EP1650430A1

EP1650430A1 - Method and apparatus for generating environmentally friendly energy

Info

Publication number: EP1650430A1
Application number: EP04077939A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Achille André de Wijngaert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-10-25
Filing date: 2004-10-25
Publication date: 2006-04-26

Abstract

Method for generating ecologically sound, energy by means of one or several current generators (8) which are driven by a first turbine (7) which is driven by making a liquid coming from a first liquid reservoir (2) flow over said first turbine (7), characterised in that the liquid is collected in a second liquid resorvoir (9) situated at a lower level, from where the liquid is guided over a part (11) sloping down slantingly towards the outlet (10) of the liquid reservoir (9) so as to make the liquid flow over a second turbine (12) and to subsequently collect this liquid again in a third liquid reservoir (13) situated at an even lower level, from where it is pumped to the first topmost liquid reservoir (2) again by means of a pump (19) which is driven by the above-mentioned second turbine (12) in order to maintain the level of the liquid in this first topmost liquid reservoir (2).

Description

The present invention concerns a method for generating ecologically sound energy, more particularly durable and inexhaustible energy.
It is known that, in order to generate ecologically sound energy, use can be made of wind turbines, water power stations and the like, which employ sources of nature to drive an electric current generator or the like.
A constantly recurring problem is that, with such devices, one always depends on the availability and intensity of such sources of nature.
For example, there is not always enough wind available to drive the wind turbines.
Nor is there always a permanently sufficient water flow available to drive the water turbines of a water power station, as the water drop is too small due to a too low water level in the impounding reservoir which provides water to the water power station.
Large water turbines already exist whereby the water is pumped out of the sea. Since the water level is not always favourable, only one out of the four connected generators will work under certain circumstances, such that the water turbine cannot be used to its full capacity.
There is a growing tendency to make use of expensive wind turbines in order to obtain ecologically sound energy, which are erected in groups in wind turbine plants, but which have as an additional disadvantage that they are usually erected in windy regions of ecological value, where they do not only harm the natural scenery, but where they are also detrimental to nature, either directly or indirectly.
After years of pioneering work, the inventor claims to have developed a method which does not have one or several of the above-mentioned disadvantages and which makes it possible to generate durable and inexhaustible energy in a continuous and ecologically sound manner, without thereby depending on the whims of nature.
To this end, the invention concerns a method for generating ecologically sound energy by means of one or several current generators which are driven by a first turbine which is driven by making a liquid from a first liquid reservoir flow over said first turbine, whereby the liquid is collected in a second liquid reservoir, situated at a lower level, from where the liquid is guided over a slantingly sloping surface to the outlet of the liquid reservoir in order to make the liquid flow over a second turbine, and subsequently collect this liquid again in a third liquid reservoir, situated at an even lower level, from where it is pumped again to the first topmost liquid reservoir, by means of a pump which is driven by the above-mentioned second turbine in order to maintain the level of the liquid in said first topmost liquid reservoir.
Thanks to this method, the level in the first reservoir situated at a higher level is kept constant, as a result of which the first turbine can always be driven at full force, and the current generator can be constantly employed at its full capacity and with a maximum yield.
