Openhydro IP Limited

Openhydro Group Limited

Other

Openhydro IP Liminted

James Ives

Paul Dunne

Edward Spooner

Simon Cawthorne

David Taaffe

Nick Murphy

The present invention relates to a hydroelectric turbine recovery system, and in particular a system which significantly reduces the complexity of recovering a base mounted hydroelectric turbine from a deployment site on the seabed by providing a frame having an open mouth which can be advanced around the turbine before the frame is fully lowered into locking engagement with the base, thereby allowing the base, with the turbine thereon, to be recovered from the seabed.

Hydroelectric turbine recovery system and a method therefor

The present invention is concerned with a method of transporting a hydroelectric turbine system, and a vessel suitable for use in implementing said method, whereby the vessel comprises a raised or raisable section, which enables the vessel to pass over a portion of a base of the hydroelectric turbine system, when located in a flooded dry dock, which portion of the base projects above the water line in the dock.

Method of transporting a hydroelectric turbine system

The present invention provides a method for installing a hydroelectric turbine at a deployment site on the seabed which involves lowering the turbine and associated base onto the seabed from a vessel using a number of lines, and once on the seabed using these lines to tether the vessel to the base/turbine while telemetry from the base/turbine is analyzed.

Method of installing a hydroelectric turbine

The present invention provides a hydroelectric turbine system comprising an array of turbines in series and a cabling system for use in connecting together adjacent turbines in the array, the cabling system being designed to allow the majority of the cabling connecting adjacent turbines to be laid substantially in line with the direction of tidal flow in order to reduce stress on the cabling system when the turbines are deployed on the seabed at sites of high tidal flow.

Hydroelectric turbine cabling system

A method of testing a hydroelectric turbine before the turbine is installed and secured on the seabed, in order to ensure that the turbine is operating as expected, the method involving securing the turbine to a vessel and displacing the vessel through water in order to effect rotation while monitoring one or more operating parameters of the turbine.

Hydroelectric turbine testing method

A method of installing an off-shore tidal hydroelectric turbine generator is described. The method provides for a number of safety features, ensuring that all components are safe to handle during the installation operation, and also ensuring that the turbine will not start spinning during the installation operation.

Method of installing a hydroelectric turbine generator

The present invention provides provided a hydroelectric turbine having a stator and a rotor, an array of magnets being fixed to rotor and a corresponding array of coils being fixed to the stator, the turbine further including means for cooling the coils during operation of the turbine, the cooling means preferably taking the form of one or more channels passing through the stator, in close proximity to the coils, in order to allow fluid flow through the channels to cool the coils.

Hydroelectric turbine with coil cooling

There is described a method for controlling the output of a tidal hydroelectric turbine generator from a remote location, with the need for control circuitry to be housed local to the generator. The rotational speed of the turbine, and consequently the output power level of the generator, is controlled by varying the transmission line voltage of the submarine power cable connecting the off-shore turbine with an on-shore substation.

Enhanced method of controlling the output of a hydroelectric turbine generator

The present invention provides a method of installing a hydroelectric turbine onto the seabed or the like while ensuring that a pre-laid electrical cable connected to the turbine prior to lowering to the seabed is not damaged during installation of the turbine, the method involving lowering the turbine towards the seabed while simultaneously displacing the turbine in order to maintain tension in the electrical cable.

Turbine installation method

The present invention is concerned with a hydroelectric turbine which includes a stator and a shaftless rotor housed for rotation within the stator, the stator defining an opening or channel in which the rotor is retained and which channel is dimension to permit the rotor to undergo both axial rotation and displacement along the circumference of the opening, whereby during operation the rotor assumes substantially hypocycloidal motion relative to the stator.

Hydroelectric turbine with floating rotor

This present invention relates to a hydroelectric turbine having a stator and a rotor within the stator on at least one set of bearings, the turbine having a brake which becomes operational following a predetermined level of bearing wear in order to avoid damage to the turbine.

Hydroelectric turbine with passive braking

In a hydroelectric turbine having a rotor disposed within a housing, the rotor having an annular outer rim received by a channel in the housing, the improvement comprising providing at least one debris release chute in said housing such that debris captured between the rotor and the housing is released through the debris release chute.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, Ireland

James Ives