GB2616604A

GB2616604A - Hydrokinetic system for power generation

Info

Publication number: GB2616604A
Application number: GB2203464.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Scripcariu Ion; Scripcariu Ionut-Cristian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2022-03-13
Filing date: 2022-03-13
Publication date: 2023-09-20
Also published as: GB202203464D0

Abstract

This invention refers to a hydrokinetic system for power generation intended to be mounted on water courses or near the coast where the tides occur. The hydrokinetic system has a vertical axis turbine A, consisting of cylinder 1 and pans 4, between which folding blades D are provided, the turbine being oriented in a vertical position, and deflector B, positioned tangent to the turbine, both turbine and deflector being supported by frame C which gives them stability in the horizontal plane, as well as mobility in the vertical plane for choosing the position based on the water level. The blades may have a concave shape to capture water flow. The blades may be connected to an internal cam having a helical route which enables folding blades on one side of the turbine to be fully closed while they are fully open on the opposite side, being partially open/closed in between.

Description

Hydrokinetic system for power generation SCOPE OF THE INVENTION: This invention is a hydrokinetic system for power generation, hereinafter referred to as hydrokinetic system, that integrates a vertical axis hydro turbine with folding blades, a deflector mounted in the front of the turbine, and a metallic frame on which the turbine and the deflector are fixed; the system converts the kinetic energy of rivers or tidal currents into mechanical energy and subsequently into electrical energy.

STATE OF THE ART: The systems currently known are hydropower systems such as hydro power plants, micro/pico hydro power plants, which generate electrical energy using propeller turbines such as Kaplan/Francis turbines or hydraulic impulse-type turbines such as Pelton/Turgo turbines. In order to generate electricity efficiently, these turbines require head (potential energy -Felton wheels require at least a 10 meters head) and high flows. In order to create this head, reservoir lakes and dams have to be built, which are expensive and very disruptive for the fauna and flora of the intended river flow.

Other systems known in the present state of the art are subaquatic turbines, using ocean currents and tides to generate electricity; archaic water wheels, which are not efficient for industrial exploitation, and chain turbines, which, due to their construction, are not efficient for industrial use.

River hydrokinetic turbines in the present state of the art, whether vertical-axis, horizontal-axis or crossflow turbines, are efficient at high river velocity, over 2 m/s; furthermore, they require high minimum installation depths in order to generate industrial amounts of energy (100+kW), due to the rotor diameter increasing with the installed capacity.

Another challenge for industrial implementation is the cost of these turbines, due to the construction that requires specialised industry. The cost per installed kW for hydrokinetic turbines exceeds the cost per installed kW for wind technology, solar technology or conventional hydro power with dams. Sonic similar assemblies that incorporate a turbine and a deflector with the purpose of generating energy from wind or water currents are found in prior art. These assemblies are AU2014242967B2, US20100135768A1 and DE102011109217A1. The turbine used in AU 2014242967 is converting only a small part of the available kinetic energy from the river due to its turbine construction. The area of the blades is smaller compared with the area of the blades used in the vertical axis hydro turbine with folding blades of the hydrokinetic system. TECHNICAL PROBLEM: The technical problem that this invention solves by eliminating the disadvantages of the solutions mentioned earlier is a hydrokinetic system that will use the kinetic (water flow) energy of river currents, without needing head or high flows; the system catches the flow of the water through the deflector, and efficiently converts the kinetic energy into electrical energy by using a vertical axis hydro turbine with folding blades. The vertical axis turbine with folding blades increases the energy efficiency of the system as the blades are folding when they are not pushed by the river current while the resistance of the water on these non-active blades is minimal. The only resistance will be the friction force between the components.

The plain area of rivers is not seen as a high hydro energy potential area, as it does not provide the required head, and the flow runs at a low velocity. This hydro energy potential remains unused in this area, because there is no technology available at this moment to exploit it efficiently.

