CA2978935C - Cohesion based hydroelectric power - Google Patents

Abstract

COHESION BASED HYDROELECTRIC POWER invention represents generation method eliminating: .circle. substantial water-head .circle. large-dam construction .circle. environmental and visual concerns. The dominant vertical drop from the usual position between the water intake and turbine (penstock) is relocated by this invention to between the turbine and the water outflow, utilizing this way water-cohesion-forces in cohesion-pipes positioned after the turbine, allowing substantial - at will - water velocity increase in the penstock. Multiple level energy generation increase is achieved with reduced water volume intake. This invention substantially reduces time and financial requirements of new, renewable hydroelectric-power-station construction. Hydroelectric-stations may be constructed at locations previously considered non- appropriate, where limited - but still satisfactory - water supply is available. Upgrading existing hydroelectric-power-stations (dammed, pumped, ROR, etc.), or non-powered dams is possible to increase generating capacity while reducing water volume requirement and environmental impact.

Description

COHESION BASED HYDROELECTRIC
POWER
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention provides a new and improved electric power generation method in hydroelectric and hydrokinetic area, specifically in the following fields:
A/ PHYSICS
This invention makes it possible to control (increase or decrease) the velocity (SPEED) of the water in the penstock. Therefore, substantially increasing the kinetic energy of water when it hits the turbine blades, while reducing the water volume 1.0 requirement.
B/ ENVIRONMENT
This invention makes it possible to build new electric power generating stations that are more environmental friendly, green, renewable and sustainable. This invention substantially reduces carbon emission created by electric power generation, and eliminates a number of existing interference with the environment (visual or otherwise) C/ ECONOMICS
This invention substantially reduces the time-, and financial investment requirements for the construction of new, or upgrading existing electric power generation stations.
Background Of The Invention The power of moving water is utilized in mankind's history for more than 2,000 years for various purposes. In our times, traditional hydroelectric power generation stations produce electricity from at least one of the following two properties of water:
- POTENTIAL ENERGY (vertically higher location of the water, i.e. behind dams, etc.) and/or ...
- KINETIC ENERGY (the naturally happening flow of water, as in rivers, streams, etc.) In either case, the technologically available, ONLY possibility, to control at will the generated electric power level (kWh) - in order to satisfy the varying power need and requirement of the grid, is:
- CHANGING (increase or decrease) the WATER VOLUME that hits the turbine!
This limitation is a major reason of multiple problems with the currently available hydro generation technologies.
Page 1.

