GB2289725A

GB2289725A - Hydrodynamic power generator apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2289725A
Application number: GB9510519A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mario Teixeira Cavalheiro
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-05-26
Filing date: 1995-05-24
Publication date: 1995-11-29
Also published as: AU1621895A; CN1123885A; JPH07317645A; BR9401732A; GB9510519D0; CA2146091A1; FR2720446A1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a self-contained, continuous hydrodynamic power generator apparatus. The apparatus comprises a first horizontally positioned water tank 1 and a second vertically positioned water tank 8, the vertical water tank 8 being provided with guide means 9 having an insulating sealing gasket to seal over a plurality of containers 6 connected through hinged shafts 7 to define a chain (5) which turns around lower and upper hexagonal pulleys 4, 10, a first chute 11 next to the upper pulleys 10 to collect the water from the containers and carry it to a driving wheel 2, which drives a generator 3, and a second chute l2 to collect the water from the driving wheel 2 and return it to the horizontal tank 1, each of the containers 6 being provided with a sealed chamber 13, containing air to act as a float and move the containers upwardly through the water. <IMAGE>

Description

HYDRODYNAMIC POWER GENERATOR APPARATUS The present invention relates to power generation, and particularly concerns a hydrodynamic power generator apparatus which provides the means to generate power from a continuously operating hydrodynamic system wherein there are no losses of energy. The power generation system of the apparatus operates based on the differences of density between water and air.

Basically, the power generator apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of containers having floats incorporated thereon, which are passed through two independent water tanks, where the buoyancy of the floats continuously drives the containers upwardly, lifting the water from the containers and depositing it into a chute which leads the water to a driving wheel coupled to a power generator.

It is a feature of the apparatus that the water used to provide the powering energy is not wasted since it is returned to a water tank to be used again in the hydrodynamic system.

It is a further feature of the present invention that the power generator may be an electrical generator system or device and can be of any type, from small generators to the huge turbines used in conventional hydroelectric plants.

The advantages provided by the present invention are that the hydrodynamic system does not require a hydrostatic difference of levels (such as is the case in conventional hydroelectric plants) to drive the turbines. The above mentioned water tanks, wherein the water circulates, are sufficient particularly when it is considered that the water is not lost, but rather circulates and recirculates through the system to generate hydrodynamic power.

The present invention may be used exclusively as a hydrodynamic system for driving a turbine forming the driving wheel of a power generator, the turbine and generator being known in the state of the art.

The hydrodynamic power generator apparatus according to the present invention will be better understood from the following detailed description , which relates to a preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

In the description, reference will be made to the attached drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view of the apparatus according to the present invention comprising a hydrodynamic system and a power generator; and Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the container used in the hydrodynamic system.

As can be clearly seen from the drawings, the hydrodynamic apparatus for generating power according to the present invention comprises a first water tank 1, horizontally positioned at a level below the level of a driving wheel or turbine 2 which drives a power generator 3 such as an electrical generator or dynamo.

Three hexagonal pulleys 4 are mounted to rotate about horizontal axes extending below the level of the water in the first water tank 1.

The pulleys 4 engage and guide a chain 5 comprising a plurality of containers 6 connected together by hinged shafts 7 to form an endless chain.

A second, vertically positioned water tank 8 is mounted above the first water tank 1, the lower end of tank 8 being positioned below the surface of water in tank 1. The vertical water tank 8 is provided at it lower end with guide means 9 having insulating sealing gaskets which seal over the plurality of containers 6 to prevent the passage of water from the second tank to the first tank.

A second series of hexagonal pulleys 10 is mounted to rotate about horizontal axes extending across the upper end of the vertical tank 8 to further guide the chain of connected containers 6.

A first chute 11 is positioned with its upper end adjacent the upper end of the vertical tank 8, next to the upper pulleys 10. As the containers pass over the pulleys 10 situated at the upper end of the tank 8, the contents of each container 6 is poured into the first chute 11, which collects the water from the containers and carries it to the driving wheel 2. Additionally, a second chute 12 is positioned next to the driving wheel to collect the water which has passed down the first chute and round the driving wheel, and return it to the first tank 1.

Each container 6 is provided with a sealed buoyancy chamber 13 which contains a floatation material, preferably air. The buoyancy chamber 13 acts as a float, and causes the containers to rise upwardly through the water in the vertical tank 8. Alternatively, the containers 6 may be made from a buoyant material such as plastics foam.

The operation of the device is as follows: The containers 6 within tank 8 are buoyant, and thus an upward force acts on the containers within tank 8. Conversely, the containers situated between the pulleys 10 and 4 are in air rather than water, and thus their weight exerts a downward force. The total effect is to produce an anticlockwise (as seen in the drawing) circulation of the chain 5 of containers 6.

As each container 6 exits from the top of tank 8, it deposits its contents into the chute 11 and returns downwards towards pulleys 4.

Refilled by immersion in tank 1, the container passes through the sealing device 9 which prevents water in tank 8 from escaping to tank 1, but permits the containers 6 to pass from tank 1 to tank 8.

The buoyancy of the floatation material in the buoyancy chambers 13 of the containers then causes the containers to rise through tank 8 to deposit their contents in chute 11. It will be appreciated that as a full container leaves the upper end of tank 8, a full container will enter through the sealing means 9, thus maintaining the level of water in tank 8 constant. Empty containers entering tank 1 are filled and leave through the sealing means 9, but the water level in tank 1 is maintained by the water flowing into tank 1 from second chute 12. Clearly the amount of water entering tank 1 from chute 12 will be exactly the same as the amount leaving in the containers through the sealing means 9.

The water deposited in first chute 11 runs down to the driving wheel or turbine 2, causing it to rotate and drive the generator 3. After passing through the turbine 2, the water enters chute 12 to return to tank 1.

The apparatus will operate with equal effect if fluids other than water are used. Additives may be mixed with the fluid to prevent freezing, to reduce friction or viscosity, or to increase the density of the fluid.

The layout of the arrangement, as well as the number of containers 6 may change according to the amount of energy required. It is possible to provide a number of parallel chains 5 in order to increase the hydrodynamic potential of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A hydrodynamic power generator apparatus comprising a first water tank (1) and a second vertically extending water tank (8) positioned above the first and, being provided with guide means (9) having an insulating sealing gasket to seal over a plurality of containers (6) so as to allow the containers to pass from the first tank to the second tank but to prevent the passage of fluid from the second tank to the first1 the containers being connected by hinged shafts (7) to define a chain (5) which passes around lower and upper hexagonal pulleys (4, 10), a first chute (11) next to the upper pulleys (10) to collect the water from the containers and carry it to a driving wheel (2) and a second chute (12) to coliect the water from the driving wheel (2) and return it to the horizontal tank (1), each of the containers (6) being provided with a sealed buoyancy chamber (13) to act as a float and move the containers upwardly through the water.

2. A power generator according to Claim 1, wherein the containers are formed from buoyant material.

3. A power generator substantially as described herein with reference to Figure 1 of the drawings.