Tidal Power System Using Floating Barge and Hydraulic Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tidal power generation systems face inefficiencies in harnessing tidal energy, particularly due to reliance on tidal flow and the harsh offshore environment, which can damage electronic components and limit energy conversion efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A tidal power generation system utilizing a floating barge connected to a vertical post with a rack gear that drives a pinion gear, generating buoyancy force to rotate the pinion gear and drive an offshore hydraulic pump, which pressurizes hydraulic fluid for an onshore motor to generate electricity, avoiding offshore electronics and leveraging large displacement for increased energy conversion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional tidal stream systems rely on tidal flow to power turbines, then kinetic energy conversion is achieved, but energy generation efficiency is limited by available tidal flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional tidal stream turbine system with a tidal barrage system that uses a floating barge and vertical post mechanism. Instead of relying on horizontal tidal flow to rotate turbines, the system utilizes vertical tidal motion to drive a rack gear and pinion gear, which then power a hydraulic pump. This mechanical substitution allows the system to harness the full buoyancy force of the floating barge during tidal cycles, significantly improving energy generation efficiency by converting potential energy from height difference rather than relying on limited kinetic energy from water flow.
2Power
If electronic componentry is placed offshore for tidal power generation, then energy conversion can occur at the source, but components are corroded or damaged by the harsh offshore environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the electronic componentry (generator and power conversion equipment) from the offshore environment and places it onshore. The offshore portion of the system is limited to purely mechanical and hydraulic components (floating barge, rack gear, pinion gear, hydraulic pump, and hydraulic fluid). The hydraulic circuit connects the offshore pump to the onshore generator, allowing electricity to be generated in a protected onshore environment while still harnessing tidal energy from the offshore location. This extraction principle eliminates exposure of sensitive electronics to corrosive saltwater, humidity, and storm damage.
3Productivity
If a floating barge with large displacement is used to generate buoyancy force, then energy conversion efficiency increases, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a hydraulic circuit to transmit power from the offshore pinion gear to the onshore generator. The hydraulic pump converts the rotational motion of the pinion gear into pressurized hydraulic fluid flow, which is then transmitted through subsea hoses to the onshore hydraulic motor that drives the generator. This hydraulic transmission system allows for flexible coupling between the offshore mechanical components and onshore electrical components, simplifying the overall system configuration compared to direct mechanical or electrical connections. The hydraulic system accommodates the relative motion between offshore and onshore components while maintaining efficient power transmission.
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 system effectively converts tidal buoyancy force into rotational energy, enhancing energy generation efficiency and avoiding offshore electronic corrosion, while utilizing a hydraulic circuit to drive onshore electricity generation, thus overcoming conventional tidal power limitations.
Implementation Method 1
floating barge generates a buoyancy force corresponding to the displacement of the floating barge
Implementation Method 2
offshore hydraulic pump which pressurises hydraulic fluid along a hydraulic circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A tidal power generation system has a vertical post being embedded in a sea floor and a floating barge operably coupled to the post. The floating barge has a gear rotationally driven by the post as the floating barge moves vertically with respect to the vertical post. An offshore hydraulic pump is operably connected to the gear, an onshore hydraulic motor operably connected to the offshore hydraulic pump by a hydraulic circuit; and an electric generator is operably connected to the onshore hydraulic motor.