A buoyancy tank rotary type power generator utilizing water flow and wave power

Abstract

A rotary buoyancy tank power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power is disclosed. The disclosed rotary buoyancy tank power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power comprises: a main body frame; an anchor member formed of an anchor or pile, which is connected to the main body frame by a connecting member and fixed in position on the bottom of a body of water so as not to be swept away by currents; a rotary buoyancy tank formed as a hollow cylinder to provide buoyancy, which is rotatably installed relative to the main body frame and has radially arranged wings on its outer surface to rotate by currents and waves to generate rotational power for power generation; and a generator installed on the main body frame that receives the rotational power of the rotary buoyancy tank through a power transmission means to generate electricity.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a power generation device installed in bodies of water, such as large rivers and seas, for generating electricity through water flow and wave power, and more specifically, to a buoyancy tank rotating power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, wherein the buoyancy tank is configured to perform not only a frame buoyancy function that keeps the frame of the power generation device floating on the water, but also a rotation function for generating electricity through water flow and wave power, thereby having a simple structure and reduced number of parts, making installation easy and maintenance convenient, as well as enabling stable power generation in rivers or oceans in a cost-effective manner. Background Technology

[0002] In modern society, the need for developing eco-friendly energy to address the rapid increase in energy demand and climate change is increasingly being emphasized. In particular, active global efforts are underway to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and secure sustainable alternative energy sources; amidst this trend, power generation technologies utilizing ocean energy, particularly tidal power generation methods, are garnering attention.

[0003] Tidal power generation is a technology that produces electricity by utilizing the kinetic energy of water flowing in a constant direction and speed, such as natural ocean currents caused by tidal differences in large rivers or seas. Compared to solar or wind power, it offers high stability and reliability as it is based on a relatively predictable energy source. Accordingly, tidal power can be a very useful alternative in areas where it is difficult for large-scale power grids to reach, such as islands or coastlines.

[0004] However, most tidal power generation devices commercialized to date are designed with a stationary structure, which presents various technical and economic problems.

[0005] First of all, existing tidal power generation devices require the installation of a large structure fixed to the seabed and the construction of a generator and rotor on top of it, resulting in very high initial installation costs and a complex construction process. In particular, in areas with deep water or fast currents, the installation of the fixed structure itself may be difficult or impossible, and solving this requires the deployment of specialized equipment and manpower, which reduces economic feasibility.

[0006] Furthermore, the power generation efficiency of fixed-type power generators is heavily dependent on the current velocity or topographical conditions at the installation site, and efficient operation is difficult in currents that do not flow in a constant direction. Due to the fixed shaft structure, they cannot actively respond to changes in the direction or velocity of the current, and consequently, power generation is frequently limited. In addition, due to the nature of underwater structures, maintenance is difficult and costly, and there is the inconvenience of having to shut down the entire system to carry out work in the event of a breakdown.

[0007] In addition, there were previously floating hydroelectric power generation devices installed on the sea or rivers, in which power generation was achieved by rotating a water wheel driven by tides or waves.

[0008] However, these floating hydroelectric power generation devices had problems such as an increased number of parts and complex connection structures between components because the buoyancy body, which provides buoyancy to keep the device frame floating above the water, and the rotating body, such as the water turbine, which generates rotational force for power generation, were configured separately. Prior art literature

[0009] Registered Patent No. 10-2176003 Registered Patent No. 10-1734076 Registered Patent No. 10-1936696 Registered Patent No. 10-0890635 The problem to be solved

[0010] The present invention was devised to solve the aforementioned conventional problems. Its purpose is to provide a buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, which not only overcomes the structural and economic limitations of existing fixed tidal power generation devices by installing the power generation device in a floating state underwater using a buoyancy body to produce electrical energy by underwater currents, but also improves upon existing floating power generation devices where the buoyancy body and rotary turbine were configured separately by integrating the buoyancy body and rotary turbine. This design reduces the number of parts of the power generation device and simplifies the structure, making installation easier and allowing for rapid evacuation during emergencies such as typhoons.

