally occurring tidal currents in a specific sea area, thereby improving the environment of fish farms in that specific sea area by using the increased speed of the tidal currents as they are, or to operate underwater tidal power generation equipment with the increased speed of the tidal currents to generate high output power at low cost, supply the generated energy to land-based or offshore equipment via submarine electrical cables, or to produce hydrogen fuel at low cost using the generated energy to supply hydrogen as a fuel source to land-based equipment, offshore vessels, and underwater aquaculture equipment. Furthermore, by generating electricity underwater and using that electricity or hydrogen as an energy source for underwater fish farms and aquaculture equipment, low-cost fish farming and aquaculture can be achieved, reducing energy costs in the fisheries industry and improving the marine environment of fish.

[0009] The present invention aims to provide underwater equipment and utilization technology for increasing the velocity of tidal currents below the sea surface in a predetermined area of ​​the ocean, while also being able to do so at a low cost. In particular, by installing tidal power generation equipment in a specific area of ​​the ocean, it is possible to output a large amount of power even in the ocean with slow natural tidal currents, enabling the supply of inexpensive electricity. Furthermore, it is possible to produce a large amount of hydrogen as an energy source in the ocean using the generated energy, providing hydrogen as an energy source on land at a low cost, and making it easier to utilize as energy for underwater fish farms and aquaculture facilities. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] The present invention, which solves these problems, has the following configuration: 1) In a tidal region where natural currents occur at a predetermined depth below the sea surface and the direction of their flow velocity is approximately the same, An underwater device for increasing the velocity of a current in a predetermined sea area, having a predetermined width L0 in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the current velocity of the natural current and approximately parallel to the seabed, and having lengths p from each of the left and right ends of the predetermined width L0 in the direction upstream of the current, and forming a cube with side lengths L0 × p × d defined by the length of the required depth difference d at a predetermined water depth, A plate-shaped underwater vertical float measuring p × h × t is positioned along the left and right sides of the cube-shaped predetermined sea area, separated by a predetermined width L0, along the upstream direction of the natural current, with a required length p and a height h greater than or equal to the difference in water depth d, and a required left and right thickness t. This underwater vertical float is connected by wires to a large surface float floating on the sea surface above it to provide significant upward buoyancy, and is also connected by wires to multiple seabed anchors provided on the seabed below it, so that the underwater vertical float is positioned approximately vertically in the sea at a predetermined location. The floats are moored in a manner, and furthermore, multiple underwater vertical floats of the same structure and substantially the same dimensions t and h are arranged in a row in the upstream direction of the current at the upstream end of the underwater vertical floats, such that their front and rear ends are in contact with or continuous with each other. The underwater vertical floats are arranged so that the distance between them widens as they move upstream of the current, and the distance between them widens in a V-shape. Each underwater vertical float is moored to a large surface float floating above with multiple wires, and is also moored to a seabed anchor below with multiple wires so that it can be stationary. Each row of underwater vertical floats is connected to the others by wires between the front and rear sections, and between pairs of left and right underwater vertical floats. Furthermore, each underwater vertical float is moored to multiple seabed anchors provided on its left and right sides and front and rear by wires extending in the left, right, front, rear, and up and down directions. This allows the underwater vertical floats, which are arranged in a V-shape in the direction of the tidal current, to be moored and held in that V-shape. The double rows of V-shaped underwater vertical floats form an underwater channel that guides the tidal current to a predetermined sea area. The underwater channel formed by the V-shaped underwater vertical floats narrows the passage area of ​​the left and right underwater channels, thereby increasing the speed of the tidal current and resulting in a high tidal current velocity in the predetermined sea area. This is the characteristic of an underwater facility that increases the speed of tidal currents. 2) The underwater vertical wall float has an outer shell made of steel plate or a strong metal and is shaped into a narrow, vertical box, and foamed resin is filled into the outer shell in a predetermined proportion to make it a nearly vertical float, and the outer surface of the underwater vertical wall float is constructed to be resistant to damage and to have buoyancy, as described in 1) for underwater equipment to increase the velocity of the current 3) In an underwater facility for increasing the velocity of a tidal current as described in 1) or 2) above, a tidal current power generation device that generates electricity using tidal energy is installed in a predetermined sea area downstream where the velocity of the tidal current has increased, thereby enabling high electrical output at a high tidal current velocity. It is located there. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the present invention, in a sea area of ​​a predetermined depth where the direction of the current is substantially the same and the current flows as an upper and lower laminar current, underwater vertical floats are arranged in a V-shape from both the left and right sides of the specific sea area, with the spacing between them widening towards the upstream direction of the current. Each of these underwater vertical floats is moored to a large float floating on the sea surface with wires, exerting a large upward buoyancy. To counteract this large buoyancy, multiple seabed anchors are provided on the seabed below the underwater vertical floats, and the underwater vertical floats are moored to these seabed anchors with multiple wires, generating a downward pulling force towards the seabed to counteract the buoyancy and hold the underwater vertical floats in a predetermined position in the sea. The row of underwater vertical floats can essentially be maintained as a channel that guides the underwater current to a specific sea area at a predetermined depth of seawater. Furthermore, the vertical floats arranged in rows are connected to each other by wires in the front-to-back and side-to-side directions, and seabed anchors are widely provided in the front-to-back, downward, and side-to-side directions. These are then moored to the vertical floats with multiple wires, ensuring a secure hold in the sea.

