System for producing and converting energy in a marine environment

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (10) for producing and converting energy in a marine environment, comprising: - a storage tank (12) in which an internal volume (V2) of water can be stored, the internal chamber (20) having a first cross section; - a flow zone (14) comprising at least one energy-production turbine (28); - at least one production float (34) comprising a third cross section; - an intermediate structure (15) comprising at least one production duct (16) extending fluidically between the storage tank (12) and the flow zone (14) so as to space them vertically apart from one another by a non-zero distance, the intermediate structure (15) comprising a second cross section, a sum of at least the second cross section and the third cross section being equal to the first cross section with a tolerance of plus or minus 5%.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] TITLE: PRODUCTION AND CONVERSION SYSTEM

[0003] ENERGY IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

[0004] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention relates to the field of hydroelectricity. It concerns more particularly a system for producing energy in the form of gravitational potential and inversion to convert it into mechanical energy, in a marine environment.

[0006] TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

[0007] There are five sources of renewable energy: hydroelectric, wind, solar, biomass and geothermal.

[0008] Hydropower offers the possibility of being stored as gravitational potential energy, allowing it to be converted into electricity as needed. This results in the ability to modulate electricity production according to demand.

[0009] In practice, hydraulic energy is successively transformed into mechanical energy, by releasing water in the form of a fall passing through a hydraulic turbine, and then into electrical energy via an electric generator connected to the turbine.

[0010] There are many devices for hydroelectric power generation, but the most common solution involves the construction of dams. Dependent on the topography, these dams are found on rivers or built across valleys to transform a suitable natural site into a water reservoir.

[0011] However, notwithstanding their difficulty of integration and their significant ecological impact, dams suffer from a limitation in hydroelectric production capacity linked to available water reserves.

[0012] Recently, offshore hydroelectric power plants have been proposed, harnessing the energy of the oceans. As understood, these plants are not limited by available water reserves. Some of these offshore hydroelectric plants, known as gravity-fed plants, generate energy storage in the form of potential energy by:

[0013] - immersing a basin in water to fill it; and

[0014] - Raising the basin to create a height difference that generates a waterfall usable for electricity generation. This solution is notably described in document KR102287189B1, which proposes equipping such a basin with ballast designed to be filled or emptied with seawater to vary the basin's height.

[0015] Nevertheless, while these hydroelectric power plants located in marine environments offer certain advantages, their operating efficiency is generally significantly lower than that of dams due to the low water levels and flow rates generated. Furthermore, the use of ballast water requires diverting some of the generated hydroelectric energy to lift the water in the reservoir.

[0016] It follows that the return on investment is uncertain, particularly when also taking into account the installation and maintenance costs induced by this architecture.

[0017] The aim of the invention is to propose a solution for the production and reversal of energy in a marine environment which makes it possible to restore enough energy to justify its integration.

[0018] Summary of the invention

[0019] The invention proposes a system for the production and / or reversal and / or storage and / or conversion of energy in a marine environment, comprising:

[0020] - a storage tank comprising a wall which delimits an inner enclosure comprising an internal volume in which an internal volume of water can be stored, isolated from a surrounding body of water, the inner enclosure having, in a horizontal plane or in a transverse plane, a first section;

[0021] - a circulation zone designed to be immersed in the surrounding body of water and to be fluidically connected to the surrounding body of water via at least one pump and one circulation valve, the circulation zone comprising at least one power-generating turbine in fluidic interface with the surrounding body of water, - at least one power-generating float configured to move vertically between a submerged position and an emerged position considering a surface of the surrounding body of water, the at least one power-generating float comprising or having, in the horizontal or transverse plane, a third section,

[0022] - an intercalated structure comprising at least one production line extending fluidly between the storage tank and the circulation area and so as to space the latter vertically apart from each other by a non-zero distance, the intercalated structure comprising or having, in the horizontal plane or in the transverse plane, a second section, at least a sum of the second section and the third section being equal to the first section with a tolerance of plus or minus 5%, or ±7.5%, or ±10%, or ±15%.

[0023] According to the above embodiment, the inner enclosure has a first section in a horizontal or transverse plane. This first section can be either an internal section or an internal surface capable of receiving water. In other words, the internal volume of water, in the horizontal or transverse plane forming a cross-section, has a first section or a first surface. In one embodiment, this first section or surface can be constant or substantially constant along the height of the inner enclosure.

[0024] According to the above implementation, the at least one production float includes or has, in the horizontal plane or in the transverse plane forming a cutting plane, a third section. The third section may be a so-called outer (or wetted) third section or a so-called outer (or wetted) third surface that causes water displacement when the at least one production float enters or exits the water.

