Patent Grant
12037973
The present invention relates to hydroelectric power generation and, more particularly, to a hydroelectric power generation system for use in open water utilizing the principles of displacement, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetic induction heating.
Hydroelectric power generation is one of many ways in which electricity can be generated. In 2009, the three most heavily used sources for generating electricity were coal, natural gas, and oil. These sources not only release emissions that are harmful to the environment, but they are also resources that are quickly running out. Therefore, different ways of generating power need to be explored. Hydroelectric power works to harvest the inherent energy of moving water by directing the water through a turbine in order to convert the energy of the moving water into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is then converted into electricity in the generator. In order to choose the appropriate generator for a specific application, the flow rate and pressure head of the water source must be known.
Hydroelectric power generation on a small scale is one of the most cost-effective energy technologies for rural electrification in less developed countries. It is also the main prospect for future hydro developments in Europe, where large-scale opportunities have either been already exploited or would now be considered environmentally unacceptable. Small hydroelectric power generation technology is extremely robust and is also one of the most environmentally benign energy technologies available.
The development of hydroelectric technology in the 20th century was usually associated with the building of large dams. Hundreds of massive barriers of concrete, rock, and earth were placed across river valleys worldwide to create huge artificial lakes. While they created a major reliable power supply, as well as provided irrigation and flood control, the dams necessarily flooded large areas of fertile land and displaced thousands of local inhabitants. In many cases, the rapid silting up of the dam has reduced its productivity and longevity. There are also numerous environmental problems that can result from such major interference with river flows.
Hydroelectric power, also called hydroelectric energy or hydroelectricity, is a form of energy that harnesses the power of water in motion—such as water flowing over a waterfall—to generate electricity from a renewable resource. Hydropower provides about 96 percent of the renewable energy in the United States. Other renewable resources include geothermal, wave power, tidal power, wind power, and solar power. Hydroelectric power plants do not use up resources to create electricity nor do they pollute the air, land, or water, as other power plants may. Hydroelectric power has played an important part in the development of this Nation's electric power industry. Both small and large hydroelectric power developments were instrumental in the early expansion of the electric power industry.
Hydroelectric power comes from flowing water in winter and spring runoff from mountain streams and clear lakes. Water, when it is falling by the force of gravity, can be used to turn turbines and generators that produce electricity. Hydroelectric power is important to our Nation. Growing populations and modern technologies require vast amounts of electricity for creating, building, and expanding.
In the 1920s, hydroelectric plants supplied as much as 40 percent of the electric energy produced. Although the amount of energy produced by this means has steadily increased, the amount produced by other types of power plants has increased at a faster rate. Currently, hydroelectric power presently supplies only approximately 10 percent of the electrical generating capacity of the United States. Hydropower is an essential contributor to the national power grid because of its ability to respond quickly to rapidly varying loads or system disturbances, which base load plants with steam systems powered by combustion or nuclear processes cannot accommodate.
Hydroelectric power generation in which kinetic energy is extracted from flowing pressurized water and used to rotate a generator to produce electric power is known. In addition, the use of other pressurized fluids such as gas, steam, etc., to rotate a generator is known. Using a large hydroelectric power generation system operating with a large-scale water source such as a river or dam can generate thousands of megawatts of power. As such, the conversion of the kinetic energy in the flowing water to electric power may include significant inefficiencies and yet still provide an economical and acceptable level of performance.
As the size of the hydroelectric power generation equipment becomes smaller, the magnitude of electric power produced also becomes smaller. In addition, the amount of flowing water from which kinetic energy may be extracted becomes less. Thus, the efficiency of the conversion of the kinetic energy in the flow of water to electric power becomes significant. When there are too many inefficiencies, only small amounts of kinetic energy are extracted from the pressurized flowing water. As a result, the amount of electric power produced diminishes as the size of the hydroelectric power generation equipment becomes smaller.
