TIDAL CURRENT GENERATOR HAVING UNDERWATER CONNECTING STRUCTURE

Disclosed herein is a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure, which is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver. The tidal current power generator includes: a nacelle in which a turbine rotor and a power generator are installed; and a tower which is coupled to or decoupled from the nacelle. A plug connector is included in the tower. The nacelle includes a hollow tube forming a passage in which the plug connector is inserted and being filled with a nonconductive filler, a socket connector coupled to the inside of the hollow tube and connected to the power generator, and a check valve which is installed in the passage of the hollow tube and prevents the filler from escaping from the hollow tube when the plug connector is not inserted in the hollow tube.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The application claims priority from Korean Application No. 10-2016-0047569 filed on Apr. 19, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure, which is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver by making automatic electrical coupling between a tower and a nacelle when the tower and the nacelle are structurally coupled to each other underwater.

BACKGROUND

A tidal current power generation system is a system which uses the flow of seawater to generate power. Unlike a tidal power generation system which uses a seawall installed in a coast and the ebb and flow of the tide to generate power, this tidal current power generation system uses a sea current to turn a turbine installed under the sea, without installing a dam or a seawall in a sea area where a fast flow of seawater appears.

The tidal current power generation system having no need to construct a seawall is assessed to be eco-friendly since it incurs lower costs, more facilitates ship's coming/going, makes less interference with the movement of fish and has less effect on the surrounding ecosystem than the tidal power generation system.

A tidal current power generator is installed according to the following procedure. First, a system line, a support structure and other devices are installed in a seabed surface. Then, a structural coupling of a nacelle to the support structure is performed along with an electrical coupling therebetween. After the installation, the nacelle is collected for maintenance and again launched. Even in this case, a structural and electrical coupling between the support structure and the nacelle is required.

In this connection, Korean Patent Reg. No. 1098148 discloses a tidal current power generator support structure which includes a cylindrical support pillar for fixing a tidal current power generator in the center by means of a number of fastening members from the top; and a rectangular plate-shaped support body for supporting the support pillar.

However, for coupling between a nacelle and the support structure disclosed in Korean Patent No. 1098148, an electrical coupling work between the support structure and the nacelle has to be performed on the water and then a structural coupling work between the support structure and the nacelle has to be performed underwater. However, this approach has a difficulty in handling an extra system line connecting the support structure and the nacelle.

Accordingly, it is desirable to perform the electrical coupling work between the support structure and the nacelle underwater. However, the underwater conditions such as electrical conductivity of seawater, poor workability in the submarine environments, a short range of vision, etc. make this underwater electrical coupling work difficult.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure, which is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver by making automatic electrical coupling between a tower and a nacelle when the tower and the nacelle are structurally coupled to each other underwater.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure, including: a nacelle in which a turbine rotor and a power generator are installed; and a tower which is coupled to or decoupled from the nacelle. A plug connector is included in the tower. The nacelle includes a hollow tube forming a passage in which the plug connector is inserted and being filled with a nonconductive filler, a socket connector coupled to the inside of the hollow tube and connected to the power generator, and a check valve which is installed in the passage of the hollow tube and prevents the filler from escaping from the hollow tube when the plug connector is not inserted in the hollow tube.

In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure, including: a nacelle in which a turbine rotor and a power generator are installed; and a tower which is coupled to or decoupled from the nacelle. A plug connector connected to the power generator is included in the nacelle. The tower includes a hollow tube forming a passage in which the plug connector is inserted and being filled with a nonconductive filler, a socket connector coupled to the inside of the hollow tube, and a check valve which is installed in the passage of the hollow tube and prevents the filler from escaping from the hollow tube when the plug connector is not inserted in the hollow tube.

The check valve may include: a ring-shaped sealing member; a plurality of elastic extended parts which extend from the sealing member toward the socket connector; and a plurality of elastic membranes which extend from a pair of adjacent elastic extended parts toward the passage and are adhered to each other to seal the passage.

An annular groove in which the sealing member is inserted may be formed in the inner circumference of the hollow tube, and the elastic extended parts and the elastic membranes may surround the plug connector to seal the passage when the plug connector is inserted in the hollow tube.

