AU4535097A

AU4535097A - Air lift type power generating and water purifying apparatus

Info

Publication number: AU4535097A
Application number: AU45350/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Syoroku Yagami
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-07-08
Filing date: 1996-07-08
Publication date: 1998-02-02
Also published as: WO1998001676A1

Description

[Title of Document] Specification [Title of Invention] Air lift type power generation and water purification system [Claims] [3 claims] 1. Features of the air lift type power generation system include power generation by a substitute energy because energy sources on the globe are limited; nuclear power generation is opposed by public opinion, and hydroelectric power plants can not be increased further. 2. Features of the air lift type water purification system include efficiency increasing with the depth of water, requiring very small energy for driving and suitability for cleaning fish and shell firms. 3. The air lift type power generation system is a surface water tank type, capable of being adopted as a large ship propulsion plant. [Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of the invention] This invention relates to an air piece, requiring a very small starting up energy source, i.e., compressed air from an air compressor, to drive a power generation turbine, and to a system preventing a red tide generated by poor water circulation in a lake or a sea. [Prior Art] Lately, power generating energy sources pose problems in Japan where there are few resources as hydraulic power generation encounters frequent lack of rainfall, fossil fuel power generation is exhausting estimated amount of crude oil, and nuclear power generation still involves great danger. The development of Monju, a fast breeder reaction, is at a deadlock. In the air lift type power generation system, the air compressor starts up by a small engine, thereafter part of electric power generated by the system is supplied to drive the air compressor which generates compressed air, an energy source of the system. It requires only small energy and no exhaust gas produces at all. In the hydraulic power generation system these days, amount of water stored in the dam decreases and water once discharged from the dam is pumped up to the dam by the midnight excess electric power. Conventional water purification practice is to remove sludge, etc. on the lake or sea bottom by a dredger or only to stir up the water surface by a water wheel to supply oxygen. [Problems Solved by the Invention] This power generation and water purification system is intended to deal with the energy problems and to restore the global environment which has been extremely contaminated by the human beings. [Methods for Solving Problems] This invention refers to a cylindrical water tank installed on the surface, an air piece type pump (1), discharging compressed air into water at the lower part of the tank to circulate water not only by compressed air but by buoyance of air, and a turbine (5) coupled to a generator which is revolved by the circulating water to generate electric power. The system purifies lake or sea water. (Fig. 3) A difference from the invention described in the cited literature JP7-75395A is that the structure in the literature is installed under water and the turbine pump is located at the upper part of the system close to the discharge port of bubble carrying water. It is feared to disrupt the revolution of the turbine pump. [Preferred Embodiments] This invention will be described in details, referring to the attached drawings.

Fig. 1 shows the cross section of the air piece which is essential as an energy source of this invention. The air discharge nozzle (symbol No. 2) releases compressed air in the cylindrical air piece (symbol No.1). The compressed air expands and rises, generating a rapid up-flow in the pipe, producing a vacuum at the bottom of the pipe, and revolving the turbine that drives the generator. This effect is enhanced with the depth of water. Fig. 2 shows the configuration of an elevator tower type water tank in a tall building and the air piece installed in the tank for an independent power generation. Water filled in the tank rarely requires make-up and may be replaced when the inside of the tank is inspected. At present, once discharged water is pumped back to the dam by night excess electric power at the dam type power plant, because of water shortage, this invention can use the existing dam. The symbol No. 4 shows the state of expanding and rising up of compressed air. Fig. 3 shows stirring water by wind power as a trial experiment to prevent a red tide supposedly caused by poor circulation of water at the bottom of a lake or an inland sea. This method can not be used at deep water. Since the air piece type is effective with the depth of water and can be started up with a small air compressor which requires a small energy source and is kept running by operating the air compressor with electric power generated in its own system, requiring no attendance of the operator all the time, not in the nighttime. Symbol No. 10 shows the air piece installed on a floating crane, capable of moving anywhere and adding air piece pipes according to the depth of water. [Example] This invention (the air piece) together with a submerged jet pump facilitated piling by blowing up sand and clay out of the sea bottom in port engineering works where the bottom was so hard that timber or steel pipe piles were difficult to drive in. [Effect of the Invention] This invention refers to an epoch-making system not only for solving alternative energy problems but also protecting the environment from dioxin. The power generating system of this invention is a surface water tank type of less troubles, high operating efficiency, and easy maintenance because of its simple construction. The water purifying system is also easy to maintain. Since the turbine (5 in Fig. 2) of the air lift type power generation system is installed at a lower part, the system can generate power smoothly and effectively irrespective of air bubble (4) carrying water (11) released at the upper part of the system. [Brief Description of Drawings] Fig. 1 shows the cross sectional drawing of a desirable air piece of this invention. Fig. 2 shows the operational principle diagram of the power generating system attached to the air piece. Fig. 3 shows the operational principle of the air piece in circulating lake or sea bottom water. [Description of Symbols] 1. Air piece proper 7. Generator 2. Air discharge nozzle 8. Air compressor 3. Air hose 9. Water tank 4. Air bubbles 10. Floating crane 5. Turbine 11. Lake water or pure water 6. Connecting shaft 12. Bubbled water up-flow pipe

Claims

1. Features of the air lift type power generation system include power generation by a substitute energy because energy sources on the globe are limited; nuclear power generation is opposed by public opinion, and hydroelectric power plants can not be increased further.

2. Features of the air lift type water purification system include efficiency increasing with the depth of water, requiring very small energy for driving and suitability for cleaning fish and shell firms.

3. The air lift type power generation system is a surface water tank type, capable of being adopted as a large ship propulsion plant. [Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of the invention] This invention relates to an air piece, requiring a very small starting up energy source, i.e., compressed air from an air compressor, to drive a power generation turbine, and to a system preventing a red tide generated by poor water circulation in a lake or a sea. [Prior Art] Lately, power generating energy sources pose problems in Japan where there are few resources as hydraulic power generation encounters frequent lack of rainfall, fossil fuel power generation is exhausting estimated amount of crude oil, and nuclear power generation still involves great danger. The development of Monju, a fast breeder reaction, is at a