[0025] According to the implementation described above, the interlayer structure includes or presents, in the horizontal plane or in the transverse plane forming a cutting plane, a second section. The second section may be a second section, referred to as an outer (or wetted) section, or a second outer (or wetted) surface that causes water displacement when the interlayer structure is submerged or raised in water.

[0026] In particular, when at least one generating float is partially submerged, its third outer (or wetted) section or third outer (or wetted) surface, added to the second outer (or wetted) section or second outer (or wetted) surface, also partially submerged (notably the generating line), is substantially equal (to ±5%, or ±7.5%, or ±10%, or ±15%) to the first inner section or the first inner surface receiving water. Thus, when at least one generating float is partially submerged (i.e., neither completely above nor below the surrounding water), the generating and / or reversing and / or storing energy system exhibits:

[0027] - neutral, zero, or near-neutral or near-zero buoyancy, and / or

[0028] - a variation in the water level within the inner enclosure that is homogeneous or comparable to, or equal to, a variation in the immersion height of the energy production and / or reversal and / or storage system. For example, under the aforementioned conditions (partially submerged production float), a 50 cm variation in the water level within the inner enclosure will cause a 50 cm variation in the immersion height of the energy production and / or reversal and / or storage system.

[0029] According to other features of the invention: the interlayer structure comprises a reinforcing frame, the second section of the interlayer structure being at least 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, or 15% smaller than the first section of the inner enclosure of the storage tank and / or the third section of at least one production float (thus, when at least one production float is fully submerged, only the interlayer structure displaces a volume of water during a change in the immersion height of the energy production and / or reversal and / or storage system, for example, caused by filling or emptying the storage tank, and the Archimedes' force during this change in immersion height is very small compared to the weight of the water stored in the storage tank: under the aforementioned conditions (production float fully submerged), the immersion height of the system can be varied with a force very weak,even if the storage tank is full); a height of said at least one production float is similar to or equal to a maximum height of water stored in the storage tank; the system includes at least one balancing float disposed below the circulation zone and such that the balancing float is fully immersed in the surrounding body of water, the at least one balancing float being configured to maintain the storage tank above the surface of the surrounding body of water regardless of the filling rate of the inner chamber by the internal volume of water. In other words,a volume (typically hollow) of said at least one balancing float (submerged) is provided to compensate for a weight of the system and to maintain the storage tank above the surface of the surrounding body of water (with in particular the bottom of the storage tank always above the surface of the surrounding body of water); the system includes at least one ballast associated with the at least one balancing float; the ballast has a mass equal to a mass of the internal volume of water when it occupies 100% of the internal volume of the inner chamber of the storage tank, with a tolerance of 5%; the system includes at least one valve for controlling the fluid circulation between the storage tank and the circulation tank,The control valve is located in the production line; the ballast is attached to the balancing float via a cable coupled to a motorized winch; the system includes at least one balancing valve at the fluid interface between at least one production float and the circulation zone; the circulation zone is a circulation tank. The invention also relates to a method of energy production using the system according to the preceding characteristics, the method comprising at least one production phase and one recharging phase.

[0030] - the production phase being implemented when the storage tank contains an internal volume of water within its inner chamber corresponding to at least 90% of the internal volume of the inner chamber, the production phase comprising at least one production step during which the control valve is moved to a position allowing fluid circulation in the production line from the storage tank to the circulation zone and the power-generating turbine is switched to a mechanical power-producing state; and

[0031] - the refilling phase being implemented when the storage tank includes an internal volume of water in its inner enclosure corresponding to less than 10% of the internal volume of the inner enclosure, the refilling phase comprising at least one lowering step during which at least one ballast is anchored to the balancing float so as to lower the height of the storage tank relative to the surface of the surrounding body of water, then comprising at least one filling step of the storage tank during which at least one pump is put into operation and the control valve is moved into the position allowing fluidic circulation from the circulation zone to the storage tank so as to fill the inner enclosure of the storage tank with an internal volume of water from the surrounding body of water.