35 Description Of Prior Art It is common in the current hydroelectric power generating technology fields (be it either small, or large-scale operation) that the entire operational technology is comprised of only a few functional elements that can be defined as per the following:
(starting from the point where the water enters the system, all the way to the point 40 where the water leaves the system and returns to the environment:
- Water source: can be behind a large dam, or a river, pond, etc. with proper vertical location - called the "water head".
- Water intake (penstock): usually long in size to allow the potential energy of the water turn into kinetic energy which drives the turbine.
45 - Turbine: located at the end of the penstock. This is the most critical component of the system, as turbine efficacy determines the efficiency of the entire system.
- Water-outflow: located right after the turbine, it is similar to the penstock, but usually much shorter in size. The ONLY function of the water-outflow is to return the water to the environment.
50 One of the most fundamental requirement of any power generating station is to be able to supply steady, but varying level of electric power to the grid. Stable and sufficient water volume availability is a must to fulfill the stable power supplying expectation.
One of the most important input requirement is water volume for existing hydroelectric 55 power stations to be able to produce the ever-changing power level (kWh). Changing WATER VOLUME is the ONLY, technologically possible way currently to increase or decrease the level of the generated electric power.
The limited ability to control energy output is the major problem with wind, and solar electric power generation methods, as well. (Wind-blow fluctuates all the time, and sun 60 is not shining enough in winter when the electric power need is the largest) Speaking about hydroelectricity, changing the SPEED of the water in the penstock, before it hits the turbine ¨ would be a much more effective way to control the electric power output.
Changing speed of water by current technology is only possible by increasing the 65 water head ¨ which is rarely an available option.
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70 Summary Of The Effects Of The Invention The purpose of this invention is to introduce a method of at will control of the SPEED
of water (increase, or decrease) in hydroelectric power generation technologies.
As previously pointed out in this document, the currently aplied method of utilizing the potential energy of water in larger hydroelectric stations has its limiting effect due to 75 the fact that generated electric power output can be varied only by controlling the water volume hitting the turbine.
The other method to effectively control the electric power output would be varying the speed of the water when it hits the turbine.
As we know, the equation of kinetic energy is: E = (m * V2) / 2 80 Where "m" is the volume (mass), and "V" is the speed (velocity) of the water.
Therefore, double water volume will generate:
- DOUBLE ENERGY
But ... if we double the SPEED of the water ¨ which also will draw double volume of 85 water in the same penstock (with the same cross-section surface), then we generate:
- EIGHT TIMES MORE ENERGY
Increasing the speed of water - apart from generating substantially more energy -will have numerous, very positive side effects, as well ¨ just to mention but a few:
90 - No need to build large water dams o Huge savings in the required financial investment o Much reduced construction times and costs o Amortisation of investment is shorter, so cost effectiveness increased o Will not be necessary to flood enormous large land area 95 o No huge water reservoir, therefore no CO2 emission by the reservoir o Zero greenhouse gas and/or atmospheric containment emission during operation o Fully controlled waterflow (both: volume and speed) ensuring additional environment protection 100 o Will not be necessary to relocate local residents, entire villages o We will not change the ecosystem neither up-, nor down stream o Can be utilized at existing, non-powered dams to generate electricity Page 3.

105 - New potential locations will be identified for hydroelectric power generation o Much less stringent natural, geographical features required o No substantial on location, vertical elevation difference required o Less intrusive for the environment o Utilizing existing waterf low in a cost effective and environmentally 110 friendly way = In case of ROR: only minimal, partial river-flow diversion needed as NOT water volume, but water speed is utilized = ROR needs minimum 2m/sec water speed for economical operation. Optimal water speed is at 4.5 m/sec.
115 This invention can produce that water speed easily, almost at any location.
o Discrete, or even invisible setting (as all required operational cornponents can be placed under ground) o Less fiscal investment as new location can be established close to 120 existing powerlines and existing roads o Less political and/or civil (residential) opposition against new power stations.
- Operational effects 125 o Maintenance is less costly as the turbine can be positioned at the same vertical level where the water source is o Less costly maintenance as the generator may be installed close to the turbine o Station location can be close to inhabited area, less commuting cost 130 o Less transportation cost of equipment and materials needed for the power station construction and later for maintenance o Electric power output (kWh) is fully controlled, fully predictable Detailed Description Of The Invention 135 After declaring so many great advantages and opportunities, now let's see how this invention actually works. First some physics which are the basic functions of this invention need to be discussed:
Page 4.

Everybody utilizes siphon effect, for example, when we have a drink from a juice box by sucking on a straw. In such situation, our juice comes out of its container because at one end of the straw we create a vacuum in our mouth, therefore the atmospheric pressure on the juice at the other end of the straw will push that liquid juice up through 145 the straw into our mouth. This kind of siphon effect is based on atmospheric pressure difference of the environment at the two ends of any tubing.
Another kind of siphon effect happens when we transfer some liquid from one container to another container by a tube or pipe. The liquid in the first container must move upwards to pass over the wall of its container to get out of there and continue 150 flowing over into the other container. As long as the tube/pipe is completely filled with liquid (no air bubbles), AND the outflow end of the tube is at a vertically lower position than the other - intake end - of the tube, the fluid will move from one container to the other, even if the fluid has to move upwards somewhere on its way to the other container.
155 This kind of siphon effect is based on gravity induced molecular cohesion force within the liquid, dependent on the vertical level (height) difference + the vertical weight of liquid in the downward section of the pipe - "cohesion pipes". The atmospheric pressure of the environment doesn't have any effect in this case. Cohesion based siphon effect works in vacuum as well.
160 We can stretch a rubber item longer, but a liquid is not stretchable ¨
same way as it is not compressible either!!!
This - so-called - GRAVITY INDUCED MOLECULAR COHESION EFFECT
is the physics background of this invention.
The cohesion force among the molecules of the water will be utilized to 165 substantially change how hydroelectric power generation works.
The easiest way to understand what can be done is to disclose a real-life imitating, actual test and its results. A "proof of concept" model was built as shown in the attached Figure 1.
170 PROOF OF CONCEPT model with full functionality As illustrated in Fig.1 . the test model was as simple as it can be. The entire model, and the tests were made ¨for simplicity reasons - in full vertical position.
The function Page 5.