The system is fully submersible; the vertical axis turbine is installed behind the deflector such as the non-active blades are protected by the deflector and there is no water current that is pushing against them. The system is not only designed for rivers or water flows, but can be also used to generate energy from tides.

The main advantage of the hydrokinetic system is that the non-active blades are always folded which eliminates the water resistance upon these blades. Also the blades are always submersed in the water and they do not hit the water surface as in water wheels and therefore do not disturb the flora and the fauna of the river; furthermore, due to its simple, minimalist construction that does not require specialised industry to be built, the hydrokinetic system is commercially feasible.

The hydrokinetic system can be mounted on poles in shallow waters, and on pontoons known as floats in deeper rivers.

In sunnnaty, the hydrokinetic system, according to the invention, is composed of a vertical axis hydro turbine with folding blades, consisting of a cylinder and pans, between which folding blades are installed, the turbine being placed with a fixed shaft in a vertical position in the water stream and from a deflector, that is tangent positioned to the turbine, both turbine and deflector subassemblies are supported by a frame that gives them stability in the horizontal plane and against the bottom of the water stream, as well as mobility in the vertical plane for the choice of position based on the water level. The turbine consists of a cylinder closed at the ends with covers and makes common body on the outside with equidistant pans, and on the inside with a tubular shaft that makes common body with one of the covers at one end and at the other it is supported by means of a bearing on the fixed shaft on the assembly between: the fixed shaft, cylinder, cover bearings and the tubular shaft, ensuring the sealing of the turbines and cylinder interior. Inside the cylinder there is another cylinder, fixed on the fixed shaft, and on its circumference there is a cam that the helical route has two passage areas that make the passage from the lower area of the helical route to the upper area and vice versa. Inside the cylinder, there are also mobile shafts, that are equidistant and sitting on the circumference of the cylinder, which can slide vertically inside other bushings that make common body with the said cylinder, the mobile axes being provided each at the upper ends, by means of small shafts, with a free roller that permanently follows the above-mentioned cam. The mobile shafts are also equipped with a roller sliding between pairs of limiting plates jointly with the cylinder. Folding blades are mounted between the pans, which contain blade elements that make a common body with sliding shafts that are guided by bushings. The two central bushings are provided with universal couplings that allow the connection of the three shafts, the first bushings being joint with the cylinder and with the pan adjacent to the folding blade. The connection between the folding blades and the mobile shafts is made by plates joined with them, and which are equipped with a cut-out in which a bolt bushing of the coupling slides, the coupling being connected to the first shaft of the folding blade, shaft that is positioned perpendicularly to the circumference of the cylinder. When the free roller reaches the upper area of the cam, the blade elements are rotated by their shafts with an angle of 900, and through such movement the maximum opening of the folding blades in the water stream is achieved. The second shaft of the folding blades on which the second blade element is fixed, is positioned relative to the first shaft at an angle between 20 and 35 degrees, and the third shaft at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees. The deflector has the shape of an ellipse with the small radius greater than or equal to the radius of the turbine, and the big radius greater than or equal to the diameter of the turbine. The deflector is placed on a metallic support on which it can slide perpendicular to the direction of the water stream by means of a rack. The frame consists of an external metal frame, fixed by means of vertical pillars on the bottom of the water, and of an inner metallic frame which by means of flanges fixed to the fixed shaft supports the motor body and the deflector and it can slide vertically along the vertical pillars by means of racks. By implementing the invention, it will be obtained a turbine with folding blades easy to mount and operate, with a construction that allows it to be placed at different depths from the water level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

The present invention is described herein in connection with Figures 1-10.

Figure 1: schematic overview, top view of hydrokinetic system; Figure 2: top view of vertical axis turbine with folding blades A; Figure 3: view of section A:A through turbine A; Figure 4: inside view of turbine A; Figure 5: schematic overview of turbine A with sections S1, S2, S3, and S4 where blades D folded and unfolded; Figure 6: schematic overview, top view of hydrokinetic system and current k accelerated by deflector B; Figure 7: isometric view of blade D in unfolded position on pan 4; Figure 8: top view of blade D in folded position on pan 4; Figure 9: isometric view of blade D in unfolded position; Figure 10: axial section through bushings 23 or 24.

