GB2249355A

GB2249355A - Water aeration using wind power

Info

Publication number: GB2249355A
Application number: GB9017789A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger William Harrington
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1990-08-14
Filing date: 1990-08-14
Publication date: 1992-05-06
Also published as: GB9017789D0

Abstract

The wind turbine is mounted on a vertical shaft which carries the agitator 3 for encouraging air entrainment into the water 6. Screw pump 4 conveys the newly aerated surface water downwards into the body of the water through tube 8. The arrangement is supported on the water surface by floats 5, there being, also, means (7, Fig. 1) for guiding the wind onto the turbine vanes. <IMAGE>

Description

WATER AERATION USING WIND POWER This invention relates to mixing air with water by using the turning motion generated by wind, and distributing this aerated water to various points and levels within a stretch of water.

It is recognised that water requires sufficient air content to support aquatic life and vegetation.

Waves, waterfalls, streams and rainfall all contribute air to water naturally. Stagnant water, or large bodies of water have low levels of air within the water, especially in the lower areas of lakes, ponds or rivers. These sections of water are unable to support aquatic life, especially large coarse or game fish. In addition, as summer arrives the effect of strong sunlight is to reduce the air content in the water, at a time when fish are demanding more air to remain healthy.

The apparatus to be described herein will move high quality water from the lake or water surface, and distribute it to the aquatic life without using any man-made energy. The general effect will be to combat modern day pollution from sewage leaks, algae growth and agri-chemical seepage and ingress.

According to the present invention there is provided a vane wind rotor, water to air agitator, water screw pump all mounted on a central drive shaft held in position on bearings. The complete assembly is further mounted on two floating pontoons.

The wind enters the vane wind rotor and rotates the central drive shaft. To gain maximum efficiency from the wind, a wind foil is fitted to the front of the vane wind rotor. This foil increases wind pressure on the vane wind rotor increasing speed and turning torque. Also the wind foil holds the floating assembly into the wind, when connected by the front and centrally mounted cable. This holding cable is anchored to the bottom of the lake or body of water.

The water to air agitator is made from a hub mounted on the central drive shaft which has two rods that break the surface of the water. As the hub rotates, it moves the short rods through the water surface mixing air into the water.

The water screw pump moves the water from the water surface, newly aeriatated, to the bottom of the water via a hanging pipe. Water motion being derived from the rotation of the central drive shaft.

As the wind blows from many points of the compass, and this apparatus is floating around a fixed anchor point, the wind will always be blowing directly into the vane wind rotor.

Also the water will be disturbed around the fixed anchor point onto the water body bottom.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows a plan view of the complete assembly.

Figure 2 illustrates a section taken along line AA.

Referring to the drawings, the assembly comprises a central drive shaft 1 onto which is attached a vane wind rotor 2, water to air agitator 3 and water screw pump 4.

The complete assembly is supported on two pontoons 5.

The water surface is represented by line 6.

The wind enters the foil deflectors 7 and exerts pressure on the vane wind rotor 2. The vane wind rotor rotates anticlockwise with the wind pressure being maintained through 90 degrees of arc by having the deflector following the circumference of the vane wind rotor.

The central drive shaft rotates the water to air agitators which mixes air into the water, set at the water surface. The agitator is two rods that, when rotating will break the water surface.

The water screw pump 4 is mounted in a tube, and is made up in the form of a screw. When rotating it drives water down the tube. The output of the water screw pump is directed via a flexible outer tube 8 to the bottom of the water body.

The complete floating assembly is held into the wind on a securing ring 9 which keeps the wind directed into the foils and hence onto the vane wind rotor.

Claims

1. The wind is collected via air foils and directed at a multivaned wind rotor converting the wind energy into a rotational force.

2. The performance of the vane wind rotor is increased by maintaining the air foil through 90 degrees of arc of the vane wind rotor.

3. The rotation of the central drive shaft enables a water to air agitator to operate mixing air into water.

4. The rotation of the central drive shaft enables the water screw pump to push water collected at the surface to a lower part of the lake.

5. As the whole assembly floats and is anchored by a single cable, the prevailing wind is always blowing directly into the front of the vane wind rotor gaining maximum wind pressure.