The plug connector and the socket connector may be coupled to or decoupled from each other in interlock with coupling and decoupling of the nacelle and the tower. A first guide member may be formed in one of the nacelle and the tower. A second guide member may be formed in the other of the nacelle and the tower and may guide the plug connector to the socket connector while making physical contact with the first guide member when the nacelle and the tower are coupled to each other.

The first guide member may include a polygonal guide pillar portion and a polypyramidal guide inclined portion extending from the guide pillar portion. The second guide member may include an insertion groove portion in which the guide pillar portion is inserted, and an inclined groove portion which guides the guide inclined portion to the insertion groove portion.

The plug connector or the socket connector may be moved by means of a linear actuator for coupling or decoupling in a state where the nacelle and the tower are coupled to each other.

The plug connector or the hollow tube may be coupled to a guide roller which rolls along a wall of the nacelle or the tower. The linear actuator may move the guide roller.

The passage opposite to the entrance of the hollow tube may be blocked by a blocking member which is expanded or contracted depending on the flow of the filler.

According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure which is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver by automatically coupling the plug connector and the socket connector when the tower and the nacelle are structurally coupled to each other underwater, and conserving the nonconductive filler in the hollow tube by means of the check valve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The above objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to easily practice the technical idea of the present disclosure. Detailed descriptions of well known functions or configurations may be omitted in order not to unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements.

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure of the present disclosure is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver by making automatic electrical coupling between a tower and a nacelle when the tower and the nacelle are structurally coupled to each other underwater.

FIG. 1is a perspective view of a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 2is a sectional view illustrating an electrical coupling structure of the tidal current power generator having the underwater connecting structure ofFIG. 1.FIG. 3is a view illustrating the state of usage of a check valve ofFIG. 2.FIG. 4is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.FIG. 5is a view illustrating a coupling structure of a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring toFIGS. 1 and 2, a tidal current power generator10having an underwater connecting structure according to one embodiment of the present disclosure is configured such that a plug connector210and a socket connector130are automatically coupled to each other when a tower200and a nacelle100are structurally coupled to each other underwater, thereby ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver.

The core technology of the present disclosure is a watertight structure in which the plug connector210and the socket connector130are water-tightly coupled to each other by means of a hollow tube110and a check valve140. It should be, however, noted that the nacelle100and the tower200constituting the tidal current power generator10is not limited to the type and shape shown in the figures.

The nacelle100includes a turbine rotor T and a power generator P and is connected via a connector150to a coupling end260of the tower200installed on a seabed surface. Here, the connector150and the coupling end260are parts formed in the nacelle100and the tower200in order to structurally couple the nacelle100and the tower200. Although not shown, the connector150and the coupling end260can be fastened to each other by means of fastening bolts in the structural coupling of the nacelle100to the tower200.

The plug connector210and the socket connector130are used to transmit power from the power generator P via the tower200. When one of the plug connector210and the socket connector130is installed in the nacelle100, the other is installed in the tower200. For example, the plug connector210may be installed in the nacelle100and the hollow tube110, the socket connector130and the check valve140may be installed in the tower200. The following description will be given to a case where the plug connector210is installed in the tower200and the hollow tube110, the socket connector130and the check valve140are installed in the nacelle100.

The plug connector210and the socket connector130are coupled to each other when the tower200and the nacelle100are structurally coupled to each other. Accordingly, the plug connector210and the socket connector130have the same coupling direction as the coupling end260and the connector150. The following description will be given to a case where the coupling end260is formed on the top of the tower200and the nacelle100is descended to make the structural coupling with the tower200.

As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the socket connector130is installed in a first cover151formed in the outer surface of the connector150and the plug connector210is installed in a second cover261formed in the outer surface of the coupling end260. The first cover151and the second cover261are provided to protect the socket connector130and the plug connector210from the underwater environments.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the plug connector210is coupled to the socket connector130in order to transmit the power from the power generator P. The plug connector210is combined to a support262in the second cover261and projects in the direction of coupling with the socket connector130, i.e., upward. A wire connected with the plug connector210is inserted into the tower200in the second cover261.

