GB2626839A

GB2626839A - Compact hydro-energy device

Info

Publication number: GB2626839A
Application number: GB2317480.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephenson Ian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-01-30
Filing date: 2023-11-15
Publication date: 2024-08-07
Also published as: GB202301294D0; GB202317480D0; GB2626605A

Abstract

A turbine for essentially continuous fluid flow comprises an annular member 5, having an axial bore 12 and angled jet holes 7, 7A in the member to spray the fluid from an annular manifold 6 onto circumferential vanes 9 of a turbine 10 located in the axial bore. The jets are angled both circumferentially in the direction of rotation, and axially towards the fluid exit 11 where the fluid is discharged axially 13 from the bore 12. The turbine may be tapered to allow a passage between the bore and the turbine for the used fluid. The turbine may be used with low head or low pressure flowing fluid including mains water. Multiple units of the apparatus of the invention may be coupled together, either in parallel or in series.

Description

COMPACT HYDRO-ENERGY DEVICE

This specification relates to apparatus and method for obtaining energy from fluids where either / both the head and / or flow rate are low, but the flow is continuous, so that conventional items of apparatus would not be suitable. The energy obtained could be in the form rotation and may be used to provide electrical power or as a drive means for another item of equipment.

The provision of energy is a major preoccupation of engineers, and much attention is directed away from fossil fuels and towards natural sources, such as wind, hydro and solar power. The trend to tenewables' is being driven by the changing climate due to the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and the rising cost of fossil fuels due to political and other considerations. 'Renewables' are popular but subject to the vagaries of the weather, i.e., whether the wind is blowing at an appropriate speed or if the sun is shining. Hydro power is normally more reliable. Where there is a high head, apparatus based on PeIton Wheels may be used, and, where there is a high volumetric flow rate, axial flow means are preferred. However, both these have shortcomings. With PeIton Wheels, the water jet effectively impinges tangentially at only one point on the circumference. This imposes an off-axis load (torque) on the bearings and means that only a single part of the circumference is being used at any one time.

Axial flow devices, such as turbines, may be used where there is a large flow rate but here, the flowing fluid impinges on the blades at an acute angle so that only a small percentage of the kinetic energy, or momentum, of the fluid, is effectively translated into useful work. This low efficiency may be acceptable, e.g., where a large river is flowing out of a big lake or reservoir. Archimedean Screw devices have a place but again need a reasonable flow rate and / or fall to operate effectively.

There are many locations, e.g., in remote places, where access to mains power is unavailable but there is a small stream continuously flowing with minimal available head. Such locations may be islands or holiday areas 'off the beaten track', which are becoming increasingly popular with more adventurous people. Another source of water under pressure is mains water supply and, where this is available, it may be usable. Thus, there is an increasingly urgent need for a means to be able to use low level energy sources to supply power, either directly or indirectly, e.g., via 'trickle charging' a battery.

According to the invention, there is provided apparatus for converting the potential energy and / or kinetic energy in a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy comprising: i) an essentially continuously flowing fluid possessing potential and / or kinetic energy; ii) an annular member having an axial bore with an outlet end and a plurality of holes extending through said member into the bore, said holes being: a) aligned firstly as inclined projections and / or extensions of chords and / or radii of the axial bore; and b) further inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore in the direction of the outlet end; iii) a manifold, located within, or adjacent to, the annular member so that the fluid in the manifold may access the plurality of holes and thus pass through them into the bore; iv) a turbine, located in the bore of the annular member and mounted so as to be rotatable co-axially within the bore, said turbine having vanes on its external circumference; and v) a means to access the rotational output from the turbine and cause it to drive another item of equipment; characterised in that the fluid is caused to enter the manifold and thence flow through the plurality of holes to emerge into the bore as jets and strike the vanes on the turbine at an angle transferring energy from the jets via the vanes to the turbine causing it to rotate axially and enable the means to provide the continuous rotational output to the item of equipment, the fluid, after striking the vanes, then passing to the outlet end of the bore.

According to a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, the flowing fluid is a liquid.

According to a second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the flowing fluid is a gas.

According to a third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the flowing fluid is mains water.

According to a fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the body of the annular member is essentially cylindrical, having an axial bore and a coaxial annular chamber forming the manifold.

According to a fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the holes from the manifold into the axial bore have a constant diameter.

According to a sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the holes from the manifold into the axial bore have a larger diameter until near the exit into the axial bore and a smaller diameter exit into the bore itself to reduce wall friction on the fluid.

