1. Field of the Invention
The instant disclosure relates to a power generation system; in particular, to a power generation system for converting the tidal force or buoyant force to electrical power.
2. Description of Related Art
Due to earth's limited resources, green and renewable energy such as solar, wind, and water power generation has attracted great attention. However, green energy is limited by environmental factors and cannot provide steady electric power. For example, solar power cannot be generated at night and water power cannot be generated without water resources. In addition, wind power is easily affected by weather or seasonal conditions so that the electric supply is not steady enough. Accordingly, searching for another green energy to provide steady electric power has become a current issue in the industry.
The object of the instant disclosure is to provide a power generation system for converting the tidal force or buoyant force to potential power for driving an electric motor and generating electric power.
In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, according to an embodiment of the instant disclosure, a power generation system includes a floating body, a transmission device, a transportation tank, an upper container, and a power generator unit. The floating body is driven by a tidal force to move upward or downward. The transmission device is connected to the floating body, and the transportation tank for transporting a plurality of solid particles is linked up with the transmission device. The upper container is arranged near to a first position. When the floating body moves upward or downward, the transmission device is driven to lift the transportation tank up to the first position so that the solid particles are transported to and stored in the upper container or the transmission device is driven to lower the transportation tank down to a second position to recycle the solid particles. The power generator unit is arranged under the upper container. When the upper container releases the solid particles stored therein, the power generator unit is driven to generate electric power.
According to another embodiment of the instant disclosure, a power generation system is provided. The power generation system includes a floating body, a transmission device, a transportation tank, an upper container, and a power generator unit. The floating body floating on the water is driven by a buoyant force to move up and down. The transmission device is connected to the floating body, and the transportation tank for transporting a plurality of solid particles is linked up with the transmission device. The upper container is arranged near to a first position. When the floating body moves up and down, the transmission device is driven to lift the transportation tank up to the first position so that the solid particles are transported to and stored in the upper container or the transmission device is driven to lower the transportation tank down to a second position for receiving the solid particles. The power generator unit is arranged under the upper container. When the upper container releases the solid particles stored therein, the power generator unit is driven by the released solid particles and generates electric power.
In the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure, the tidal force or the buoyant force is converted to the potential energy of the solid particles through the floating body and the transmission device, and the pull of gravity on the solid particles is used to drive the power generator unit to generate electric power. As such, the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure can supply steady and environmentally friendly electric power by using green energy.
In order to further the understanding regarding the instant disclosure, the following embodiments are provided along with illustrations to facilitate the disclosure of the instant disclosure.
The aforementioned illustrations and following detailed descriptions are exemplary for the purpose of further explaining the scope of the instant disclosure. Other objectives and advantages related to the instant disclosure will be illustrated in the subsequent descriptions and appended drawings.
Please refer to
The power generation system 1 includes a floating body 10, a transmission device 20, a transportation tank 30, an upper container 40 and a power generator unit 50.
The floating body 10 floats on the water or on the sea and moves up and down due to a tidal force or a buoyant force. In the instant embodiment, the floating body 10 is placed on the sea surface. The sea level is located at a lowest position H1 at low tide, and the sea level is located at a highest position H2 at high tide. The height difference between the lowest position H1 and the highest position H2 is the tidal difference H. That is, the height position of the floating body 10 varies with the conditions of low tide and high tide. Similarly, under the condition that the floating body 10 floats on the water, the height position of the floating body 10 varies with the water level. In the instant embodiment, the maximum difference between the height position of the floating body 10 at low tide and high tide is the tidal difference H.
The transmission device 20 is connected to the floating body to convert the tidal force to potential energy. Specifically, the transmission device 20 of the instant embodiment includes a first hydraulic unit 22, a second hydraulic unit 23, a connecting pipe 24 and a lever 21. The first hydraulic unit 22 and the second hydraulic unit 23 are in fluid communication with each other through the connecting pipe 24.
The first hydraulic unit 22 includes a first reservoir 220 for storing a working fluid F, and a first piston 221 arranged in the first reservoir 220. In one embodiment, the first piston 221 has a force reception portion 221a and a force application portion 221b. One side of the force application portion 221b is in contact with the working fluid F, and the other opposite side of the force application portion 221b is physically connected to the force reception portion 221a. In addition, the first hydraulic unit 22 further includes a stopping member (not shown in
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As shown in
The lever 21 includes a first end 21a, a second end 21b opposite to the first end 21a, and a pivot point 21c located between the first and second ends 21a, 21b. In the instant embodiment, the first end 21a of the lever 21 is movably connected to the floating body 10, and the second end 21b is pivotally connected to the first piston 221. Please refer to
Subsequently, the operation of the transmission device 20 in conjunction with the tidal force will be explained in details in the following description. Please refer to
During the low tide period, the sea level gradually drops from the highest position H2 down to the lowest position H1 to cause corresponding downward movement of the floating body 10, and the first end 21a and the second end 21b of the lever 21 are driven to rotate clockwise relative to the pivot point 21c so that the first piston 221 is pulled up. Because the fluid level of the working fluid F in the second hydraulic unit 23 is higher than that of the working fluid F in the first hydraulic unit 22, the working fluid F in the second hydraulic unit 23 can flow back to the first hydraulic unit 22 due to the connected vessels principle, vacuum, and the pull of gravity on the transportation tank 30, and the second piston 231 descends down to a lowest position.
Accordingly, the tidal force can be converted to the potential energy through the floating body 10 and transmission device 20 so that an article can be lifted up to a higher position.
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After the solid particles S are transported by the transportation tank 30 to the first position P1, the solid particles S are transferred to the upper container 40 for temporary storage. In one embodiment, the transportation tank 30 includes an inclined bottom 301 and an active gate 302 for opening toward the upper container 40.
