Bidirectional Underwater Turbine Conduit for Tidal Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater tidal power generation systems currently only harness energy during one direction of tidal currents, limiting their operational efficiency as they do not capture energy during both flood and ebb currents.
Innovation Solution
An underwater power generation apparatus featuring a rotatable conduit with strategically oriented blades at both ends, allowing energy capture during both flood and ebb currents by utilizing the Venturi effect and vortex flow to enhance energy conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a single-direction rotatable conduit is used to generate electricity, then the system can generate power during one tidal direction, but it fails to capture energy during both flood and ebb currents
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is divided into two functional segments: a first rotatable conduit with blades oriented for one direction, and a second rotatable conduit with blades oriented for the opposite direction. Each segment independently captures energy from one tidal direction, allowing the system to harness both flood and ebb currents simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
Two rotatable conduits with opposite blade orientations are merged into a single integrated apparatus. The first conduit captures energy during flood current while the second conduit captures energy during ebb current, combining their outputs to achieve continuous bidirectional power generation.
2Duration of action of moving object
If the conduit only rotates in one direction, then the mechanical structure is simpler, but the operational time is limited to only a portion of the day
Solution Approach 1:
The operational duration is extended by segmenting the conduit into two independently rotating units, each optimized for a specific tidal direction. This allows one conduit to operate during flood current while the other operates during ebb current, effectively doubling the operational duration throughout the tidal cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The blades are pre-oriented in opposite directions on the two conduits, preparing each conduit in advance to capture energy from its designated tidal direction. This preliminary configuration ensures that as tides change direction, the appropriate conduit is already positioned to immediately capture energy without requiring complex reconfiguration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus effectively captures and converts tidal energy from both flood and ebb currents, increasing the operational efficiency of underwater power generation systems and addressing the limitations of existing technologies.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing the Venturi effect and vortex flow to enhance energy conversion efficiency
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the Venturi effect and vortex flow to enhance energy conversion efficiency
Implementation Method 3
The conduit may be coupled to an electrical generator, which converts the mechanical energy of the rotating conduit into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an underwater power generation apparatus are provided. In one embodiment, an underwater power generation apparatus is provided, comprising: a conduit having a bore defined by an interior surface of the conduit, the bore comprising a void extending about a length of the conduit; an exterior cylinder, the conduit oriented within the exterior cylinder, and the conduit rotatable relative to the exterior cylinder; at least three bearings oriented between the conduit and the exterior cylinder; at least one blade having a first blade direction, the at least one blade having a first blade direction oriented on the interior surface of the conduit at a first end of the conduit; and at least one blade having a second blade direction, the at least one blade having a second blade direction oriented on the interior surface of the conduit at a second end of the conduit.