JP2009167925A - Hydraulic power generation method and device using tidal energy - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydraulic power generation method for generating power by dropping seawater pumped using tidal energy. <P>SOLUTION: This device is provided with a float F moving upward and downward together with flux and reflux of the tides, a bucket B supported to be displaced between a lower limit position and an upper limit position, and a displacement enlarging transmission mechanism for rising the bucket B to the upper limit position by enlarging the displacement of the float F and transmitting it to the bucket B. The bucket B is moved downward together with the rise of the float in a rising tide, and the bucket is sunk in the sea to accommodate the seawater in the bucket until a flood tide. The bucket B is moved upward together with the downward movement of the float in a falling tide, and the seawater in the bucket is shifted to a water tank WT when the bucket reaches a highest reaching position in a low tide. When needed, the seawater in the water tank Wt is released to drive a hydraulic turbine generator WG, so that the power is generated. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a tidal energy utilizing hydroelectric power generation method and apparatus for performing hydroelectric power generation using a tidal difference.

  A pumped storage power plant is operated as a power plant that generates power only when there is a large demand for power. At a pumped storage power plant, water is stored in a reservoir located in a high place at night when there is surplus electricity, and the turbine generator is installed by discharging the water in the reservoir at the peak of power demand. It is driven to generate electricity. In the conventional pumped-storage power station, electric power is used as an energy source for pumping up water, so when the surplus amount of power at night is not enough, a sufficient amount of water cannot be stored in the reservoir. There was a problem that the purpose could not be achieved.

  In addition, since the amount of surplus electricity at night is affected by the climate and may not be as expected, conventional pumped-storage power plants have had the problem that it is difficult to make an accurate power supply and demand plan.

Furthermore, since conventional pumped-storage power plants use electric power generated using fossil fuels to drive pumps for pumping water, it is urgent to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) emissions. There was a problem that it was not suitable for the recent situation.

  In order to reduce carbon dioxide, it is preferable to use natural energy effectively. As a power generation facility using natural energy, a power generation facility using solar heat or a power generation facility using wind power is operated, and a power generation facility using tidal energy is also being studied. Among these power generation facilities, the power generation facility using solar heat can generate power only in fine weather, and the power generation facility using wind power generates power only when the wind is blowing at a certain speed or higher. Therefore, the power generation equipment that assists the power supply amount at the peak of power demand is not reliable.

  In contrast, the tide phenomenon occurs twice a day in a cycle of about half a day, and the difference in tides can be predicted. Therefore, if a considerable amount of power can be generated using tide energy, It is expected that a highly reliable power generation facility that can be incorporated into the supply and demand plan will be obtained, and that it will greatly contribute to the stable operation of the power system.

  As power generation facilities using tidal energy, as seen at the Lance Tidal Power Station in France, a large dam is constructed by damming the estuary, and seawater flows into the dam at high tide, and dam at low tide. There is one in which power generation is performed by discharging water inside and driving a water turbine. According to such a power generation facility, high power can be obtained, and highly reliable power supply can be performed. However, if a dam is constructed by damming the estuary, the natural environment will be adversely affected, so the need to conserve the natural environment has become important, and it is difficult to construct this type of power generation facility. It has become.

  As a hydroelectric power generation facility using tidal energy that has no risk of adversely affecting the natural environment, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1, it was obtained by driving a piston with a displacement of a float that moves up and down following the sea surface. There has been proposed an apparatus in which compressed air is accumulated in an accumulator, and a generator is driven by driving an air turbine with the compressed air in the accumulator.

Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, the rotational displacement obtained by converting the displacement of the float that moves up and down following the sea surface up and down through the displacement conversion mechanism is accelerated and transmitted to the generator. Some proposals have been made to generate electricity.
JP 61-70173 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 301

  The amount of change in the tide level caused by tides varies depending on the location, but is usually 1 to several meters, and when a float that moves up and down following the sea level is provided, the maximum displacement is small. Moreover, since the tide level changes over a long time between the maximum level and the minimum level, the amount of displacement per unit time of the float following the sea level is very small. Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1, even if the air cylinder is driven by the displacement of the float that moves up and down following the sea level, it is difficult to sufficiently store the air pressure in the accumulator. Is difficult to obtain efficiently. Further, since the amount of displacement of the float per unit time is small, as shown in Patent Document 2, the displacement of the float itself is converted into rotational displacement, and the converted rotational displacement is accelerated to increase the generator. It is not possible to expect to get a lot of power efficiently with the method of telling to.

  Furthermore, since the float is finely moved up and down under the influence of waves, it is difficult to stably drive the generator when the displacement of the float itself is converted into a rotational displacement and transmitted to the generator.

  In addition, when the float displacement itself is converted into rotational displacement and transmitted to the generator, tidal energy cannot be accumulated, so the generator is driven to obtain power when necessary. I can't.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a tidal energy-utilizing hydroelectric power generation method that performs hydropower generation using tidal energy without damming an estuary, and a hydroelectric power generation apparatus that performs this method.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a tidal energy-utilizing hydroelectric power generation method and method capable of converting tidal energy into potential energy and accumulating it, and performing highly reliable power supply when necessary. It is providing the hydroelectric power generation apparatus which implements.

The present invention relates to a tidal energy utilizing hydroelectric power generation method that generates power using tidal energy.
In the present invention, a water tank installed at a position higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of a high tide, a float that floats on the sea surface and goes up and down with tides, and a set lower limit position and a water tank The bucket is supported so that it can be displaced between the upper limit position set at a higher position and the displacement expansion transmission that raises the bucket toward the upper limit position by enlarging the displacement of the float and transmitting it to the bucket A mechanism that lowers the bucket as the float rises during rising tide, sinks at least a portion of the bucket into the sea by the time of high tide, and stores seawater in the bucket; The bucket is raised as the float descends, and when the bucket reaches the highest position at low tide, the seawater in the bucket is transferred to the water tank, The water was stored, to drop the seawater in the water tank when needed to perform power generation by driving the hydraulic turbine generator.

  According to the above method, carbon dioxide gas emissions can be generated by pumping water using tidal energy, which can be called infinite energy, without consuming electric power obtained by burning fossil fuel. Can meet the demand to reduce

  In addition, by using the tidal phenomenon that occurs every day, it is possible to generate water by discharging the pumped water when necessary, such as at the peak of power demand. The quantity can be accurately predicted and power can be supplied with high reliability.

  Furthermore, according to the above method, since the water tank can be installed on the sea, it is possible to construct a power plant without damming the estuary or harming the housing environment. It is possible to construct a power plant without causing

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, at least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level, and configured to be able to accommodate seawater therein, the lower limit position and the maximum displacement of the float that occurs at the time of a storm surge. one or more buckets supported so as to be able to displace between an upper limit position set higher than the lower limit position by a distance set to n (n> 1) times or more, and each bucket at the time of lower tide Displacement expansion transmission mechanism that transmits the displacement at the time of lower tide of any float more than n times to transmit to each bucket to raise from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position, and the position of the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of high tide At a position that is higher than the height of the bucket and can receive seawater drained from within each bucket when the bucket is at the highest position at the time of low tide (when the tide is highest). And a water turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank and driven by seawater discharged from the water tank to generate electricity, and each bucket descends toward the lower limit position. In order to reach the minimum reach position at the time of high tide (when the tide is full) in the course of the low tide, Set the lower limit position. The mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater contained therein. Then, the process of lowering the bucket toward the lower limit position at the time of rising tide and storing seawater in the bucket, and transferring the displacement of the float at the time of lowering tide to each bucket, When the bucket rises from the lower limit position toward the upper limit position, and when each bucket is in the section between the highest reach position and the upper limit position at the time of low tide, the seawater in each bucket is transferred into the water tank A seawater transfer process and a process of generating power by discharging seawater in the water storage tank and driving the turbine generator when there is a request for power generation.