[0032] According to other features of the invention:

[0033] - during the reloading phase, the lowering step includes, prior to anchoring the ballast, at least partial filling of at least one production float with a volume of water from the circulation area in order to lower the height of the storage tank relative to the surface of the surrounding body of water;

[0034] - at the end of the filling stage of the recharging phase, at least one ballast is detached from the balancing float so as to increase the height of the storage tank relative to the surface of the surrounding body of water, for example independently of the tidal cycle, and typically by only removing from the surrounding body of water the intermediate structure presenting the second section, i.e. with a very low effort compared to the weight of the water in the storage tank;

[0035] - during the lowering stage of the reloading phase, at least one winch connected to at least one ballast pulls the system towards the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0036] - the recharging phase and the production phase are implemented according to a tidal cycle of the surrounding body of water.

[0037] Brief description of the figures

[0038] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description that follows, for an understanding of which reference should be made to the attached drawings in which:

[0039] [Fig. 1] is a schematic overview of a power generation and reversal system immersed in a surrounding body of water and comprising at least one storage tank, a circulation area, production floats and a production pipeline;

[0040] [Fig.2] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is filled with an internal volume of water;

[0041] [Fig.3] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank shows its internal water volume decreasing;

[0042] [Fig. 4] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is empty;

[0043] [Fig.5] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is empty and includes ballast;

[0044] [Fig.6] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the storage tank is empty, and the production floats are partially filled and in which balancing floats are attached to the ballasts; [Fig.7] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the storage tank is empty, and the production floats are empty and in which the balancing floats are attached to the ballasts;

[0045] [Fig.8] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is empty, and in which the ballasts are detached from a bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0046] [Fig.9] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is partially filled with an internal volume of water, and in which the ballasts approach the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0047] [Fig.10] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is completely filled with an internal volume of water, and in which the ballast rests on the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0048] [Fig. 11] is a schematic general view of the system in Figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by a cable coupled to a winch;

[0049] [Fig.12] is a schematic general view of the system of figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the ballasts bring the system closer to a bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0050] [Fig.13] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the ballasts bring the system closer to the bottom of the surrounding body of water, the ballasts being detached from the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0051] [Fig.14] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the ballasts bring the system closer to the bottom of the surrounding body of water, the ballasts moving closer to the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0052] [Fig.15] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the ballasts bring the system closer to the bottom of the surrounding body of water, the ballasts moving away from the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0053] [Fig.16] is a schematic general view of the system of Figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the ballasts bring the system closer to the bottom of the surrounding body of water, the ballasts moving away from the bottom of the surrounding body of water;

[0054] [Fig.17] is a schematic general view of the system of figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the storage tank fills with an internal volume of water;

[0055] [Fig.18] is a schematic general view of the system of figure 1 in which the ballasts are attached to the balancing floats by the cable coupled to the winch, and in which the storage tank is filled with an internal volume of water;

[0056] [Fig.19] is a schematic overview of the system in Figure 1 in which the storage tank is filled with an internal volume of water and the ballasts release the system so as to move it away from the bottom of the surrounding body of water.

[0057] Detailed description of the invention

[0058] In the description that follows, identical, similar or analogous elements will be designated by the same reference numbers.

[0059] Figure 1 illustrates a system 10 for energy production and inversion in a marine environment.

[0060] The invention proposes in particular a system 10 in a marine environment allowing the production and inversion of energy in the form of gravitational potential, at least into mechanical energy, like a dam without however being subject to a limitation of available water.

[0061] The system 10 according to the first example in Figure 1 is configured to be immersed in a surrounding body of water E, for example in a marine environment.

[0062] Preferably, the term "marine environment" here should be understood as an environment subject to tidal cycles, that is, subject to a periodic movement of water. More precisely, the marine environment is subject to so-called low tides, during which the water level reaches its lowest point during the tidal cycle, and to so-called high tides, during which the water level reaches its highest point during the tidal cycle.

[0063] Thus, when the tidal cycle of the surrounding body of water E is at low tide, we consider that a surface SU of the latter is closest to a bottom F of the surrounding body of water E, and that at high tide the surface SU is furthest vertically from the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0064] The system 10 includes at least one storage tank 12 and a circulation zone 14 between which extends at least one intermediate structure 15.

[0065] More specifically, the intermediate structure 15 includes at least one production line 16 which extends in the vertical direction V and which fluidly connects the storage tank 12 and the circulation zone 14 to each other.

[0066] It should be considered that initially system 10 will be described from a structural point of view and that subsequently the system will be described in detail with regard to its operation.

[0067] Furthermore, system 10 is described here in a position of use, that is to say bathed in the surrounding body of water E such that a vertical axis of system V is to be considered according to terrestrial gravity.

[0068] The storage tank 12 includes a wall 18 which delimits an inner enclosure 20 of an internal volume V1 in which an internal volume V2 of water, visible in figure 2, can be stored in isolation from the surrounding body of water E.