As the above-mentioned pump for maintaining the liquid at level in the first reservoir is driven by the second turbine, which thus provides the energy to drive the pump, either or not entirely, ecologically sound, durable and inexhaustible energy can be supplied in a very efficient manner by this method.
The pump can thereby be driven by exclusively one or both turbines, preferably exclusively by the second turbine, such that, according to the inventor, no extra energy is required to keep the liquid in the first reservoir at level.
Preferably, the same quantity of liquid is constantly circulated without any liquid being added, except for liquid that is added to compensate any possible losses.
In this manner is obtained a circuit which is closed as such, which can work entirely autonomously according to the invention without any energy being supplied from outside, as a result of which energy can be produced at a very low cost.
The invention also concerns a device for generating ecologically sound energy according to the above-described method, whereby this device mainly consists of a first liquid reservoir with an outlet situated at a certain height; a first turbine situated behind this outlet which drives a current generator under the influence of the liquid flowing out of the above-mentioned outlet of the first liquid reservoir, which generator generates electric energy; a second liquid reservoir extending under this first turbine and situated at a lower level, having an outlet and a part sloping down slantingly towards the outlet of said reservoir; a second turbine situated behind the outlet of the second liquid reservoir and which is driven by the liquid flowing out of the second liquid reservoir; a third liquid reservoir situated underneath it at an even lower level, from where a liquid pipe starts which opens in the topmost first liquid reservoir and in which has been provided a pump which is driven by the second turbine to pump the liquid from the bottommost third liquid reservoir to the topmost first liquid reservoir and to maintain the level of the liquid in the topmost first liquid reservoir.
An advantage is that such a device according to the invention is much cheaper than a conventional device in the form of a water power station or a wind turbine plant with a similar energy yield.
Indeed, such a device, according to the inventor, requires more maintenance than the existing conventional devices for generating energy, which does not alter the fact that the general cost price per produced kilowatt-hour is far beneath the cost price of comparable conventional devices.
Moreover, maintenance personnel will be required, providing employment to the unemployed, which is good for the general economic situation.
When the pump is exclusively driven by one or by both of the above-mentioned turbines, this offers the additional advantage that ecologically sound, durable and inexhaustible energy can be obtained with such a device.
The device is preferably placed entirely, or at least partly, in a vertical housing, such that losses due to splashing or evaporation are reduced to a minimum, and such a device can be easily provided against the wall of a factory building or the like, without causing any nuisance to the environment and nature.
Since said device only occupies little space, it will be certainly possible to provide numbers of them in industrial buildings, whereby a capacity sufficient to supply ecologically sound energy to at least 28,000 families must be easily achievable.
In order to better explain the characteristics of the invention, the following preferred embodiments of a device according to the invention for generating energy will be described as an example only, without being limitative in any way, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically represents a device according to the invention for generating energy;
figure 2 represents a variant of figure 1;
figure 3 represents a variant of a device according to the invention;
figure 4 represents a section according to line IV-IV in figure 3.