  A tidal energy hydroelectric power plant that implements the above power generation method includes a water storage tank installed at a position higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of a high tide, and a float that floats on the sea surface and rises and falls as the tides rise and fall. A bucket supported so as to be displaceable between a set lower limit position and an upper limit position set at a position higher than the water storage tank, and expanding the displacement of the float and transmitting it to the bucket The displacement expansion transmission mechanism that raises the water to the upper limit position, the water turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank, the water pressure pipe that flows seawater in the water tank toward the water turbine generator, and the water flow through the water pressure pipe A valve device that switches between a state in which the water flow is interrupted and a state in which the water flow is blocked, and at least a part of the bucket by the time of high tide in the process of lowering the bucket as the float rises at the time of rising tide Seawater is accommodated submerged in the sea and in the bucket, configured so as to shift the seawater in the bucket reservoir in the process of raising the bucket with the descent of the float during ebb.

  In a preferred aspect of the present invention, a tidal energy-utilizing hydroelectric generator has at least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level and a water intake having a check valve at the bottom, and is closed by a gate that can be opened and closed. It has a drain outlet on the side wall, and is configured to hold the seawater taken in from the intake while the drain outlet is closed by the gate. One or more supported so as to be able to displace between an upper limit position set higher than the lower limit position by a distance set to n (n> 1) times or more of the maximum displacement amount of the float to be generated. In order to raise each bucket from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position at the time of lower tide, increase the displacement of any float that accompanies a change in tide level by a factor of n or more. Displacement expansion transmission mechanism configured to allow each bucket to descend from the upper limit position to the lower limit position with the displacement of the float at the time of rising tide, and the minimum arrival at the rising tide at least when the bucket is at low tide The bucket outlets are kept closed while each bucket is lower than the highest reached position during low tide when the bucket is at a low tide, and each bucket is at the maximum during the low tide at a low tide. A gate operation mechanism that operates the gate of each bucket so that the drain outlet of each bucket is opened when it is in the section between the reaching position and the upper limit position, and the position of the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of high tide And at a height that can accept the seawater drained from the drain of each bucket when each bucket is at its highest position during low tide at low tide. A water tank, a water turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank, a water pressure line for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the water wheel generator, a state in which a water flow is generated through the water pressure line, and the water flow A valve device that switches between the state of shut-off and the level of seawater that flows into each bucket from the water intake of each bucket when each bucket reaches the lowest position at high tide at low tide. The lower limit position of each bucket is set so as to reach the specified level of the water surface at. The mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater contained therein.

In the above configuration, the bucket has a water intake at the lower portion, but the water intake may be abolished and an intake / exhaust port that performs both water intake and drainage may be provided on the side wall of the bucket.
That is, the tidal energy utilizing hydroelectric power generation apparatus that implements the power generation method of the present invention has at least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level, and an intake / exhaust port that is closed by an openable / closable gate, While the intake / exhaust port is closed by the gate, it is configured to hold a state in which seawater is accommodated therein, and a set lower limit position and n (n> 1) of the maximum displacement amount of the float generated at the time of spring tide One or more buckets supported so as to be able to displace between an upper limit position set higher than the lower limit position by a distance set to be twice or more, and each bucket from the lower limit position side during lower tide In order to ascend toward the tide, the displacement of any float that accompanies the change in tide level is expanded to n times or more and transmitted to each bucket. A displacement expansion transmission mechanism configured to allow a lowering from a limit position to a lower limit position, and the intake / exhaust port when each bucket is between the lowest reached position and the lower limit position at the time of rising tide at low tide Open and close the bucket inlet and outlet while each bucket is higher than the lowest reached position during high tide during low tide and lower than the highest reached position during low tide during low tide. A gate operation mechanism that operates the gates of the buckets so that the inlets and outlets of the buckets are opened when the buckets are in the section between the highest reached position at the time of low tide during low tide and the upper limit position. And seawater discharged from the inlet and outlet of each bucket when the bucket is at a position higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of high tide and each bucket is at the highest position at the time of low tide at the time of low tide. height A water tank is generated at a position, a water turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank, a water pressure line for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the water wheel generator, and a water flow through the water pressure line. It can also be set as the structure provided with the valve apparatus which switches a state and the state which interrupts | blocks this water flow.

  Also in this case, when each bucket reaches the minimum reaching position at the time of rising tide at the time of low tide, the water level of the seawater flowing into each bucket from the bucket inlet / outlet reaches the specified level of the water level in each bucket. The lower limit position of each bucket is set, and the mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which the displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater inside.

  As described above, when an intake / exhaust port for both intake and drainage is provided in the lower part of the bucket, it is sealed to prevent seawater from leaking in the process of raising the bucket toward the upper limit position. Since only the intake / exhaust port can be provided, it is possible to easily maintain the state in which seawater is accommodated in the bucket in the process of raising the bucket toward the upper limit position.

  In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a platform fixed to the sea floor is installed at a position higher than the upper end position of the float at the time of high tide at the time of a high tide, and the displacement expansion transmission mechanism is rotatably supported on the platform. A rotating shaft, an upper sprocket wheel attached to the rotating shaft, a lower sprocket wheel rotatably supported by a base frame disposed below the platform, and an upper sprocket wheel and a lower sprocket wheel. A chain where one of the two parts extending vertically between the sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel is connected to the float, a winch attached to the rotating shaft, and a position above the upper limit of the bucket and above the upper limit position of the bucket Pulley installed at the end and one end fixed to the winch A wire rope or unwound from a winch or wound in Ji and has a configuration in which a plurality for each bucket.

  In this case, the wire rope unwound from the winch is hooked on the pulley above the winch, and the other end of the wire rope hanging from the pulley is connected to the bucket, so that the bucket is suspended by the wire rope. It will be in the state. The winding direction of the wire lobe around the winch is set so that the bucket descends when the float rises and the bucket rises when the float descends, and the outer diameter of the winch is n of the effective diameter of the upper sprocket wheel. Set to more than double.

  In the present invention, basically, it is only necessary to increase the displacement of the float by n times and transmit it to the bucket. However, instead of raising each part of the bucket to the same height, the drainage port of the bucket finally It may be preferable to incline the bucket by raising the portion closer to the other end to a higher position than the portion closer to one end provided to smoothly drain water from the bucket into the water reservoir. In this case, it is necessary to make the amount of rise of the portion on one end of the bucket n times the amount of displacement of the float and make the amount of rise of the portion on the other end larger than n times the amount of displacement of the float. In the book, the displacement of the float is increased by n times or more and transmitted to the bucket.

  In the present invention, in order to increase the amount of electric power that can be generated, it is preferable to install the water tank as high as possible, and it is preferable to increase the amount of seawater stored in the water tank as much as possible. For that purpose, a float having a large mass is required, but a float having a large mass can be easily constructed by using shipbuilding technology.

