Water current power generation systems
View Patent ↗An underwater structure includes a power generation unit, which includes a main body, a mounting portion which extends from the main body and which defines a mounting axis, and a support structure adapted for engagement with a bed of a body of water, and support housing. The mounting portion defines a substantially continuous mounting surface which extends substantially completely around the mounting portion, and the support housing defines a substantially continuous support surface which extends substantially completely around the support housing. The mounting surface and support surface are arranged to abut one another substantially continuously when the power generation unit is mounted on the support structure. The mounting portion and the support housing are adapted to cooperate with one another for mounting of the power generation unit on the support structure in any polar orientation about the mounting axis.
1. An underwater structure comprising:
a power generation unit including a main body, a mounting portion which extends from the main body and which defines a mounting axis, a power generation unit connection carrier, and a connector mounted on the power generation unit connection carrier, the power generation unit connection carrier being rotatable relative to the mounting portion; and
a support structure adapted for engagement with a bed of a body of water, and including a support housing, a support connection carrier attached to the support housing, and a support connector mounted on the support connection carrier, the support connector being adapted for releasable engagement with the connector of the power generation unit,
wherein the mounting portion defines a continuous mounting surface which extends completely around the mounting portion, and wherein the support housing defines a continuous support surface which extends completely around the support housing, the mounting surface and support surface being arranged to abut one another continuously when the power generation unit is mounted on the support structure,
wherein the power generation unit includes a connection actuator operable to rotate the power generation unit connection carrier about the mounting axis and relative to the mounting portion, and
wherein the continuous mounting surface of the mounting portion, the continuous support surface of the support housing, and the power generation unit connection carrier allow for mounting of the power generation unit on the support structure in any polar orientation, without discrete mounting locations, about the mounting axis.
2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection actuator is operable to move the power generation unit connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis.
3. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection actuator is operable to move the power generation unit connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis, and wherein the connection actuator is provided by a single actuator.
4. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes a support connection actuator operable to move the support connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis, and to rotate the support connection carrier about the mounting axis.
5. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support connection carrier is removable from the support housing.
6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support connection carrier is removable from the support housing, and wherein the support connection carrier includes an engagement feature.
7. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support connection carrier is removable from the support housing, and wherein the support connection carrier comprises a planar plate.
8. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the power generation unit connection carrier is provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the mounting portion.
9. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection actuator is operable to move the power generation unit connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis, and wherein the power generation unit connection carrier is provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the connection actuator.
10. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection actuator is operable to move the power generation unit connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis, and wherein the power generation unit connection carrier includes a locating portion which is acted upon by the connection actuator, and a secondary carrier which carries the connector, the secondary carrier being provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the locating portion.
11. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connection actuator is operable to move the power generation unit connection carrier parallel to the mounting axis, and wherein the power generation unit connection carrier includes a locating portion which is acted upon by the connection actuator, and a secondary carrier which carries the connector, the secondary carrier being provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the locating portion, and wherein the connector is provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the secondary carrier.
12. The structure as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the connector is provided with a predetermined amount of positional float with respect to the power generation unit connection carrier.