[0012] As a result, natural currents are captured in the underwater channels of the V-shaped row of vertical underwater floats and guided into the underwater channels of the left and right vertical underwater floats, leading them to specific areas with smaller channel areas. Consequently, natural currents flow from the current guide outlet, which has a larger channel area, to the specific area with a smaller channel area. Therefore, the current velocity in the specific area becomes significantly faster. In this specific sea area, the current velocity can be two to three times that of natural tidal currents, significantly increasing the current speed in that area.

[0013] Therefore, by placing a tidal power generation device in this specific sea area, it will be possible to generate a large amount of electricity. Furthermore, if it is used as part of the swimming channel of an aquaculture pen, it can stimulate the movement of fish. The tidal power generation device may be a propeller-type or rotary waterwheel-type generator, in addition to the buoyancy flap rotation type tidal power generator developed by the applicant. Alternatively, it may be a power generator that is not a generator.

[0014] In areas with natural currents, the high-speed currents of 3-6-9 knots required for high-power power generation are limited and extremely rare. Therefore, as a solution, this invention does not seek out naturally occurring areas with rapid currents, but rather artificially increases the speed of low-speed currents to high-speed currents, thereby providing a wider range of areas with the current speeds necessary for power generation. Low-speed currents of 1-2-3 knots can be increased to high-speed currents of 3-6-9 knots in specific areas. This makes it possible to realize high-power tidal power generation using the buoyancy flap tidal power generation equipment developed by the inventor in areas with low current speeds. Within limited areas of natural high-speed currents, locations with seabed shapes suitable for device installation are even rarer. Furthermore, by installing a buoyancy flap turbine type tidal power generation device, known from Patent Publication No. 5451938 and developed by the inventor, which allows installation in the sea at a predetermined depth rather than on the seabed, high-speed currents can be easily obtained. This is because, when the current velocity is close to the seabed or sea surface, it becomes difficult to obtain laminar high-speed currents because it is affected by the current velocity at the seabed or sea surface where there is no current. This invention makes it easier to obtain laminar high-speed currents by utilizing high-speed currents at an appropriate depth.

[0015] The underwater vertical wall float is installed by fixing one end to the float and using a large surface float to pull the other end upward with a large buoyancy force. Alternatively, the underwater vertical wall float is moored to a seabed anchor and secured with multiple wires running vertically downwards in the seabed direction, left and right, and front and back directions. This allows the underwater vertical wall float to be strongly pulled up and down by the large buoyancy force and anchoring force of the seabed anchor, enabling it to be moored almost vertically in the sea. In other words, the large vertical buoyancy force directed towards the sea surface makes it easy for the underwater vertical wall float to assume an almost vertical position in the sea. Furthermore, the tension of the multiple mooring wires fixed to one end of the underwater vertical wall float in the seabed direction, left and right, front and back, and diagonal directions, along with the connecting force of the wires connecting the underwater vertical wall floats to each other, strongly holds the underwater vertical wall float in an almost vertical position in the sea in response to the forces from the front and back and left and right currents acting on it.