  As described above, according to the present invention, seawater is pumped into a water storage tank using tidal energy, which can be called infinite energy, without consuming electric power obtained by burning fossil fuel. Since the seawater is generated by supplying the seawater to the turbine generator, it is possible to meet the demand for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

  Further, in the present invention, pumping is performed by utilizing a tidal phenomenon that occurs every day, and the pumped water can be discharged when necessary, such as at the peak of power demand. It is possible to supply power with high reliability by giving accurate predictability to the timing and power supply amount.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, since the water tank can be installed on the sea, it is possible to construct a power plant without damming the estuary or harming the housing environment. A power plant can be built without generating it.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the tidal energy utilizing hydroelectric power generation method according to the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, at least one float F that moves up and down following changes in the tide level, and configured so as to be able to accommodate seawater therein. Between the set lower limit position P1 and the upper limit position P2 set higher than the lower limit position P1 by a distance H set to n (n> 1) times or more of the displacement amount Δy of the float F generated during the spring tide. One or more buckets B supported so as to be displaceable, and each float is increased by n times or more in order to raise each bucket from the lower limit position P1 side toward the upper limit position P2 during lower tide. Displacement expansion transmission mechanism (not shown in FIG. 1) that transmits to the bucket, and the highest at low tide when each bucket B is at low tide, at a position higher than sea level position S1 at high tide at high tide. Achieving position (reached at low tide The highest height position to be obtained) The water tank WT installed at a position Q1 at a height that can receive seawater discharged from the inside of each bucket B when it is at P2 ', and the water tank WT installed at a position Q2 lower than the water tank WT. A water turbine generator WG that generates power by being driven by seawater supplied from the inside of the water storage tank WT through the hydraulic line WP is provided. In order to make it possible to generate power only when necessary, a valve device V is provided for switching between a state in which a water flow is generated through the hydraulic line WP and a state in which the water flow is blocked. The installation position (the height position of the bottom of the water tank) Q1 of the water tank WT is such that the upper end of the water tank is lower than the drainage outlet of the bucket B at the highest arrival position P2 ′ at low tide at the time of low tide. And a position at which a drop Δh necessary for power generation can be obtained between the bottom of the water storage tank and the water turbine generator WG.

  In the present invention, the process of lowering the bucket B as the float F rises during rising tide, sinking at least a part of the bucket B into the sea by high tide, and storing seawater in the bucket B; The bucket B is raised with the lowering of the float F, and when the bucket reaches the highest arrival position P2 ′ at low tide, the seawater in the bucket is transferred to the water tank WT. The seawater is stored in the tank, and when necessary, the seawater in the water tank is dropped and the turbine generator is driven to generate power. The seawater from the bucket B to the water storage tank WT may be transferred by draining directly from the bucket into the water tank. A water intake groove leading to the water storage tank is provided, and water is discharged from the bucket B to the water intake groove. May be performed.

  The installation position Q1 of the water storage tank WT is appropriately set according to the depth of the water storage tank, the highest reach position P2 'at the time of the low tide of the bucket, the position of the drainage port of the bucket, and the drop Δh required for power generation. Is done. Naturally, the highest arrival position P2 'at low tide during the low tide of the bucket B is higher than the drain outlet of the bucket at the upper end position of the reservoir (the upper end position of the intake groove if a intake groove is provided). It is a position to become. In other words, when the bucket reaches the maximum arrival position P2 ′ at low tide at low tide, the drain outlet of the bucket seems to reach a height higher than the position of the upper end of the water storage tank (or the upper end position of the intake groove). In addition, the highest arrival position P2 'at low tide at the time of low tide of the bucket B is set.

  The lower limit position P1 of the bucket is the position of the bucket at the time of high tide during the spring tide. The position of the bucket at the time of high tide at the time of the low tide (when the tide is full) (the lowest position reached at the time of the high tide at the time of the low tide) is a position P1 ′ higher than the lower limit position P1. The upper limit position P2 is the position of the bucket at low tide at the time of high tide (when the tide is highest), and the position of the bucket at high tide at the time of low tide (the highest reached position at the time of low tide at the time of low tide) is the upper limit. The position P2 ′ is lower than the position P2.

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, only one bucket B is provided, the bucket at the lowest arrival position P1 'at the time of rising tide at the time of low tide is indicated by a solid line, and the highest arrival at the time of low tide at the time of low tide Bucket B at position P2 'is indicated by a chain line.

  Further, in the example shown in FIG. 1, only one float F is provided, the float F floating on the sea surface at high tide is indicated by a solid line, and the float F floating on the sea surface at low tide is indicated by a chain line. Has been.

  The bucket B has a water intake Ba having a check valve Bv at the bottom, a drain Bb that is closed by a gate Bg that can be opened and closed on a side wall, and the drain Bb is closed by the gate Bg. The seawater taken in from the intake port Ba is configured to be kept inside.

  In the illustrated example, the bucket B is configured in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box having an open upper end, and at least one intake port Ba provided with a check valve Bv is provided on the bottom wall portion thereof. A drain outlet Bb that is closed by a gate Bg is provided in the lower half of the side wall portion of this.

  The bucket B used in the present embodiment has a rectangular cross section on the inside of the side wall at one end in the length direction (the right end in FIG. 1), and has a divergent shape from the inside to the outside of the bucket. A tapered drain cylinder Bd is provided integrally with the side wall, and a drain outlet Bb is formed inside the drain cylinder Bd. In the present embodiment, the drainage cylinder Bd is provided so that the opening of the drain outlet Bb occupies substantially the entire lower half of the side surface on one end side of the bucket B.

  The illustrated gate Bg has a plug body Bg1 whose outer surface is tapered so that it can be fitted into the drain port Bb, and a hook plate part Bg2 protruding from the peripheral part of the plug body Bg1. The upper end of the part Bg2 is coupled to and supported by the upper part of the bucket B via a rotating shaft. The gate Bg includes a closed position (a position indicated by a solid line at the bottom of FIG. 1) in which the plug body Bg1 is fitted in the drain port Bb and the drain port Bb is closed, and the plug body Bg1. It is provided so as to be able to rotate between an open position (a position indicated by a chain line in the upper part of FIG. 1) in which the drain port Bb is opened by being separated from the drain port Bb.

  The bucket B is guided by a guide frame supported by a tower not shown in FIG. 1 so that it can be displaced in the vertical direction while being allowed to be slightly inclined. In addition, in order to open and close the gate Bg of the bucket, the drain outlet Bb of each bucket is kept closed while each bucket B is at a position lower than the highest reaching position P2 ′ at the time of low tide. A gate operation mechanism is provided for operating the gate Bg of each bucket so that the drain outlet Bb of each bucket is opened when it is between the highest position P2 'and the upper limit position P2 during low tide. .

  In the example shown in FIG. 1, the gate operation mechanism includes an elongated gate presser plate Gp extending along the displacement direction (vertical direction) of the bucket B, and the bucket B reaches the maximum at the time of low tide from the lower limit position P1. In the process of ascending to the position P2 ', the gate retainer plate Gp presses the gate Bg against the bucket to keep the drain port Bb closed, and the bucket B rises to the highest position P2' at the time of low tide. The gate Bg is sometimes opened. When the gate Bg is released from the restraint by the gate presser plate Gp, the gate Bg is rotated to the open position side by the water pressure received from the seawater in the bucket B to open the drain port Bb.