[0069] It is understood that the inner enclosure 20 can store an internal volume V2 of water corresponding between 0% and 100% of its internal volume V1.

[0070] According to the illustrated and non-limiting example, the storage tank 12 has a parallelepiped shape. A first section of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is defined in a longitudinal and transverse plane T (i.e., typically in a horizontal plane).

[0071] Furthermore, and as can be seen in figures 2 to 7, the system 10 is configured so that the storage tank 12 extends constantly above the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0072] According to the illustrated and non-limiting example, the circulation area 14 takes the form of a tank, referred to in the rest of the description as circulation tank 14.

[0073] Here, the circulation tank 14 has a non-limiting parallelepiped shape.

[0074] The circulation tank 14 is intended to be immersed in the surrounding body of water E and to be fluidly connected to the surrounding body of water E via at least one pump 22 and one circulation valve 24.

[0075] In the illustrated example, the circulation tank 14 is connected to the surrounding body of water E via two pumps 22 arranged in a fluidic interface.

[0076] It is understood that the circulation valve 24 and the pumps 22 allow a variation in the volume of water in the system 10 via the circulation zone 14.

[0077] Following the illustrated example in which the circulation tank 14 has a parallelepiped shape, the pumps 22 and the circulation valve 24 are arranged at the level of lateral sides 26 of the circulation tank 14.

[0078] The lateral sides 26 of the circulation tank 14 are understood to be the sides which extend along the vertical direction V.

[0079] The circulation tank 14 also includes a power generation turbine 28 arranged in fluidic interface with the surrounding body of water E.

[0080] In particular, the power-producing turbine 28 is arranged at the level of a lower side 30 of the circulation tank 14, facing a bottom F of the surrounding body of water E when the system 10 is immersed in the surrounding body of water E. As can be seen in figures 2 to 7, the system 10 is configured such that the circulation tank 14 extends constantly below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0081] As seen in Figure 1, the intermediate structure 15 comprises a reinforcing frame 40 and the production line 16.

[0082] In particular, production line 16 takes the form of a tube.

[0083] Furthermore, a second section of the intercalary structure 15 is defined, taken in a longitudinal and transverse plane T (that is typically in a horizontal plane).

[0084] According to one example, the second section of the intermediate structure 15 corresponds to between 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 7.5%, 10% and 15% of the first section of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12

[0085] Also, the production line 16 extends between the storage tank 12 and the circulation tank 14.

[0086] The production line 16 includes a control valve 32 for the fluid circulation between the storage tank 12 and the circulation tank 14.

[0087] The control valve 32 is in particular capable of switching between an open position in which it allows fluid passage between the storage tank 12 and the circulation tank 14, in either direction, and a closed position in which it blocks fluid passage through the production line 16.

[0088] As can be seen in Figure 1, system 10 comprises two production floats 34.

[0089] The production floats 34 are arranged vertically between the storage tank 12 and the circulation tank 14 and in such a way that they rest on an upper side 36 of the circulation tank 14.

[0090] The system 10 is then configured so that the production floats 34 move vertically between an emerged position and an immersed position considering the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E. Thus, the reinforcing frame 40 of the intercalated structure 15 extends between each of the production floats 34 and the storage tank 12.

[0091] It is thus understood that the production floats 34 and the reinforcing frame 40 extend vertically over a dimension equal to the vertical dimension of the production line 16.

[0092] In the illustrated example, the reinforcing frame 40 takes the non-limiting form of a scaffold which extends vertically between the storage tank 12 and the production floats 34 so as to vertically support the storage tank 12 above the traffic area 14.

[0093] In other words, it is understood that the reinforcing frame 40 allows the storage tank 12 to be vertically above and at a non-zero distance from the circulation zone 14 and the production floats 34 within the system 10.

[0094] Furthermore, the support of the storage tank 12 by the reinforcing frame 40 makes it possible to reduce a section of the production line 16, without prejudice to the stability and solidity of the system 10.

[0095] Furthermore, the system 10 includes at least one balancing valve 38 arranged in fluidic interface between each of the production floats 34 and the circulation tank 14.

[0096] The balancing valves 38 are thus configured to allow or not allow fluid circulation between the circulation tank 14 and each of the production floats 34.

[0097] It is therefore understood that each of the production floats 34 is capable of filling or emptying itself of water from the circulation tank 14.

[0098] According to one characteristic, the first section of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is equal, to plus or minus 5%, to the sum of the second section of the intercalated structure 15 and a third section of each of the production floats 34 taken in a longitudinal and transverse plane T (i.e. typically in a horizontal plane).

