Patent Application
20240011458
This invention relates generally to water engines.
A water engine is a positive-displacement engine, often closely resembling a steam engine and with similar pistons and valves, that is driven by water pressure.
The supply of water may be derived from a natural head of water, specialised high-pressure water supply or the like and typically operate on water pressures from 30 up to 800 psi.
One such water engine is disclosed by GB 2334763 A (Bobby Premarajan Amarasingam et al.) 1 Sep. 1999 and which is powered by a head of water and which comprises a pair of pistons and controlled valves to alternately rock a seesaw which in in turn reciprocates a piston acting on a flywheel.
However, a need exists to improve the conversion efficiency of hydrostatic pressure to kinetic energy conversion.
There is described herein a hydrostatic pressure to kinetic energy conversion system comprising a hydraulic head water column wherein a lower end of the water column diverges to a pair of pressure channels.
A valve system interfaces the water column and the pressure channels so that hydrostatic pressure from the water column alternately pressurises each channel.
The system further comprises pistons and racks forced by the pistons to act oppositely to rotate a driveshaft therebetween.
Furling bladders within the channels forcibly unfurl under pressure to force the pistons.
Proximal ends of the pistons may comprise sufficiently small diameter for envelopment by the furling bladders.
The furling bladders efficiently convert hydrostatic pressure to kinetic energy and the pressure channel and furling bladder arrangement allow for relatively long piston travel distance as compared to shorter stroke rocker-type water engines.
Furthermore, the pressure channel and furling bladder arrangement does not rely on momentum like flywheel-type water engines.
Furthermore, the racks acting oppositely on the driveshaft provide constant torque along the full piston travel length and furthermore allow for multiple driveshaft revolutions for each stroke.
Each channel may comprise a similar cross section as the water column so that the full extent of hydrostatic pressure is borne by each channel for conversion to kinetic energy.
The racks may be coupled to return one piston as the other is extended. The coupling may comprise respective pinions acting oppositely on the driveshaft.
The coupling may convert alternating rotation of the driveshaft to unidirectional rotation better suited for driving generators.
Return risers may return water from the channels to the water column. The return risers may be pump assisted. Water draining from the pressure channels may collect in a reservoir for off-peak return pumping to the water column.
Each channel may comprise a control valve having a butterfly disc pivoting between open and close positions which is controlled by an actuator comprising a hydraulically operated control piston having a distal end which extends to entrap the disc in a closed position.
The channel may further comprise a nonreturn valve.
The system may further comprise a piston pump siphon to prime each channel in anticipation of a stroke by reducing pressure between the control valve and the nonreturn valve to assist closing of the nonreturn valve.
The system can be scaled according to required power capacity and installed as a decentralised power supply for internal or distributed power in buildings. The water column has a small footprint and can be installed from basement to roof level in all buildings adjoining the lift/stair core walls. Multiple units can be installed and operated independently, suits maintenance and disruption issues.
Other aspects of the invention are also disclosed.
Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
A hydrostatic pressure to kinetic energy conversion system comprises a hydraulic head water column 1.
The water column 1 is preferably a cylindrical shape and may be open at an upper end thereof. The water column 1 may be several stories high as shown in
The column 1 may be replenished by a water supply (not shown) which pours or pumps water into an upper end thereof. Alternatively, pump assisted risers 16 (as will be described in further detail below) may return water to the water column 1.
A lower end of the water column 1 diverges into a pair of pressure channels as best seen in
An elbow 2 may take off horizontally from a lower end of the water column 1 and interface a maintenance shut-off valve 3
A T-section 4 may divert from the maintenance shut-off valve 3. Ends of the T-section 4 may form a start of each respective pressure channel.
A valve system interfaces the water column 1 and the pressure channels so that hydrostatic pressure from the water column 1 alternately pressurises each channel.
The channels may comprise alternately acting control valves 5 and 5A and nonreturn valves 7 and 7A downstream thereof.
Specifically, each end of the T-section 4 may interface a respective control valve 5, 5A which interfaces a respective short midsection 6, 6A which interfaces a respective nonreturn valves 7, 7A.
When a head of the piston is pressurised underneath, the piston moves upward, thereby freeing the disc to move to the open position.
The distal end of the piston may be angled to allow the disc to displace the piston when closing.