Furthermore, the upper container 40 is arranged immediately adjacent to the first position P1, and the elevational position of the upper container 40 with respect to the ground level is lower than the first position P1 with respect to the ground level. When the transportation tank 30 is lifted up to the first position P1, the active gate 302 can be opened so that the solid particles S in the transportation tank 30 slide along the inclined bottom 301 and fall into the upper container 40. In another embodiment, the power generation system can include a delivery pipe (not shown) so that the solid particles S can fall into the upper container 40 through the delivery pipe.
At least one power generator unit 50 is arranged under the upper container 40. When the solid particles S are released from the upper container 40, the pull of gravity on the solid particles S can drive the power generator unit 50 to generate electric power. Specifically, in the instant embodiment, the upper container 40 includes a discharge opening 401 at the bottom of the upper container 40 and a movable door 402 disposed corresponding to the discharge opening 401 for releasing the solid particles S stored in the upper container 40.
Please refer to
When each of the cup-shaped blades 54 is rotated to the position in alignment with the discharge opening 401, the movable door 402 of the upper container 40 can open so that the solid particles fall into the cup-shaped blade 54 under the discharge opening 401. Subsequently, the gravity of the solid particles carried by the cup-shaped blade 54 can drive the electric motor 52 to rotate through the corresponding arm 53 and generate electric power. In one embodiment, the movable door 402 on the bottom of the upper container 40 is intermittently opened and closed so that the solid particles S are carried on each of the cup-shaped blades 54 sequentially passing below the discharge opening 401.
To be more specific, the upper container 40 can include a sensor (not shown) and a switching unit (not shown) electrically connected to the sensor.
The sensor can detect whether each of the cup-shaped blades 54 reaches a predetermined position under the movable door 402, and the switching unit is used to control the open and close state of the movable door 402 and the flow of the solid particles S.
The flow of the solid particles S is dependent on the aperture of the discharge opening 401, and the switching unit controls the aperture of the discharge opening 401 through the control of the movable door 402 so that the flow of the solid particles S can be controlled, thereby controlling the rotational speed of the electric motor 52 and the electric power produced per unit time. The flow of the solid particles S means the total weight of the solid particles S passing through the discharge opening 401 per unit time.
Accordingly, in the power generation system provided in the embodiment of the instant disclosure, the output electric power can be controlled by adjusting the flow of the solid particles S according to the electricity consumption at different time intervals so as to improve the energy efficiency.
Please refer to
Herein, the electric power generation process of the power generation system of the instant disclosure by using the tidal force or the buoyant force is described in detail. Please refer to
During high tide, the floating body 10 moves upward and drives the transmission device 20 to lift up the transportation tank 30 containing the solid particles S to the first position P1. After the transportation tank 30 reaches the first position P1, the active gate 302 is opened so that the solid particles S contained in the transportation tank 30 slide toward and fall into the upper container 40.
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In the instant embodiment, the solid particles S can be stored in the lower container 60 until the transportation tank 30 descends down to the second position P2.
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As shown in
In the instant embodiment, the transmission device 20′ includes a pulley assembly 250 and a drive element 253. The pulley assembly 250 includes a plurality of pulleys, and the drive element 253 is arranged to revolve around the pulleys and connected between the transportation tank 30 and the floating body 10.
Specifically, in the instant embodiment, a plurality of movable pulleys 251 is arranged at the bottom of the floating body 10, and a plurality of fixed pulleys 252 is configured to a rigid wall (not labeled). The drive element 253, such as a rope, cable, belt, steel wire or steel cable, can be wound around the movable pulleys 251 and fixed pulleys 252 and suspends the transportation tank 30. However, the selections and arrangements of the pulley assembly 250 are not limited to the example provided herein, and the other elements also can be used to achieve the same results.
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The driving unit includes two hanging members 253a, 253b, and the pulley assembly 250 includes a plurality of pulleys. One of the hanging members 253a is connected between the floating body 10 and the pulley assembly 250, and the other hanging member 253b is wound around the pulleys and connected to the transportation tank 30.
In the instant embodiment, the pulley assembly 250 also includes a plurality of movable pulleys 251 and a plurality of fixed pulleys 252. However, the arrangements of the movable and fixed pulleys 251, 252 are different from those shown in
Approaching low tide, the movable pulleys 251 are pulled down by the tidal force and the gravity of the floating body 10 through the hanging member 253a. Meanwhile, the transportation tank 30 is pulled up through the hanging member 253b to the first position P1 due to the descent of the movable pulleys 251
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Although two hanging members 253a, 253b are used in the present embodiment, the same result can be achieved by using only one hanging member. In addition, the driving unit can include a driving lever, gear, belt or the other well-known elements.
According to the abovementioned embodiments, as long as the transmission device can drive the transportation tank to be lifted up to the first position P1 approaching the high or low tide period, the structure or elements of the transmission device are not limited to the embodiments provided herein, and other means also can be used according to actual demands.
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In the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure, the tidal force or the buoyant force is converted to the potential energy of the solid particles through the floating body and the transmission device, and the pull of gravity on the solid particles is used to drive the power generator unit to generate electric power. As such, the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure can supply steady and environmentally friendly electric power by using the green energy.
In the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure, the height position of the floating body can be varied due to the tidal force or the buoyant force so that the transmission device is driven to convert the tidal force or the buoyant force to the potential energy of the solid particles. Thereafter, the pull of gravity on the solid particles can be used to drive the electric motor of the power generator unit to rotate and generate electric power. As such, the power generation system provided in the instant disclosure can supply steady and environmentally friendly electric power and not affected seriously by environmental factors, such as season or weather.
The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alterations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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104123225 | Jul 2015 | TW | national |