[0016] According to the present invention, in a specific sea area at a predetermined depth where the current below the sea surface flows laminarly in a certain direction, the underwater vertical wall floats are installed so that the tips of a pair of rows of underwater vertical floats are positioned at locations KP1, KP2, KP3, etc., where they gradually widen in a V-shape as they move upstream, starting from a predetermined distance L0 apart at position KP0. In a plan view, the tips of the elongated plate-shaped underwater vertical floats, arranged in a V-shape on both the left and right sides, are positioned at a predetermined depth height h and with a width that widens towards the upstream direction on both sides. The current enters through the V-shaped inlet and flows in a streamline that narrows towards the specific sea area downstream. When an ocean current enters with a velocity V0 from between the tips of the left and right underwater vertical wall floats, which have a width L1 at the upstream tip of the pair of left and right underwater vertical wall floats, the current narrows by the distance L0 between the left and right channels toward the specific sea area KPo. As a result, the velocity V0 of the invading current increases according to Bernoulli's theorem and passes through the specific section KP0. As a result, the current velocity at the tip of this specific sea area, KP0, is increased to approximately 1.5 to 3.0 times the current velocity V0 at the tip of the row of vertical floats installed in the sea. K It passes through this area, generating this accelerated tidal current. By placing a tidal power generator in this specific sea area, it is possible to achieve a power output 2 to 9 times greater.

[0017] Moreover, if this specific sea area is provided as part of the fish pen, the cultured fish in the fish pen can swim at high speed in this specific sea area, and fish that are toned up by exercise can be cultured.

[0018] Furthermore, although not shown in the drawings, if a part of the tidal current downstream of the KP0 position in this specific sea area flows toward the seabed surface, the tidal current stirs up the seabed and extracts organic matter and small animals in the seabed mud and diffuses them into the tidal current. By carrying plankton, small fish, organic matter, and inorganic matter, which serve as fish food, on the tidal current and discharging them, the sea area in the downstream area can be made into a sea area rich in fish food, or fish can be concentrated downstream of this specific section to increase the fishing yield downstream.

[0019] Moreover, in the present invention, each underwater vertical wall float is connected to a large floating body on the sea surface and a seabed anchor by a plurality of wires in the vertical, front-rear, and left-right directions, so it is stably held substantially vertically at a predetermined water depth. Due to the buoyancy of the large floating body on the sea surface, it is made to be strongly vertical in a predetermined water depth area. Moreover, the other ends of a plurality of wires stretched downward, left-right, front-rear, or diagonally, with one end fixed to the left and right underwater vertical wall floats, are fixed to the seabed anchor, and it is moored substantially vertically in the sea at a predetermined water depth, and the shape of the underwater vertical wall float and the left-right position and front-rear position of the mooring are held so as not to vary much. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the distance between the left and right of the H-shaped underwater vertical wall floats from expanding. Against the force that attempts to deform and displace the shape and position of the underwater vertical wall float when it hits the tidal current by a plurality of wires fixed to the seabed anchor in the vertical, left-right, and front-rear directions, the H-shape is prevented from collapsing, so that the speed increase in a specific section can be maintained.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0020] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view showing the installation state of the underwater vertical float of an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing the planar arrangement of a pair of left and right underwater vertical floats forming an underwater waterway in the embodiment. [Figure 3]Figure 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure in which the underwater vertical float of the embodiment is fixed and held in the sea by a large surface float and a seabed anchor. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the injection and discharge of air or seawater into the underwater vertical float of the embodiment, and the control of the switching valve. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the injection and discharge of air or seawater into the underwater vertical float of the embodiment, and the control of the switching valve. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the wire connection state on the upper surface of the underwater vertical float of the embodiment, as well as the mooring wire fastener and the air pressure outlet. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is an enlarged plan view showing multiple underwater vertical floats of the embodiment arranged in a row. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific sea area in the embodiment. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram showing the structure of the underwater vertical float in the embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0021] The underwater vertical wall float of the present invention preferably has an outer shell made of a strong, rust-resistant metal plate, with the interior filled with a high-strength, interconnected rigid foamed resin, allowing the pores to be alternately filled with either air or seawater, and preferably has a structure and material that generates high buoyancy when air is injected. Alternatively, it may be a structure and mechanism that allows air and seawater to be alternately supplied to the hollow, vertical, narrow, box-shaped metal outer shell space. In the embodiment, either air or seawater can be pressurized and discharged to the underwater vertical float from a workboat SS on the sea surface, and it has a control fluid line CF for switching the valve, an air / seawater supply line FP, and a switching valve V.

