FR2490740A1 - Hydroelectric power generating system - has series of local power stations along course of river for maximum efficiency, associated with locks - Google Patents

Abstract

A metal tube is placed along the centre of the bed of a river. It has an open end at a point at a high level in the river course. Some way downstream the tube is taken into a power house in which it rises to a height just less than its entry point. Water falls the height of the power house and drives a water turbine. The discharge of the turbine enters another similar metal tube which enters a further power house further downstream. The arrangement is repeated along the course of the river in a series of local power stations.

Description

 Power stations connected to each other and supplied along a watercourse by a sub-fluvial tube.

The present invention relates to the manufacture of the Electric Energyb from the energy of running water from rivers,
Tributaries and Rivers, captured by a tube, and treated by Power Plants
Normal hydroelectric, forming from the first to the last, an uninterrupted sequence, from the most suitable point chosen upstream, to the most suitable point, fixed downstream, hence the denominationi
PROCESSIONARY RIVER PLANTS.

 The difference in altitude (sea level) of the points chosen upstream and downstream, ensures, according to the principle of the communicating vessels, arrival at point B (as well as at the following points, C, D, E, etc) the exact volume of water captured in A. (Pl.I / 5, Fig.I).

Depending on the size of the stream, an overlap is possible, thus doubling the energy captured from the current (Pl.I / 5, Fig.2.)
In the future, and depending on the needs, we can even triple or
quadruple the overlap, thereby extracting the "fifth essence" from
the power of the current. Whenever a river
pours into a tributary, or a tributary enlarges a fle @ ve, there is matter to be treated a more considerable volume of water, therefore to form a new "Prooession of Power Plants."
This process is quite different from all means
current implemented for the use of Hydranlique Energy t dams, which as their name suggests bar the course of the
River, deteriorating the landscape, covering large "living" spaces or even engulfing entire villages, including steeples, and are a constant threat to people living downstream (we come to the region of the south to remember the disaster of the Dam of Malpassé and his many dead.)
On the other hand, a diversion channel for small water bears
By side mini-channels was recently made in a department of the Center, giving only a very meager result, and which caused an almost general revolt of the inhabitants of the region in view of the sabotage of their river, and damage cansés throughout the environment.

As for the production from URANIUM, if certain scientists are delighted, such as the "Firms" producing, the population as a whole is rather frightened, certain experiences
Americans and French, in addition to rejecting the waste, seem to agree with them.

 And moreover, like coal and petroleum, uranium is doomed to an undoubted exhaustion in the more or less short term.

The device, object of the invention; does not have any of these drawbacks or dangers. Indeed:
The decantation chamber which will be rather a series of basins (number determined by the greater OR lesser purity of the current) will be particularly neat, so as to provide water suitable for normal turbines. It will fit on one of the banks and would gain b streak leaned b the pile downstream of a bridge, near a road.

 The tube constructed of sheet or steel sheet, in sections determined by the responsible engineer, preferably covered with a protective tar layer, and connected together by the usual means: flanges and joints, or riveted end it would be interesting to try the new extra mild steel tubes, better to learn about the recent discovery of a group of Algerian researchers (Coiled Metal Tubes) and already used by "Sonatrach".

Bla installation of the tubes will be made by a team of divers (it turns out that a good number of these, very qualified, has just been dismissed by a Company of underwater works of Narseille.)
The stream bed will be fitted to receive the tube. (On this subject a Marseillais shipyard has just manufactured an underwater trainer "capable of digging trenches under water 60cm deep, on Om, 60 wide. No doubt it would make a similar machine very monk important, being able simply to flatten the surface of the bottom of a watercourse by tracing a groove there which can receive the tube, each section of which would rest at its ends on a cushion with its measurement, anchored in the ground. (Pl. 3 Fig . I and 2).

 To facilitate possible research in the event of deterioration or accident, each tube will bear the NO or the distinctive mark of its control unit.

Throughout the journey, the tube must (necessary condition, but sufficient) be subject to two mandatory conditions:
I. At no point on the route should it have a diameter smaller than that of the last section leading to the penstock, 2 In no
point of the course it should not reach the altitude of the water intake in the decantation room of its departure.