[0099] The system 10 also includes two balancing floats 42 disposed at least in part against the lower side 30 of the circulation tank 14. It is understood that the balancing floats 42 are configured to be fully immersed in the surrounding body of water E.

[0100] Furthermore, the balancing floats 42 are configured to maintain at least the storage tank 12 above the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, regardless of the water filling rate of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank, the circulation tank 14 and the production floats 34.

[0101] The balancing floats 42 form in particular tanks whose internal volume is filled with a gas, for example air, and is fluidically isolated from the surrounding body of water E.

[0102] The system 10 also includes at least one ballast 44 which can be attached to at least one of the balancing floats 42.

[0103] In the illustrated and non-limiting example, the system 10 comprises two ballasts 44 each connected to one of the balancing floats 42.

[0104] Each of the ballasts 44 is in particular connected in a removable manner with its associated balancing float 42.

[0105] Furthermore, the two ballasts 44 are configured in such a way that their two cumulative masses are equal to a mass of the internal volume V2 of water when it is filled to 100% of the internal volume V1 of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12, with a tolerance of 5%.

[0106] A process for producing energy using system 10 according to a first embodiment will now be described using figures 2 to 10.

[0107] The energy production process includes at least one production phase and one recharging phase.

[0108] According to Figure 2, the production phase is implemented when the storage tank 12 contains within its inner chamber 20 an internal volume V2 of water corresponding to at least 90% of its internal volume V1. Based on this characteristic, the inner chamber 20 of the storage tank 12 is considered to be full.

[0109] In such a configuration of the storage tank 12, i.e. when it is full, the production floats 34 are fully immersed below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E. During the production phase, the production floats 34 are considered to be filled with a volume of water less than 5% of their volume.

[0110] The production phase includes a production step during which the control valve 32 is switched to its open position so as to permit fluid circulation in the production line 16 from the storage tank 12 to the circulation tank 14.

[0111] Simultaneously, the power-producing turbine 28 of the circulation tank 14 is switched into a power-producing state.

[0112] It is then understood that during the production stage, the internal volume V2 of water in the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 decreases as the internal volume V2 of water is discharged into the surrounding body of water E via the power generation turbine 28.

[0113] It is then understood that during the production stage, the production turbine generates mechanical energy via the flow of the internal volume V2 of water towards the surrounding body of water E.

[0114] In relation to figures 2 to 4, it is also understood that as the internal volume V2 of water flows towards the surrounding body of water E, the buoyancy of system 10 increases.

[0115] More precisely, the structure of the production floats 34 and the intermediate structure 15, the sum of whose first and second sections is equal to the first section of the storage tank, allows the system 10 to increase its buoyancy by a value equivalent to the water level in the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 which decreases.

[0116] As can be seen in Figure 4, when the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 comprises an internal volume V2 of water less than 5% of its internal volume V1, the production phase is complete.

[0117] Once the production phase is complete, the reloading phase, visible in figures 5 to 10, can be implemented.

[0118] The recharging phase includes at least one lowering step visible in figures 5 to 7, during which the storage tank 12 is brought vertically closer to the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0119] According to a preferred embodiment, the lowering step of system 10 is implemented when the surrounding body of water E is considered to be at low tide MB, identified by a dotted line on the figures.

[0120] It is then understood that during the lowering stage, the balancing floats 42 move closer to the ballasts 44 positioned at the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E, as the low tide of the surrounding body of water E increases.

[0121] Such a vertical approach allows the ballasts 44 to be anchored to the balancing floats 42.

[0122] Optionally and additionally, the lowering step may include, prior to anchoring the ballast 44, opening the balancing valves 38 and the circulation valve 24 of the circulation tank 14, so as to fill at least part of the production floats 34 with water, as seen in Figure 6.

[0123] In this way, we increase the lowering effect of the storage tank 12 relative to the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0124] The use of production floats 34 to increase the lowering of the system 10 relative to the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E is advantageous in particular when low tides are not significant enough to bring the balancing floats 42 closer to the ballasts 44 positioned at the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0125] As can be seen in Figure 6, the use of production floats 34 to lower system 10 moves them at least partly below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0126] In the case where the production floats 34 have been at least partially filled during the lowering stage, and once the ballasts 44 are anchored to the balancing floats 42, an emptying stage of said production floats 34, visible in figure 7, is advantageously carried out during the low tide cycle MB of the surrounding body of water E.