An international patent filing number WO2004033898A1 of 2003 discloses a miniature hydro-power generation system that produces electric power from a flow of liquid. The miniature hydro-power generation system may include a housing that includes a plurality of paddles positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing. The system may also include a nozzle and a centering rod extending through the housing. The housing may rotate around the centering rod when a stream of liquid from the nozzle is directed at the paddles. A generator that includes a rotor and a stator may be positioned within a cavity of the housing. The rotor may be coupled with the housing and the stator may be coupled with the centering rod. The rotor may rotate around the stator at high RPM to generate electric power when the housing rotates. The electric power may supply a load and/or may be stored in an energy storage device.
The South Korean patent number KR100728421B1 describes a hydro-power generation for a water treatment system. Embodiments of a hydropower system include a rotatable impeller located in a housing. The impeller is rotatably coupled to the generator. As water passes through the water treatment system, the water flows into the hydropower system and causes the impeller to rotate. The impeller rotates to generate electricity in the water treatment system by the generator. Another embodiment of the hydropower system includes a rotor rotatably positioned in a conduit through which water flows. Flowing water rotates the rotor. The rotor interacts with the surrounding stator. As the rotor rotates within the stator, electricity is generated for the water treatment system.
The U.S. Pat. No. 4,443,707A of 1082 teaches of a hydroelectric generating system to produce power by changing the potential energy of water to kinetic energy to drive a turbine that is coaxially connected to a generator. Water from the ambient enters the reservoir and is directed by a valve to a conduit to the turbine which turns a generator to produce electricity. The system is constructed in such a manner that it may supply power during peak power demand and be used as a storage system during low power demand.
The main object of the present invention is to provide an alternative source of electric energy generation in open water using a hydroelectric power generation system.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the disclosed hydroelectric power generation system comprises a retaining reservoir, an intake reservoir, a drive housing, a drive comprising an internal hydraulic turbine and an internal hydroelectric generator, an exit channel having an induction coil, a support structure, an external hydraulic turbine, and an external hydroelectric generator. The internal hydraulic turbine is configured to convert the energy of flowing water into mechanical energy. The internal hydroelectric generator is mechanically coupled to the internal hydraulic turbine and configured to convert the mechanical energy of the internal hydraulic turbine into electricity. Particularly, when the rotor of the internal hydroelectric generator turns, it causes the electromagnets to move past the conductors mounted in the stator, in turn causing electricity to flow and a voltage to develop at the generator's output terminals. The induction coil is located within an area separating an inner wall and an outer wall of the exit channel. The external hydroelectric generator is mechanically coupled to the external hydraulic turbine and electronically coupled to the induction coil. The external hydroelectric generator is configured to convert the mechanical energy of the external hydraulic turbine into electricity. The induction coil is configured to receive an electric current from the external hydroelectric generator and heat up.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a hydroelectric power generation system induction heating comprises a retaining reservoir, an intake reservoir, a drive housing, a drive comprising an internal hydraulic turbine and an internal hydroelectric generator, more than one exit channels each having an induction coil, a support structure, more than one external hydraulic turbines, and more than one external hydroelectric generators.
The disclosed invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, with an understanding that the drawings are provided for illustrative purposes and that changes to the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed invention. Furthermore, the hydroelectric power generator according to the present invention is not limited thereto, and it will be apparent that various deformations and modifications are available by a person having ordinary skill in the art within the scope without departing from the technical idea of the present invention.
The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers' specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another.
The present invention has been designed to function as a hydroelectric power generation system. It utilizes the principles of displacement, fluid dynamics, and electromagnetic induction heating to generate electric power when used in an open-water environment. Accordingly, the present invention is configured to generate power without the need for topography necessary for traditional land-based hydroelectric power generation systems to operate.
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In some embodiments, the support structure 6 may comprise a singular structure that supports each and every external hydraulic turbine 2 and its corresponding external hydroelectric generator.
In some embodiments, the support structure 6 may comprise a plurality of interconnected individual support structures, wherein each individual support structure supports its corresponding external hydraulic turbine 2 and its corresponding external hydroelectric generator 4.
