US-12618391-B2 - Underwater flow turbine

Abstract

An underwater flow turbine includes a gondola having an interior, a generator in the gondola interior, a rotatable hub connected to the gondola and configured to support a plurality of rotor blades, the rotatable hub being operatively connected to the generator, and an air handling device, such as a fan or an air filtration system, in the gondola and/or in the hub.

Inventors

• Marcel Alfred MEMMEL
• Michael Baumann
• Jochen Kuhstrebe

Assignees

• AKTIEBOLAGET SKF

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20240722

Priority Date

20230801

Claims (18)

1. 1 . An underwater flow turbine comprising: a gondola having an interior and a hermetically sealable access hatch, the access hatch providing fluid communication between the interior and an ambient atmosphere outside the gondola, a generator in the gondola interior, a rotatable hub connected to the gondola and configured to support a plurality of rotor blades, the rotatable hub being operatively connected to the generator, and an air handling device in the gondola, wherein the air handling device has an inlet in the interior and an outlet facing away from the inlet and into the access hatch, and wherein the air handling device is configured to direct a flow of air through the access hatch and into the ambient atmosphere.
2. 2 . The flow turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the air handling device comprises a fan, and wherein a conduit extends from the fan to the access hatch.
3. 3 . The flow turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the air handling device includes a chemical air filter and/or a mechanical filter.
4. 4 . The flow turbine according to claim 1 , including: a ladder leading from the access hatch into the interior, wherein the outlet of the air handling device is arranged adjacent to the access hatch, and wherein the ladder is spaced from the outlet so as to allow a worker to enter the interior via the ladder.
5. 5 . The flow turbine according to claim 1 , including a sensor configured to determine at least one condition of a gaseous medium present in the gondola.
6. 6 . The flow turbine according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor is configured to analyze a composition of the gaseous medium.
7. 7 . The flow turbine according to claim 5 , wherein the sensor includes a transceiver configured to transmit a signal indicative of the at least one condition and receive a control signal configured to activate and/or deactivate the sensor.
8. 8 . The flow turbine according to claim 5 , including a control unit configured to activate and/or deactivate the air handling device based on an output of the sensor.
9. 9 . The flow turbine according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit is configured to evaluate information received from the sensor and to activate and/or deactivate the air handling device when information indicates that the at least one condition is above or below a predetermined value.
10. 10 . The flow turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the access hatch and the air handling device are configured such that directing the flow of air through the access hatch and into the ambient atmosphere draws air from the ambient atmosphere into the interior via the access hatch.
11. 11 . An underwater flow turbine comprising: a gondola having an interior and a hermetically sealable access hatch, the access hatch providing fluid communication between the interior and an ambient atmosphere outside the gondola, a generator in the gondola interior, a rotatable hub connected to the gondola and configured to support a plurality of rotor blades, the rotatable hub being operatively connected to the generator, and an air handling device in the hub, wherein the air handling device has an inlet in the interior and an outlet facing away from the inlet and into the access hatch, and wherein the air handling device is configured to direct a flow of air through the access hatch and into the ambient atmosphere.
12. 12 . The flow turbine according to claim 11 , wherein the air handling device comprises a fan, and wherein a conduit extends from the fan to the outlet.
13. 13 . The flow turbine according to claim 11 , wherein the air handling device includes an air filtration device.
14. 14 . The flow turbine according to claim 13 , wherein the air filtration device includes a chemical air filter and/or a mechanical filter.
15. 15 . The flow turbine according to claim 11 , including a sensor configured to determine at least one condition of a gaseous medium present in the hub.
16. 16 . The flow turbine according to claim 15 , wherein the sensor is configured to analyze a composition of the gaseous medium.
17. 17 . The flow turbine according to claim 11 , wherein the access hatch and the air handling device are configured such that directing the flow of air through the access hatch and into the ambient atmosphere draws air from the ambient atmosphere into the interior via the access hatch.