According to a seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the holes from the manifold into the axial bore are arranged symmetrically around the bore to maximise energy transfer to the turbine.

According to an eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the turbine is a closely toleranced fit within the axial bore so that the vanes rotate clear of, but close to, the circumferential wall of said bore.

According to a ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the vanes on the turbine are straight and aligned parallel to its axis.

According to a tenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the vanes on the turbine are curved with the curvature aligned so that the jets impinge essentially normally on said vanes.

According to an eleventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the means of accessing a rotational drive from the turbine is via an axial connection.

According to a twelfth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the rotational drive powers an electrical generator.

According to a thirteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the rotational drive powers an electrical trickle charger.

According to a fourteenth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the power generated by the trickle charger is stored in a battery.

According to the invention, there is provided a method for converting the potential energy and / or kinetic energy in a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy comprising: i) providing an essentially continuously flowing fluid possessing potential and / or kinetic energy; ii) providing an annular member having an axial bore with an outlet end and a plurality of holes extending through said member into the bore, said holes being: a) aligned firstly as inclined projections and / or extensions of chords and / or radii of the axial bore; and b) further inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore in the direction of the outlet end; iii) providing a manifold, located within, or adjacent to, the annular member so that the fluid in the manifold can access the plurality of holes and thus pass through them into the bore; iv) providing a turbine, and locating it in the bore of the member and mounting it to be rotatable co-axially within the bore, said turbine having vanes on its external circumference; and v) providing a means to access the rotational output from the turbine and causing it to drive another item of equipment; characterised in that the fluid is caused to enter the manifold and thence flow through the plurality of holes to emerge into the bore as jets and strike the vanes on the turbine at an angle transferring energy from the jets via the vanes to the turbine causing it to rotate about its axis and enabling the means to provide the continuous rotational output to the item of equipment, the fluid, after striking the vanes, then passing to the outlet end of the bore.

According to a first variation of the method of the invention, the flowing fluid is a liquid.

According to a second variation of the method of the invention, the flowing fluid is a gas.

According to a third variation of the method of the invention, the flowing fluid is mains water.

According to a fourth variation of the method of the invention, the holes from the manifold into the axial bore are arranged symmetrically around the bore to maximise energy transfer to the turbine.

According to a fifth variation of the method of the invention, the turbine is fitted closely within the axial bore so that the vanes rotate clear of, but close to, the circumferential wall of said bore.

According to a sixth variation of the method of the invention, wherein the rotational output from the turbine drives a generator to produce electrical power via an axial connection.

According to a seventh variation of the method of the invention, the rotational output from the turbine drives a trickle charger to generate electrical power via an axial connection.

According to an eighth variation of the method of the invention, a battery is provided to store the electrical power generated by the trickle charger.

In a preferred application of the invention, the continuous flow of / from a small stream, or a mains water supply, is channelled into the annular manifold of a compact hydro device from where jets of water, passing through holes drilled from the manifold into the bore are caused to impinge on the vanes of a turbine, located axially in the bore of the manifold, causing it to rotate and drive a generator to produce electricity either directly or indirectly, e.g. via a trickle charger into a battery. The invention can access sources of hydropower below the energy capacity required for conventional means and so provide power in areas where mains electricity and / or gas is unavailable but where there is a suitable small stream or a mains water supply.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of one form of the apparatus of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic sectional plan of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 along the plane AA; and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a detail of a variation of the form of hole 7 leading from manifold 6 into bore 8.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for the same component in different Figures and / or for different components fulfilling similar or identical functions. The Figures show the basic principle of the invention but omit possible confusing engineering details, such as seals, bearings and methods of construction, all of which will be obvious to the skilled person.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a Compact Hydro Electric Device 1 consists of an annular housing 2 having a bore 8 and an annular insert 5. The shape of insert 5 incorporates a manifold 6, fed by inlet 3 with a continuous supply of a flowing fluid 3, e.g., water from a nearby stream or mains water. From manifold 6, water 3 is fed to a plurality of holes 7, which, as shown, are angled in the direction of outlet 13. In Fig. 2, the projected lines 16 of holes 7 and direction of the water jets which emerge from them are shown by dashed lines 16 and impinge of vanes 9 fast with turbine hub 10. (The water jets themselves are not shown but their trajectories to impacts with vanes 9 are shown 16.) A plurality of 6 jets 16 is shown (Fig. 2), as an example, uniformly and symmetrically arranged around the circumference of turbine 10.

