FR2891286A1 - Water barrage sluice gate has hinge at lower end and contains turbine to generate electricity from overflow - Google Patents

Abstract

The sluice gate, designed to regulate the flow of a river, has a hollow structure containing at least one turbine (2) and linked generator (7) to produce electricity from the overflow of water at the top of the gate. The gate is hinged at its lower end and can be set at an angle of between 0 and 90 degrees to the horizontal, with 0 degrees corresponding to fully open and angles of between 20 and 80 degrees used for the generation of electricity. A grille (5) at the upper end of the gate keeps out trash.

Description

The invention relates to the field of electricity generation and the

dam gates.

  Electricity from hydropower plants and dams has been a major source of energy for decades, many waterways have been developed to produce electricity, regulate river flows and allow irrigation.

  Although hydropower is considered to be suitable for producing and renewable the installation of new dams is very controversial especially by the defenders of the natural environment who consider that the dams significantly disturb the environment, as well as by the local populations who sometimes have to be moved or see their land submerged. Imposing hydroelectric installations are therefore practically impossible today.

  The existing water reservoirs have also allowed the development of recreational facilities, water sports grounds, campsites and permits the irrigation of lands downstream of the dams, it is not possible to modify such works in order to make them more efficient without a crippling human and financial impact. These water reservoirs have become indispensable unfortunately the current technique does not allow to adapt them in the direction of increased energy production.

  In the current ecological and economic context, the only reservoirs of water that are created and those that can possibly be modified are those arranged along the river to regulate the flows of rivers and streams, that is to say with a slight difference in level allowing the regulation of the rivers without environmental disturbance.

  To date, there is no simple way of recovering the hydroelectric energy from dams of this type, already installed, without major work affecting the structure of the water reservoir.

  Moreover known electric turbine generators installed in fixed structures are unsuitable for small water reservoirs mainly because of the cost of installation compared to the energy produced.

  The current problem is to allow the production of electricity by simple modifications on the existing dams as well as the recovery of the energy of the dams with the wire of the water whose height of water is reduced, that with a cost installation as low as possible.

  The object of the invention is to solve these main difficulties by proposing a device that can be installed on new water reservoirs or on existing installations and corresponding to the combination of the valve functionality with the energy generation functionality for a plant. acceptable financial investment.

  The present invention relates to a barrier valve, pivotable about an axis, intended to be placed on a water reservoir and to regulate its flow rate, said valve being characterized in that its structure is hollow and incorporates means for generating electricity, especially at least one turbine coupled to at least one generator. Said turbine being fed by the overflow water from the upper part of the valve.

  The advantages of the barrier valve according to the invention are multiple: E the energy of the water reservoirs having small differences in level, for example for dams along the water, can be recovered, and this with a cost of reduced installation, the existing valves can be replaced by the valves according to the invention, it becomes possible to equip new dams for the production of electricity when it was not possible before, É the regulation of the flow of d The dam water employing a valve according to the invention is carried out as with a conventional valve, even if the energy generator does not operate, and several energy recovery units can be installed on the same valve, multiplying Thus the amount of energy produced, compared to a standard valve, the overall dimensions of the valve according to the invention is only slightly higher, the device does not entail any additional hydraulic impact. In addition, the inclined position of the water intake and the waste containment grid prevents clogging of the turbine and allows optimum operation for energy recovery. the water intake blocks the waste and prevents fish from crossing the turbine, the discharge of water over the valve automatically rejects them downstream, such a device leads to low fish mortality. The strong turbulence generated in the evacuation zone of the turbine causes a significant oxygenation of the water beneficial to the fish fauna and the natural environment, É A 90 ° orientation of the valve is planned so that the turbine is not not supplied with water, this position allows maintenance and possible extraction of the energy generator assembly from its housing in the valve without the need to empty the water reservoir.

  Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples.

  Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the barrier valve in an operating orientation.

  Figure 2 illustrates two orientations of the valve, in the high operating position and in the low position, valve open.

  Figure 3 shows the valve in a fully closed position for maintenance.

  Figure 1 shows the barrier valve according to the invention in an operating position, that is to say, inclined relative to the vertical and at a variable angle, adjustable relative to the horizontal.

  The valve is articulated to move about an axis 1 perpendicular to the water line disposed a base maintained in the fixed structure of the water reservoir by anchors in a concrete base, various known means allowing according to a conventional operation the rotational movement of the valve around the axis 1.

  According to the invention the barrier valve is characterized by the presence inside its structure of at least one immersed turbine 2 allowing the generation of electricity by means of a generator 7, the assembly of the turbine 2 and generator 7 being referred to in the following description of this turbogenerator.

  The valve structure is hollow and arranged to include one or more housings for turbine generator sets.

  Depending on the size of the valve, that is to say according to the water height of the reservoir and the desired flow width, it may be arranged one or more turbogenerators in the hollow structure of the valve. Preferably said turbogenerators will be regularly distributed in the width of the valve.

  The turbine 2 is fed by the overflow of the holding water 3 above the valve through an inlet mouth closed by a gate 5, which inlet mouth allows the entry of water into a chamber of intake 4. The valve according to the invention operates in the same way as a standard valve as for the regulation of the water level in the reservoir.

