GB2234557A

GB2234557A - Hydro electric generator

Info

Publication number: GB2234557A
Application number: GB8915729A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Charles Pearson Keen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-07-10
Filing date: 1989-07-10
Publication date: 1991-02-06
Also published as: GB8915729D0

Abstract

A Hydro Electric Generator Unit receives water via a pipe 1 and delivers it to a circumferential space between inner and outer cylinders 3, 4 which rotate in opposite directions. Attached to and integral with the cylinders are right handed and left handed helical passageways 5, 6 for water flow. The helical passageways change in direction frequently or infrequently depending on the volume and velocity of the available water. A pipe 12 receives water from the helical passageways and discharges it at the base. A system of spur gears wheels, pinions and shafts 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, 19, 20, transmits rotational power to an Electric Generator 16. Support and bearing arrangements for the cylinders are disclosed together with details of a support structure (Fig. 4, 5, 6). Two or more units may be installed one above the other (Figs. 13, 14, 15). <IMAGE>

Description

HYDRO ELECTRIC GENERATOR This invention relates to mechanical equipment usiny water to drive electric yenerators.

More particularly, the invention is concerned witn means of generating electricity from water flowing over natural waterfalls and dam overflow.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the mechanical equipment consists of a pipe at the upper end to receive water, said pipe incorporating a control valve and water filter or screen, said pipe designed to deliver water to a circumfrontial space between inner and outer vertical cylinders. The inner cylinder is rotated in a clockwise direction and the outer cylinder is rotated in an anticlockwise direction. Incorporated into the outside of the inner cylinder are a number of right hand helical passageways. Incorporated into the inside of the outer cylinder are a number of left hand helical passageways. The passageways take the form of either blades, or channels or boxes.The helical passageways change direction, either once for every pitch length of the helix, or any proportion of the pitch length of the helix depending on the available water volume and velocity. The base of the outer cylinder is supported on a roller turntable fixed to the supporting structure. The base of the inner cylinder is formed into an inverted cone extending downwards as a shaft, supported on a combined radial and thrust bearing carried on a supporting structure. A water discharge pipe, incorporating d control valve is positioned at the base of the cylinders also fixed to the supporting structure. The upper end of the inner cylinder is formed into a cone extending upwards as a shaft fitted with a spur gear wheel engaging with a spur gear wheel which is attached to an electrical generator.The upper end of the outer cylinder is provided with a spur gear ring engaging with a spur gear pi ni on attached to a shaft extending upwards and provided with a spur gear pinion engaging with a spur gear wheel which is attached to the electric generator. The forgoing mechanical equipment describes one Unit. Where water volume and velocity is available units could be built up, one above another or side by side. According to another aspect of the present invention, the helical passageways which can change direction four times for every pitch length of the helix, could consist of castings in metal or other material in which the cylinders and passageways are cast integral and incorporate fixings for yuide rollers and provision on the inner cylinders for pins and sockets to transmit rotational motion.Castings could also become standardised components to enable various heights of Units to be built witn consequent construction and installation cost savings.

The invention also extends to the provision of guide rollers to ensure rotational stabili ty to the cylinders.

The guide rollers are positioned at regular levels, one set of rollers to engage with the outer surface of the inner cylinder, one set of rollers to engage with the inner surface of the outer cylinder and one set of rollers to engage with the outer surface of the outer cylinder, the latter set of rollers being attached to the supporting structure.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accopanying drawings in which: Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 3 illustrates the side elevation of a typical Unit.

Figure 4, Figure 5, and Figure 6 shows the side elevation of a typical support structure.

Figure 7, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 10 and Figure 11 show cross sections through a Unit.

Figure 13, Figure 14 and Figure 15 snow how two or more Units may be installed, one above the other.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, pipe 1 receives water and delivers it to spaces 2 between cylinders 3 and 4.

In Figure 2 attached to the outside of the inner cylinder 3 are helical passageways 5. Attached to the inside of the outer cylinders 4 are helical passageways 6. In Figure 3 the base of the outer cylinder 4 is supported on a roller turntable 7 fixed to supporting structure 8. The base of the inner cylinder 3 is formed into an inverted cone 9 anJ extending downwards as a shaft 10, supported on a coinbined radial and thrust bearing 11, carried on a supporting structure 21. A water discharge pipe 12 inner incorporating a control valve is positioned at the base of the cylinders, also fixed to the support structure 8. In Figure 1 the upper end of inner cylinder 3 is forined into a cone 12 extending upwards as a shaft 13 fitted with a spur gear wheel 14 engaging with a spur gear wheel 15 which is attached to an electric yenerator 16.

In Figure 12 passageways change direction four times for every pitchlength of the helix.

The upper end of the outer cylinder 4 is provided with a spur gear ring 17 engaging with a spur year pinion 18 attached to a shaft 19 extending upwards and provided with a spur year pinion 20 engaging with a spur gear wheel 15 which is attached to the electric generator 16.

Guide rollers 23 are positioned at regular levels, one set of rollers to engage with the outer surface of inner cylinder 3, one set of rollers to engage with the outer surface of the outer cylinder 4, the latter set of rollers beiny attached to the supporting structure.

Claims

1. A Hydro Electric Generator Unit to receive water and deliver it to a circumfrontial space between inner and outer cylinders which rotate in opposite directions.

Attached to and intergral with the cylinders are right handed and left handed helical passageways for water flow.

The helical passageways change direction frequently or infrequently depending on the volume and velocity of the available water. A pipe to receive water from the helical passageways and discnarge it at the base. A system of spur gear wheels, opinions and shafts to transmit rotational power to an Electric Generator.

2. A Hydro Electric Generator unit as claimed in Clai,n 1 wherein contra rotating cylinders incorporating passageways with opposite handings (left hand and right hand) rotate under water power.

3. A Hydro Electric Generator Unit as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 in which cylinders are manufactured in cast metal or similar material with intergral passageways which change direction four times for every pitch length of the helix.

4. A Hydro Electric Generator Unit as claimed in Claims 1, 2, and 3 in which the passageways are formed as blades or channels or boxes.

5. A Hydro Electric Generator Unit as claimed in Claims 1,2,3 and 4 in which guide rollers are positioned at regular levels to engage with the surfaces of the cylinders to ensure rotational stability.

6. A Hydro Electric Generator Unit as claimed in Claims 1,2,3,4 and 5 in which the ends of the inner cylinder changes form, into cones and thence into shafts.