According to the invention, the hydrokinetic system is made of a turbine (vertical axis turbine) with folding blades A that is placed with its shaft in vertical position on the water stream, and from a deflector B, which is positioned tangent to turbine A, both subassemblies being supported by a frame C which gives them stability in the horizontal plane and mobility in the vertical plane.

Turbine A consists of a cylinder 1, closed at the ends by covers 2 and 3, which make common body on the outside with equidistant pans 4, and on the inside with a tubular shaft 5 that makes common body with the cover 2 at one end, and at the other end it is joint with the bearing 6 in which the fixed shaft 7 is mounted. Another bearing 8 is mounted on the fixed shaft 7, jointly with the cover 3, bearings 6 and 8 are protected by seals, not shown. The assembly between fixed shaft 7, cylinder 1, bearings 6 and 8, covers 2 and 3, and the tubular shaft 5, ensures the sealing of the inside of turbine A, respectively of cylinder 1. Completely sealed, cylinder 1 creates an air cushion that is larger than the weight of the turbine so the buoyant force will push up the completely submersible turbine, which much lighter than if cylinder 1 had been flooded with water.

Tnside cylinder 1 there is the cylinder 9, jointly with the fixed shaft 7, on the circumference of which there is the cam a that the helical route has an area of passage bl that makes the passage from the lower area b4 of the helical route to the upper area b2, and an area of passage b3 that makes the passage from the upper area b2 to the lower area b4.

Inside the cylinder 1, there are also the mobile shafts 10, which are equidistant and placed on the circumference of cylinder 1, which can slide vertically inside bushings 11 that make common body with the mentioned cylinder 1, these mobile shafts 10 being each provided at the upper ends, by means of shafts 12, with a free roller 13 that permanently follows the above-mentioned cam a.

In order for the mobile shafts 10 to be unable to rotate around their own axes, they are each equipped with roller 14, that slides between pairs of limiting plates 15 jointly with cylinder 1.

Between the pans 4, that are equidistant and joint with cylinder 1, the articulated folding blades D are mounted, both at the mobile shafts 10, and at the pans 4.

The folding blades D consist of elements 16, 17 and 18 that make common body with the shafts 19, 20, and 21, fixed on bearings c and protected by seals d in the bushings 22, 23, 24, and 25, these bushings are fixed by pans 4. The bushing 22 is joint with cylinder 1 and with the pans 4 adjacent to the folding blades D. The bushings 23 and 24 are provided with universal couplings e, which allow, on the one hand, the connection between shafts 19 and 20, and further the connection between shafts 20 and 21. The blades have a concave shape described by the position of elements 16, 17 and 18, fixed on shafts 19, 20 and 21. The shafts 19 are positioned on pans 4 perpendicular to cylinder 1, the shafts 20 are positioned on pans 4 at an angle between 20 and 35 degrees from shafts 19, and the shafts 21 are positioned on pans 4 at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees from shafts 19, thus forming the concave base to which the elements 16, 17 and 18 are attached.

The connection between the folding blades D and the mobile shafts 10 is made by means of plates 26 that are joint with the shafts 10, each equipped with the cut-out f in which a bushing with a bolt 27 of the coupling 28 slides, the coupling being connected to the shaft 19.

When roller 13 passes through area bl from the lower area b4 of the cam a to the upper zone b2 of the cam, shafts 10 have reached the upper end of their stroke in the position g. In position g, by means of plates 26, bolted bushings 27, couplings 28, and blade shafts 19, 20 and 21, the rotation of the blade elements 16, 17 and 18 takes place around shafts 19, 20, and respectively 21 at an angle of 900 against the pans 4, situation in which the blades D are open, and which, together with the pans 4, form a cup on which the water stream k acts.