  In the process that each bucket descends toward the lower limit position, it can be in a state where a specified amount of seawater is accommodated in each bucket until it reaches the minimum arrival position at the time of high tide at low tide. Set the lower limit position of each bucket. That is, when the bucket B reaches the minimum position at the time of high tide at the time of low tide in the process of descending toward the lower limit position, at least a part of the bucket B is submerged in seawater, The lower limit position P1 of the bucket is set so that the amount of seawater flowing into the bucket from the water intake Ba at the bottom of B becomes a specified amount.

  In addition, the mass of the float F is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket B in which the displacement is to be transmitted with the maximum amount of seawater inside (the state where seawater is contained up to the upper end of the bucket B). Keep it.

  In the method of the present invention, the process of lowering the bucket B toward the lower limit position P1 during rising tide and accommodating seawater in the bucket, and the displacement of the float F during lower tide are transmitted to each bucket to accommodate seawater inside. The bucket ascending process for raising each bucket B from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position, and when each bucket is in the section between the highest arrival position P2 'and the upper limit position P2 at the time of low tide at low tide The seawater transfer process in which each bucket is kept in a horizontal state, or one end of each bucket on the drain outlet side is kept lower than the other end to transfer the seawater in each bucket into the water storage tank WT, and When requested, a process of generating power by discharging seawater in the water storage tank WT and driving a turbine generator is performed.

  In carrying out the power generation method of the present invention, the capacity of the water storage tank WT is determined, the drop Δh necessary to cause power generation is determined, and the turbine generator WG is higher than the sea level even at high tide at the time of a high tide. The height of the water storage tank WT is determined so as to be arranged at the position. In order to be able to pump water into the water storage tank WT even at low tide, the drain B B of the bucket B is connected to the water storage tank WT with the bucket rising to the highest position P2 ′ at low tide at low tide. The maximum reach position P2 'of the bucket at the time of the low tide is determined so that the position is higher than the upper end of the inside, and the displacement amount of the float F at the time of the low tide (tide level difference) Float F so that the bucket B can reach the highest position P2 ′ by Δy (the position where the height of the drainage outlet of the bucket reaches the height at which the drainage from the drainage outlet can be drained). The displacement enlargement ratio n when the displacement is transmitted from the bucket to the bucket B is determined. As a result, the upper limit position P2 of the bucket (the highest position reached during the spring tide) P2 is determined.

  As described above, in the present invention, during the rising tide, the bucket is lowered toward the lower limit position so that seawater is accommodated in the bucket by the time of high tide, and the displacement of the float F at the time of the lower tide is expanded to increase the bucket B The water is stored in the water storage tank by raising the bucket in which the seawater is contained toward the upper limit position. Since the tides are performed in a cycle of about half a day (twice a day), pumping to the water storage tank WT can be performed twice a day.

  According to the power generation method of the present invention, seawater is pumped into a water tank using tidal energy, which can be called infinite energy, without using electric power obtained by burning fossil fuel, and the seawater in the water tank is Since power generation is performed by supplying the turbine generator, it is possible to meet the demand for reducing the amount of carbon dioxide emissions.

  Further, in the present invention, pumping is performed by utilizing the tide phenomenon that occurs every day, and the pumped water can be discharged when necessary, such as at the peak of power demand, so that power generation can be performed. Unlike wind power generation or solar power generation that can generate power only during sunshine, it is possible to provide highly reliable power supply by providing accurate predictability to the timing and amount of power supply. .

  Furthermore, according to the power generation method of the present invention, since the water tank can be installed on the sea, it is possible to construct a power plant without damming the estuary or harming the housing environment, and useless with residents. A power plant can be constructed without causing any trouble.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 2 thru | or 8, one Embodiment of the electric power generating apparatus which implements the tidal energy utilization hydroelectric power generation method of this invention is described. FIG. 2 is a side view schematically showing a configuration example of the displacement transmission mechanism and the bucket support mechanism of the power generation device of this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a part of the bucket together with its guide mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a top view showing the bucket together with the guide mechanism. FIG. It is the front view which showed the state which reached the highest arrival position at the time of the low tide at the time of a low tide, and the gate of the bucket opened the drain outlet partially. 7 is a top view of the power generator according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG.

  In FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 is a rectangular platform installed at a position higher than the sea level S1 at the time of high tide during high tide so that the tip thereof does not sink into the sea even during rising tide during high tide. The illustrated platform 1 is supported on a base 3 installed on the seabed by four support columns 2 arranged so as to be positioned at the four corners, respectively. A base frame 4 is fixed to the lower part of the column 2. Between the platform 1 and the base frame 4, there is disposed a float F that floats on the sea surface and moves up and down following the displacement of the sea surface caused by tides.

  5 is a steel tower that is arranged on the side of the platform 1 and supports one bucket B. The steel tower 5 is arranged at four corners of a rectangle and has four columns 501 each having a lower end fixed to the base 3; A plurality of struts 501 including an appropriate number of struts 501 arranged along the long side of the rectangle and the top ends of the series of struts 501 are arranged along the long side of the rectangle. , A beam 503 that connects the lower ends of the series of columns 501, and an appropriate number of reinforcing beams that are arranged in the middle of the column 501 in the vertical direction and connect adjacent columns (not shown). ). The steel tower 5 is configured so that one bucket B can be arranged inside thereof. The platform 1 and the steel tower 5 are configured to have substantially equal lengths (dimensions measured in the longitudinal direction of the bucket B), and are arranged so as to be aligned in the width direction of the bucket B.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the column 501 is made of a channel material having a U-shaped cross section (U-shaped), and the opposed surfaces 501 a and 501 a and the bottom surface 501 b of the inner groove are formed in the bucket B. It is a guide surface that guides.

  The bucket B is a rectangular parallelepiped box having four side walls and a bottom wall, and a plurality of water intakes Ba are provided on the bottom wall. On the inner side of the bottom wall portion of the bucket B, a closed position that fits each intake port and closes the intake port, and a closed position that leaves the intake port Ba and opens the intake port A check valve Bv having a plate-like valve body that pivots between the two is attached via a hinge. The check valve Bv is displaced toward the closed position by the water pressure received from the seawater in the bucket, and is displaced toward the open position by the water pressure received from the seawater outside the bucket. A filter Bf is attached to the water intake Ba to prevent dust or shellfish from entering the bucket. Further, the check valve Bv is rotated by a stopper (not shown) to the open side so that the intake port Ba is automatically displaced in a direction to close the intake port when water intake is completed and water stops flowing through the intake port Ba. The movement range is limited.

  A drainage cylinder having a rectangular cross section inside the side wall of one end in the length direction of bucket B (the left end in FIG. 4) and tapering outwardly from the inside of the bucket toward the outside. The portion Bd is provided integrally with the side wall portion, and a drain outlet Bb is formed inside the drainage cylinder portion Bd. In the present embodiment, the drainage cylinder Bd is provided so that the opening of the drainage port Bb occupies substantially the entire lower half of the side surface on one end side of the bucket B.

  The gate Bg for opening and closing the drain port has a plug body Bg1 whose outer surface is tapered so that it can be fitted in the drain port Bb, and a peripheral portion projecting from the peripheral part of the plug body Bg1. The upper end of the hook plate Bg2 is coupled to the upper portion of the bucket B via a rotating shaft Bs extending in the width direction of the bucket. The gate Bg has a closed position (position shown in FIG. 4) in which the plug Bg1 is fitted in the drain Bb and keeps the drain Bb closed, and the plug Bg1 is connected to the drain Bb. It is provided so that it can be rotated between the open position (the position shown in FIG. 6) in which the drain port Bb is opened by being separated from the position.

