Device and method for collecting the kinetic energy of a naturally moving fluid

Abstract

The invention relates to a device ( 100, 200 ) for collecting the kinetic energy of a naturally moving fluid, that comprises: a first conversion means ( 112, 212 ) capable of converting the fluid movement into a driving movement for driving a pumping or compression means ( 116, 216 ); a pumping or compression means ( 116, 216 ) driven by the first conversion means ( 112, 212 ), said pumping means being capable of collecting a current from the fluid and of circulating the same and conveying it to remote energy storage ( 223 ) or conversion ( 121, 122, 221, 222, 226 ) means. The pumping or compression means include a multicellular centrifugal pump having a rotation axis that is parallel or substantially parallel to the current direction. The combination of these means provides for a quasi-continuous electric energy with a fixed and stable frequency.

1 . A device ( 100 ,  200 ) for collecting kinetic energy from a naturally moving fluid, comprising:
 first conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) for converting the movement of the fluid into a driving movement in order to drive pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ),   pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ) driven by the first conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ), for picking up fluid from the current and circulate it in order to transport it to remote energy storage ( 223 ) or conversion ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) means,   characterized in that the pumping or compression means comprise a multicellular centrifugal pump, the axis of rotation of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of the current.   
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the naturally moving fluid has large mass and low pressure and the circulating fluid has low mass and high pressure. 
   
   
       3 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising means ( 118 ,  218 ) for accelerating a velocity of the moving fluid. 
   
   
       4 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) comprise a propeller for converting the movement of the fluid into a movement of rotation. 
   
   
       5 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising transmission means ( 113 ,  114 ,  115 ,  213 ,  214 ,  215 ) interposed between the conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) and the pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ), for multiplying a velocity of the driving movement generated by the conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ). 
   
   
       6 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising means ( 119 ,  219 ) for transporting the circulating fluid towards the remote storage ( 223 ) or conversion ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) means. 
   
   
       7 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising remote conversion means ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) including a turbine ( 121 ,  221 ,  226 ) capable of being driven into rotation by the circulating fluid and an alternator ( 122 ,  222 ) for converting the rotation of the turbine into electric energy. 
   
   
       8 . The device according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , comprising remote storage means ( 223 ) including a fluid tank positioned in height (h) relatively to the conversion means ( 221 ,  222 ). 
   
   
       9 . The device according to any of  claims 1  to  7 , comprising remote storage means including a pressurized fluid tank. 
   
   
       10 . The device according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , comprising means ( 111 ) for orienting the conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) according to a direction of the movement of the fluid. 
   
   
       11 . The device according to any of  claims 1  to  9 , comprising means for maintaining a constant direction of the driving movement during reversal of a direction of the movement of the fluid. 
   
   
       12 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising adjustment means for adjusting the driving movement generated by the conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) according to a velocity of the fluid. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 12 , wherein the adjustment means ( 130 ) comprise means ( 132 ) for orienting the blades of a propeller ( 112 ) and means ( 134 ) for storing energy, for storing fluid for example, for supplying energy to the orientation means. 
   
   
       14 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of conversion means ( 112 ). 
   
   
       15 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one pair of conversion means ( 112 ), each conversion means of one pair being capable of converting the movement of the fluid into a driving movement in the direction opposite to that of the other conversion means of the pair. 
   
   
       16 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a profiled case ( 111 ) so that the device orients itself according to a direction of the movement of the fluid. 
   
   
       17 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises attachment means, notably anchoring means ( 117 ) for maintaining the device along a fixed orientation. 
   
   
       18 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of associated conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) and pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ) distributed in different geographical sites, on the one hand, and remote conversion means ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) on the other hand, including a turbine ( 121 ,  212 ,  226 ) capable of being driven into rotation by a circulating fluid from the different pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ) and an alternator ( 122 ,  222 ) for converting the rotation of the turbine into electric energy. 
   
   
       19 . The device according to  claim 18 , further comprising a manifold capable of selectively connecting or disconnecting each of the conversion ( 112 ,  212 ) and pumping or compression ( 116 ,  216 ) means with the remote conversion means ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) in order to regulate the amount of fluid received by the remote conversion means. 
   
   
       20 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, comprising means ( 138 ) for ventilating the pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ). 
   
   
       21 . The device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first conversion means ( 112 ,  212 ) comprise a propeller, the device comprising:
 remote conversion means ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) including a generator turbine ( 121 ,  221 ,  226 ) capable of being driven into rotation by the circulating fluid and an alternator ( 122 ,  222 ) for converting the rotation of the turbine into electric energy,   means for adjusting the orientation of the blades of the propeller ( 112 ) driving the pumping means ( 116 ,  216 ), and/or   means for adjusting the needle of a supply nozzle of the generator turbine ( 121 ,  221 ,  226 ) or means for adjusting the orientation of the blades of the generator turbine ( 121 ,  221 ,  226 ),   the adjustment means being controlled in order to regulate flow rate and pressure of the fluid feeding the generator turbine ( 121 ,  221 ,  226 ) so that the alternator ( 122 ,  222 ) generates an electric current with quasi-constant frequency.   
   
   
       22 . A method for collecting kinetic energy from a naturally moving fluid, comprising steps of:
 converting the movement of the fluid into a driving movement for driving pumping or compression means ( 116 ,  216 ),   driving or pumping compression means ( 116 ,  216 ) for picking up said fluid and circulate it for transporting it towards remote storage ( 223 ) or conversion ( 121 ,  122 ,  221 ,  222 ,  226 ) means,   wherein the pumping or compression means comprise a multicellular centrifugal pump, the axis of rotation of which is parallel or substantially parallel to the direction of the current.