[0127] The step of emptying the production floats 34 is implemented in particular by opening the balancing valves 38 and activating the pumps 22 of the circulation tank 14.

[0128] Once the system 10 has been lowered, the ballasts 44 anchored to the balancing floats 42 and possibly the production floats 34 emptied, a filling step can be implemented, as seen in figures 8 to 10.

[0129] The filling step is advantageously implemented when the cycle of the surrounding body of water E passes from low tide MB to high tide MH identified by a dotted line on the figures, and here visible in figures 8 to 10.

[0130] The transition from low tide MB to high tide MH can then have the effect of detaching the ballasts 44 from the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in figure 8.

[0131] Furthermore, the ballasts 44 anchored to the balancing floats 42 exert a pull from the system 10 towards the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E when the latter sees its tide rise.

[0132] The downward pull F of the system 10 by the ballasts 44 has the effect of fully submerging the production floats 34 and at least partially submerging the production pipeline 16, as can be seen in figure 8.

[0133] The positioning of the production floats 34 below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E then allows the storage tank 12 to be filled with little energy.

[0134] The filling of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is carried out by switching the control valve 32 to the open position and activating the pumps 22 of the circulation tank 14.

[0135] Furthermore, and as can be seen in figures 8 to 10, as the internal volume V1 of the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is filled by the internal volume V2 of water, it approaches the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, which has the effect of further reducing the energy required for its filling and bringing the ballasts of the bottom F closer to the body of water.

[0136] We then take advantage of the intermediate structure 15, the second section of which is much smaller than the first section of the enclosure of the storage tank 12 as mentioned previously, in that the filling of the storage tank 12 mechanically allows the filling height of the storage tank 12 to be reduced even more quickly.

[0137] As can be seen in Figure 10, the filling step is considered complete when the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is filled with an internal volume V2 of water equivalent to at least 90% of the internal volume V1 of its inner enclosure 20.

[0138] Thus, once the filling stage is complete, the storage tank 12 is located near the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0139] Optionally, at the end of the filling stage, the ballasts 44 rest on the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in figure 10.

[0140] As a result, once the filling stage is complete, the ballasts 44 are detached from the balancing floats 42 so that the storage tank 12 moves away from the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0141] In other words, the release of the ballasts 44 allows the system 10 to return to its state in Figure 2 so as to restart the production phase.

[0142] It is understood that the production and recharging phases of the process that have just been described can be implemented alternatively and advantageously according to the tidal cycles of the surrounding body of water.

[0143] The use of system 10 combined with the tidal cycle of the surrounding body of water E thus allows for optimal mechanical energy production without this production requiring high energy consumption.

[0144] A second embodiment of system 10 and the production process will now be described in relation to figures 11 to 19.

[0145] It should be noted that only the distinguishing characteristics between the first and second embodiments of system 10 will be described. For common parts, please refer to Figures 1 to 10.

[0146] As can be seen in figure 11, the system 10 includes the ballasts 44 which are here attached to the balancing floats 42 via winches 46.

[0147] More specifically, the ballasts 44 are connected to the balancing floats 42 via at least one cable 48 engaged in a winch 46, the cable 48 being connected at one end to the ballast 44 while its other end is anchored to the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E via an anchor A.

[0148] Advantageously, the winches 46 are each coupled with a motorized component allowing the cable 48 to be wound or unwound in a motorized manner.

[0149] In the following description, we will distinguish a first portion 48a of cable 48 which extends between the anchor A and the winch 46, and a second portion of cable 48b, which extends between the winch 46 and the ballast 44.

[0150] The process according to the second embodiment will now be described in relation to figures 11 to 19.

[0151] The process according to the second embodiment includes the production phase and the reloading phase.

[0152] The recharging phase visible in Figure 11 corresponds to a state of the system 10 in which the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 is filled with an internal volume of water corresponding to less than 5% of its internal volume V1 and in which the cables 48 connected to the winches are unwound to the maximum of their capacity.

[0153] Therefore, the step of lowering the reloading phase is implemented first.

[0154] As can be seen in Figure 12, the lowering step includes a first sub-step during which the winches 46 are activated so as to pull the system 10 towards the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0155] It is understood that during this first sub-step, the cable 48 connected to each of the winches 46 is wound in such a way as to bring the system 10 of the bottom F closer to the surrounding body of water E.

[0156] Preferably the first sub-step of the lowering step is implemented when the surrounding body of water E is at high tide MH.

[0157] It is then understood that the traction of the system 10 by the winches 46 makes it possible to bring the storage tank 12 closer to the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in figure 12.