Each pressure channel may transition via Z sections 8, 8A to long parallel channels which retain pistons 10,10A and bladders 9,9A.
Furling bladders 9, 9A within the channels forcibly unfurl under pressure to force the pistons 10,10A.
The bladders 9, 9A may comprise a high tensile waterproof material connected to the inner walls of channels 8,8A to retain the hydrostatic pressure.
Racks 11, 11A are forced by the pistons 10,10A to act oppositely to rotate a driveshaft 13 therebetween
Channel section 2, 4, 6, 6A, 8, and 8A preferably each comprises the same cross-sectional area as that of the column 1. Similarly control valves 5, 5A, nonreturn valves 7, 7A and shut-off valve 3 may comprises a similar cross section as that of the water column 1.
Each piston 10, 10A may comprise a large cross-section section and a smaller cross-section section. As shown in
The proximal ends of the pistons 10, 10A preferably have an outer diameter substantially smaller than an inner diameter of each channel so that the bladders 9, 9A can furl around the proximal ends.
Furthermore, outer diameters of the large cross-section sections of the pistons 10A preferably match inner diameters of the channels to slidably restrain the pistons 10, 10A along the channels. The outer diameter of the large cross-section sections of the pistons 10, 10A may be configured to allow tolerance between the large cross-section sections and the inner diameter of the channels to reduce friction. Alternatively, the pistons 10, 10A can slide on a frictionless guide rail track assembly.
The racks 11,11A may act on pinions 12 which in turn rotate driveshaft 13 alternately in opposite directions. The coupling of the pinions 12 and the oscillating driveshaft 13 cause one piston 10 to retract as the other 10A extends. As the pistons reciprocate alternatively, the oscillating driveshaft 13 rotates alternately.
With reference to
Alternatively, the racks 11,11A drive a piston-type compressor directly to compress air which may be stored to run a generator.
The system may comprise return risers 16, 16A from sections 8, 8A to the upper open end of the column 1.
A pump may pump water via the risers 16, 16A. In embodiments, water draining from the pressure channels may be pooled in a reservoir awaiting off -peak period return pumping via the return risers 16, 16A. For example, water may drain from the water column 1 during periods of peak demand whereas pumps return water from the reservoir via the return risers 16, 16A during off-peak demand periods.
Each riser 16, 16A may comprise a nonreturn valve installed therein to prevent water flowing back to the respective channel. Pressure within sections 8, 8A assists water to return to the column 1 via the risers 16, 16A to the level of water within the column 1.
The risers 16, 16A may have substantially smaller cross-section than that of the respective channels.
The system may further comprise a siphon between the control valves 5, 5A and the nonreturn valve 7, 7A to prime the channels by reducing pressure between the control valves 5, 5A and the nonreturn valves 7, 7A to assist closing of the nonreturn valves 7, 7A.
The siphon may comprise a piston pump which pumps water via respective siphon riser 16, 16A.
Each siphon riser 17, 17A may comprise a pair of nonreturn valves either side of the piston pump. The piston assisted siphon risers 17, 17A may have smaller cross-section than that of the risers 16, 16A. As shown in
For operation, water column 1 is filled with water. Preferably, the water level is continuously replenished so that hydrostatic pressure at the bottom of the water column 1 remains constant.
Before a first stroke, with reference to
The piston pump 17A is pumped, to reduce pressure in midsection 6A, to force nonreturn valve 7A shut.
Then during operation, for the first stroke, control valve 5 is closed and piston pump 17 is pumped to reduce pressure in midsection 6 to force non return valve 7 shut. Control valve 5A is then opened.
Hydrostatic pressure in bladder 9A forces piston 10A to extend. The pinions 12 and shaft 13 act oppositely on piston 10 to retract and cause the shaft 13 to rotate in a first direction.
For a second stroke, control valve 5A is closed and piston pump 17A is pumped to reduce pressure in midsection 6A to force nonreturn valve 7A shut.
Control valve 5 is then opened.
Hydrostatic pressure in bladder 9 forces piston 10 to extend. The pinions 12 and shaft 13 act oppositely on piston 10A to retract and cause the shaft 13 to rotate in a first direction.
The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that specific details are not required in order to practise the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the invention are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed as obviously many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical applications, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the following claims and their equivalents define the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020904076 | Nov 2020 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2021/051315 | 11/5/2021 | WO |