  A plurality of guide rollers Br are supported on the outer surface of the side wall portion of the bucket 52 so as to face the grooves of the columns 501, and these guide rollers are inserted into the grooves of the corresponding columns 501 to roll on the guide surface 501 b. By moving, the bucket B is guided so as to be displaced in the vertical direction while being allowed to tilt slightly.

  The steel tower 5 also supports a pair of gate pressing plates Gp and Gp extending in parallel in the vertical direction with a gap in the width direction of the bucket via a support member 505 (see FIG. 6). Roller holding portions Bg2a and Bg2a extending to the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the bucket along the side surfaces at both ends in the width direction of the bucket B are provided at both ends in the width direction of the flange Bg2 of the gate Bg of the bucket (see FIG. 5) Are integrally provided, and cam rollers Bcm and Bcm are attached to these roller holding portions. The cam rollers Bcm and Bcm are supported so as to be able to rotate around a rotation shaft extending in the width direction of the bucket, and the gate presser plate is in a state where the portions near the outer periphery protrude forward from the front surface of the gate Bg. It contacts Gp and Gp.

  In order to allow the opening of the drain outlet of the bucket B to approach the water storage tank WT, the gate pressing plates Gp and Gp are in contact with the cam rollers Bcm and Bcm, respectively, but are not in contact with the gate Bg. Is provided. The gate pressing plates Gp and Gp are provided so as to extend from near the lower limit position of the bucket to the vicinity of the highest arrival position P2 'at the time of low tide at the time of low tide, and at each upper end, cam rollers Bcm and Bcm Curved portions Gp1 and Gp1 (see FIGS. 4 and 6) are provided so as to be separated from each other. The portions other than the curved portion of the gate pressing plate Gp are formed so that the surface facing the cam roller Bcm forms a flat vertical surface, and the cam roller Bcm attached to the gate Bg contacts the vertical surface of the gate pressing plate Gp. While in contact, the gate Bg is fitted into the drainage port Bb of the bucket and the drainage port is held in a closed state.

  Each bucket drain port is at least higher than the lowest arrival position P1 'at the time of rising tide during low tide and lower than the highest arrival position P2' at the time of lower tide during low tide. Bb is kept closed so that each bucket B is opened when the bucket B is in the section between the highest reached position P2 'and the upper limit position P2 at the time of low tide. Further, a position where the bending is started so that the bending portion Gp1 at the upper end of the gate pressing plate Gp is separated from the cam roller is set. In the present embodiment, a gate operation mechanism that operates the gate of each bucket is configured by the gate pressing plate Gp and the cam roller Bcm.

  In order to ensure that the drain outlet Bb is closed when the gate Bg is in the closed position, a packing Bgp is wrapped around the outer periphery of the plug body Bg1 of the gate Bg, and when the gate Bg is in the closed position, the plug is closed. It is preferable that the packing Bgp is interposed between the body Bg1 and the inner surface of the drain Bb.

  The float F has a sufficiently large mass, has a hollow portion, and is configured to float on the sea surface by buoyancy received from seawater. The upper end of the float F may be open, but it is preferable to have a structure in which the hollow portion is sealed in order to prevent seawater or rainwater from entering the float F. The shape of the float F is arbitrary, but the illustrated float F has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and has a structure in which the hollow portion inside is completely sealed.

  The illustrated float F has holes Fa through which the pillars 3 supporting the platform 1 are loosely penetrated. The float F is guided by the pillars 5 below the platform 1 and is displaced upward and downward along the sea level. It is done.

  In the platform 1, a plurality of rotating shafts 11 arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) of the bucket B disposed inside the steel tower 5 and guided so as to be displaced in the vertical direction. , 11,... Are supported independently, and an upper sprocket wheel 12 and a winch 13 are attached to each rotating shaft 11. A rotating shaft 15 corresponding to each rotating shaft 11 is rotatably supported on a base frame 4 disposed below the platform 1, and a lower sprocket wheel 16 is attached to each rotating shaft 15.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a large-diameter chain insertion hole Fb and a small-diameter chain insertion hole Fc are provided in a state of vertically penetrating the float F, and a chain 17 passed through these chain insertion holes. Is suspended over each upper sprocket wheel 12 and lower sprocket wheel 16.

  One chain insertion hole Fb has an inner diameter large enough to allow the chain 17 to pass through loosely so as not to restrain the chain 17, and the other chain insertion hole Fc has a smaller diameter than the one chain insertion hole Fb. Is formed. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, chain fixing plates 18 and 19 are fixed to the portions of the chain 17 protruding from the upper end and the lower end of the chain insertion hole Fc, respectively. Are brought into contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the float F, whereby the chain 17 is connected to the float F. The chain fixing plates 18 and 19 constitute a connecting portion that connects the chain 17 and the float F.

  Since the float F is connected to each chain 17 as described above, when the float F is displaced downward during the lower tide, each chain 17 is displaced in one direction, and each upper sprocket wheel 12 and winch 13 are moved to one side. When the float F is displaced upward during the rising tide, each chain 17 is displaced in the other direction to rotate each upper sprocket wheel 12 and winch 13 to the other side.

  Two upper pulleys 20 and 21 are disposed obliquely above each winch 13 and higher than the upper limit position P 2 of the bucket B, and an intermediate pulley 22 is disposed between the upper pulley 20 and the winch 13. The two upper pulleys 20 and 21 are arranged in the width direction of the bucket B and the brackets are attached to the upper end of the steel tower 5 with the central axes of the respective rotating shafts oriented in the same direction as the central axis of the rotating shaft 11. It is rotatably supported through 23 and 24. The intermediate pulley 22 is rotatably supported on the side of the steel tower 5 via a bracket 25.

  A wire rope 30 having one end fixed to the winch is wound around each winch 13, and the wire rope 30 unwound from each winch 13 is hooked on the upper pulleys 20 and 21 via the intermediate pulley 22. The other end of each wire rope 30 hanging from the pulley 21 on the side close to the center in the width direction of the bucket B is connected to the upper end of the bucket B via the connecting member 31, so that a plurality of buckets B are provided. The wire rope 30 is supported in a suspended state. In the illustrated example, the position of the upper pulley 21 is such that the other end of each wire rope 30 hanging from the upper pulley 21 on the side close to the central portion in the width direction of the bucket B is positioned at the center in the width direction of the bucket B. Is stipulated.

  In this embodiment, the wire rope 30 is unwound from the winch 13 when the float F rises, and the bucket B descends toward the lower limit position due to its own weight, and the wire rope 30 moves to the winch 13 when the float B descends. The winding direction of the wire lobe 30 around the winch 13 is set so that the bucket B is lifted up. Therefore, at the time of rising tide, the bucket B descends from the upper limit position P2 side toward the lower limit position P1, and at the time of lowering tide, the bucket B rises from the lower limit position P1 side toward the upper limit position P2.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the outer diameter of each winch 13 is set to n times (n> 1) or more of the outer diameter of the upper sprocket wheel 12, and the displacement of the float F is increased to n times or more, so that the bucket B It is to be transmitted to each part. That is, each part of the bucket B is configured to rise by n × Y [m] or more while the float F is displaced downward by Y [m] at the time of lower tide.