18. 18 . An underwater flow turbine comprising: a gondola having an interior, a generator in the gondola interior, a rotatable hub connected to the gondola and configured to support a plurality of rotor blades, the rotatable hub being operatively connected to the generator, an air handling device in the gondola and/or in the hub, a sensor configured to determine at least one condition of a gaseous medium present in the gondola and/or the hub, and a control unit configured to activate and/or deactivate the air handling device in response to a control signal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE This application claims priority to German patent application no. 10 2023 207 338.2 filed on Aug. 1, 2023, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference. TECHNOLOGICAL FIELD The present disclosure is directed to a flow turbine, in particular an underwater flow turbine, having an air handling system such as a ventilation device and/or a filtration device. BACKGROUND A flow turbine, regardless of whether for wind power or underwater use, usually comprises a gondola, in which the actual power-producing generator is accommodated, and a hub rotatably fastened to the gondola, to which the rotor blades are fastened and which is rotated with the aid of the rotor blades and which drives the generator. Both the hub and the gondola have hollow interior spaces that are accessible for service personnel via access (maintenance) hatches and, in addition to the generator, comprise a plurality of other components necessary for the operation of the flow turbine, all of which components must be maintained regularly. Flow turbines, in particular underwater flow turbines such as tidal turbines, usually operate underwater, so all the spaces filled with air are sealed off in an airtight manner. During the operation of the turbine, however, toxic gases, moisture, oil vapor and salt-containing air are produced in particular in the gondola and the hub, and this can have a detrimental effect on the sensitive components such as electronics (slip rings or similar parts) and can cause unplanned outages. Furthermore, the air-gas mixture these produce must be replaced before the entry of maintenance personnel into the gondola or into the hub for maintenance work so as not to endanger the maintenance personnel with regard to health and safety. For this purpose, the maintenance hatch is usually opened for a long time before maintenance personnel enter to ensure that any toxic fumes have evaporated and/or dissipated. Sometimes, following the opening of the maintenance hatch, a blower is also introduced into the gondola or into the hub for this purpose, removing the toxic air from the interior of the gondola or hub. Although this permits risk-free access by the maintenance personnel after some time, it does not prevent damage to sensitive components exposed to the toxic fumes. SUMMARY It is therefore an aspect of the present disclosure to provide a flow turbine, in particular an underwater turbine, in which sensitive components in an interior of a turbine housing are protected against toxic gases during operation. At the same time, access for maintenance purposes can be provided more easily and more quickly than before which reduces the required stoppage time of the turbine. In the following, a flow turbine, in particular an underwater flow turbine for a tidal power plant, is presented. The flow turbine comprises a gondola, in which a generator for producing power is accommodated, and a rotatable hub connected to the gondola, to which rotor blades can be fastened and which is designed to drive the generator. In order to protect the sensitive components from the damaging influences of toxic gases which can be produced during operation, and to ensure that maintenance personnel can enter the interior of the gondola and/or hub at any time, the interior of the gondola and/or the hub is provided with a ventilation system having at least one air handling device such as a ventilation device and/or an air filtration device. According to a further advantageous exemplary embodiment, the at least one air handling device has at least one inlet opening, via which a medium, in particular air, which is located in the gondola and/or the hub, enters the air handling device. The medium is usually air or, during the operation of the gondola, also air which can include toxic gases, moisture, oil vapor or a salt content. In the worst case, the entire composition of the air can consist of toxic gases and foreign constituents. Furthermore, the air handling device has an outlet opening, through which the medium that has entered the air handling device can leave the air handling device. For example, an air filter, which cleans the air-gas mixture of damaging components, can be provided in the interior of the air handling device. Alternatively, sensors which determine a condition of the air that has entered the air handling device can also be provided in the interior. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the air handling device has at least one suction element, in particular a fan or a blower, which is designed to suck or to blow the medium which is located in the gondola and/or the hub through the air handling device. This makes it possible to ensure for the medium which is present in the gondola or in the hub to be actively drawn into the interior of the air handling device and expelled from the outlet opening. Preferably, the outlet opening is arranged in the vicinity of a maintenance hatch so that the used air can be sucked specific