[0158] In particular, the traction of the system 10 by the winches 46 allows the production floats 34 to be submerged at least partially below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in Figure 12. As seen in Figure 13, at the end of the first sub-step of the lowering step, the ballasts 44 are detached from the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0159] Once the first sub-step has been completed, a second sub-step of the lowering step, visible in Figure 14, is implemented.

[0160] Preferably the second sub-step is implemented when the surrounding body of water E is at low tide MB.

[0161] Thus, the cycle of the surrounding body of water E going from high tide MH to low tide MB, we understand that the ballasts 44 approach the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0162] Furthermore, the passage at low tide MB of the surrounding body of water E has the effect of reducing the length of the first portion 48a of the cables 48 extending between the winch 46 and the anchor A, while the length of the second portion 48b of the cables 48 between the winch 46 and the ballast 44 is unchanged, as can be seen in figure 14.

[0163] Once the low tide MB of the surrounding body of water E is complete, a third sub-step of the lowering step is implemented, as seen in Figure 15.

[0164] Preferably the third sub-step is implemented when the surrounding body of water E passes through high tide MH.

[0165] During this third sub-step, the winch 46 is configured so that it blocks the unwinding of the cable 48. In other words, the length of the cable 48 between the second sub-step and the third sub-step remains constant.

[0166] Thus, we understand that the rising tide of the surrounding body of water E has the effect of moving the ballasts 44 away from the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E by a greater vertical distance compared to a vertical distance of the first sub-step as seen in figure 13.

[0167] Indeed, the total length of cable 48 being fixed by winch 46 between the second sub-stage and the third sub-stage and the length of the first portions 48a of cables 48 having been reduced by the previous low tide MB, the ballasts 44 move away from the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E, during the passage at high tide MH, by a greater vertical distance than a vertical distance of the first sub-stage as seen in figure 13.

[0168] Thus, we understand that during the third sub-step, the length of the first portion 48a increases while the length of the second portion 48b decreases, and in such a way that the total length of the cable 48 is equal between the second sub-step and the third sub-step.

[0169] It is therefore understood that the first sub-step, the second sub-step and the third sub-step of the lowering step are implemented until a sufficiently large vertical distance is obtained between the ballasts 44 and the bottom F of the surrounding body of water E.

[0170] Indeed, the more the first sub-step, the second sub-step and the third sub-step are implemented, the more the length of the second portion 48b of the cables 48 is reduced, thus increasing the distance separating the ballasts 44 from the bottom F from the surrounding area E in the third sub-step as mentioned previously.

[0171] Also, the first sub-step, the second sub-step and the third sub-step of the lowering step can be implemented until a desired height of the storage tank 12 is reached relative to the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in Figure 16.

[0172] It is therefore understood that the use of a winch connected to each of the ballasts by a cable and combined with the use of tidal cycles makes it possible to increase the lowering effect of the system by using mainly an environmental phenomenon, and thus little electrical energy.

[0173] Thus, at the end of the third sub-step of the lowering step of the reloading phase, the filling step can be implemented, as seen in figures 17 to 19.

[0174] Filling an internal volume V2 of water into the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 then has the effect of bringing the storage tank 12 closer to the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E as it is filled.

[0175] It is understood that in order to fill the inner enclosure 20 with an internal volume V2 of water, the control valve 32 and the pumps 22 of the circulation tank 14 are switched to the open and operating position, as described previously.

[0176] It is then understood that at the end of the step of filling the inner enclosure 20 of the storage tank 12 with an internal volume V2 of water corresponding to at least 95% of the internal volume of the inner enclosure 20, the storage tank 12 is located substantially at the level of the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E, as seen in figure 18.

[0177] The cables 48 of the winches 46 also wind up as the storage tank 12 is lowered. More precisely, as the storage tank 12 is lowered, the first portion 48a of the cables 48 decreases.

[0178] Once the storage tank 12 is full as illustrated in figure 18, the winches 46 are released so that the storage tank 12 moves away from the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0179] Furthermore, the winches 46 are released in such a way that the production floats 34 are kept fully submerged below the surface SU of the surrounding body of water E.

[0180] Furthermore, the release of the winches 46, i.e. the unwinding of the cables 48, makes it possible to generate energy which can be reused later during the lowering stage of the process.

[0181] Subsequently, the production phase can be implemented as described previously by means of the control valve 32 and the power generation turbine 28 in order to generate mechanical energy.

[0182] Once the production phase is completed, the reloading phase as previously mentioned can be implemented again.