When passing from the upper area b2 of the cam a to the lower area b4 after going through the passage area b3, the free roller 13 pushes the shafts 10 into a lower position h of their stroke, position in which, by means of the same kinematic chain: plates 26, bolted bushings 27, coupling 28 and blade shafts 19, 20, and 21, the rotation in the opposite direction of the blade elements 16, 17 and 18 takes place around shafts 19, 20, and, respectively, 21, the folding blades D fold adjacent to pans 4 so that the stream of water can no longer act on them. On the 45 degrees section S1 of the circle described by the turbine A, the blades D are starting to unfold as they are activated by the stream current k. On the 110 degrees S2 section, the blades D are fully unfolded and they are pushed by the river current k. On the 45 degrees S3 section, the blades D are starting to fold as they are leaving the current path. On the 160 degrees S4 section, the blades D are fully folded so the water resistance on inactive blades is almost 0 and is not slowing down the turbine rotation until entering the Si section when they start to unfold once pushed by the river current. Section 51 corresponds to area bl of the cam a, where the blades D begin to open to meet the water stream. Section S2 corresponds to the upper area b2 of the cam a, where the blades D are fully unfolded and pushed by the river current. Section S3 corresponds to the passage area b3 of the cam a, the area where the blades D exit the action path of the stream current and begin to close. Section S4 corresponds to the lower area b4 of the cam a, where the blades D are fully folded and do not resist.

Deflector B has the shape of an ellipse with the small radius w greater than or equal to the radius of the turbine A, and the big radius q greater than or equal to the diameter of the turbine A. Deflector B is placed on a metal support 29 on which it can slide perpendicular to the direction of the water stream by means of the rack 30. The role of the deflector B is to capture flow and therefore accelerate this flow to the blades D of turbine A. Deflector B adjusts the turbine speed by adjusting its position against the turbine A, so that the deflected water flow in the blades D is variable.

The frame C on which the vertical axis turbine A is mounted is made up of an external metallic frame 31, fixed by means of vertical pillars 32 on the bottom of the water and of an internal metallic frame 33 coupled by arms 34 to flanges 35 which are fixed to the fixed shaft 7 that supports the turbine A and which can slide vertically, along the pillars 32, by means of racks 36. Also, the metallic frame 29 that supports the deflector is fixed to the internal metallic frame 33 and slides with it vertically. Turbine A and deflector B are joint with the inner metallic frame 33 through arms 34 and support 29, that slide vertically positioning the turbine A in an optimal position relative to the water stream in case the depth of the river decreases at drought or increases at floods. Section S3 of turbine A where the blades D are folded down and inactive is closed with the boards 37, arranged parallel to the water stream to not allow the water stream to enter the S3 section.

When the turbine is put into operation, according to the invention, the water stream is directed by the deflector B to the folding blades D, acting on turbine A which rotates around the fixed shaft 7 and which transmits the rotational movement by means of a transmission wheel 38, joint with the tubular shaft 5, to an electric generator, not shown.

