WO2012105924A1 - Improvements to a fluid line electricity generation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A hydro-energy conversion system comprising a flow diverter that diverts fluid flowing under a predetermined pressure through a main fluid line into a microturbine exchange wherein one or more microturbine assemblies are compelled to rotate and thereby drive turbine shaft assemblies that actuate alternating or direct current generators. The flow of the fluid is returned to the main line through a flow return, and the efficiency of the microturbine assemblies allows for the pressure and flow of the main fluid line to remain at optimal levels.

Description

TITLE OF INVENTION

Improvements to a Fluid Line Electricity Generation Apparatus

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001 ] This invention relates to certain improvements to a fluid line electricity generation, more specifically a hydro-energy conversion system for use in connection with electrical generators. The hydro-energy conversion system has particular utility in connection with municipal water systems for generating electricity.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Water generated electricity is widely used in connection with dams and reservoirs wherein the water is pooled and forced through turbines that, in turn, drive electricity generators. Such system is an open one whereby the water is cycled through the generator only once, thereafter flowing downstream.

[0003] Formerly, in harnessing the water flow to create electricity, the industry has utilized hydroelectric dams. The water pressure established by the dam structure when the gates are opened allows the gravitational flow of water to mechanically actuate gears which in turn drive the rotational elements necessary for a generator to generate electricity. The flow of water may take two typical forms, namely, over a paddle wheel or through a turbine located within a confined channel. Accordingly, it is known in the prior art and the industry to utilize large turbines located within a confined channel, including piping. The use of a channel or pipe to direct the water flow correlates to the water pressure flowing through the channel or pipe. [0004] In recent years, the adaptation of water driven turbines to municipal water systems has generated some element of electricity. In one such patent, U.S. Pat. No. 6,675,308 issued to Kazanjian, a single hydraulic turbine motor is driven by municipally available water in a typical residential water line. In that disclosure, the input flow of water is fully and completely driven through a single hydraulic turbine which in turn compels a generator to rotate and produce measurable electricity. There are limitations to the use of detachable, single turbine generators coupled to receive the full flow of a municipal water system at residential line pressures. Those limitations are decreased flow pressure by virtue of the mechanical requirements to rotate the inline turbine generator components. The '308 Patent likewise discloses a valve to redirect the water flow from a common line into the inlet and outlet ports to maximize the volume of water that can travel through the hydraulic turbine. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an electricity generation system that does not substantially impair the flow pressure of an existing pressurized fluid line.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,731 ,545 issued to Lerner et al discloses a portable, self-contained power conversion unit that is attached to an outlet for a pressurized fluid system such as a nozzle from a garden hose. An impeller mounted in the unit is rotated by the discharge of pressurized fluid through the unit, and the energy of the impeller is converted into electrical energy by a generator. As the water flows through the outlet, it is no longer available for subsequent use within the fluid system. It is thus an object of the present invention to utilize the fluid pressure as contained within the pressurized fluid system without the need to discharge the fluid but rather return the fluid to a main line from which it originated. [0006] The industry has not discovered nor implemented an effective municipal system in-line turbine that utilizes the pressures available to a main line of a municipal water system, at or near the source of the more continuous and constant flow pressure, and thus there is no generally accepted use by municipal water systems to generate electricity incident to the normal operation of the water system. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an electricity generation system that is useful at varying locations across a municipal water system, and having pressure control valves to establish consistent fluid pressure to be applied to the turbine components facilitates this object.

[0007] Repairing or servicing a water main line for any reason, much less to service components that are tied to the system, requires diversion of the water flow, which is impractical and costly because of the high pressures involved, the need for continuous water supply to residential customers, and the fact that most water main lines are buried. It is thus an object of the present invention to provide an electricity generation system that permits serviceable placement of the working components, including proper valve placement to otherwise allow repairs to the working components without disruption in the water supply to the downline customers.

SUMMARY

[0008] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent to the known types of hydroelectric generators now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved hydroenergy conversion system, and overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The purpose of the invention is to provide a new and improved hydroelectric power system and method that has all the advantages of the prior art yet many novel features. Utilizing microturbine technology and diversion valves, the invention permits the generation of electricity using existing municipal water supply systems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following Figures are briefly descriptive of the drawings included within the application:

Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the diverted line hydroelectric power generation system.

Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the diverted line hydroelectric

power generation system.

Fig. 3 is a transverse perspective view of the diverted line hydroelectric power generation system.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the microturbine exchange.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view bf the second microturbine and the microturbine exchange.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of the diverted line

hydroelectric power generation system having a generator 1, as connected by output feedwire 2 to breaker box 3. Shown is generator driveshaft 4, which is actuated by a first microturbine 6 and a second microturbine 5. The microturbine exchange 7 allows pressurized fluid flowing through inflow line 10 to actuate and rotate a second microturbine 5 and a first microturbine 6 and thereby receive and transfer the fluid energy available to the system into rotational motion. The fluid pressure is controlled by a pressure valve regulator 8, as periodically monitored and controlled by a pressure valve circuit 9 to provide consistent fluid pressure and thus consistent electrical energy production. The pressurized fluid thereafter flows through the outflow line 11 towards the main line 21. An inflow shutoff valve 19 and an outflow shutoff valve 20 allow the user to physically control fluid flow relative to the main line 21. Fig. 1 A is provided to demonstrate the 1 -1 line along which Fig. 4 is derived.

