Patent Application
20140319840
The present invention relates to a hydroelectric system, and more particularly to a hydroelectric system that is able to generate electrical power more efficiently and can be operated at geographically flat areas.
Developing non-polluting renewable energy has become an increasingly important topic worldwide due to various environmental, economical and even political concerns. Since natural energy is available throughout the world in various forms such as wind, solar, tidal and wave, it is more efficient and cost-effective to convert the natural energy to the non-polluting renewable energy.
A conventional hydroelectric system includes one or more rotatable water turbines, which are usually arranged in rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Utilizing the potential differences of the water flow to drive water turbines to rotate, the water turbines can further drive one or more power generators in the hydroelectric system to generate electricity.
However, the conventional hydroelectric system is not a closed system when the water flow is harnessed to drive the water turbines, so external objects such as debris, stones and sand can be easily brought into the hydroelectric system to block and damage the blades of the water turbines to adversely affect the efficiency of power generation. Also, extra maintenance costs may be needed to repair the damaged blades of the water turbines.
Furthermore, the water turbines in current hydroelectric systems are usually disposed vertically. Namely, the water turbines are linearly disposed from a higher to a lower place, so the height between the higher and lower places is fixed. Also, each water turbine occupies certain spaces, so the number of water turbines is limited as well as the power generation efficiency. Therefore, there remains a need for a new and improved hydroelectric system to overcome the problems stated above.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a hydroelectric system in which the water channel is covered so the power generating units therein are less likely to be blocked or damaged by external objects to enhance the power generating efficiency.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a hydroelectric system in which the water channel is arranged in a spiral manner so the power generating units can be disposed therein to form a “multi-layered” power generating module where the number of the power generating units may not be limited to further enhance the power generating efficiency.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a water turbine having detachable blades designed for generating high torque to enhance power generating efficiency.
It is still a further objective of the present invention to provide a hydroelectric system in which the power generating units can be disposed in a geographically flat area.
In one aspect, a hydroelectric system may include a water reservoir, a water channel, a plurality of power generating units, a water pumping unit and a cover. In one embodiment, the water reservoir is on the ground and capable of receiving and storing water, such as a pond, lake, ocean and the like. The water channel can be spiral and located underground, and the position of the water channel is lower than the water reservoir. In another embodiment, the water channel has a top section and a bottom section, and the top section of the water channel is connected to and communicates with the water reservoir.
In a further embodiment, each power generating unit may include a power generator and a plurality of blades secured at a base of the power generating unit. The power generator has a main body, a first gear, a second gear, a shaft and a turbine. Each main body is connected to the first gear through a gear shaft, and engages with corresponding second gear. Each shaft passes through corresponding second gear, turbine and a conjugating hole of the blades. When the blades are struck by the water flow, the shaft, second gear, first gear would rotate accordingly to enable the main body to generate electricity.
In still a further embodiment, the blades are specially designed to achieve higher power generating efficiency. In particular, the blade is like a “hook” that can be divided into two curved sections including a first section and a second section. The curvature of the two sections is different so that the blade is allowed to retain more water when being struck by the water flow to increase the rotating speed of the blades and shaft to further enhance the power generating efficiency of the power generating unit. It is noted that the blades may be detached from the base according to the user's preference to adjust the performance of the power generating unit.
In an exemplary embodiment, a box is disposed underground and the box is a hollow triangular prism. The water channel is arranged along inner walls of the box and the water channel can be spiral as well. In still an exemplary embodiment, an underground box is a hollow rectangular prism and a spiral water channels is arranged along inner walls of the hollow rectangular prism.
In other embodiments, a plurality of power generating units can be disposed at a river, wherein water flow of the river can be used to strike multiple power generating units to generate electricity. It is worth noted that the water in the river is a natural resource and under normal condition, the water supply is continuous so no water pump is needed, which can save the costs of power generation as well as protect the environment. It is also noted that the river may have a branch and the power generating units can be disposed therein, and the water flows back to the river at the end of the branch. It is advantageous to dispose the power generating units in the branch because the power generating units may block the natural flow of the river if there are too many of them disposed therein.
a to 3c illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the power generating unit in the present invention.
d and 3e illustrate two blades with different angles in the present invention.
f and 3g illustrate the experimental results of the blades with different angles and corresponding torques generated therefrom.
h and 3i illustrate the experimental results of the blades with different width and corresponding torques generated therefrom.
j and 3k illustrate the experimental results of different number of the blades and corresponding torques generated therefrom.
The detailed description set forth below is intended as a description of the presently exemplary device provided in accordance with aspects of the present invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be prepared or utilized. It is to be understood, rather, that the same or equivalent functions and components may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices and materials similar or equivalent to those described can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the exemplary methods, devices and materials are now described.
All publications mentioned are incorporated by reference for the purpose of describing and disclosing, for example, the designs and methodologies that are described in the publications that might be used in connection with the presently described invention. The publications listed or discussed above, below and throughout the text are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the inventors are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.
In order to further understand the goal, characteristics and effect of the present invention, a number of embodiments along with the drawings are illustrated as following:
Referring to
As shown in
In an exemplary embodiment illustrated in
Like conventional power generating units, the blades (32′) would drive the shaft (314′) gears (not shown) to rotate to generate electricity accordingly. However, unlike conventional blades, the blades (32′) are specially designed to achieve higher power generating efficiency. In particular, the blade (32′) is like a “hook” that can be divided into two curved sections including a first section (321′-322′) and a second section (322′-323′), as shown in
The toque of the blade may be affected by the factors including the thickness of the blade, the curvature (angle) of the blade, and the number of the blade.
As to the thickness of the blade (32′), the torque of the blade (32′) increases somewhat linearly as the thickness of the blade (32′) increases, and the maximum torque occurs when the thickness of the blade (32′) is 178.882, as shown in
As discussed above, the blades (32′) are detachable from the base (33′), so the number of the blades can be adjusted according to the user's preference. As shown in
Referring again to
It is noted that in the present invention, “close to” means “abutment” or “adjacent.” Namely, the inlet end (421) can abut against the bottom section (22) of the water channel (20), or the inlet end (421) can connect and communicate with the bottom section (22) of the water channel (20) to achieve the same goal of pumping the water from the water channel (20) to the water reservoir (10).
Referring to
Referring to
In a further embodiment as shown in
In still a further embodiment as shown in
Having described the invention by the description and illustrations above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but includes any equivalents.