  In the illustrated example, among the series of winches 13, 13,... Arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the bucket B, the winch 13 at the endmost part disposed on the side closest to the drain outlet Bb of the bucket B. Is set to n times the outer diameter of the sprocket wheel 12, and the diameter of the other winch 13 is closer to the drain outlet as the winch is located farther from the winch 13 at the end. It is set so as to be slightly larger than the adjacent winches arranged. That is, the outer diameter r1 of the winch 13 at the left end in FIG. 3 is set to n times the outer diameter of the sprocket wheel 12, and the outer diameter r2 of the winch 13 second from the left end is slightly larger than the outer diameter r1. The outer diameter rk of the kth winch 13 from the left end is set larger by Δr than the outer diameter rk-1 of the k−1th winch. Thereby, the displacement of the float is transmitted to one end on the drain outlet side of the bucket while being enlarged n times, and the displacement of the float is enlarged and transmitted to the other end side of the bucket at a magnification larger than n times. As shown in FIG. 3, as shown in FIG. 3, the end portion on the drain outlet side until the bucket B that has been raised along with the lowering of the float F reaches the highest reach position at the time of low tide. Is tilted by a predetermined angle so that it is lower than the end opposite to the drain port.

  A plurality of rotating shafts 11, upper sprocket wheels 12, winches 13, sprocket wheels 16, chains 17, pulleys 20 to 22, and wires 30 constitute a displacement expansion transmission mechanism. Yes. Further, the platform 1 and members such as the rotary shaft 11, sprocket wheel 12, and winch 13 supported by the platform, the float F, the chain 17, the wire rope 30, the pulleys 20 to 22, and the bucket B are supported. The steel tower 5 and the gate presser plate Gp constitute a pumping device 40 that converts the displacement of the float F accompanying the tides into the displacement of the bucket B and pumps seawater into the water storage tank WT.

  In the present embodiment, when there is no change in the tide level, the sum of the buoyancy acting on the float F and the force acting on the float F from the bucket B side through the wire rope 30 or the like (force for pulling the float upward) is , Balanced with the gravity caused by the mass of the float F. In this state, the lower tide is started and the buoyancy of the float decreases when the sea level drops. Since the balance of the force is lost as much as the buoyancy of the float F decreases, the float F descends so as to balance the sum of the buoyancy and the force acting from the bucket B side and the gravity generated by the mass of the float F. I will do it. In this way, the float F descends following the decrease in the sea level. Since the displacement of the float F is enlarged and transmitted to the bucket B, the bucket B rises toward the upper limit position P2. When the bucket B reaches the maximum arrival position at the time of low tide at the time of low tide, the gate pressure plate Gp releases the restraint of the gate Bg of the bucket B, so that the gate Bg is shown in FIG. 6 by the water pressure acting from the seawater in the bucket. In this way, it is rotated to the open position, the drain opening is opened, and the seawater in the bucket B is transferred to the water storage tank WT.

  In the present embodiment, since the bucket is inclined so that one end on the drain outlet side is lower than the other end until the bucket reaches the maximum reaching position at the time of low tide at the time of low tide, The seawater can be smoothly transferred to the water, and the amount of seawater remaining in the bucket can be reduced.

  At the time of rising tide, the float sinks instantaneously due to the rise in the sea level, so the amount of seawater discharged by the float increases and the buoyancy of the float F increases. Since the balance of gravity is lost by the amount of increase in the buoyancy of the float, the bucket B descends and raises the float, thereby reducing the amount of seawater discharged by the float and balancing the weight. In this way, the float F rises following the sea level rise, and the bucket B descends toward the lower limit position. When the bucket B approaches the arrival position at high tide, the bucket B sinks into the seawater, and the seawater flows into the bucket B from the intake port Ba. A predetermined amount of seawater is accommodated in the bucket until the bucket B reaches the lowest arrival position at the time of high tide at low tide.

  When there is a request to perform power generation in a state where a predetermined amount or more of seawater is stored in the water storage tank WT, the valve device V is opened and the seawater in the water storage tank is dropped through the water pressure line WP. The machine WG is driven to generate power.

  Like the above embodiment, a plurality of sets of elements such as the rotating shaft 11, the upper sprocket wheel 12, the winch 13, and the wire 30 constituting the displacement expansion transmission mechanism of the pumping device are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bucket, and the bucket B is provided. When suspended by a plurality of wires, the load on each element is reduced, so that the strength design of the displacement expansion transmission mechanism can be facilitated. In addition, by changing the diameter of the plurality of winches so that the displacement transmitted to the other end side is larger than the displacement transmitted to one end side of the bucket drain port from the float, the drain port of the bucket The bucket can be lifted in an inclined state so that one end of the side becomes lower than the other end side.

  In the power generator according to the present invention, the water storage tank WT preferably has a capacity as large as possible, for example, a capacity capable of storing seawater of 300,000 tons or more. For example, such a water storage tank has a large size such that width dimension × depth dimension × depth is 500 [m] × 500 [m] × X [m] (X ≧ 1.2). In this case, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a large number of water pumps 40 including a tower 5 that guides the bucket B, the platform 1, members supported by the platform 1, and float F are provided around the water storage tank WT. It is possible to take a configuration in which they are arranged side by side. In FIG. 7, reference numeral 41 denotes a water inlet that guides seawater to a hydraulic line that causes seawater to fall to the turbine generator. The bottom surface of the water storage tank is inclined so that the portion of the water inlet 41 is lowest.

  When the configuration shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is adopted, a series of floats of a series of pumping devices 40, 40,... You may make it transmit to the bucket B of this water pump. In this case, the mass of the common float is set sufficiently larger than n times the total mass of the series of buckets when the maximum amount of seawater is accommodated in the series of buckets B to which the displacement is to be transmitted. Each bucket can be raised to the upper limit position.

  In addition, when the number of pumping devices is insufficient only by arranging the pumping devices 40 around the water storage tank WT as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. A number of intake grooves 42, 42,... Connected to the tank may be provided, and the pumping device 40 may be disposed on both sides of each intake groove.

  In each of the above embodiments, the water tank is installed on the sea. However, if the site can be secured on the ground near the sea, the water tank can be installed on the ground. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the intake groove 43 having one end connected to the water storage tank WT may be extended to the sea, and the pumping devices 40 may be arranged side by side on both sides of the intake groove 42. .

  In the present invention, the material constituting the water tank WT is arbitrary, but when the water tank is installed on the sea, the water tank is formed of a transparent or translucent fiber reinforced plastic, and the sea under the water tank is formed. It is preferable that the solar light is irradiated to some extent.

  11 and 12 show a modified example of the gate for opening and closing the drain outlet of the bucket. In this example, a blade Bgw having a relatively large mass is attached to the end face of the plug Bg1 of the gate Bg. It has been. When the wing is attached to the gate plug in this way, when the gate Bg is opened, the water flow ejected from the bucket hits the wing Bgw and pushes up the gate Bg, so that the gate Bg can be opened smoothly and reliably. Can do. In addition, when the water in the bucket decreases and the momentum of the water flowing out through the drain port Bb becomes weak, the gate Bg can be held in a half-open state by the mass of the blade Bgw. Can be surely done.

  In the above embodiment, the bucket B has the intake port Ba at the lower part, but the intake port is abolished and the drain port Bb provided at the lower part of the side wall is used as an intake / exhaust port for both water and drainage. Anyway. In this case, the gate presser plate Gp is not provided at a position below the minimum arrival position P1 ′ at the time of rising tide during the low tide of the bucket, and at a position below the vicinity of the minimum arrival position P1 ′. When the cam plate cooperating with the cam roller Bcm is fixed from the opposite side of the gate presser plate Gp, and each bucket B is between the lowest reaching position P1 'and the lower limit position P1 at the time of rising tide at low tide In addition, by pushing the cam roller Bcm with the cam plate, the gate Bg is separated from the intake / exhaust port Bb, and the intake / exhaust port Bb is opened.