The socket connector130is used to transmit the power from the power generator P via the plug connector210and is coupled to the inside of the hollow tube110in the first cover151.

As illustrated inFIG. 2, the hollow tube110forms a space in which the socket connector130is installed, and includes a linear part111and an extended part112.

The linear part111forms a vertical passage in which the plug connector210is inserted, and has a hole opened downward. The plug connector210is inserted in the hollow tube110via the opened hole of the linear part111. The extended part112forms a space extending upward from the top of the linear part111. The socket connector130is coupled to the inside of the extended part112.

The hollow tube110is filled with nonconductive filler120such as nonconductive grease or the like. The filler120is prevented from draining out through the opened bottom by means of the check valve140installed in the passage of the hollow tube110.

The socket connector130is entirely immersed in the filler120in the hollow tube110. The top of the extended part112can be opened so that the level of the filler120can be smoothly varied when the plug connector210is inserted in the hollow tube110.

The top of the extended part112may be blocked by a blocking member113as shown inFIG. 2A. The blocking member113is made of a material which can be expanded/contracted depending on the flow of the filler120, such as rubber or silicone. When the blocking member113is formed on the top of the extended part112, the filler120is fully filled in the extended part112and the blocking member113.

In a state where the blocking member113is contracted when the plug connector210is not inserted, the blocking member113presses the filler120. Before the plug connector210is inserted in the passage of the hollow tube110, seawater may be introduced in the passage through the check valve140due to a water pressure underwater. In this case, the pressure of the blocking member113formed on the top of the extended part112balances the water pressure, thereby preventing the seawater from being introduced in the passage. As illustrated inFIG. 2B, the blocking member113is expanded when the plug connector210is inserted. Instead of using the blocking member113, a way to pressurize the interior of the first cover151may be used to minimize the introduction of the seawater due to the water pressure.

As illustrated inFIG. 2A, the check valve140is provided to prevent the filler120from escaping from the hollow tube110irrespective of whether or not the plug connector210is inserted. The number of check valves140installed in the passage of the hollow tube110is one or more. As illustrated inFIG. 3, the check valve140includes a sealing member141, a plurality of elastic extended parts142and elastic membranes143.

The sealing member141has a ring shape and is fitted in an annular groove h formed on the inner circumference of the hollow tube110. The sealing member141is made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone. In a state where the sealing member141is fitted in the annular groove h, the sealing member141is elastically adhered to the inner circumference of the hollow tube110. A metal frame (not shown) to maintain the stiffness of the sealing member141may be preferably included in the sealing member141.

Each of the elastic extended parts142corresponds to an extension of each of the elastic membranes143and has a roughly triangular shape to extend from the sealing member141toward the socket connector130. The number of elastic extended parts142may be preferably three. Both side ends of each of the elastic extended parts142are connected to both side ends of an adjacent elastic extended part142.

The outer surface of each elastic extended part142is made of an elastic material such as rubber or silicone. As illustrated inFIG. 3B, in a state where the plug connector210is inserted in the hollow tube110, the outer surface of each elastic extended part142is adhered to the outer circumference of the plug connector210. A metal frame (not shown) to maintain the stiffness of the elastic extended part142may be preferably included in the elastic extended part142.

Each of the elastic membrane143is provided to seal the passage and extends from a pair of adjacent elastic extended parts142toward the passage. As illustrated inFIG. 3A, when the plug connector210is not inserted, the elastic membranes143are adhered to each other by elasticity (or the weight of the filler210or the internal pressure of the first cover151), thereby preventing the filler120from escaping from the hollow tube110, as illustrated inFIG. 2B.

When the plug connecter210is inserted in the hollow tube110as illustrated inFIG. 2B, the elastic membranes143are elastically deformed to form a path through which the plug connector210passes, as illustrated inFIG. 3B. At this time, the elastic extended parts142and the elastic membranes143surround the plug connector210to seal the passage, thereby preventing the filler120from escaping from the hollow tube110.