The skilled person will appreciate that six jets, arranged evenly around turbine 10 will provide a balanced input force as opposed to that from a single jet (e.g., a Pelton Wheel) which would create an out-of-balanced torque on the bearings. This is important as the energy in input flow 3 is likely to be small so that all unnecessary losses must be eliminated. A special turbine 10, known as 'The Stephenson Turbine', has been developed to maximise energy capture from this low-level power source.

As shown (Fig. 2), the projected lines 16 of holes 6 lie along chords of the circle of bore 8 (and extensions of said chords) and (appear to) impinge 'normally' on vanes 9. This will not be the case in practice; if vanes 9 are machined normally and parallel to axis 11. However, if vanes 9 were machined with a curved profile, the angle of impingement could be over 700. However, in either case the relevant angle will be a larger acute angle than that which would be subtended in a conventional axial flow turbine (where the water flow would be parallel to axis 11). However, the orientation of plurality of holes 7 indicates a further incremental gain in efficiency.

It will be noted that vanes 9 diverge from the side of bore 8 downstream from the impingement point. After impingement, a slug of water 3 will have transferred all its available kinetic energy to a vane 9 and it is necessary to get that slug out of the way so as not to impede energy transfer from the following slug. This is why the free space between vane / turbine and bore increases downstream. It is also assisted by the alignment of holes 7 pointing towards outlet 13. Thus, all the internal details of the design of the invention are to maximise the efficiency of energy extraction from water 3. Preferably, device 1 would usually be mounted vertically and not horizontally, as shown, provided there was sufficient vertical fall on the stream 3.

Where there is adequate flow and / or fall, a second plurality of holes 7A may be provided and this will improve efficiency. In such a case, the outer edges of vanes 9 could be machined to align closely to the sides of bore 8. The rotation 17 of turbine 10 is passed via axial connection 14 to item 15, which may be an electrical generator, if the power output is significant or a trickle charger, and thence to a battery (not shown), if it is less so. Another alternative to holes 7A is to increase the number of holes 7 from the (nominal) 6, shown in Fig. 2, e.g. to 12; this would decrease the spacing of the jets from 60° to 30° around axis 11 and enable easier starting from stationary. Ideally, the number vanes 9 on turbine 10 would equal the number of holes 7, again, to optimise efficiency.

The advantage of using a trickle charger is that, although the input is low it is essentially continuous so that a large amount of power is added to the battery (not shown) over a given time.

It is known that pipe wall friction on flowing fluids increases as the pipe diameter is reduced.

Consequently, frictional resistance in narrow holes 7, 7A may be reduced if most of the length of bore 7, 7A is enlarged. Fig. 3 shows a part section through annular insert 5 with a larger diameter hole 20, reducing 21 to a small hole 22 at the exit into bore 8, 12. The result is a low friction flow 18 in hole 20 morphing into a high speed (double-arrow) jet 19 impacting turbine 10 (not shown). The benefit is that jet 19 would be at least as powerful as the equivalent jet from a hole 7, 7A and probably marginally more so -another example of optimisation of efficiency.

Ideally, the source of flowing water could be a small stream from which a part was diverted via an upstream leat or pipe (to gain a working head) so that its potential energy would drive the apparatus of the invention. In the absence of a stream, mains water pressure would be enough to drive turbine 10, with the efflux 13 used for animals to drink, or in greenhouses or for hydroponic culture, etc. Device 1 offers a significant improvement over conventional means of energy abstraction and should mean that small, hitherto unrecoverable, sources of energy may be accessed without detriment to the environment. Carefully landscaped camping huts in areas of outstanding natural beauty may be provided with limited sources of power for lighting and radio reception, etc., for adventurous people who like the great outdoors but also demand some degree of comfort.

The disclosure thus far has been written on the basis that device 118 being used for a fluid with low potential, or kinetic, energy, but an essentially continuous flow where conventional energy recovery means are unsuitable. However, device 1 is also applicable in cases where the energy level in the fluid is higher and also in cases where multiple numbers of devices 1 may be geared together, either in parallel or in series, to produce higher net energy outputs.