[0011] However, the purpose of the present invention is not limited thereto, and it goes without saying that any purpose or effect that can be understood from the means of solving the problem or the embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned, is also included. means of solving the problem

[0012] The rotary power generation device for a buoyancy tank utilizing water flow and wave power according to the present invention for achieving the above-mentioned purpose comprises: a main body frame; an anchor member formed of an anchor or pile that is connected to the main body frame by a connecting member and fixed in position on the bottom of a body of water so as not to be swept away by currents; a rotary buoyancy tank formed as a hollow cylinder to provide buoyancy, installed rotatably relative to the main body frame, and equipped with radially arranged wings on its outer surface to rotate by currents and waves to generate rotational power for power generation; and a generator installed on the main body frame that receives the rotational power of the rotary buoyancy tank through a power transmission means to generate electricity.

[0013] Water flow guides may be further configured at both ends of the above-mentioned rotating buoyancy tank, formed in a tapered shape with a gradually increasing diameter, to collect water flowing toward the wing and increase the rotational force of the above-mentioned rotating buoyancy tank.

[0014] The above main body frame is configured to float on water by the buoyancy of the rotating buoyancy tank and to be connected to the anchor member by a chain, so that it can be configured to rotate on water relative to the anchor member according to the direction of the current.

[0015] It may be configured to further include a propeller rotating part installed on the main body frame, installed so as to be submerged in water, rotating by the flow velocity of the current, and transmitting rotational force to the generator by the power transmission means to generate power.

[0016] The above-mentioned rotating buoyancy tanks may be configured to be rotatable in four places on the left and right sides of the upper front end and the left and right sides of the upper rear end of the main body frame. Effects of the invention

[0017] As described above, by adopting an integrated rotating structure of the buoyancy tank, the present invention simplifies the structure and significantly reduces the number of components compared to conventional floating power generation devices in which the floating body and the rotating body were separated, thereby simplifying manufacturing and installation and reducing initial investment costs, while simultaneously enabling flexible application in various forms depending on the water environment.

[0018] Furthermore, the present invention is configured to simultaneously utilize two natural energy sources, namely tidal currents and waves, thereby increasing the efficiency of energy harvesting. The rotating buoyancy tank freely changes direction and rotates according to the direction of the tidal flow, and the vertical movement of waves also increases the rotational force of the rotating buoyancy tank, thereby enhancing power generation performance. Consequently, the stability and sustainability of energy production can be improved compared to existing fixed or single-energy-source-based power generation systems.

[0019] In addition, the present invention has the effect of significantly resolving the difficulties in maintenance and disaster response that occurred in existing fixed-installation power generation devices, as it is possible to move the power generation device to a safe place by releasing the chain in emergency situations such as typhoons through a structure that floats on the water surface and an anchor connection method.

[0020] In addition, the present invention has the effect of enabling more stable power production by separately utilizing the underwater current to assist the rotational power of the generator through the additional configuration of a submerged propeller section in addition to the rotating buoyancy tank.

[0021] In addition, the water current guide structure at both ends of the rotating buoyancy tank of the present invention concentrates the flow of water to maximize the force acting on the wings, thereby increasing rotational performance and consequently improving power generation performance.

[0022] Furthermore, the various and beneficial advantages and effects of the present invention are not limited to those described above and may be more easily understood in the process of explaining specific embodiments of the present invention. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0023] FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a buoyancy tank rotary power generation device using water flow and wave power according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the power generation device of FIG. 1 viewed from the side, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operating state of the power generation device of the present invention, which is oriented according to the direction of the tide. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0024] The above objects, other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be easily understood through the following preferred embodiments associated with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein and may be embodied in other forms. Rather, the embodiments introduced herein are provided to ensure that the disclosed content is thorough and complete, and to ensure that the spirit of the present invention is sufficiently conveyed to those skilled in the art.

[0025] In this specification, when a component is described as being on another component, it means that it may be formed directly on the other component or that a third component may be interposed between them. Additionally, in the drawings, the thicknesses of the components are exaggerated for the effective description of the technical content.