Each elastic membrane143is made of a material exhibiting a hyper-elastic behavior. Specifically, the outside of the elastic membrane143is made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber or silicone and the inside of the elastic membrane143is constituted by a mesh made of a hyper-elastic shape memory alloy, thereby providing a force of restitution to water-tightly seal the passage of the elastic membrane143. The hyper-elastic shape memory alloy mesh may be formed of a nitinol wire or the like.

As illustrated inFIG. 4, in a tidal current power generator20according to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a first guide means160may be included in one of the nacelle100and the tower200and a second guide means220may be included in the other.

The first guide means160and the second guide means220are provided to correctly guide the plug connector210to the socket connector130while making physical contact with each other when the nacelle100and the tower200are coupled to each other. The following description will be given to a case where the first guide means160is formed in the connector150and the second guide means220is formed in the coupling end260.

As illustrated inFIG. 4A, the first guide means160includes a guide pillar portion161and a guide inclined portion162.

The guide pillar portion161has a polygonal pillar shape projecting downward from the bottom of the connector150and the guide inclined portion162has a polypyramidal shape projecting downward from the bottom of the guide pillar portion161.

The second guide means220includes an insertion groove portion221and an inclined groove portion222.

The insertion groove portion221is a portion in which the guide pillar portion161is inserted. In a state where the guide pillar portion161is inserted in the insertion groove portion221, the inner circumference of the insertion groove portion221supports the outer circumference of the guide pillar portion161.

The inclined groove portion222is a portion to guide the guide inclined portion162to the insertion groove portion221, as illustrated inFIG. 4B. The inclined groove portion222forms an inclined plane extended from the top of the inner circumference of the insertion groove portion221with the same slope as the guide inclined portion162.

While the nacelle100is being descended over the tower200by means of a crane (not shown), as illustrated inFIG. 4A, the guide inclined portion162is first slidably descended in contact with the inclined groove portion222, as illustrated inFIG. 4B.

When the guide inclined portion162completely enters the insertion groove portion221through the inclined groove portion222, the guide pillar portion161is inserted into the insertion groove portion221, following the guide inclined portion162.

While the guide pillar portion161is being inserted in the insertion groove portion221, the socket connector130and the plug connector210make exact mutual vertical alignment, which results in complete insertion of the first guide means160in the second guide means220, as illustrated inFIG. 4C, completing the coupling of the socket connector130and the plug connector210, as illustrated inFIG. 2B.

As illustratedFIG. 5, in a tidal current power generator30according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, in a state where the nacelle100and the tower200are coupled to each other, the plug connector210or the socket connector130may be moved by a linear actuator230for coupling or decoupling. The following description will be given to a case where the plug connector210is vertically moved by the linear actuator230.

In addition, in the tidal current power generator30according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure, the socket connector130is installed inside the first guide means160and the plug connector210is installed inside the coupling end260below the second guide means220.

As illustrated inFIG. 5A, the lower end of the linear part111of the hollow tube110is formed on the lower end of the guide inclined portion162. For the purpose of brevity, explanation about the same configuration as the above embodiment of the present disclosure will not be repeated.

A hole through which the plug connector210is vertically moved is formed in the lower end surface of the insertion groove portion221. As illustrated inFIG. 5B, the plug connector210is located below the hole before the first guide means160completely enters the second guide means220.

The plug connector210is coupled to a guide roller240which rolls along a wall250of the tower200. The guide roller240includes a body241to which the plug connector210is fixed, and a plurality of wheels242formed in the side of the body241.

As illustrated inFIG. 5B, the socket connector130and the plug connector210make exact mutual vertical alignment while the guide pillar portion161is being inserted in the insertion groove portion221.

As illustrated inFIG. 5C, the guide roller240is vertically moved by means of the linear actuator230(after the first guide means160is completely inserted in the second guide means220), thereby making the exact mutual vertical alignment of the plug connector210and the socket connector130.

According to the above embodiments of the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a tidal current power generator having an underwater connecting structure which is capable of ensuring the promptness, correctness and safety of an electrical coupling without support by a diver by automatically coupling a plug connector and a socket connector when a tower and a nacelle are structurally coupled to each other underwater, and conserving a nonconductive filler in a hollow tube by means of a check valve.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments are provided for the purpose of illustrating the invention, not in a limitative sense. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.