  That is, the tidal energy-utilizing hydroelectric power generation apparatus that implements the power generation method of the present invention has at least one float F that moves up and down following changes in the tide level, and an intake / exhaust port that is closed by an openable / closable gate Bg (the drainage of the above embodiment). The lower limit position is set so as to hold a state in which seawater is accommodated while the intake / exhaust port is closed by the gate Bg. And an upper limit position set at a position higher than the lower limit position by a distance set to n (n> 1) times or more of the maximum displacement amount of the float generated during a spring tide. 1 or more of the buckets B and the displacement of any float caused by the change of the tide level is increased by n times or more in order to raise each bucket from the lower limit position P1 side toward the upper limit position P2 at the time of lower tide. Displacement expansion transmission mechanism configured to transmit to each bucket and allow each bucket to descend from the upper limit position to the lower limit position with the displacement of the float F at the time of rising tide, and the rising tide when each bucket B is at a low tide When it is between the lowest reach position P1 'and the lower limit position P1, the intake / exhaust port Bb is opened as shown by the chain line at the bottom of FIG. 6, and the lowest reach position P1 at the time of rising tide when each bucket is at low tide The bucket inlet / outlet is kept closed while it is higher than ′ and lower than the highest arrival position P2 ′ at low tide at low tide, and the maximum at low tide at low tide when each bucket B is kept closed As shown by the solid line in the upper part of FIG. 6 when in the section between the reaching position P1 ′ and the upper limit position P2, the gate that operates the gate of each bucket so as to open the inlet / outlet of each bucket Operating mechanism and high tide at the time of high tide The sea level is higher than the sea level, and it is installed at a height that can accept the seawater discharged from the intake and outlet of each bucket when each bucket is at the highest reaching position P2 'at the time of low tide at low tide. A water flow is generated through the water storage tank WT, a water turbine generator WG installed at a position lower than the water storage tank, a water pressure pipe WP for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the water turbine generator WG, and a water pressure pipe. It can also be set as the structure provided with the valve apparatus V which switches a state and the state which interrupts | blocks this water flow.

  Also in this case, when each bucket reaches the minimum reaching position at the time of rising tide at the time of low tide, the water level of the seawater flowing into each bucket from the bucket inlet / outlet reaches the specified level of the water level in each bucket. The lower limit position of each bucket is set, and the mass of the float F is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which the displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater is accommodated therein. This is the same as the embodiment.

  As described above, when an intake / exhaust port that serves as both a water intake port and a water discharge port is provided at the lower part of the bucket, seawater is not removed in the process of raising the bucket toward the upper limit position by removing the water intake port at the bottom. Since only the intake and exhaust ports can be sealed in order to prevent leakage, the state in which seawater is contained in the bucket can be easily maintained in the process of raising the bucket toward the upper limit position.

  As shown in the above embodiment, with the bucket B raised to the highest position at the time of low tide at low tide, the bucket was inclined so that one end on the drain outlet side of the bucket was lower than the other end. However, in the present invention, when the bucket is between the highest position at the time of low tide at the time of low tide and the upper limit position, the bucket is kept almost horizontal or the drain of the bucket It is only necessary to keep the bucket inclined such that one end on the side is lower than the other end, and the method of transmitting the displacement to the bucket is not limited to the above example. For example, all the outer diameters of the series of winches 13 arranged in the longitudinal direction of the bucket may be set to n times the outer diameter of the sprocket wheel, and the bucket B may be raised while maintaining a horizontal posture. In this case, when manufacturing the bucket B, it is preferable that the bottom inner surface of the bucket B is inclined downward toward the drain outlet Bb.

  In the above embodiment, the float displacement is transmitted to the bucket B using the winch 13, but the rotation of the rotary shaft 11 is expanded to the bucket by using another mechanism such as a chain sprocket mechanism instead of the winch. By transmitting, the bucket may be raised and lowered according to the lowering and raising of the float.

  In the above embodiment, by setting the outer diameter of the winch 13 to be n times the outer diameter of the upper sprocket wheel 12, the displacement of the float is increased to n times and transmitted to the bucket. The mechanism for enlarging the displacement and transmitting it to the bucket is not limited to that shown in the above embodiment. For example, a gear speed increasing mechanism may be provided between the upper sprocket wheel 12 and the winch 13, and the displacement of the float may be enlarged n times and transmitted to the bucket.

  Since the bucket B becomes large, it is preferable that the bucket B has a sufficient strength so that a large deflection does not occur. In order to give strength to the bucket, for example, the inside of the bucket may be partitioned by a number of partition walls, and a number of rooms having lower portions connected to each other may be formed in the bucket. In this case, if the cross-sectional shape of each room formed in the bucket is a hexagon and the bucket has a honeycomb structure, the strength of the bucket can be further improved.

It is the block diagram which showed schematically the structure of the electric power generating apparatus which implements the electric power generation method concerning this invention. It is the side view which showed schematically the example of a structure of the displacement transmission mechanism of the electric power generating apparatus of this embodiment, and the support mechanism of a bucket. It is the block diagram which showed the structure of the principal part of the electric power generating apparatus of this embodiment seeing from the left side of FIG. It is the front view which showed the principal part of the bucket used by this embodiment partially in cross section with the guide mechanism. It is the bottom view which showed the principal part of the bucket used by this embodiment with the guide mechanism. In this embodiment, it is the front view which partially showed the state where the bucket reached the highest arrival position at the time of low tide and the gate of the bucket opened the drainage port. It is a top view of the power generator of this embodiment. It is the IIX-IIX sectional view taken on the line of FIG. It is the top view which showed other embodiment of the electric power generating apparatus concerning this invention. It is the top view which showed other embodiment of the electric power generating apparatus concerning this invention. It is sectional drawing which showed the principal part of the modification of the gate which opens and closes the drain port of the bucket used in embodiment shown in FIG. 1 thru | or FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a modified example of a gate for opening and closing a drain outlet of a bucket used in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 along a horizontal plane.

Explanation of symbols

1 platform 2 support 3 base 4 base frame 5 steel tower B bucket Ba intake port Bb drain port Bg gate Bv check valve F float Gp gate presser plate WT water storage tank WG turbine generator V valve device

Claims (6)

