Segmented Tidal Barrage With Flexible Barriers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tidal barrages are considered uneconomic and environmentally invasive, and they require significant offshore civil engineering works, making them costly and complex to install and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A tidal barrage system comprising spaced towers and flexible, buoyancy-assisted barriers that can be configured for bidirectional flow, allowing for efficient power generation and reduced environmental impact, with the ability to be easily installed and maintained.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional tidal barrages are used to generate electricity, then power generation capability is achieved, but environmental invasiveness and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The conventional continuous barrage structure is segmented into discrete floating turbine units that are distributed across the estuary. Each unit operates independently, allowing power generation without a continuous physical barrier, thereby reducing environmental invasiveness while maintaining power generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
The barrage structure transitions from a static, fixed concrete barrier to dynamic floating units that can move with tidal currents. This dynamic configuration allows the system to adapt to environmental conditions, reducing visual and physical intrusion while maintaining operational effectiveness for power generation
2Power
If conventional tidal barrages are installed, then electricity generation is enabled, but construction complexity and cost increase due to significant offshore civil engineering works
Solution Approach 1:
The complex monolithic barrage structure is divided into multiple modular floating units that can be manufactured separately and deployed independently. This segmentation reduces construction complexity by eliminating the need for significant offshore civil engineering works and allowing parallel installation of multiple units
Solution Approach 2:
The design uses replicated standardized floating turbine units that can be manufactured using similar processes and then deployed across the estuary. This copying approach simplifies construction by reducing design complexity and enabling standardized manufacturing and installation procedures
3Power
If conventional tidal barrages are built, then power generation from bidirectional flow is achieved, but maintenance cost and difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barrage is segmented into independent floating units that can be accessed, removed, and repaired individually without affecting the entire system. This modular approach significantly improves maintenance ease by allowing isolated unit replacement and reducing the scale of maintenance operations
Solution Approach 2:
The floating units are designed to be dynamically deployable and retractable, allowing easy access for maintenance operations. Units can be moved to maintenance positions or replaced without disrupting the overall barrage operation, reducing maintenance difficulty and cost
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 provides a cost-effective, environmentally respectful, and unobtrusive method for tidal energy generation, with reduced offshore civil engineering needs and the ability to be configured for various functions such as flood mitigation and coastal protection.
Implementation Method 1
one or more of the barriers comprises a water impervious flexible membrane, a buoyancy member; and one or more tethers
Implementation Method 2
one or more turbine devices, wherein the towers comprise at least first, second and third towers, wherein the first tower is located between the second and third towers and houses one or more of the turbines
Data Source
AI summary
A tidal barrage comprising: a plurality of spaced towers, a plurality of barriers for controlling water flow through the barrage between the towers, and one or more turbine devices, wherein the towers comprise at least first, second and third towers, wherein the first tower is located between the second and third towers and houses one or more of the turbines, wherein one or more first barriers are provided between the first and second towers, and one or more second barriers are provided between the first and third towers, wherein the barriers are configured so that when the one or more first barriers and the one or more second barriers are in a first configuration, a first flow path through the barrage is defined from a first side of the barrage to a second side of the barrage, and when the one or more first barriers and the one or more second barriers are in a second configuration, a second flow path through the barrage is defined from the second side of the barrage to the first side of the barrage, and water flowing through the first and second flow paths flows through the one or more turbines housed in the first tower in the same direction, wherein one or more of the barriers comprises a water impervious flexible membrane, a buoyancy member; and one or more tethers.