IES930057A2 - Floating-submersible hydro-electric generator suitable for¹use in both navigable and redundant canal locks - Google Patents

Abstract

Since before the second World War, Canals as a mode of Transport, have been to a large extent been supe reeded by Road and Rail, making canals redundant, or used only intermittently for heavy bulk Cargos. When not in.use. or totally redundant Canal Locks, particularly when associated with large rivers from which large continous supply of water to Canal is available, form ideal sites for small Hydro Electric generating plants. Where such a Canal Lock is found in close proximity i.e. economic distances, to suitable high voltage power line, the total amount of power recoverable from lock can be quite viable from a commercial point of view.

Description

The present invention relates to floating - submersible Hydro - Electric Generating Unit ( f - s HE), suitable for installation in or near Locks of river-fed Canals, which were originally built to circumnavigate raoids and weirs on otherwise navigable rivers. From snip-boat navigation aspect such Locks are used only intermittently, and for over ninety per cent of the time lie completely unused.

By comparison with orthodox long distance ship canals, which contain large quantities of static water, and where only lock water losses are made up from local rivers or stream or by pumping from more distant sources, river fed Canals are usually of very short length - i.e. only length of by-passed rapids, and are integral part of large flowing rivers, capable of maintaining canal flow, even if Locks remain permanently open. The availability of this large maximum flow through short canal thougn Locks of suitable low oifferential water levels, is eminently suitable for generation cf Electric Power.

In sucn Locks, the use of heavy cuilt-in reinforced Concrete permanent Hydro-Electric (Η E ) Units is not practical.

Only a floating Η E unit, fully movaoie to allow use of Lock for ship/boat navigation purposes is acceptable. Such a (f- Η E Unit may aiso be used between headrace Canal to Lock and adjoining main river, by floating same in canal or river, or by installing same on or in embankment dividing Canal and river at mist appropriate, i.e. narrowest part of dividing IE 930057 embankment, between up-river weir maintaining Canal level and Lock location.

To maximise power output from variable flow in river over typical twelve month rainfall period, the (f -s Η E ) is formed of a number of modular Η E Turbine Units assembled together by transverse bolting system to form completeUnit. The selected single Η E Turbine module is designed to provide max power output available from Minimum Summer Flow, as approximate multiple of Max. Winter River flow.

W The invention will now be described more particularly with reference to accompanying drawings, which show by way of standard Canal Lock example, a typical single (f -s Η E ) Power Module.

The Modules would be generally fabricated at suitable Structural Steel Engineering Works and transported to Lock site for final assembly and launching into Canal Lock.

Figure J shows typical cross section ( XX - Fig 2) of a floating -submersible HE pontoon module Unit Ta. to which is affixed a standard verticle Hydro-Electric Turbine Unit (2) This HET Unit contains Electricity Generator (5), Vertical Hydro Turbine (6) trash grid (7) together with all ancillary controls & Switch gear, and is firmly attached to floating-sumsersible module pontoon ( Ta) by verical bolts (9). The Module is shown in operational mode, i.e. sunk floor of Lock and fixed firmly between walls of same by sliding beams (8).

The f -s HE pontoon consist of longitudinal rectangular IE 930057 hollow unit fabricated : * mild steel piate, ana consisting of two or more buoyancy chambers (J) and tailrace draft tube N) which is connected to Η E Turbine outlet in unit (2) as shown. Overall dimensions of f -< pontoon is dictated by buoyancy factor ( cubic ft / meters of air) required to cisplace total deadload of steelplate, Turbine, Generator, etc. etc. comprising the complete Unit to ensure its safe floating out of Lock to moorii location shown in Figs. 7 and Fig.8, in order to facilitate user of Lock for boat navigation up and down Canal. (Note 10 compressed Air connection to pontoon not shown). Water inletoutlet to buoyancy chamDers shown (Ta). Three sliding beams (3) as shown hold Unit in place, and firmly resist pressure of full hydrostatic head of water in Lock shown ( H - H).

