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Bi-Functional Hinge for HATT attached to floating vessel

[Category : - RENEWABLE ENERGY]
[Viewed 49 times]

The invention relates to a specific Horizontal Axis Tidal Turbine (HATT) design approach where the turbine and nacelle are attached to a floating vessel via a link member, which has a hinged connection to the floating vessel. The existing solutions which were/are in operaion have a horozontal hinge which allows the link rotated into horizontal position, turbine/nacelle "floating" semisubmerged on the water about 20-25m away from the floating vessel, at the outer end of the link member. Just like a bird with wings spread out.
The ivention provides a special hinge between the link and the floating vessel which allows
a) The link being rotated close to and parallel with the main axis of the floating vessel
b) The turbine/nacelle out of the water above the deck of the vessel for inspection/maintenance, and
c) Torque transmitted from the turbine/nacelle to the vessel, thus allowing the positioning the gearbox and generator onboard the vessel, not in the nacelle. Just like a bird sitting on water with wings closed up.
The benefits are less space required for transport, the vessel becomng towable on water, inspection/maintennace being done "on the dry" rather than in semisubmerged position by divers, gears and generators being on the dry, thus easier design, fabrication and operation/maintenace.

A portfolio of six granted patents (GB, US, CA, KR, JP, EU-IE) and two application (AU, NZ) are on offer.

The formal description:
A marine plant assembly comprises a buoyant vessel 100, a plant operating unit 500 attached to the vessel is partially submerged during operation. A link element(s) 200 provides a hinged connection between the operating unit and the vessel, to allow movement of the operating unit from its submerged position to above the water level, adjacent and substantially parallel to the vessel by rotation of the link element for purposes such as servicing or transport. The hinge may include two pairs of cylindrical bearings (235, 236, 245, 246, Fig 4a). The first bearing of each pair may be attached to a connection plate (431, Fig 7c) secured to the link member, and the second indirectly secured to the buoyancy vessel. The second bearing of each pair may be secured to a mounting plate (234, Fig 4a) and the second of the other pair secured to a support structure (123, Fig 4c), both secured to the buoyancy vessel. The cylindrical bearings may have a first shaft 680 with a bevel gear 670 to enable rotation. The link element preferable has a second bevel gear 660 and second shaft 650 to transmit rotation force generated by the operating unit to the first shaft.

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