[0026] The embodiments described herein will be explained with reference to cross-sectional and / or plan views, which are exemplary illustrations of the invention. In the drawings, the thicknesses of films and regions are exaggerated for effective explanation of the technical content. Accordingly, the shapes of the exemplary drawings may be modified by manufacturing techniques and / or tolerances, etc. Accordingly, the embodiments of the invention are not limited to the specific shapes depicted but include variations in shape produced according to the manufacturing process. For example, an etching region depicted as a right angle may be rounded or have a certain curvature. Accordingly, the regions illustrated in the drawings have properties, and the shapes of the regions illustrated in the drawings are intended to illustrate specific forms of regions of the device and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although terms such as first, second, etc., have been used to describe various components in the various embodiments of this specification, these components should not be limited by such terms. These terms are used merely to distinguish one component from another. The embodiments described and illustrated herein also include their complementary embodiments.

[0027] The terms used herein are for describing embodiments and are not intended to limit the invention. In this specification, the singular form includes the plural form unless specifically stated otherwise in the text. As used herein, 'comprises' and / or 'comprising' do not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other components to the mentioned components.

[0028] In describing the specific embodiments below, various specific details have been included to explain the invention more concretely and to aid understanding. However, a reader with sufficient knowledge in the art to understand the invention will recognize that it can be used without these various specific details. In some cases, it is noted in advance that commonly known aspects that are not significantly related to the invention have been omitted to prevent unnecessary confusion in describing the invention.

[0029] Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0030] The buoyancy tank rotary power generation device of the present invention utilizing water flow and wave power is configured to include an anchor member (101), a main body frame (102), a rotary buoyancy tank (110), a power transmission means (120), and a generator (130).

[0031] The anchor member (101) may be made of a pile that is driven deep into the bottom of a large river or sea, i.e., the bottom of a body of water. This anchor member (101) is connected to the main body frame (102) by a connecting member (103), such as a chain or wire, so that the main body frame (102) is moved away within a certain range by the current.

[0032] The anchor member (101) may be made of a pile as shown in the drawing, but is not limited thereto and may be made of an anchor other than a pile.

[0033] The main body frame (102) is connected to the anchor member (101) by a connecting member (103), such as a chain, and a rotating buoyancy tank (110) is installed at the upper end so that the main body frame (102) is configured to float independently on water by the buoyancy of the rotating buoyancy tank (110).

[0034] In the present invention, the main body frame (102) is structured to float on water by the buoyancy of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) and is connected to the anchor member (101) by the connecting member (103). Therefore, the power generation device of the present invention is configured to rotate on water based on the anchor member (101) according to the direction of the current as shown in FIG. 3, and to change direction along the direction of the current.

[0035] The rotating buoyancy tank (110) is formed as a sealed cylinder with a hollow interior to provide buoyancy and is rotatably installed relative to the main body frame (102).

[0036] The rotating buoyancy tanks (110) are configured such that a pair are formed on the left and right sides at the upper front end of the main body frame (102), and a pair is also formed on the left and right sides at the upper rear end of the main body frame (102), so that a total of four are installed.

[0037] Although the present invention has been described above as having four rotating buoyancy tanks (110) installed on the main body frame (102), it is not limited thereto, and the rotating buoyancy tank (110) can be designed as one and rotatably installed on the main body frame (102), and the number of rotating buoyancy tanks (110) installed can be configured in various ways, not just one.

[0038] That is, the rotating buoyancy tank (110) can be rotatably installed on the main body frame (102) by setting the number of installations to various, and the main body frame (102) can be connected to the anchor member (101) by a connecting member (103) such as a chain or wire to effectively produce energy.

[0039] A pair of rotating buoyancy tanks (110) installed on the left and right sides of the front section of the main body frame (102) are connected to each other by a tank-tank connecting shaft (114), and this tank connecting shaft (114) is rotatably installed on the upper front section of the main body frame (102).

[0040] Likewise, a pair of rotating buoyancy tanks (110) installed on the left and right sides of the rear end of the main body frame (102) are also connected to each other by a tank connecting shaft (114), and this tank connecting shaft (114) is rotatably installed on the upper rear side of the main body frame (102).

[0041] Each rotating buoyancy tank (110) is provided with a plurality of wings (112) radially on its outer surface so that the rotating buoyancy tank (110) rotates relative to the main body frame (102) by currents and waves.