As an example, two, three or four devices 1 may be geared together in parallel to produce a single output in the same way that the outputs of multiple diesel engines may be geared together on a ship to drive a single propeller shaft. The skilled person will be aware of this and other variations of the principle disclosed herein, all falling within the scope of the invention and of the details of the design disclosed herein, to optimise the energy recovery from both marginal, and higher level, power sources

Claims

Claims: 1. Apparatus for converting the potential energy and / or kinetic energy in a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy comprising: i) an essentially continuously flowing fluid possessing potential and / or kinetic energy; ii) an annular member having an axial bore with an outlet end and a plurality of holes extending through said member into the bore, said holes being:-a) aligned firstly as inclined projections and / or extensions of chords and / or radii of the axial bore; and b) further inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore in the direction of the outlet end; iii) a manifold, located within, or adjacent to, the annular member so that the fluid in the manifold may access the plurality of holes and thus pass through them into the bore; iv) a turbine, located in the bore of the annular member and mounted to be rotatable co-axially within the bore, said turbine having vanes on its external circumference; and v) a means to access the rotational output from the turbine and cause it to drive another item of equipment; characterised in that the fluid is caused to enter the manifold and thence flow through the plurality of holes to emerge into the bore as jets and strike the vanes on the turbine at an angle transferring energy from the jets via the vanes to the turbine causing it to rotate axially and enable the means to provide the continuous rotational output to the item of equipment, the fluid, after striking the vanes, then passing to the outlet end of the bore.
2. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim1, wherein the flowing fluid is a liquid.
3. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim1, wherein the flowing fluid is a gas.
4. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim1, wherein the flowing fluid is mains water.
5. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the body of the annular member is essentially cylindrical, having an axial bore and a coaxial annular chamber forming the manifold.
6. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holes from the manifold into the axial bore have a constant diameter.
7. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 5, wherein the holes from the manifold into the axial bore have a larger diameter until near the exit into the axial bore and a smaller diameter exit into the bore itself to reduce wall friction on the fluid.
8. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claims 6 or 7, 10 wherein the holes from the manifold into the axial bore are arranged symmetrically around the bore to maximise energy transfer to the turbine.
9. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the turbine is a closely toleranced fit within the axial bore so that the vanes rotate clear of, but close to, the circumferential wall of said bore.
10. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vanes on the turbine are straight and aligned parallel to its axis.
11. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the vanes on the turbine are curved with the curvature aligned so that the jets impinge essentially normally on said vanes.
12. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claims 10 or 11, 25 wherein the means of accessing a rotational drive from the turbine is via an axial connection.
13. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rotational drive powers an electrical generator.
14. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rotational drive powers an electrical trickle charger.
15. Apparatus for obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 14, wherein the power generated by the trickle charger is stored in a battery.
16. A method for converting the potential energy and / or kinetic energy in a flowing fluid into mechanical rotational energy comprising: i) providing an essentially continuously flowing fluid possessing potential and / or kinetic energy; ii) providing an annular member having an axial bore with an outlet end and a plurality of holes extending through said member into the bore, said holes being: a) aligned firstly as inclined projections and / or extensions of chords and / or radii of the axial bore; and b) further inclined at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the bore in the direction of the outlet end; iii) providing a manifold, located within, or adjacent to, the annular member so that the fluid in the manifold can access the plurality of holes and thus pass through them into the bore; iv) providing a turbine, and locating it in the bore of the member and mounting it to be rotatable co-axially within the bore, said turbine having vanes on Its external circumference; and v) providing a means to access the rotational output from the turbine and causing it to drive another item of equipment; characterised in that the fluid is caused to enter the manifold and thence flow through the plurality of holes to emerge into the bore as jets and strike the vanes on the turbine at an angle transferring energy from the jets via the vanes to the turbine causing it to rotate about its axis and enabling the means to provide the continuous rotational output to the item of equipment, the fluid, after striking the vanes, then passing to the outlet end of the bore.
17. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flowing fluid is a liquid.
18. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flowing fluid is a gas.
19. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 16, wherein the flowing fluid is mains water.
20. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in any claim 17-19, 35 wherein the holes from the manifold into the axial bore are arranged symmetrically around the bore to maximise energy transfer to the turbine to produce a rotational output.
21. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the turbine is fitted closely within the axial bore so that the vanes rotate clear of, but close to, the circumferential wall of said bore.
22. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rotational output from the turbine drives a generator to produce electrical power via an axial connection.
23 A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 20, wherein the rotational output from the turbine drives a trickle charger to generate electrical power via an axial connection.
24. A method of obtaining mechanical rotational energy, as claimed in claim 23, wherein a battery is provided to store the electrical power generated by the trickle charger.