 During the course, sections of calculated curvature, will allow the tube, either to bypass possible obstacles, or to overcome them.

If it is feared that the stream, despite its initial cleaning presents a real danger of depositing various waste on its arrival
vee at the Centrale, the last section of the tube must be provided with a manhole allowing a final cleaning of the water, before its rise towards the penstock.

When it arrives at the Power Plant, the tube will rise vertically and, in the shape of an inverted U, will fall directly on the turbine. The rising branch can stand up along the outside wall of the
Central, (Pl.2 Fig.2), or crossing in a same work as the branch descending the floors of the Central. (Pl.2 Fig.I). The height of fall can be fixed at will by building a tower or a dungeon on the Centrale that would allow the overturned U to reach the desired height.

 We can place an automatic control at the horizontal position of the tube which can stop the arrival of the current before the descent to the Turbine.

The downward part of the tube will be conditioned so that
that its inner face be as smooth as possible, thus giving an "ideal penstock allowing use in the calculations of
profitability.
P.. H. s 9.8I x Q a specialty of these tubes with a perfectly smooth interior surface is currently on the market.)
Obviously this "penstock" will have to be "shielded" so as to be able to withstand the high pressures it will have to undergo.

At the exit of the turbines, whether the evacuation mode, suction tube, suction cone or free fall, the current will be collected in an appropriate room, from which a new tube will leave for a new power plant. This room will also be in communication
direct with the water source through a tube passing through an adjustable settling chamber which can be closed at will, so that
lie the second tube in case of accident or compulsory closure
of the first circuit.

 The tubes will be transported on the spot by a special boat capable of carrying out river and coastal navigation in shallow water, and of doing without port facilities and handling mechanism. With 1,200 tonnes on board, this boat can sail per bottom of 3 meters, and even 2 meters with a freight of 400 tonnes. This boat is already on the market.

 In the future, and to avoid round-trip maneuvers at the wharf, transport by helicopter from the factory to the ship will be used; and also for delivering tubes directly to divers, at depths of 2 meters and less.

Thus is realized a system of RIVER PLANTS
PROCESSIONARY, allowing to extract water from the Rivers,
Tributaries and Rivers, a quantity of energy on a world scale which it seems impossible at the present time to evaluate so much it will be considerable, but which, certainly and very quickly, will put the country
first user widely ahead of the most advanced nations.

It should be noted that this system has no influence on the course of the river or the river which remains absolutely similar to itself, the water level remaining unchanged; neither the residents, nor the fishermen, nor the navigators , nor even "Sunday users"
will find no change at their place of work or leisure.
as the power plant will have none of the drawbacks of our usual factories, neither discharges, nor fumes, nor odors, than on the contrary, when the network of
Centrales will be fully developed, ensuring management despite a
consequent reduction in user fees, very comfortable income,
we will proceed to coating the body of the buildings with artistic
additions of wood, stone, stucco, etc ... transforming the whole landscape, the shabby (for the view) current factories giving way to superb cons
regional style tructions, adding real original value to the
landscape, and it is certain that all nature lovers and all
the most demanding Ecologists will be delighted with the implementation
place in their Region of nons
PROCESSIONARY RIVER PLANTS.

-FALLS OF WATER.
If you have to or want to use the Waterfalls, two oas
may arise
a) The fall is important, in this case we will install at the top of the fall, along the edge, right or left bank, the Settling Room; and.

if the slope is ###### very steep, we will directly connect the exit of the room to the top of the forode pipe, in the Central itself (Pl.4 FigI)
If the slope is slight (from the top of the fall to the bottom of the ground), the tube coming out of the Deoantation Room will be placed along the slope up to the Power Plant where it will go up into an inverted U tube. (Pl.4
Fig. 2).

 Come the period of abundance, a skilful use of the rest of the fall by a team of ingenious sculptors, painters, glassmakers, etc ... will transform the ex-fall into a real original show "WATER and LIGHT", completely transforming the landscape.