[0022] In this embodiment, the direction of the rotation axis of the rotating body TH1 of the tidal power generation device TH is such that it is approximately perpendicular to the direction of the maximum current velocity in the sea or water where it is installed, and the direction of the tidal current / water flow and the pressure plate are approximately perpendicular at a 90° rotational phase. Generally, tidal currents / water flow are often approximately parallel to the seabed / seabed, so the rotation axis of the rotating body is often in the vertical direction perpendicular to the ground of the seabed / seabed where it is installed.

[0023] The hollow mounting bases for the tidal power generation device in this embodiment include a cylindrical, truncated cone, or box-shaped enclosure fixedly installed on the seabed or seabed; a truss structure in the sea or underwater that is anchored to the seabed or seabed; and a mounting base that is suspended from an aerial structure (bridge, underwater tower, etc.) above the sea or water surface into the sea or underwater, or a mounting base that is suspended from a moored floating body or ship hull floating on the sea or water surface into the sea or underwater.

[0024] The rotating body of the tidal power generation device in this embodiment is generally a cylindrical body that can rotate freely relative to the mounting base, but a rotating body with a frame structure is also acceptable. A structure that minimizes water resistance is selected.

[0025] In this embodiment, the mounting frame of the buoyancy flap rotating type tidal current power generator TH is a member that protrudes radially from its rotating blades TH1 in a substantially horizontal direction parallel to the installation ground. Since a force is applied to this mounting frame from the pressure receiving plate, a preferred structure for the mounting frame is one in which multiple upper and lower horizontal frames, one end of which is attached to the rotating body, are connected by multiple upper and lower horizontal frames and multiple vertical frames that connect the upper and lower horizontal frames, thereby reducing water resistance to the rotation of the mounting frame while maintaining high strength.

[0026] In this embodiment, the pressure plate of the rotating blades of the tidal power generation device TH uses a scratch-resistant metal or plastic plate as the surface material for the front and back, and fills the inside with foamed resin material or honeycomb material. The specific gravity of the entire pressure plate is preferably in the range of 0.95 to 0.99, which is slightly less than 1.0, compared to the specific gravity of seawater or water which has a specific gravity of 1.00 to 1.05. If the specific gravity is too light, the buoyancy will increase, the force that makes the pressure plate horizontal will be strong, the descent of the free end will be slow, and its rise will be fast, which is undesirable. Furthermore, the pressure plate may be a composite plate of a plastic plate that is lighter than the specific gravity of seawater or water (1.00 to 1.05) and a heavier metal or ceramic. In this embodiment, the means for restraining the pressure plate of the rotating blades of the buoyancy flap-type tidal power generator TH is not specifically described, but a lower stopper is provided at the lower end of the mounting frame to lock the free end of the pressure plate in a substantially vertical position, and an upper stopper is provided at the upper end of the mounting frame to prevent the pressure plate from rotating any further upward when its free end is slightly below horizontal (4° or more) and the angle of inclination of the pressure plate is around 5°. Another method of restraining the pressure plate using the lower and upper stoppers is to limit the angle of rotation at the pivot axis of the pressure plate. The detailed structure and operation of this tidal power generator are clearly described in the applicant's patent publication No. 5451938, so the details are omitted here. [Examples]