[0042] Although it is illustrated that four wings (112) are installed at 90-degree intervals on the outer surface of the rotating buoyancy tank (110), this is not limited thereto, and the number of wings can be designed in various ways as long as they can rotate the rotating buoyancy tank (110) by receiving resistance from currents and waves.

[0043] Additionally, the rotational buoyancy (110) may be further configured with a water flow guide (113) that increases the rotational force of the rotational buoyancy tank (110) by forming a tapered shape with a gradually increasing diameter at both ends and collecting water flowing toward the wing (112) to increase the resistance received by the wing (112).

[0044] The power transmission means (120) is configured in the main body frame (102) to transmit the rotational force of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) to the generator (130).

[0045] The generator (130) is installed on the top of the main body frame (102) and is configured to receive rotational force through the power transmission means (120) to produce electricity.

[0046] Specifically, the power transmission means (120) is arranged perpendicularly to the tank connecting shaft (114) connecting the left and right rotating buoyancy tanks (110) and is rotatably installed with respect to the main body frame (102), and is installed to connect the middle part of the tank connecting shaft (114) and the end of the horizontal power transmission shaft (122), and is formed with a gear-connecting power transmission structure such as a bevel gear to transmit the rotation of the tank connecting shaft (114) to the horizontal power transmission shaft (122), and is a first gearbox (123) which is arranged vertically perpendicularly to the horizontal power transmission shaft (122) and is rotatably installed with respect to the main body frame (102), and is installed to connect the horizontal power transmission shaft (122) and the vertical power transmission shaft (126) and is formed with a gear-connecting power transmission structure to transmit the rotation of the horizontal power transmission shaft (122) vertically It is configured to include a second gearbox (125) that transmits power to a power transmission shaft (126), and a third gearbox (127) that is installed to connect the vertical power transmission shaft (126) and the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130) and is formed with a gear-linked power transmission structure to transmit the rotation of the vertical power transmission shaft (126) to the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130) so that power generation is achieved.

[0047] As described above, the power transmission means (120) of the present invention is composed of a horizontal power transmission shaft (122), a vertical power transmission shaft (126), a first gearbox (123), a second gearbox (125), and a third gearbox (127) to transmit the rotation of the tank connecting shaft (114) to the generator (130), but it is not limited thereto, and it is understood that it can be made of various power transmission structures as long as it can transmit the rotation of the tank connecting shaft (114) to the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130).

[0048] The present invention can be configured such that power generation is achieved by operating a generator (130) through rotational force generated by currents and waves while the rotating buoyancy tank (110) is floating on water, and additionally, a propeller part (140) is installed to be submerged in water, thereby operating the generator (130) through rotation of the propeller part (140) along with the rotation of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) to achieve power generation.

[0049] The propeller section (140) is installed to be submerged underwater, and the propeller shaft (141) is rotatably installed on the lower part of the main body frame (110), and is configured to include a propeller blade (143) at the rear end of the propeller shaft (141).

[0050] The present invention may further include a second power transmission means (145) that transmits the rotation of the propeller part (140) to the power transmission means (120) so that the generator (130) transmits rotational force.

[0051] This second power transmission means (145) is configured to transmit power by means of an extension shaft (146) connected to a propeller shaft (141) and a fourth gearbox (147) which is installed vertically perpendicular to the extension shaft (146) and has a gear connection structure, and is configured to include a propeller rotation transmission shaft (148) connected to the second gearbox (125) to transmit the rotation of the extension shaft (146) to the second gearbox (125) and to transmit it to the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130) through the power transmission means (120).

[0052] Although the present invention has been described above as having a second power transmission means (145) that transmits the rotation of the propeller part (140) to the power transmission means (120) and transmits it to the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130) through the power transmission means (120), it is not limited thereto, and the second power transmission means (145) may be configured to transmit the rotation of the propeller part (140) to the drive shaft (131) of the generator (130) by an independent power transmission structure separate from the power transmission means (120), rather than being connected to the power transmission means (120).

[0053] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, the operation of the buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power according to the present invention will be described.

[0054] Because the flow of current pushes the wings (112) of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) by pressure, the rotating buoyancy tank (110) rotates while floating on the water, like a water wheel. This rotational movement of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) is transmitted to the generator (130) by the power transmission means (120), thereby producing electricity.