BRIDGE PLANTS
It is, in agreement with the cash services of BRIDGES and HIGHWAYS to build directly on the bridges spanning the rivers, a power plant whose light frame will be built above the bridge, and the part serving as shelter with heavy equipment, on a solid base, overhanging the water downstream, taking advantage of the coping downstream of the bridge (if necessary oongolidated) and resting on solid constructions well anchored in the river bed, in the extension exact bridge piers, so as not to hinder river traffic in any case.

(P1. 5 Fig. 2)
The light part of the work will form above the road on the bridge, a tunnel of the height required for works of this kind but with this great advantage, that instead of closing the vault @ by a solid wall on the downstream side, it will be supported by a series of columns placed on the bridge wall, if necessary reinforced, so as to
Leave the daylight free at the bridge (Pl.5 Fig.I)
The way or road leaving the bridge (right bank or left bank) will give the possibility of supplying the two regions bordering the watercourse with electric current from the plant.

 This way of proceeding is, moreover, the perfect way to justify the invention of RIVER PLANTS, which will indeed be absolutely independent of the banks.

 This method, in a way of 'all-fluvial', will very probably be very appreciated by the Cities crossed by a consequent watercourse. 'or a historical subject dear to them; and moreover an opportunity for an original show of WATER and LIGHT, the work of local artists.

 CANALS.

 After having used all the rivers of the 6 Basins

Claims (7)

Fluvial, there will remain, if necessary, the possibility of using a certain number of the Canals of the Country. Although the difference in water level between two locks is small, in general, we think that it will be possible to find between Upstream and Downstream of each lock, a sufficient drop height to supply a "Low Falls Turbines Plant" "and a watchword will then run in the Country:" EACH EACH LOCK ITS CENTRAL "CLAIMS. I - Process intended to extract as much as possible of the energy developed by the current of water from rivers, tributaries, rivers, and transform it into electric current. Characterized by the fact that it involves the collection of the current of water from the rivers, in a series of special settling rooms providing water capable of supplying the turbine most sensitive to the impurities of ordinary water in the course of water.  2 - Device according to claim 2.  Characterized by the conduct of this current by a tube placed on the bed of the watercourse, previously cleaned and prepared by means  ohenillette scraping, drawing a furrow of dimension determined by the diameter of the tube resting in the main on this furrow, and b each of its ends on a cushion anchored don the bed of the river.  3 - Device according to claim 3.  Characterized by the rise of the tube, in the shape of an inverted U whose descending part, inside perfectly smooth, and  reinforced on the outside with appropriate shielding, thus achieving exemplary "penstock".  4 - Device according to claim 4.  Characterized by the means of recovering the water escaping from the first turbine, in an appropriate room, ensuring additional decantation, before evacuation by a tube identical to the first to the second power plant.  5 - Device according to claim 5.  Characterized by the fact that, depending on the volume of the watercourse which by the contribution of its tributaries can vary very significantly, a double, or triple, or even quadruple overlap will be possible, thus multiplying, in a remarkable way, the productivity of the system.  60. Device according to claim 6.  Characterized by the special arrangement of the water intake at the top of the ohute, and the cellar: from the path of the tube to the CENTRAL.  7 - Device according to claim 7.  Characterized by the transformation, when a certain number of Power Plants will be built and will have provided very comfortable benefits (despite a very significant reduction in prices) to the Company National responsible for the realization of a vast program of production of a new Energy (the water bears being the exclusive property of the State) in this case the ELECTRICITY of FRANCE, of the external aspect of each Plant (built originally on the classic model: engine room, controls, transformers, switchgear, connection devices, etc.) which makes Stre, with an adequate coating, to the taste of the surrounding population, changed, from concrete cube "to remarkable construction, object of the admiration of The most demanding environmentalists.  80- Device according to claim 8.  Characterized by the construction of RIVER PLANTS PROCESSIONARIES directly on the bridges spanning rivers.  Their independence from: land banks, fully justifies their designation: CENTRALES FLUVIALES PROCESSION NAIRES.  go- Device according to claim 9.  Characterized by the construction of "LOW" POWER PLANTS  FALL "near each lock on a Canal.