[0027] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the drawings. Figures 1-9 show embodiments of the underwater equipment for increasing the velocity of tidal currents according to the present invention. These embodiments also show an embodiment of a tidal power generation system in which a known buoyancy flap type tidal power generation device is installed in a specific sea area where the tidal current velocity has been increased, enabling the output of high power at the increased tidal current velocity. The structure and operation of the tidal power generation device are publicly known and are not described in detail here, but are clearly stated in the above-mentioned patent publication, so the details are omitted.

[0028] The present invention will be specifically described based on the embodiments shown in Figures 1 to 9. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 2, there is a natural current flowing in a nearly constant direction (upward in Figure 2) below the sea surface as a laminar current, and below Figure 2, a current with a predetermined depth difference d flows in layers in a constant direction. This is an example of an underwater channel with a row of L0×p×h cubic underwater vertical floats KF arranged in a V-shape to increase the current velocity in a specific sea area SA of L0×p×d in Figure 2. The solid line arrow at the bottom of Figure 2 indicates the direction of the current velocity of the natural current. SA in the figure is the specific sea area of ​​the L0×p×d cube. On the left and right sides of the specific sea area SA, box-shaped underwater vertical floats KF with a left and right thickness t, a height h≧d, and a length p in the direction of the current velocity, with a width of h×p×t, are arranged parallel to each other in the specific sea area SA, and further in front of and behind them, underwater vertical floats KF of the same structural dimensions are arranged in a V-shape, with the left and right spacing spreading outwards.

[0029] Figure 2 shows a plan view in which underwater vertical floats KF are positioned. Each underwater vertical float KF is connected to a large surface float SF floating on the sea surface by wires W, and each underwater vertical float KF is moored in the sea by being connected to a seabed anchor AN and multiple wires W extending in multiple vertical, longitudinal, and lateral directions.

[0030] The underwater vertical float KF is lifted upward by the buoyancy of a large surface float SF, and is moored by multiple wires W connected to seabed anchors AN positioned in the front, back, left, right, up, down, and diagonal directions. The large buoyancy of the large surface float SF, combined with the anchoring force of the seabed anchors AN, maintains the position of the underwater vertical float KF at a predetermined depth. Furthermore, each underwater vertical float KF is connected front to back and left to right by wires, and the underwater vertical float KF is maintained in its predetermined position in the sea by being moored to numerous seabed anchors AN located in the front, back, left, and right directions by these wires.

[0031] As a result of the rowing of underwater vertical floats KF, a V-shaped guide channel is formed at a predetermined water depth, with a depth difference h greater than the water depth difference d, towards the upstream direction of the flow. Therefore, the natural tidal current entering from below in Figure 2 has its channel area narrowed by this guide channel and flows into the specific sea area SA. In this specific sea area SA, where the channel area is narrow, a high-speed laminar flow state occurs according to Bernoulli's theorem. Therefore, the tidal current power generator TH installed in this specific sea area generates electricity with a fluid speed 2 to 3 times faster than the natural tidal current velocity V0, so the amount of power generated by the tidal current power generator TH can output approximately 2 to 9 times more power than when it is placed in the natural tidal current.

[0032] Figure 1 is a front view of the guide channel of this embodiment, seen from the upstream side. The designated sea area SA and the tidal power generation device TH are located in the center on the left and right sides. The row of underwater vertical floats are moored to the large surface float SF and the seabed anchor AN with wires W, so as to maintain the V-shaped shape of the underwater channel.