175 and the test results can all be easily checked and repeated, or reproduced by any interested party. All parts and components are commercially (retail) available -buckets, plastic pipes, taps, etc. The model building and the test does not require any workshop, or laboratory setting, and doesn't even cost much.
Having the first visual observation of the model as illustrated in Fig.1., a basic 180 difference must be recognized, compared to existing, traditional hydroelectric power station configurations.
SUBSTANTIAL VERTICAL DROP IS AFTER THE TURBINE, NOT IN FRONT OF IT!!!
185 In other words:
- Dominant vertical drop is NOT between the water source (intake) and the turbine, - Dominant vertical drop is between the turbine and the water outflow.
Water head can be substituted by increasing the total cross-section area of the 190 cohesion pipes (i.e. larger diameter or number of cohesion pipes.) PLEASE NOTE:
- During the tests, the turbine (3) was not present in the penstock

(2). In real life the turbine resistance will somewhat reduce the water speed.
195 - Before each test the entire model was checked to make sure there was no air present in the water anywhere in the system - The time required for 2 liter of water outflow from the upstream water source (1) was measured.
- The tests were made as "manual tests".
200 Meaning:
o Observation of the water levels in the upstream water source (1) was made visually for "start/stop" interval marking o and the timer measuring the elapsed time was hand pressed for "start/stop".
205 - The manual measuring method is not much accurate, therefore 4 individual tests were made for each model setting. This way the average value of the 4 measurements could be calculated, giving somewhat more accurate results of the measured one-tens, and one-hundreds of a second value ranges.
210 Page 6.

TEST METHODS
The main purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the effect of the cohesion force compared to a regular, non-cohesion force induced traditional water outflow setting.
Another, similarly important purpose of the tests was to demonstrate the effect of 215 increasing the number ¨ and therefore the total diameter (total cross-section surfaces) of the cohesion pipes (6) ¨ (the water outflow pipes).
Direct! Direct outflow of water from the water source (1). No outflow pipe(s) were installed onto the water source, therefore this test shows the 220 required time of the natural water outflow without any human intervention through a 16-mm opening.
1 Tube! The penstock (2), the manifold (4) and one cohesion pipe (6) were installed onto the system. The MUCH FASTER WATERFLOW - due to the water "pulling effect" of the cohesion force is clearly showing up in 225 the test results. The increased SPEED of the water in the penstock (2) is already evident with just one pipe installed.
2 Tubes / This was similar to the previous test, but one more (a total of two) cohesion pipes were installed onto the system. The clearly noticeable shortening of outflow time and the further increased speed of water in 230 the penstock (2) is clearly observable.

3 Tubes! One more cohesion pipe was installed onto the system (now a total of 3) and the increasing speed of the water flow was clearly recordable.