  The rotating turbine 2 produces electricity by means of the generator 7 also located inside the valve, immediately above the turbine 2. The assembly in operation being immersed.

  More precisely, the turbine 2 is sized to absorb the flow of overflow and the wheel profile is studied in order to obtain a nominal speed of rotation equal to an electric synchronous speed.

  The inlet water passes through a grid 5 of fairly fine mesh which functions to filter the debris and waste circulating with water that can obstruct and damage the turbine.

  The grid 5 is provided articulated about an axis 6 so as to allow opening for maintenance interventions.

  The grid 5 is provided with a sufficient length and inclination downstream in order to allow the waste to be discharged. The mesh of the grid will be chosen so as not to allow the fish likely to move in the river to penetrate.

  More precisely, the grid 5 is inclined in the direction from upstream to downstream. Thus configured the grid is self-cleaning by a flushing effect produced by the projection formed by the water at the crossing of the grid. In case of accumulation of waste for reasons of particular flow regime or particularly bulky waste maneuver tilting of the valve allows cleaning.

  The presence of the grid and the necessary inclination of the valve for optimal operation cause a pressure drop for the turbine corresponding to the difference in level between the water of the reservoir and the level inside the intake chamber. 4. The difference in altitude used to produce energy is referenced H in FIG.

  The steerable barrier valve, according to the invention, comprises the conventional functions of the valves installed on the various water reservoirs, this valve is in particular adjustable between 0 in a fully open position, as shown in FIG. 2 and referenced O and a closed position, that is to say 90 relative to the horizontal, as shown in Figure 3.

  FIG. 2 also represents the operating position referenced F and the water reservoir 3.

  FIG. 3 illustrates the valve in the fully closed position at 90 with the gate open for a maintenance operation on the turbo-generator. In this configuration the level of the holding water 3 is lower than the flow level in the intake chamber which is in fact empty of water.

  The valve according to the invention is steerable like a conventional valve and can operate the integrated turbo generator as the intake chamber can be sufficiently filled with water, that is to say in particular for angles smaller than the operating position optimal. In fact, electric production is possible even when the water level in the reservoir is below the nominal level.

  The operation of the turbo-generators integrated in the structure of the valve is therefore feasible over a wide range of orientation of said valve and preferably for angles of between 20 and 80 with respect to the horizontal. However, the higher the height H is, that is to say the more the valve is oriented at a large angle relative to the horizontal, the higher the power output can be.

EXAMPLE:

  According to an exemplary embodiment, it is installed on a water reservoir 4 dam valves, each valve 15 meters wide has a water height H of 3.5 meters to operate the turbines, each valve comprises 7 turbogenerators 40 centimeters of driving wheel diameter.

  Each 40-centimeter-diameter turbogenerator can absorb a flow rate of 700 liters per second below the H height of 3.5 meters and run at 750 rpm producing an electric power of 19 KW.

  Each valve can thus develop a power of 133 KW and the installed assembly produce 532 KW.

  The valves thus produced integrate well into the structure of the water reservoir, without excessive space, and allow a consequent production of energy usually lost.

  Several forms and variants are possible for the dam valve incorporating at least one turbo-generator in its structure, the dimensions of the valve can be chosen in a wide range and the number of turbogenerators incorporated more or less large, in fact the device can be installed on very different reservoirs and deliver varying amounts of energy without departing from the scope of the invention.

  The structure of the valve, in particular the conformation of the upper part comprising the intake chamber and the grid, can be configured in different ways, with for example an admission chamber more or less wide and can receive a quantity of water more or less big.

  The turbine and generator assembly can be positioned at different heights inside the hollow structure and the valve articulated in different ways with the fixed part of the water reservoir. Furthermore, the grid may be provided differently, more or less inclined relative to the horizontal and with respect to the large size of the valve, and with automated means for the disposal of waste, without departing from the scope of the invention. .

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents as well as their combinations.

Claims (8)

  1- A steerable barrier valve about an axis (1), intended to be placed on a water reservoir and to regulate its flow rate, characterized in that its structure is hollow and incorporates means for the production electricity.   2- barrier valve according to claim 1 wherein the means for generating electricity corresponds to at least one turbine (2) coupled to at least one generator (7).   3- barrier valve according to claim 2 wherein at least one turbine (2) is fed with the overflow water from the upper part of the valve.   4- barrier valve according to claim 1 adjustable between an angle of 0 and an angle of 90 relative to the horizontal, the angle of 0 corresponding to the open valve completely.   5- barrier valve according to claim 4 adapted to produce electricity in different directions of the valve and preferably between angles of 20 and 80 relative to the horizontal.   6- barrier valve according to claim 4 wherein the orientation of the valve 90 relative to the horizontal corresponds to a maintenance position in which the turbine or turbines (2) integrated in the valve structure are not supplied with water.   7. Dam gate valve according to any one of the preceding claims incorporating several turbogenerators sized according to the size of the valve and preferably regularly distributed in the width of said valve.   8- A gate valve according to any one of the preceding claims having a grid (5) for holding waste, positioned at the water supply mouth of the inlet chamber (4).