[0055] Meanwhile, when the current flow is transmitted to the wing (112) of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) and the rotating buoyancy tank (110) rotates, the water current guide (113) gathers the flowing water and guides it toward the wing (112), thereby improving the rotational force of the rotating buoyancy tank (110).

[0056] In addition, the present invention can generate power not only from the flow of tides but also from wave power. Waves are typically caused by wind, and the wave height is determined by the strength of the wind.

[0057] When the rotating buoyancy tank (110) moves from the top (top dead center) to the bottom (bottom dead center) of the wave while floating on the water, the wing (112) receives pressure from the incoming water, and at the same time, as the tank moves to the top dead center, the rotating buoyancy tank (110) rotates. As this rotational motion is repeated by the wave, the rotating buoyancy tank (110) floats on the water and rotates like a waterwheel. The rotation of the rotating buoyancy tank (110) caused by this wave is also transmitted to the generator (130) by the power transmission means (120), thereby producing electricity. That is, although there are various causes for the generation of waves, the biggest cause is wind speed, and as the waves generated in this way come in, the rotating buoyancy tank (110) rotates and produces electricity.

[0058] In addition, the present invention can be installed and used anywhere water flows by miniaturizing the rotating buoyancy tank (110).

[0059] In addition, the present invention allows the rotating buoyancy tank (110) to rotate by currents or waves to generate electricity, and the propeller part (140) installed in a submerged form to rotate by currents to generate electricity.

[0060] Meanwhile, since the power generation device of the present invention has a structure in which the main body frame (102) is connected to the anchor member (101) by a connecting member (103) such as a chain, in the event of an emergency such as a typhoon, the chain (103) connected to the anchor member (101) can be detached to move the power generation device configuration installed on the main body frame (102) to a safe place.

[0061] Although the present invention has been illustrated and described above in relation to preferred embodiments to illustrate the principles of the invention, the invention is not limited to the configuration and operation as illustrated and described. Rather, those skilled in the art will understand that numerous changes and modifications to the invention are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, all such appropriate changes, modifications, and equivalents should be considered to be within the scope of the invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0062] 101...Absence of anchor 102...Main body frame 103...connecting member 110...Rotating buoyancy tank 112...wings 113... Current Guide 114...tank connecting shaft 120...means of power transmission 122...Horizontal power transmission shaft 123...1st gearbox 125...2nd gearbox 126...Vertical power transmission shaft 127...3rd gearbox 130...generator 131...Generator drive shaft 140...Propeller section 141...propeller shaft 143...propeller 145... Second power transmission means 146...1st extension axis 147...4th gearbox 148...Propeller power transmission shaft

Claims

Claim 1 A buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, characterized by comprising: a main body frame; an anchor member connected to the main body frame by a connecting member and fixed in position on the bottom of a body of water so as not to be swept away by currents, and made of an anchor or pile; a rotary buoyancy tank formed as a hollow cylinder to provide buoyancy, rotatably installed relative to the main body frame, and equipped with radially arranged wings on its outer surface to rotate by currents and waves to generate rotational power for power generation; and a generator installed on the main body frame that receives the rotational power of the rotary buoyancy tank through a power transmission means to generate electricity. Claim 2 A buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, characterized in that, in claim 1, water flow guides are further configured at both ends of the rotary buoyancy tank in a tapered shape with a gradually increasing diameter to collect water flowing toward the wings and increase the rotational force of the rotary buoyancy tank. Claim 3 A buoyancy tank rotating power generation device utilizing water flow and wave force, characterized in that, in claim 1, the main body frame is configured to float on water by the buoyancy of the rotating buoyancy tank and is connected to the anchor member by a chain, and is configured to rotate on water with respect to the anchor member according to the direction of the current. Claim 4 A buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, characterized in that it further includes a propeller rotating part installed on the main body frame, installed to be submerged in water, rotating by the flow velocity of the current, and transmitting rotational force to the generator by the power transmission means to generate power. Claim 5 A buoyancy tank rotary power generation device utilizing water flow and wave power, characterized in that, in claim 1, the rotating buoyancy tanks are configured to be rotatable in four places on the left and right sides of the upper front end and the left and right sides of the upper rear end of the main body frame.

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