4 Tubes! Now a total of 4 cohesion pipes were installed onto the system. The water outflow speed was still increasing ¨ though only marginally.
235 It is clearly evident in the test results that adding more and more cohesion pipes to the system will gradually ¨ but at a clearly decreasing rate ¨ show a cumulative result, which is a substantial increase of water speed, as the outflow time is getting gradually shorter and shorter.
These tests show the effect of increasing the number of identical diameter 240 cohesion pipes. Additional tests were made to see the effect of increasing the diameter of the cohesion pipe from the first tests of 16-millimetre diameter pipes.
A 2nd test was made with 18-millimeter diameter pipe, and a 31d test was made with 25-millimeter cohesion pipes.
245 Page 7.

The actual test results of the first series of tests with the 16 millimeter pipes and the evaluation of those results are attached as Table 1, and Table 2.
Those tables are representing some shockingly clear evidences of what 250 cohesion force can -, and will do to increase the speed of water. We can generate large amount of additional electric power output without any additional energy input, just by moving the prominent vertical drop of the water to the other side of the turbine.
Further more, we can decrease the water volume intake when we increase the speed of the water and we will still generate the same electric power level (kWh).

OBSERVATIONS
The following observations were made during the tests and during the creation of the evaluation tables:
THE COHESION PIPES (outflow pipes) MAY BE INSTALLED IN ANY POSITION, 260 NOT NECESSARILY ALL IN VERTICAL "HANGING" POSITION. SOME SECTIONS
CAN BE HORIZONTAL, OR EVEN UPWARDS TENDING.
THE IMPORTANT FACTOR IS THAT THE ENTIRE COHESION PIPE SYSTEM
MUST BE IN A DOWNWARD TRENDING GENERAL DIRECTION.
- As the speed of water increases in the system, so does the inner resistance of 265 the system increase, as well. (manifold resistance, pipes inner wall resistance, turbine resistance, etc.) - Water speed may beat air bubbles out of the water which will marginally reduce the effectiveness of the cohesion forces.
- Cavitation will happen in real life on the turbine blades which will marginally 270 reduce the effectiveness of the cohesion forces.
- At the same time, cavitation - being a negative pressure - will partially increase the effectiveness of the cohesion forces.
- Potential energy of water-head CAN NOT be added as the sum of the effect of installing multiple penstocks leading to the turbine.
275 - But the water speed increasing effect of cohesion forces - CAN BE
ADDED
together as the sum of the effect of installing multiple cohesion pipes as outflow pipes AFTER the turbine.
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280 - The end of the outflow pipes (cohesion pipes) must be under the downstream water level, otherwise air will get back into the system (gassing).
Any of the disadvantages may easily be overcome by installing degassing valves and by proper dimensional design case-by-case fitted to the desired location and to the installation specifics, and expectations, as well.

SUMMARY
The total cross-section surface of the cohesion pipes was increased, which effectively increased the "vertical weight" of the water, while the "vertical height" of the cohesion pipes remained unchanged. By the above, the "pulling force" in the penstock was 290 increased, which resulted in substantial increase of the speed of the water in the penstock - the water had much increased kinetic energy at hitting the turbine.
o INFLUENTIAL FACTORS FOR INCREASING THE SPEED OF WATER
= Height of the total actual vertical drop between the turbine and the end of the cohesion pipes (water outflow) 295 = The size of the total cross-section surface of the cohesion pipes = Weight of water in the direct vertical distance only (like as if the cohesion pipes were all in vertical positions) = Total cross-section surface of the cohesion pipes being larger than the cross-section surface of the penstock 300 o NON-INFLUENTIAL FACTORS FOR THE SPEED OF WATER
= Total length of cohesion pipes and length of penstock = Weight (mass) of the total volume of water in the cohesion pipes BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig.l. is the representation of the test model of the cohesion force effect.
1/ intake (upstream water source) 2/ penstock 3/ turbine 310 4/ manifold

5/ flow control and degassing valves

6/ cohesion pipes

7/ downstream water level

8/ outflow 315 Page 9.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
After the rather "graphical" explanation of how a COHESION BASED
HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANT works, it is not necessary to describe a new, 320 dammed power plant embodiment. It is now evident that the new dammed power plant would be very similar to already existing hydroelectric power plants. The substantial difference would be the very short penstock between the water intake and the turbine.
At the same time, there would be a rather long outflow system composed of multiple pipes called cohesion pipes. The rest of the differences ¨ if any ¨ would depend on 325 the hydro engineers designing the power plant adaptation to each specific site.
Several other opportunities and ways exist to utilize the current invention.
Here are just a few of the most likely embodiments to upgrade existing power generating plants, or build entirely new power generating stations where the current invention would successfully be utilized.

