Hydrokinetic Energy Transfer Device and Method

Abstract

A hydro or aero kinetic energy device ( 100 ) includes a hydrofoil-shaped blade and rotor system ( 11 ) made from composite and membrane flexible materials with an innovative system design to create a large, but relatively light-weight hydrokinetic turbine that achieves disruptively low deployment cost and low Cost of Electricity (COE), in high volumetric flow rate, low velocity (1-3 m/s) marine or air currents. The system ( 100 ) continually senses the current ( 12, 14 ) at the deployment site and based on the current profile, adjusts the pitch of the blades in real-time, thereby leveling out the forces on the turbine rotor. The hydrokinetic energy device turbine ( 100 ) may be assembled onshore, on the way to the deployment site or at the deployment site Further, be turbine may include a remote control receiver mechanism ( 77 ), that allows an operator to remotely controlled the maneuvering and other aspects of the turbine ( 100 ) during deployment, operation and maintenance.

1 . A rotor blade, comprising:
 a rotor blade having a tip region, a base region and a middle region disposed between and adjacent said tip and base regions, said tip region consisting of a semi-rigid material, said middle region consisting of a frame covered by composite flexible material, said frame covered by composite flexible material according to a first construction, said base region consisting of a frame covered by a composite flexible material according to a second construction different from said first construction of said middle region.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein said tip region is made of a relatively hard material. 
     
     
         3 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein said first construction of said middle region of said rotor blade includes a frame having a first side and a second side, and wherein said composite flexible material is disposed on both said first and second sides of said frame. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor blade of  claim 1 , wherein said second construction of said base region of said rotor blade includes a frame having a first side and a second side, and wherein said composite flexible material is disposed on only one of said first and second sides of said frame. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The kinetic energy generating device of  claim 9 , wherein said rotor blade receiving device includes
 a rotor blade pitch control device, configured for receiving said plurality of rotor blades and for individually and independently controlling a pitch of each of said plurality of rotor blades attached to the pitch control device.   
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A kinetic energy generating device comprising:
 a turbine body;   a rotor assembly attached to said turbine body, said rotor assembly including a rotor blade receiving device, configured for receiving a plurality of rotor blades; and   a plurality of rotor blades, each of said plurality of rotor blades removably attachable to said rotor blade receiving device and having a tip region, and a base-middle region disposed adjacent said tip region, said tip region consisting of a semi rigid material, and said base-middle region consisting of a composite flexible material.   
     
     
         10 . The kinetic energy generating device of  claim 9 , wherein said turbine body further includes one or more of an altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, and wherein said turbine body further includes a remote control signal receiving mechanism, coupled to at least one of said one or more altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, for receiving remote control signals from an operator device, said remote control signals configured for controlling one or more of said altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, said remote control receiving mechanism configured for providing said received remote control signals to an appropriate one or more of said altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device. 
     
     
         11 . The kinetic energy generating device of  claim 9 , wherein each of said plurality of rotor blades has a tip region, a base region and a middle region disposed between and adjacent said tip and base regions, said tip region consisting of a semi-rigid material, said middle region consisting of a frame covered by composite flexible material, said frame covered by composite flexible material according to a first construction, said base region consisting of a frame covered by a composite flexible material according to a second construction different from said first construction of said middle region. 
     
     
         12 . The kinetic energy generating device of  claim 9 , further including one or more sensors on said turbine body, upstream of the rotor, said one or more sensors configured for measuring, in real-time, a current hitting the rotor in and responsive to said measuring, for providing a signal to a control device causing said control device to provide one or more of an attitude control signal and a rotor blade pitch change signal, for improving the efficiency and reducing destructively uneven forces on said turbine. 
     
     
         13 . The kinetic energy generating device of  claim 9 , further including one or more cables coupled to said turbine body, said one or more cables including one or more cable buoyancy control devices disposed on the one or more cables, said one or more cable buoyancy control devices configured to eliminate an impact of said one or more cables on the turbine. 
     
     
         14 . A method of deploying a hydrokinetic turbine, said method comprising the acts of:
 providing a hydrokinetic turbine comprising a turbine body and a rotor assembly, coupled to said turbine body, said rotor assembly configured for accepting a plurality of rotor blades;   moving said hydrokinetic turbine proximate a location at which said hydrokinetic turbine is to be deployed;   assembling said plurality of rotor blades to said rotor assembly at a location selected from the group of locations consisting of onshore, at a port, while said hydrokinetic turbine is being moved toward a deployment location, and once said hydrokinetic turbine is act said deployment location;   placing said hydrokinetic turbine in water at said deployment location; and   causing said hydrokinetic turbine to become located below a surface of said water at said deployment location.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said hydrokinetic turbine includes one or more of an altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, and wherein said turbine body further includes a remote control signal receiving mechanism, coupled to at least one of said one or more altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, for receiving remote control signals from an operator device, said remote control signals configured for controlling one or more of said altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device, said remote control receiving mechanism configured for providing said received remote control signals to an appropriate one or more of said altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device; and
 wherein said act of causing said hydrokinetic turbine to become located below a surface of said water at said deployment location includes providing remote control signals from an operator device, said remote control signals configured for controlling one or more of said altitude, depth, attitude and/or positioning device located within said hydrokinetic turbine.