Modular Hydrofoil System with Decoupled Hydraulic Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Hydro-electric power systems using oscillating hydrofoils face challenges such as structural strain from bending forces and varying water flow rates, leading to inefficient power output and system downtime due to mechanical linking of foils.
Innovation Solution
The system employs balanced hydrofoils with a semifoil configuration and modular design, allowing independent operation of local hydraulic circuits within each module, which are decoupled from an array-wide circuit, using a decoupler unit and adjustable translational transducers to manage varying water speeds and pressures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If all foils in an array are mechanically linked, then structural stability is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to propagation of failures and requirement to shut down entire system for component replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The hydrofoil array is divided into independent modules, each with its own hydraulic circuit. This segmentation allows individual modules to operate autonomously, so that a failure in one module does not propagate to other modules, thereby maintaining system reliability while preserving structural stability through modular connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
A decoupler unit serves as an intermediary between local module hydraulic circuits and the array-wide hydraulic circuit. This intermediary allows mechanical decoupling of modules while maintaining hydraulic connectivity, enabling structural stability through unified support while preventing failure propagation through hydraulic isolation.
2Productivity
If foils are held perpendicular to flow direction, then energy extraction efficiency is improved, but structural stress increases due to bending forces from varying flow rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs adjustable translational transducers that allow hydrofoils to dynamically adjust their position and orientation in response to varying flow rates. This dynamic adjustment enables foils to maintain optimal perpendicular alignment with flow for maximum energy extraction while reducing structural stress by adapting to local flow conditions rather than rigidly maintaining fixed positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by allowing each module to operate at varying local pressures and flow rates through independent hydraulic circuits. This parameter variability enables foils to operate at optimal angles for energy extraction under different flow conditions while reducing cumulative structural stress through localized adaptation.
3Adaptability or versatility
If local hydraulic circuits operate at varying module-specific pressures, then adaptability to varying flow rates is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple decoupled circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into independent local circuits for each module, allowing each to operate at optimized pressure levels adapted to local flow conditions. This segmentation provides adaptability to varying flow rates while containing complexity within modular boundaries, making the overall complex system manageable through standardization of module interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The decoupler unit acts as an intermediary that simplifies the connection between complex local variable-pressure circuits and the array-wide hydraulic circuit. It provides standardized interfaces and pressure regulation mechanisms that hide the complexity of local variations from the global system, maintaining adaptability while reducing overall device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of an apparatus and method for extracting useful work from a fluid stream are disclosed. Some embodiments comprise balanced hydrofoils comprising upper and lower semifoils joined by a member. Some embodiments comprise an array of removable hydrofoil modules wherein each module is adapted to provide an independent power contribution to an overall system, depending on speed of the fluid stream in the vicinity of the module, and each module is further adapted to provide its power contribution at a substantially consistent pressure to an array-wide high pressure fluid circuit. These and other embodiments are further disclosed herein.