Claims

CLAIMS1. The hydrokinetic system, characterized by the fact that it is composed of a vertical axis turbine (A), formed by a cylinder (1) and pans (4) between which folding blades (D) are provided, turbine (A) being placed on a fixed shaft (7) in vertical position in the water stream (k), and from a deflector (B), positioned tangent to the turbine (A), both subassemblies (A and B) being supported by the frame (C) which gives them stability in the horizontal plane and in front of the water stream, as well as mobility in the vertical plane for choosing the position relative to the water level.
2. According to claim 1, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that the vertical axis turbine (A) consists of cylinder (1), closed at the ends by covers (2) and (3) and which makes common body on the outside with the equidistant pans (4), and on the inside with a tubular shaft (5) that makes common body with the cover (2) at one end, and at the other end is joint with the bearing (6) in which a fixed shaft (7) is mounted; on the fixed shaft (7) is mounted another bearing (8), that supports the cover (3); the assembly between: the fixed shaft (7), the cylinder (1), the bearings (6) and (8), the covers (2) and (3) and the tubular shaft (5) ensures the sealing of the interior of the motor body (A).
3. According to claim 2, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact the inside the cylinder (1) there is another cylinder (9), joint with the fixed shaft (7), on whose circumference there is a cam (a) that the helical route has a passage area (bl), for passage from the lower area (b4) of the helical route to the upper area (b2), and a passage area (b3) for passage from the upper area (b2) to the lower area (b4).
4. According to claims 2 and 3, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that inside the cylinder (1) there are also mobile equidistant shafts (10), placed on the circumference of the cylinder (1), which can slide vertically inside the bushings (11) which make a common body with the mentioned cylinder (1), these mobile shafts (10) being each equipped at the upper ends, by means of shafts (12), with a free roller (13) which permanently follows the cam (a).
5. According to claims 2, 3 and 4, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that by that the mobile shafts (10) are each equipped with a roller (14) which slides between pairs of limiting plates (15) jointly with the cylinder (1) so that the mobile shafts (10) cannot rotate around their own axis but can slide vertically.
6. According to claims 2, 3, 4 and 5, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that between the pans (4) which are equidistant and joint with the cylinder (1), articulated folding blades (D) are mounted, both on the mobile shafts (10), and on the pans (4).
7. According to claims 1 and 5, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that the folding blades (D) consist of elements (16), (17), and (18) that make common body with the shafts (19), (20), and (21), fixed on bearings (c) and protected by seals (d) in bushings (22), (23), (24), and (25), these bushings are fixed to the pans (4); bushing (22) is joint with the cylinder (1) and with the pans (4) adjacent to the folding blades (D); bushings (23) and (24) are provided with universal couplings (e), that allow, on the one hand, the connection between the shafts (19) and (20), and further the connection between the shafts (20) and (21); the blades have the concave shape described by the position of the elements (16), (17), and (18) fixed on the shafts (19), (20), and (21).
8. According to claims 6 and 7, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that the connection between the folding blades (D) and the mobile shafts (10) is made by means of plates (26) jointly with the shafts (10), each equipped with a cut-out (1) in which slides a bushing with a bolt (27) of the coupling (28), the coupling being connected to the shaft (19) of the folding blade (D).
9. According to claims 6, 7, and 8, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that the shafts (19) are positioned on the pans (4) perpendicularly to the cylinder (1), the shafts (20) are positioned on the pans (4) at an angle between 20 and 35 degrees from the shafts (19), and the shafts (21) are positioned on the pans (4) at an angle between 35 and 55 degrees to the shafts (19), thus forming the concave base to which the elements (16), (17) and (18) are attached.
10. According to claims 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that when the roller (13) passes through the passage area (b l) from the lower area (b4) of the cam (a) to the upper area (b2) of the cam, the shafts (10) have reached the upper end of their stroke in the position g; in position (g), through the plates (26), of the bolted bushings (27), of the couplings (28), and the blade shafts (19), (20) and (21), the rotation of the blade elements (16), (17) and (18) takes place around the shafts (19), (20) and (21) at an angle of 90 degrees to the pans (4),situation in which the blades (D) are open and which together with the pans (4) form a cup on which the water stream (k) acts.I I. According to claims 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8, the hydrokinetic system is characterized by the fact that, when passing from the upper area (b2) of the cam (a) to the lower area (b4), after going through the passage area (b3), the free roller (13) pushes the shafts (10) in the lower position (h) of their stroke, position in which, by means of the same kinematic chain: the plates (26), the bolted bushings (27), the coupling (28) and the blade shafts (19), (20) and (21), occurs the rotation in the opposite direction of the blade elements (16), (17) and (18) around the shafts (19), (20) and (21), the folding blades (D) fold adjacent to the pans (4) so that the water stream can no longer act on them.