Claims

DEMANDS 1. Marine energy production and conversion system (10) comprising: - a storage tank (12) comprising a wall (18) which delimits an inner enclosure (20) comprising an internal volume (V1) in which an internal volume (V2) of water can be stored, isolated from a surrounding body of water (E), the inner enclosure (20) having, in a horizontal plane, a first section; - a circulation zone (14) intended to be immersed in the surrounding body of water (E) and to be fluidically connected to the surrounding body of water (E) via at least one pump (22) and one circulation valve (24), the circulation zone (14) comprising at least one power-generating turbine (28) in fluidic interface with the surrounding body of water (E), - at least one production float (34) configured to move vertically between a submerged position and an emerged position considering a surface (SU) of the surrounding body of water (E), the at least one production float (34) comprising, in the horizontal plane, a third section, - an intercalated structure (15) comprising at least one production line (16) extending fluidly between the storage tank (12) and the circulation zone (14) and so as to space the latter vertically apart from each other by a non-zero distance, the intercalated structure (15) comprising, in the horizontal plane, a second section, at least a sum of the second section and the third section being equal to the first section with a tolerance of plus or minus 15%, preferably ±5%.

2. System (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the interlayer structure (15) comprises a reinforcing frame (40), the second section of the interlayer structure being at least 15% smaller than the first section of the inner enclosure (20) of the storage tank 3. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one balancing float (42) disposed under the circulation area (14) and such that the balancing float (42) is fully immersed in the surrounding body of water (E), the at least one balancing float (42) being configured to maintain the storage tank (12) above the surface (SU) of the surrounding body of water (E) independently of the filling rate of the inner enclosure (20) by the internal volume (V2) of water.

4. System (10) according to the preceding claim, comprising at least one ballast (44) associated with at least one balancing float (42).

5. System (10) according to the preceding claim, wherein the ballast (44) has a mass equal to a mass of the internal volume (V2) of water when it occupies 100% of the internal volume (V1) of the inner enclosure (20) of the storage tank (12), with a tolerance of 5%.

6. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one control valve (32) of the fluid circulation between the storage tank (12) and the circulation tank (14), the control valve (32) being disposed in the production line (16).

7. System (10) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, wherein the ballast (44) is attached to the balancing float (42) via a cable (48) coupled to a motorized winch (46).

8. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one balancing valve (38) in fluidic interface between at least one production float (34) and the circulation zone (14).

9. System (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the circulation zone (14) is a circulation tank (14).

10. A method for producing energy using the system (10) according to any one of the preceding claims in combination with claims 4 and 6, the method comprising at least one production phase and one recharging phase, - the production phase being implemented when the storage tank (12) comprises an internal volume (V2) of water in its inner chamber (20) corresponding to at least 90% of the internal volume (V1) of the inner chamber (20), the production phase comprising at least one production step during which the control valve (32) is moved to a position allowing fluid circulation in the production line (16) from the storage tank (12) to the circulation zone (14) and the power-generating turbine (28) is switched to a mechanical power-generating state; and - the refilling phase being implemented when the storage tank (12) includes an internal volume (V2) of water in its inner chamber (20) corresponding to less than 10% of the internal volume (V1) of the inner chamber (20), the refilling phase comprising at least one lowering step during which at least one ballast (44) is anchored to the balancing float (42) so as to lower the height of the storage tank (12) relative to the surface (SU) of the surrounding body of water (E), then comprising at least one filling step of the storage tank (12) during which at least one pump (22) is put into operation and the control valve (32) is moved into the position allowing fluid circulation from the circulation zone (14) to the storage tank (12) so as to fill the inner chamber (20) of the storage tank (12) with an internal volume (V2) water from the surrounding body of water (E).

11. A method according to the preceding claim, wherein during the reloading phase, the lowering step includes, prior to anchoring the ballast (44), at least partially filling at least one production float (34) with a volume of water from the zone of circulation (14) so ​​as to lower the height of the storage tank (12) relative to the surface (SU) of the surrounding body of water (E).

12. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 11, wherein, at the end of the filling step of the refilling phase, at least one ballast (44) is detached from the balancing float so as to increase the height of the storage tank (12) relative to the surface (SU) of the surrounding body of water (E).

13. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 11 in combination with claim 7, wherein, during the lowering step of the refilling phase, at least one winch (46) connected to at least one ballast (44) pulls the system (10) towards a bottom (F) of the surrounding body of water (E).

14. A method according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the recharging phase and the production phase are implemented according to a tidal cycle of the surrounding body of water (E).

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