[0033] Figure 3 shows each underwater vertical float KF in a nearly vertical state, moored to the large surface float SF and seabed anchor AN. Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 show the air pump and seawater injection / drainage system on the floating workboat SS, its air pipe, the air pump and seawater injection / drainage line FP, the control fluid line CF for air injection / discharge and seawater injection / discharge air passages and seawater supply pipes, and the control valve V for its switching valve. Air injection and discharge, and seawater injection and discharge can be performed from the workboat SS on the sea surface, allowing for adjustment of the buoyancy state. The amount of seawater and air in the underwater vertical float KF is adjusted to the appropriate amount. Air injection and discharge from the sea surface air compressor can be performed and operated from this workboat SS. [Industrial applicability]

[0034] This invention primarily focuses on generating electricity from tidal energy at the bottom of the sea, but it can also be installed on riverbeds with large river currents to generate electricity. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0035] K seafloor surface KF Underwater Vertical Float TH Tidal Power Generation System TH1 Rotating Blade NF Natural Currents SA designated sea area SF Large Sea Float AN Submarine Anchor SS workboat Left and right mooring positions of the KP0, KP1, KP2, and KP3 underwater vertical floats. YK Wire Locking Section W wire L0 Designated sea area SA width d Depth difference in the designated sea area SA p Length in the direction of tidal current in the designated sea area SA h Height of the underwater vertical float t Underwater vertical float KF left and right thickness V-type switching valve CF control fluid line FP Air and Seawater Discharge Line

Claims

1. In a tidal region where natural currents occur at a predetermined depth below the sea surface and the direction of their flow velocity is approximately the same, A predetermined width L is set in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the natural current's velocity and approximately parallel to the seabed. ０ It has, and moreover, the predetermined width L ０ L has a length p extending upstream from each of its left and right ends in the direction of the current, and is defined by the length of the required depth difference d at the predetermined water depth. ０ An underwater device for increasing the current velocity of a tidal current in a predetermined sea area that forms a cube with side lengths of ×p × d, The predetermined width L of the predetermined sea area which is cubic in shape ０ From each of the distant left and right end positions, a plate-shaped underwater vertical float measuring p × h × t is placed along the left and right sides of the cube of the predetermined sea area, along the upstream direction of the natural current, having a required length p and a height h greater than the dimension of the water depth difference d, and a required left and right thickness t. The underwater vertical float is connected by wires to a large surface float floating on the sea surface above it to provide a large upward buoyancy, and is also connected by wires to a plurality of seabed anchors provided on the seabed below it, to moor the underwater vertical float in a substantially vertical position in the sea, and further forward... Multiple underwater vertical floats of the same structure and approximately identical dimensions t and h are arranged in a row upstream of the current at the upstream end of the underwater vertical float, with their ends touching or continuous. The underwater vertical floats are arranged so that the distance between them widens as they move upstream of the current, and the distance between them widens in a V-shape. Each underwater vertical float is moored to a large surface float floating above with multiple wires, and is also moored to a seabed anchor below with multiple wires so that it can be stationary. An underwater facility for increasing the velocity of tidal currents is characterized by the fact that the rows of underwater vertical floats are connected to each other by wires between the front and rear sections and between pairs of left and right underwater vertical floats, and each underwater vertical float is further moored to multiple seabed anchors provided on its left and right and front and rear sections by wires extending in the left and right, front and rear, and up and down directions, thereby enabling the underwater vertical floats, which are arranged in a V-shape in the direction of the tidal current, to be moored and held in a V-shape, and the underwater channel that guides the tidal current to a predetermined sea area is formed by the double rows of V-shaped underwater vertical floats, and the passage area of ​​the left and right underwater channels is narrowed by the underwater channel formed by the V-shaped underwater vertical floats, thereby increasing the velocity of the tidal current and resulting in a high tidal current velocity in the predetermined sea area.

2. The underwater equipment for increasing the velocity of a current, as described in claim 1, wherein the underwater vertical wall float has an outer shell made of steel plate or a strong metal and is shaped into a narrow, vertical box, and foamed resin is filled into the outer shell in a predetermined proportion to make it a substantially vertical float, and the outer surface of the underwater vertical wall float is structured to be resistant to damage and to have buoyancy.

3. A tidal power generation facility that increases the velocity of a tidal current according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a tidal power generation device that generates electricity using tidal energy is installed in a predetermined sea area downstream where the velocity of the tidal current has increased, thereby enabling high electrical output at a high tidal current velocity.

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