1/ IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL, NEW POWER GENERATING LOCATIONS
In any case - new installation, or upgrading an existing power plant - this invention assures that SUBSTANTIALLY LESS WATER VOLUME INPUT WILL BE REQUIRED
for the same level (kWh) of electric power generation, compared to any existing hydro 335 technologies! Currently one of the major problems to find suitable site for new hydropower stations is the requirement of large volume of water be available all the time. Because of the substantially reduced water supply requirement of this invention and the extremely high investment and very long time needed for dam construction ¨
new, large number of run-off-the-river type installations are most likely to utilize this 340 invention.
This will require identification of new locations where feasible power generation can be established. Many ¨ earlier considered as non-proper, or neglected sites ¨ can now be identified as potential construction sites for electric power generators ¨
located at rivers, streams, or even at lakes ¨ due to the fact that this invention does NOT require 345 at site, direct vertical drop 2/ EXISTING, NON-POWERED DAM UTILIZATION
There are thousands of dams existing all around the world which were built for other than electricity generation purposes ¨ i.e. agricultural irrigation, or environmental water Page 10.

control, etc.
These are called NON-POWERED DAMs.
The current invention offers an unparalleled technical opportunity to turn these non-355 powered dams into electric power generating locations. We can do this without interfering with the visual setting, or the environment of the locale. We can even make our new installation of the powerplant non-visible by installing all the needed equipment and piping, etc., to underground.
What we need to do is just to lay some piping (a short penstock and a longer set of 360 cohesion pipes). Then set the turbine in between these two piping and build a control room somewhere else on shore. Depending on the location of the closest powerline, some connecting powerline construction may be required, too. This would probably be the cheapest, the most cost effective and fastest power plant construction opportunity.

Run-off-the-river method is the utilization - one of, or a combination of -water head (potential energy of water) and/or natural water flow of a river (kinetic energy of water) for electric power generation purposes.
Actually, what we have to do is very simple in this case. Just shorten the length 370 of the penstock before the turbine to allow the increase of the length of the outflow piping (replace the outflow pipe with a system of cohesion purpose pipes) positioned after the turbine.
This way the speed of the water will increase with such a proportion that probably the turbine itself will need to be replaced - as well - with a higher capacity turbine to 375 handle the substantially increased kinetic energy of the water.

Page 11.

Claims (4)

The Embodiments Of The Invention In Which An Exclusive Property Or Privilege Is Claimed Are Defined As Follows:

1. A hydropower system comprising:
- a standing, or running water source at any elevation above sea level;
- a penstock which delivers the water to a high-speed waterflow turbine;
- an outflow pipe system composed of multiple pipes called cohesion pipe system, wherein an acting vertical drop to generate gravity induced kinetic energy of the water is downstream of the turbine, thereby creating siphoning effect on the water in the pipes due to molecular cohesion forces;
- control valves that are installed on each of the cohesion pipes.

2. The hydropower system of Claim 1, wherein the outflow pipe (cohesion pipe) system is composed of multiple pipes.

3. The hydropower system of Claim 1 and Claim 2 where the control valves allow at will adjustment, increase or decrease the speed and volume of the waterflow to the turbine to satisfy at any given time the fluctuating electric power generation level requirement of the market.

4. The hydropower system of Claim 1 and Claim 2 and Claim 3 further comprising of degassing valves located at vertically high points of the system allowing release of gasses accumulated in the system during regular operation back to the environment and reducing the level of the damage caused on the turbine blades by the usual cavitation and will also keep the effectiveness of the cohesion pipe system constant.
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