Patent ID: 6531788
Filing Date: 2003-03-11
Classification: E02B,F03B,F05B,Y02E

Abstract:
A submersible electrical power generating plant for generating electrical power no fuel cost from the flow of ocean current, said submersible electrical power generating plant comprising:a submersible electrical power generating structure having a superior located center of buoyancy, an inferior located center of gravity and a center of drag, said submersible electrical power generating structure further comprising a streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank with a nose end, a rear end, a top side, a bottom side, a left side, a right side, a plurality of valves and a plurality of compartments, said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank having a vertical tail fin capable of improving directional stability of said submersible electrical power generating structure, a pair of airfoil-shaped hydrofoils, said pair of airfoil-shaped hydrofoils having a first airfoil-shaped hydrofoil and a second airfoil-shaped hydrofoil, said first airfoil-shaped hydrofoil being a mirror image of said second airfoil-shaped hydrofoil, said first airfoil-shaped hydrofoil fixed on said left side of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank projecting horizontally leftward and said second airfoil-shaped hydrofoil fixed on said right side of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank projecting horizontally rightward, said pair of airfoil-shaped hydrofoils located at said rear end of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank, said pair of airfoil-shaped hydrofoils capable of providing said submersible electrical power generating structure with more lift and less drag at high angle of attack when the leading edges of the hydrofoils are higher than the trailing edges in relation to the flow of water, the water level in each of said plurality of compartments being adjustable by piping the water in and out through said plurality of valves; a pair of side-by-side counter-rotating full-bladed water turbine rotors, said pair of side-by-side counter-rotating full-bladed water turbine rotors having a first water turbine rotor and a second water turbine rotor, said first water turbine rotor being a mirror image of said second water turbine rotor, said first water turbine rotor having a first horizontal water turbine axis parallel to said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank and a plurality of first rotor blades, said plurality of first rotor blades extending radially outward from said first horizontal water turbine axis, said second water turbine rotor having a second horizontal water turbine axis parallel to said first horizontal water turbine axis and a plurality of second rotor blades, said plurality of second rotor blades extending radially outward from said second horizontal water turbine axis, said pair of counter-rotating full-bladed water turbine rotors being located beneath said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank and facing rear end of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank; a pair of watertight nacelles, said pair of watertight nacelles having a first watertight nacelle and a second watertight nacelle, said first watertight nacelle connecting to said first horizontal water turbine axis, said second watertight nacelle connecting to said second horizontal water turbine axis, both said first watertight nacelle and said second watertight nacelle being firmly connected to each other through a center connecting means, said center connecting means having an upside, a down side and a center point, said center point being located below and slightly forward of said center of drag of said submersible electrical power generating structure, said center connecting means being securely mounted to said bottom side of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank through a third connecting means, said third connecting means being long enough to ensure said submersible electrical power generating structure having said center of buoyancy located above said center of gravity, said first nacelle being securely mounted to said bottom side of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank through a first connecting means, said second nacelle being securely mounted to said bottom side of said streamlined torpedo-shaped buoyancy tank through a second connecting means, said first nacelle having a first low-speed shaft connecting to said first horizontal water turbine axis, a first gear box connecting to said first low-speed shaft capable of converting low speed to high speed, a first high-speed shaft connecting to said first gear box, and a first electrical power generator driven by said high speed shaft capable of generating electrical power, said second watertight nacelle having a second low-speed shaft connecting to said second horizontal water turbine axis, a second gear box connecting to said second low speeding shaft capable of converting low speed to high speed, a second high-speed shaft connecting to said second gear box, and a second electrical power generator driven by said second high-speed shaft capable of generating electrical power, said pair of watertight nacelles being located sufficiently far apart to provide clearance for said pair of side-by-side counter-rotating full-bladed water turbine rotors, said center connecting means having a cooling system capable of effectively and efficiently distributing heat generated by said first gear box, said first electrical power generator, said second gear box and said second electrical power generator to outside water; an attaching device located at said center point of said center connecting means, said attaching device being adjustable up and down vertically by a device that may be powered by electricity or compressed air to adjust the drag forces required to change the angle of attack of said pair of airfoil-shaped hydrofoils to balance changes in the downward vector force resulting form changes in the drag acting through a downward angled anchor line; a weight member on ocean floor connecting to said submersible electrical power generating structure through a connecting means at said attaching device, said weight member on ocean floor limiting the height of said submersible electrical power generating structure floating above the ocean floor; and an electrical power collection and transmission structure connecting to said submersible electrical power generating structure for collecting and transmitting electrical current.