In a tidal energy hydroelectric power generation method that uses tidal energy to generate power,
A water tank installed higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of high tide, a float that floats on the sea surface and goes up and down with the tides, and a set lower limit position and a position higher than the water tank A bucket supported so as to be able to displace between a set upper limit position, and a displacement expansion transmission that raises the bucket toward the upper limit position by enlarging the displacement of the float and transmitting it to the bucket With a mechanism,
The process of lowering the bucket as the float rises during rising tide, sinking at least a portion of the bucket into the sea by the time of high tide and containing seawater in the bucket, and lowering the float during low tide The seawater is stored in the water storage tank by performing the process of moving the seawater in the bucket to the water storage tank when the bucket is raised along with the bucket reaching the highest reached position at low tide,
Causing power generation by dropping seawater in the water tank and driving a turbine generator when necessary,
A hydroelectric power generation method using tidal energy. In a tidal energy hydroelectric power generation method that uses tidal energy to generate power,
At least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level, and is configured to be able to accommodate seawater inside, with a lower limit position and at least n (n> 1) times the maximum displacement of the float that occurs during a spring tide One or more buckets supported so as to be able to displace between the upper limit position set higher than the lower limit position by the distance set in (1) and each bucket toward the upper limit position from the lower limit position side at the time of lower tide To increase the displacement at the time of lower tide of any float to increase to n times or more and transmit it to each bucket, and at a position higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of high tide, and A water tank installed at a height that can receive seawater discharged from each bucket when the bucket is at the highest position at low tide at low tide, and a water tank installed at a position lower than the water tank. It provided a hydraulic turbine generator for power generation by being driven by the seawater discharged from the water tank,
In the process that each bucket descends toward the lower limit position, it can be in a state where a specified amount of seawater is accommodated in each bucket until it reaches the minimum arrival position at the time of high tide at low tide. Set the lower limit position of each bucket,
The mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which the displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater is accommodated therein,
A process of lowering the bucket toward the lower limit position during rising tide and containing seawater in the bucket;
A bucket ascending process for transmitting the displacement of the float at the time of lower tide to each bucket and raising each bucket containing seawater from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position;
A seawater transfer process in which seawater in each bucket is transferred into the water tank when each bucket is in a section between the highest position at the time of low tide and the upper limit position;
A process of generating power by driving the water turbine generator by discharging seawater in the water tank when there is a request for power generation;
A tidal energy hydroelectric power generation method characterized by In a tidal energy hydroelectric generator that uses tidal energy to generate electricity,
A water tank installed higher than the sea level at the time of high tide at the time of a high tide,
A float that floats on the surface of the sea and goes up and down with the tides,
A bucket supported so as to be able to displace between a set lower limit position and an upper limit position set at a position higher than the water tank;
A displacement enlargement transmission mechanism for raising the bucket to the upper limit position by enlarging the displacement of the float and transmitting it to the bucket;
A turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank;
A hydraulic line for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the turbine generator;
A valve device for switching between a state in which a water flow is generated through the water pressure line and a state in which the water flow is blocked;
Comprising
In the process of lowering the bucket as the float rises at rising tide, at least a part of the bucket is submerged in the sea by the time of high tide, and seawater is accommodated in the bucket. The seawater in the bucket is configured to be transferred to the water tank in the process of raising the bucket along with
A tidal energy hydroelectric generator characterized by In a tidal energy hydroelectric generator that uses tidal energy to generate electricity,
At least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level;
In addition to having a water intake with a check valve at the bottom, the side wall has a water discharge port that is closed by a gate that can be opened and closed, and the seawater taken from the water intake port is kept inside while the water discharge port is closed by the gate. It is configured to hold the housed state, and is higher than the lower limit position by a set lower limit position and a distance set to n (n> 1) times or more of the maximum displacement of the float that occurs at the time of spring tide One or more buckets supported so as to be displaceable between an upper limit position set for the position;
In order to raise each bucket from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position at the time of lower tide, the displacement of any float that occurs due to the change in tide level is expanded to n times or more and transmitted to each bucket. A displacement expansion transmission mechanism configured to allow each bucket to descend from the upper limit position to the lower limit position along with,
The bucket outlets are kept closed while each bucket is at least higher than the lowest reached position during high tide during low tide and lower than the highest reached position during low tide during low tide. Gate operation to operate each bucket gate so that each bucket drain is opened when each bucket is in the section between the highest reached position at low tide during low tide and the upper limit position Mechanism,
Height that can accept seawater discharged from the drain outlet of each bucket when it is higher than the sea level at the time of high tide during high tide and each bucket is at the highest position at the time of low tide during low tide A water tank installed at the position of
A turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank;
A hydraulic line for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the turbine generator;
A valve device that switches between a state in which a water flow is generated through the water pressure line and a state in which the water flow is blocked;
The lower limit position of each bucket so that the water level of the seawater that flows into each bucket from the intake port of each bucket reaches the specified level of the water level in each bucket when each bucket reaches the lowest reached position at high tide at low tide Is set,
The mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which the displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater in the bucket.
A tidal energy hydroelectric generator characterized by In a tidal energy hydroelectric generator that uses tidal energy to generate electricity,
At least one float that moves up and down following changes in the tide level;
It has a suction port that is closed by an openable and closable gate in the side wall portion, and is configured to hold a state in which seawater is accommodated while the suction and discharge port is closed by the gate. It is supported so that it can be displaced between an upper limit position set higher than the lower limit position by a distance set to n (n> 1) times or more of the maximum displacement amount of the float that occurs during a spring tide. One or more buckets,
In order to raise each bucket from the lower limit position side toward the upper limit position at the time of lower tide, the displacement of any float that occurs due to the change in tide level is expanded to n times or more and transmitted to each bucket. A displacement expansion transmission mechanism configured to allow each bucket to descend from the upper limit position to the lower limit position along with,
When each bucket is between the lowest reached position at the time of rising tide at the time of low tide and the lower limit position, the intake / exhaust port is opened, each bucket is higher than the lowest reached position at the time of rising tide at the time of low tide, and Hold the intake and outlet of each bucket closed while it is lower than the highest reached position at the time of low tide, and the interval between the highest reached position at the time of low tide and the upper limit position when each bucket is at low tide A gate operation mechanism that operates the gate of each bucket so that the suction port of each bucket is open when
Height that can accept seawater discharged from the intake and outlet of each bucket when it is higher than the sea level at high tide during high tide and when each bucket is at the highest reached position during low tide during low tide A water tank installed at the position of
A turbine generator installed at a position lower than the water tank;
A hydraulic line for flowing seawater in the water tank toward the turbine generator;
A valve device that switches between a state in which a water flow is generated through the water pressure line and a state in which the water flow is blocked;
The lower limit of each bucket is such that the water level of the seawater that flows into each bucket from the inlet / outlet of each bucket reaches the specified level of the water level in each bucket when each bucket reaches the lowest reached position during the rising tide at low tide. Position is set,
The mass of the float is set to be larger than n times the total mass of the bucket in which displacement is to be transmitted and the maximum amount of seawater contained therein,
A tidal energy hydroelectric generator characterized by A platform fixed to the sea floor is installed at a position higher than the upper end position of the float at the time of high tide at the time of high tide,
The displacement expansion transmission mechanism is
A rotating shaft rotatably supported on the platform;
The upper sprocket wheel attached to the rotating shaft, the lower sprocket wheel rotatably supported by a base frame disposed below the platform, and the upper sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel are stretched over the upper sprocket wheel. A chain in which one of two portions extending vertically between the sprocket wheel and the lower sprocket wheel is coupled to the float;
A winch attached to the rotating shaft;
A pulley installed above the winch and at a position higher than the upper limit position of the bucket;
A wire rope having one end fixed to the winch and wound around the winch or unwound from the winch;
Multiple for each bucket,
The wire rope unwound from the winch is hooked on a pulley above the winch, and the other end of the wire rope hanging from the pulley is connected to the bucket, so that the bucket is suspended by the wire rope. Put down,
The winding direction of the wire lobe around the winch is set so that the bucket descends when the float rises and the bucket rises when the float descends,
The outer diameter of the winch is set to n times or more of the effective diameter of the upper sprocket wheel;
The tidal energy utilization hydroelectric generator according to claim 3, 4 or 5.

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