In some embodiments, the support structure 6 is an extension of the retaining reservoir 20 such that the two components are constructed from a singular material.
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In some embodiments, the intake reservoir may have a funnel shape.
In some embodiments, the intake reservoir 16 and the driver housing are constructed of a singular material and are not detachable.
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In the preferred operation of the present invention, the hydroelectric power generation system 100 would be made neutrally buoyant prior to operation by utilizing requisite rigging infrastructure such that, referring to
When the system 100 is initially oriented in a body of water, the water displaced by the air within the retaining reservoir 20 and the one or more exit channels causes intake water to enter the system through the one or more intake holes of the top surface of the intake reservoir 16. The intake reservoir is configured to direct intake water from the body of water surrounding the system to the drive located in the drive housing 18 via its internal passageways connecting its one or more intake holes and their corresponding one or more output holes.
Intake water flowing into the system 100 moves the external hydraulic turbine 2 of the drive, converting the energy of the flowing intake water into mechanical energy wherein the gravitational force applied to the external hydraulic turbine 2 by the intake water exceeds the threshold of resistance imposed by the external hydraulic turbine 2. This mechanical energy is converted to electricity by the mechanically coupled external hydroelectric generator 4. The induction coils 14 of the one or more exist exit channels 8 receive this electric current and heat up as a result. As the induction coils 14 heat up, their heat transfers to their corresponding inner wall 12 of their corresponding exit channel 12. Once in the drive housing 18, the intake water interacts with the drive. Here, the intake water moves the internal hydraulic turbine of the drive, converting the energy of the flowing intake water into mechanical energy wherein the gravitational force applied to the internal hydraulic turbine by the intake water exceeds the threshold of resistance imposed by the internal hydraulic turbine 2. This mechanical energy is converted to electricity by the mechanically coupled internal hydroelectric generator.
After moving through the drive, the intake water escapes into the retaining reservoir 20 through the output hole on the bottom surface of the drive housing 18. The intake water first fills up the means of hydraulic connection 32 between the one or more output holes of the retaining reservoir 20 and their corresponding entry holes of the bottom surfaces of the exit channels 8. The water then proceeds to gradually fill up the retaining reservoir 20 and one or more exit channels 8 with e an approximately uniform level of water.
Intake water in the one or more exit channels 8 is heated by the inner walls 12 of the exit channels 8. This added heat facilitates the natural evaporation of water in the one or more exit channels 8 from the system 100 via the open top surface of the one or more exit channels 8. This evaporation of intake water from the one or more exit channels 8 drives further intake of water into system 100. Particularly, this evaporation causes the water level in the retaining reservoir 20 and the one or more exit channels 8 to drop, allowing for new intake water to enter the system 100.
If the system 100 is completely saturated with intake water, new intake water will enter the system 100 only in response to the natural and gradual evaporation of water within the one or more exit channels 8.
In some embodiments, the electricity generated by the drive is stored in a chargeable internal battery housed within the system 100. In other embodiments, the electricity generated by the drive is stored in a chargeable external battery removed from the system 100, wherein the generated electricity is transferred to the external battery via wires or the like. In yet other embodiments, the electricity generated by the drive is added directly to an existing power grid or the like for immediate use.
In some embodiments, the surface area of the open top surface of the one or more exit channels 6 is significantly greater than the surface area of the one or more intake holes of the top surface of the intake reservoir 16. This ratio of surfaces area will facilitate a significantly greater escape of intake water from the system 100 from the exit channels 6 than that of the intake reservoir 16.
The terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one, independent of any other instances or usages of “at least one” or “one or more.” In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated. Also, in the following claims, the terms “including” and “comprising” are open-ended, that is, a system, device, article, or process that includes elements in addition to those listed after such a term in a claim are still deemed to fall within the scope of that claim.
The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various changes and modifications can, of course, be made, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20200056578 | Sheldon-Coulson | Feb 2020 | A1 |