The device 1 of figure 1 comprises a first liquid reservoir 2 situated at a certain height and filled up to a certain level 3 with a liquid, usually water.
This liquid reservoir 2 is provided with an outlet 4 at the bottom which is equipped with an adjustable flow valve 5 with a drive 6.
The outlet 4 opens into a first turbine 7 placed behind it, which in this case is formed of a wheel of the type which is known under the name upper stroke wheel, and which is situated at least three meters lower than the first liquid reservoir 2, and preferably even at least five meters lower.
Said first turbine 7 drives a current generator 8 whose ingoing shaft is coupled directly or by means of a transmission to said first turbine 7.
Under the first turbine 7 is situated a second liquid reservoir 9 at a lower level which is provided with an outlet 10 and with a part 11 sloping down slantingly towards the outlet 10 of said reservoir 9, which part 11 has the shape of a slantingly declining bottom whose drop amounts to at least 50 cm and preferably even amounts to at least 75 cm.
A second turbine 12 is provided behind the outlet 10 of the second liquid reservoir 9, whereby this second turbine 12 in this case is of the type which is known as a centre stroke wheel, whereby the liquid flows out via the outlet 10 at the height of the shaft of this second turbine 12.
Under the second turbine 12 is situated a third liquid reservoir 13 at a lower level in which opens a liquid supply 14 which can be stopped by means of for example a valve or an electro valve 15 and which comprises a gauge means 16 to detect a preset liquid level 17 in said liquid reservoir 13.
A liquid pipe 18 starts from the liquid in the third liquid reservoir 13 and opens into the first liquid reservoir 2 situated at the highest level.
In this pipe 18 has been integrated a pump 19 which is driven by the second turbine 12, either directly via a transmission, or indirectly by means of a current generator, not represented in the drawings, which is coupled to the second liquid wheel 12 and which supplies current, via a current line 20, to drive the pump 19, which is a high-delivery and a high-pressure pump.
The working of the device 1 is very simple and as follows.
When the adjustable flow valve 5 is opened, the liquid flows at a high flow rate of for example 1 m³ per second from the first liquid reservoir 2 to the outlet 4 and flows with great force onto the blades 21 of the first turbine 7, such that the current generator 8 will be driven, which provides the current for the power supply of a non-represented public or private network.
In the above-described setting with an upper stroke wheel as the second turbine 7, an output of 85 to 90% can be obtained, according to the inventor, when transforming energy.
The liquid flowing out of the first turbine 7 is collected in the second liquid reservoir 9 situated at a lower level, in which the liquid receives an extra thrust thanks to the sloping surface 11 in the direction of the outlet 10.
The liquid flows via the outlet 10 from the reservoir 9 and the inlet of the turbine 12 at the height of the shaft of the turbine 12 onto the blades 22 of the second liquid wheel 12 and is subsequently collected in the third liquid reservoir 13 situated at the lowest level.
The second liquid wheel 12 is driven by the force of the liquid flowing out of the outlet 10, which wheel in turn drives for example a second current generator, not represented in the drawings, which can supply the required energy, according to the inventor, to pump the liquid up again from the third liquid reservoir, by means of the pump 19, into the first, topmost liquid reservoir 2 to thus maintain the level of the liquid 3 in the first liquid reservoir 2 and thus also in the third liquid reservoir 13.
Still according to the inventor, the energy which is required to drive the pump 19 could preferably be exclusively provided by the second turbine 12, such that a circuit closed as such is obtained which constantly circulates the same quantity of liquid and provides for the permanent production of electric energy.
Via the gauge means 16, the level of the liquid 17 in the bottommost liquid reservoir 13 can be maintained by controlling the drive 6 of the flow valve 5, which can be opened more or less should the level 17 drop or rise.
In this manner is obtained a stable operation of the device 1 which does not depend on the availability of any forces of nature, as is the case with the known devices.
Via the liquid supply 14, losses which are due to leaks and the like, can be replenished either or not automatically.
Naturally, the gauge means 16 can also be provided in the first liquid reservoir 2.
It is clear that the second liquid reservoir may also consist of a simple sloping surface 11 which can collect the liquid, coming from the first turbine 7, and which channels it to an outlet 10, without any side walls being necessarily required to be able to contain a quantity of liquid.
It is also clear that the device may comprise several turbines 7 and 12, depending on the aimed production of electricity.
For the drive of the pump 19, it is also possible to use a part of the power production of the current generator 8, in combination with the power supply of the current generator which is driven by the second turbine 12.
If necessary, the pump 19 can also be driven directly by the turbine 12 without any intervention of a current generator.
Figure 2 represents a variant whereby the above-mentioned liquid reservoirs 2, 9 and 13 are integrated in a common and splashproof housing 23 in the form of a vertical column which can be provided against the wall of a factory building or the like.
In this manner, such devices 1 according to the invention can be provided in existing industrial estates and buildings in order to generate ecologically sound energy which can provide for the local energy supply, as well as for the power supply of the public electricity network.
It goes without saying that such installations will have to be maintained and that, hence, jobs can be created.
Figure 3 represents a variant of a device according to the invention.