Fig 2 is plan view (P marked in Fig.1) showing complete (f - HE) Unit in relation to cut stone existing Lock structure and its integration with same. Position of Lock Gates, & tempora dam slots in Lock Walls is also shown. Complete (f-SH E ) Unit consists of three Modules la, lb, & 1c, to form single Η E Complex, and are fixea firmly together by transverse through 2D both (10). Lock walls are shown hatched in diagram.

Fig. 5 shows down-stream elevation of f-?H E Unit.

Catwalk (ii) to each Generator - Control room is clearly shown, as is also retaining beams (8), locked in fixed positions.

To move (f - >Η E ) Unit, Air Compressor (a Mobile Compressor on Canal Bank and not shown in diagram) IE 930057 -5is activated and buoyancy chamber's blown empty to float unit and retaining beams (8) slided back out of dam slots in Lock Wall when unit can be floated out to clear Lock for boat navigation through ssme. The (f-$H E ) Unit is moored by cables ( 13) & Mooring posts (14) as shown in Figs. 7 & 8.

Fi9- 4 shows plan view of (f-sH E ) unit at Control room level ( p2 in Fig 1) incl. Control room (2), generator (5), assembly bolts (5), Catwalk ( 11) retaining beams (8) & trash rack (7). On positioning ( f -sH E ) in operational location, all joints between (f-HE ) units and between (f -s' Η E) units and Lock walls are caulked with removable foam rubber (12) or other suitable sealing compound to prevent water leakage.

Fig. 5 shows plan of standard type single stage Canal Lock with (f- s' η E ) Unit shown in fixed operational mode at down stream end of Lock. An alternative operational location for Unit is shown by dotted ( f - SH E ) diagram at up-stream end of Lock. Dotted diagram (A) shows location of four (4) module (f-S Η E ) Unit which may be used should Winter high rainfall flow in river justify same. (B) indicates Electric cables to Nat. Grid Transformer. (ETS.S/) Fig. 6. shows longitudinal cross section X - X of Lock Plan shown in Fig. 5 indicating all (f - sΗ E ) operational modes which may be used.

IE 930057 Fig 7 shows general Plan of Canal ά Lock with (f -she ) Unit shown both in operational and moored passive location io allow use of Lock for Boat navigation through same. Control winch cables are indicated (15) together with mooring posts ( 14) on Canal bank to secure Η E Unit against water flow during operation for boats. Winches (not shown) may be of Electric or Diesel Engine drive.

Fig. 3 shows alternative operational and mooring locations for 4 - Mod. (f - S HE) Unit It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications & alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (4)

1. What I claim i s : (1) A modular f 1 oating-submersib1e sheet steel pontoon, the internal construction of which includes an exhaust venturi draft tube, and which supports, firmly fixed to same, a modular vertical Hydro turbine with or without a gearbox and Electric generator, which complete modular floating Hydro Electric Unit, may be used singly or in multiple units firmly bolted together to form complete multi Hydro-Electric Turbine Complex to full exact width of suitable canal lock.

2. (2) A f1oating-submersib1e Pontoon cum HE unit according to Claim (1), the location and movement of which is controlled by cable and winch mounted firmly on canal embankment or on pontoon unit, or by self contained marine propulsion system attached to that unit.

3. (3) A f1oating-submersible Pontoon HE Unit, the compressed air supply to which may be supplied by independent air compressor on canal bank, of by air compressor built into HE unit. ( A ) A floating-submersible pontoon cum Hydro Electric unit, in which the H.E. Turbine and Generator are suspended in the horizontal mode within horizontal draft tube by flotation chambers within Pontoon, on which the lock high water level is maintained by simple steel or timber dam affixed to same, substantially as herein, described with ref. to Figs.1 Fig.8 respectively.

4. (5) A method of anchoring Floating Pontoon even H.E. Unit on floor of lock and firmly cut stone of concrete walls of lough, by sliding steel beams engaging with existing temporary dam slots in lough walls.