[001 1 ] Fig. 2 is a side perspective view of the diverted line hydroelectric power generation system having a generator 1, as connected by output feedwire 2 to breaker box 3. Shown in this perspective is the generator driveshaft 4 and the first microturbine 6. The microturbine exchange 7 allows pressurized fluid flowing through inflow line 10 to actuate and rotate the microturbines (visible in this drawing is the second microturbine 5) and thereby receive and transfer the fluid energy available to the system into rotational motion. The fluid pressure is controlled by a pressure valve regulator 8, as periodically monitored and controlled by a pressure valve circuit 9 to provide consistent fluid pressure and thus consistent electrical energy production. The pressurized fluid thereafter flows through the outflow line 11 (not shown in this drawing) towards the main line 21. An inflow shutoff valve 19 and an outflow shutoff valve 20 allow the user to physically control fluid flow relative to the main line 21.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a transverse perspective view of the diverted line hydroelectric power generation system having a generator 1, as connected to breaker box 3. Shown is generator driveshaft 4, which is actuated by a second microturbine 5 and a first microturbine 6. Fluid flowing through inflow line 10 actuates and rotates a second microturbine 5 and a first microturbine 6 which thereby receive and transfer the fluid energy available to the system into rotational motion. The fluid pressure is controlled by a pressure valve regulator 8, as periodically monitored and controlled by a pressure valve circuit 9 to provide consistent fluid pressure and thus consistent electrical energy production. The rotation of the second microturbine 5 actuates a second microturbine driveshaft 17 which, in turn, actuates a second microturbine driveshaft gear 16. Likewise, the rotation of the first microturbine 6 actuates a first microturbine driveshaft 12 which, in turn, actuates a first microturbine driveshaft gear 13. Both microturbine driveshaft gears intermesh with the respective first generator drive gear 14 and second generator drive gear 15. The transformation of the rotational energy along the respective driveshaft gears and generator drive gears, ultimately along the generator driveshaft 4, actuates the generator 1.

[0013] Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the diverted line

hydroelectric power generation system, and more specifically a cross sectional view of the 1 -1 bisected portion shown in Fig. 1 at the microturbine exchange 7.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the diverted line

hydroelectric power generation system, and more specifically a cross sectional view of the 2-2 bisected portion shown in Fig. 4 at the microturbine exchange. Shown is the plurality of microturbine fins 18, the generator driveshaft 4, the first microturbine 6, and the microturbine exchange 7.

[0015] Alternating embodiments comprise the use of direct current generators or alternating current generators. The use of direct current generators may facilitate the use of battery storage, although an inverter and controller may be necessary to utilize alternating current and to prevent overcharging of the battery systems, respectively.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0016] The use of a diverted line hydroelectric power generation system in connection with municipal water supplies, both prospective as well as retrofitted, will allow municipalities and cities to cultivate electricity from existing structures.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0017] The following is a sequential listing of the reference signs: generator - 1

output feedwire - 2

breaker box - 3

generator driveshaft - 4

second microturbine - 5

first microturbine - 6

microturbine exchange - 7

pressure valve regulator - 8

pressure valve circuit - 9

inflow line - 10

outflow line- 1 1

first microturbine driveshaft - 12

first microturbine driveshaft gear - 13

first generator drive gear - 14

second generator drive gear - 15

second microturbine driveshaft gear - 16

second microturbine driveshaft - 17

microturbine fin(s) - 18

inflow shutoff valve - 19

outflow shutoff valve - 20

main line - 21 REFERENCE TO DEPOSITED BIOLOGICAL MATERIAL

[0018] There are no biological materials deposited with this application.

CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE

[0019] Reference is made to U.S. Patent No. 4,731 ,545 and U.S.

Patent No. 6,675,308 as demonstrative of prior art relevant to background art.

NON-PATENT LITERATURE

[0020] No reference is made to non-patent literature in the description.

Claims

Claim 1 . I claim a hydroelectric power generation system comprising:

a generator;

a generator driveshaft;

one or more microturbine(s) affixed to a microturbine exchange;

a main line having pressurized fluid flowing at a predetermined rate;

an inflow line having pressurized fluid flowing at a predetermined rate that serves to divert fluid from the main line into the microturbine exchange where the pressurized fluid compels the microturbine(s) to rotate, thereby actuating the generator driveshaft and the generator to produce electricity; and,

an outflow line to return the flow of pressurized fluid to the main line.

Claim 2. I claim a hydroelectric power generation system comprising:

a generator connected by an output feedwire to a breaker box;

a generator driveshaft rotatably connected by a generator drive gear to a microturbine driveshaft gear which is, in turn, rotatably connected to a microturbine driveshaft;

a microturbine affixed to both a microturbine exchange and the microturbine driveshaft;

an inflow line having pressurized fluid flowing at a predetermined rate that diverts fluid from the main line into the microturbine exchange where the pressurized fluid compels the microturbine to rotate, thereby actuating the generator driveshaft and the generator to produce electricity;

an inflow shutoff valve; and,

an outflow line to return the flow of pressurized fluid to the main line.

Claim 3. I claim a hydroelectric power generation system comprising:

a generator connected by an output feedwire to a battery;

a generator driveshaft rotatably connected by a generator drive gear to a microturbine driveshaft gear which is, in turn, rotatably connected to a microturbine driveshaft;

a microturbine affixed to both a microturbine exchange and the microturbine driveshaft;

an inflow line having pressurized fluid flowing at a predetermined rate that diverts fluid from the main line into the microturbine exchange where the pressurized fluid compels the microturbine to rotate, thereby actuating the generator driveshaft and the generator to produce electricity;

an inflow shutoff valve; and,

an outflow line to return the flow of pressurized fluid to the main line.