Module, system and method for generating electric power inside a pipeline
A module, configured to generate electric power inside a pipeline, in particular as the pipeline is being laid on the bed of a body of water, has a turbine configured to intercept an airflow fed in a travelling direction; and a rotating electric machine connected to the turbine, surrounding the turbine, and configured to produce electric power.
1. An electric power generating module comprising:
a turbine configured to be positioned inside a pipeline and intercept an airflow fed into the pipeline in a direction of travel as the pipeline is being laid on a bed of a body of water; and
a rotatable electric machine connected to the turbine, said rotatable electric machine surrounding the turbine and being configured to produce electric power inside the pipeline, wherein a frame which supports the turbine and the rotatable electric machine is selectively moved inside the pipeline in the travelling direction as the pipeline is being laid from a laying vessel to on the bed of the body of water.
2. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , wherein the turbine is an axial turbine.
3. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , which includes an annular channel, wherein the turbine is housed inside the annular channel.
4. The electric power generating module of claim 3 , wherein the rotatable electric machine is located outside the annular channel.
5. The electric power generating module of claim 3 , wherein:
the annular channel is a tapering and flaring annular channel which defines a minimum cross section, and
the turbine is located at the defined minimum cross section.
6. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , wherein the turbine includes:
a plurality of stator blades; and
a plurality of rotor blades downstream, in the travelling direction, from the plurality of stator blades.
7. The electric power generating module of claim 6 , wherein the rotatable electric machine surrounds the rotor blades.
8. The electric power generating module of claim 7 , wherein the rotatable electric machine includes a rotor fixed to a distal end of the rotor blades.
9. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , which includes a plurality of rolling bodies fitted to the frame and configured to contact the pipeline.
10. The electric power generating module of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of rolling bodies are elastically fitted to the frame.
11. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , which includes a sealing ring fitted to the frame and selectively expandable to prevent airflow between the frame and the pipeline.
12. The electric power generating module of claim 1 , wherein the frame includes:
a tubular structure; and
an axial structure located inside the tubular structure, said axial structure defines a tapering and flaring annular channel.
13. The electric power generating module of claim 12 , wherein the tubular structure and the axial structure are connected by at least one spoke extending inside the annular channel.
14. The electric power generating module of claim 12 , wherein the tubular structure is configured to house the rotatable electric machine.
15. The electric power generating module of claim 12 , which includes a control device housed in the tubular structure and configured to control the rotatable electric machine.
16. The electric power generating module of claim 12 , wherein the axial structure rotatably supports part of the turbine and part of the rotatable electric machine.
17. An electric power producing system comprising:
a pipeline;
a pump station connected to the pipeline and configured to feed an airflow into the pipeline in a travelling direction; and
a vehicle configured to selectively move inside the pipeline in the travelling direction as the pipeline is being laid from a laying vessel to on a bed of a body of water and including a first module including:
a turbine configured to be positioned inside the pipeline and to intercept the airflow, and
a rotatable electric machine connected to the turbine, said rotatable electric machine surrounding the turbine and being configured to produce electric power aboard the vehicle inside the pipeline.
18. The electric power producing system of claim 17 , which includes a second module connected to the first module and configured to adjust an airflow flow section.
19. The electric power producing system of claim 18 , wherein the second module includes:
a conduit, and
a shutter such that the airflow flow section is defined by a distance between the conduit and the shutter.
20. The electric power producing system of claim 19 , wherein the distance between the conduit and the shutter is adjustable, via an actuator, from a zero value to a designated value.
21. An electric power producing system comprising:
a pipeline;
a suction station connected to the pipeline and configured to feed an airflow into the pipeline in a travelling direction; and
a vehicle configured to selectively move inside the pipeline in the travelling direction as the pipeline is being laid from a laying vessel to on a bed of a body of water and including a module including:
a turbine configured to be positioned inside the pipeline and to intercept the airflow, and
a rotatable electric machine connected to the turbine, said rotatable electric machine surrounding the turbine and being configured to produce electric power aboard the vehicle inside the pipeline.
22. A method of producing electric power inside a pipeline, the method comprising:
feeding an airflow into the pipeline in a travelling direction;
selectively moving a vehicle inside the pipeline in the travelling direction as the pipeline is being laid from a laying vessel to on a bed of a body of water; and
generating electric power aboard the vehicle utilizing a module of the vehicle housed inside the pipeline by:
causing a turbine to intercept the airflow, and causing a rotatable electric machine connected to the turbine and surrounding the turbine to produce said electric power aboard the vehicle inside the pipeline.
23. An electric power producing system comprising:
a pipeline;
a pump station connected to the pipeline and configured to feed an airflow into the pipeline in a travelling direction;
a first module including:
a turbine configured to be positioned inside the pipeline and to intercept the airflow, and
a rotatable electric machine connected to the turbine, said rotatable electric machine surrounding the turbine and being configured to produce electric power inside the pipeline; and
a second module connected to the first module, configured to adjust an airflow flow section and including a telescopic conduit, and a shutter such that the airflow flow section is defined by a distance between the conduit and the shutter, and the distance between the conduit and the shutter is adjustable by lengthening and shortening the telescopic conduit.