In this case, the topmost first reservoir 2 is for example a watercourse, and the water is guided from the watercourse via a sloping outlet canalisation 4 to a first turbine 7 which drives a current generator 8 for the power supply of a public or a private electric mains.
The outlet canalisation 4 is provided with a breather tube 24.
The water in the water current is for example forced up artificially up to a water level 3 by a non-represented weir.
The turbine 7 is mounted on a base 27 by means of a U-shaped socle 25 with an opening 26, whereby this base 27 is provided with a part 11 sloping down slantingly, in the shape of a bevelled surface with for example a drop of 75 cm and a free far end 10 forming an outlet which opens at the height of the shaft of a second turbine 12 in the shape of a centre stroke wheel.
The socle 25 and the base 27 with the sloping part 11 so to say form a sort of reservoir 9 to collect and channel the water which flows through the first turbine 7 towards the second turbine 12.
Afterwards, the water is collected in a part of the flow situated lower, which so to say forms a flow-through reservoir 13.
The water of the part 13 of the flow which is situated lower is carried to the part 2 which is situated higher by means of a pipe 18 in which has been provided a pump 19 which is connected to a non-represented current generator for its power supply, which is driven by the second turbine 12.
The working principle of this device is analogous to that of figures 1 and 2, with this difference that the water is not always the same water being circulated in a circuit closed as such, but that fresh water is constantly supplied and discharged via the watercourse.
The water leaving the first turbine 7 still has potential energy because of the flow and the small drop. In the case of the conventional water power stations, this energy is lost; however, in the case of the invention it is used to drive the second turbine 12 and the current generator coupled to the latter, whereby this energy is still sufficient to obtain an output of 75% and to provide for the necessary current to drive the pump or pumps 19.
The present invention is by no means restricted to the embodiments described as an example and represented in the accompanying drawings; on the contrary, such a device according to the invention can be made in all sorts of shapes and dimensions and a method according to the invention can be applied according to different variants while still remaining within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Method for generating ecologically sound energy by means of one or several current generators (8) which are driven by a first turbine (7) which is driven by making a liquid coming from a first liquid reservoir (2) flow over said first turbine (7), characterised in that the liquid is collected in a second liquid reservoir (9) situated at a lower level, from where the liquid is guided over a part (11) sloping down slantingly towards the outlet (10) of the liquid reservoir (9) so as to make the liquid flow over a second turbine (12) and to subsequently collect this liquid again in a third liquid reservoir (13) situated at an even lower level, from where it is pumped to the first topmost liquid reservoir (2) again by means of a pump (19) which is driven by the above-mentioned second turbine (12) in order to maintain the level of the liquid in this first topmost liquid reservoir (2).
Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the above-mentioned pump (19) is exclusively driven by the second turbine (12).
Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the same quantity of liquid is constantly circulated without any liquid being added, except for liquid that is added to compensate any possible losses.
Method according to claim 1, characterised in that the above-mentioned slantingly sloping part 11 has a drop of more than 50 cm, and which preferably amounts to at least 75 cm.
Device for generating ecologically sound, durable and inexhaustible energy according to the method of any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it mainly consists of a first liquid reservoir (2) with an outlet (4) situated at a certain height; a first turbine (7) situated behind this outlet (4) which drives a current generator (8) under the influence of the liquid flowing out of the above-mentioned outlet (4) of the first liquid reservoir (2), which generator generates electric energy; a second liquid reservoir (9) extending under this first turbine (7) and situated at a lower level, having an outlet (10) and a part (11) sloping down slantingly towards the outlet (10) of said reservoir (9); a second turbine (12) situated behind the outlet (10) of the second liquid reservoir (9) and which is driven by the liquid flowing out of the second liquid reservoir (9); a third liquid reservoir (13) situated underneath it at an even lower level, from where a liquid pipe (13) starts which opens in the first liquid reservoir (2) at the highest level and in which has been provided a pump (19) which is driven by the second turbine (12) to pump the liquid from the bottommost third liquid reservoir (13) to the topmost first liquid reservoir (2) and to maintain the liquid level (3) in the topmost first liquid reservoir (2).
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the above-mentioned pump (19) is exclusively driven by the second turbine (12).
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the first turbine (7) is an upper stroke wheel which is situated at least three meters lower, and preferably five meters lower, than the outlet (4) of the first liquid reservoir (2).
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the second turbine (12) is a centre stroke wheel.
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the slantingly sloping surface (11) of the second liquid reservoir (9) has a drop of at least 50 cm, and preferably of at least 75 cm.
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that it is provided with a liquid supply (14) to replenish liquid losses.
Device according to claim 5, characterised in that it is provided, either entirely or at least partially, in a vertical housing (23).