JP2000274343A - Power generating device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the rotation starting flow rate of an impeller and improve the operation efficiency in small flow rate by converting the rotating energy of the impeller rotated by the flow of a fluid to electric energy, and carrying the fluid toward the impeller so as to increase the rotating energy per unit flow rate. SOLUTION: When a fluid is carried, a magnet 10 is rotated according to the rotation of an impeller 3, and the magnetic flux passing in a coil 11 is changed to generate electric energy in the coil 11. Namely, the magnet 10 and the coil 11 constitute a means 12 for converting the rotating energy of the impeller 3 to the electric energy. When the flow rate of the fluid is small, a damper member 17 is closed to carry the whole quantity of the fluid to a bypass passage 14. The fluid carried out through an outflow part 18 is collided to the blade surface of a blade 9 at an angle close to right angle. According to this, the force of the fluid for rotating the impeller 3 is increased, so that the rotation of the impeller 3 can be efficiently started even with a small flow rate. When the flow rate is large, the damper member 17 is opened.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power generator for generating power by using a fluid flow.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There is a power generating apparatus that generates electric energy by using energy when a fluid flows, and stores the electric energy in a storage battery in order to use the electric energy as a driving source of equipment. For example, in an automatic faucet, a sensor detects when a human hand approaches a faucet,
Although the on-off valve is automatically opened, electric energy serving as a driving source is generated by using energy when water flows, and is stored in a storage battery. The impeller rotates due to the energy when the water flows, and the rotational energy of the impeller is converted into electric energy and extracted. In order to convert the rotational energy of the impeller into electric energy, a magnet is provided on the rotating shaft of the impeller, and a coil having an iron core is arranged around the magnet, and the electric energy is converted by electromagnetic induction. To be generated.

When there is no fluid flow and the impeller is stopped, the impeller is stopped with the magnet and the iron core attracted. Even if the fluid starts to flow, the impeller does not rotate during the small flow rate because the force attracting the magnet and the iron core is greater than the force of the fluid to rotate the impeller. When the flow rate of the fluid becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value (rotation start flow rate), the impeller starts rotating.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the rotation start flow rate of an impeller and to improve the operating efficiency when the flow rate is small.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an impeller which is rotated by a flow of a fluid, energy conversion means for converting the rotational energy of the impeller into electric energy, and an impeller for rotating the fluid. And a rotational energy increasing means for flowing the rotational energy per unit flow rate so as to increase the rotational energy.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that the rotational energy increasing means is a bypass flow path for flowing a fluid toward the impeller.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a flow control device for adjusting a flow rate to the bypass flow path in accordance with a flow rate of the fluid.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An impeller that rotates by the flow of a fluid is rotatably provided in a flow path. The rotational energy of the impeller is converted into electric energy by energy conversion means. As the energy conversion means, for example, a magnet is provided on the rotating shaft of the impeller, and a coil having an iron core is arranged around the magnet, and electric energy is generated by electromagnetic induction. Electric energy from the energy conversion means is stored in a power storage means.

The power generating apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a rotational energy increasing means for flowing a fluid toward the impeller so as to increase rotational energy per unit flow rate. As this rotational energy increasing means, a bypass flow path is provided in parallel with the flow path. The bypass passage serves to take out the fluid in the passage and flow it in the rotational direction toward the impeller. An outflow portion of the bypass passage is provided so as to face a blade surface of the impeller, so that fluid impinges substantially at right angles to the blade surface. One or more bypass passages may be provided.

A flow rate adjusting means is provided near the inflow portion of the bypass flow passage in the flow passage or in the middle of the bypass flow passage. The flow rate adjusting means functions to adjust the flow rate to the bypass flow path in accordance with the flow rate of the fluid. That is, when the flow rate of the fluid is low, the flow rate to the bypass flow path is increased, and when the flow rate of the fluid is high, the flow rate to the bypass flow path is reduced.

As the flow rate adjusting means, a damper member capable of adjusting an inclination angle, a valve which is pressed by an elastic member and is not opened unless a predetermined flow rate or more is provided, is provided with an inflow portion of the bypass flow path in the flow path. Provided between the outlet.
In addition, a constant flow valve may be provided in the middle of the bypass flow path as the flow control means.

According to the above configuration, when the flow rate of the fluid is small, the flow rate ratio to the bypass flow path can be increased, and the fluid can flow toward the impeller so as to increase the rotational energy. Therefore, the rotation start flow rate of the impeller becomes small, power generation starts at a small flow rate, and the operating efficiency at a small flow rate can be significantly improved.

[0013] The rotation energy increasing means may be means for changing the inclination angle of the blades of the impeller in accordance with the flow rate of the fluid. That is, the angle of inclination of the blades with respect to the axis of the fluid flow is set to about 45 ° when the flow rate of the fluid is small, and smaller when the flow rate of the fluid is large. Further, the rotation energy increasing means may be means for increasing the flow velocity of the fluid when the flow rate of the fluid is small.

The power generator of the present invention is suitable for use in a water treatment device such as a water softener in addition to an automatic faucet.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of the present invention. An impeller 3 is rotatably provided in a flow path 2 in the flow pipe 1. The impeller 3 is supported at both ends by first bearings 4 and second bearings 5. The first bearing 4 is fixed to the inner wall of the flow pipe 1 by three fixing members 6. The second bearing 5 is fixed to the lid 7.

A large number of blades 9 are provided at one end of a rotating shaft 8 of the impeller 3, and a disk-shaped magnet 10 is provided at the other end. A coil 11 having an iron core (not shown) is arranged around the magnet 10. When the fluid flows, the magnet 10 rotates as the impeller 3 rotates, and the magnetic flux passing through the coil 11 changes to generate electric energy in the coil 11. The magnet 10 and the coil 11 constitute an energy conversion unit 12 that converts rotational energy of the impeller 3 into electric energy. A storage battery (not shown) is connected to the coil 11, and the generated electric energy is stored in the storage battery.

A bypass pipe 13 is connected to the flow pipe 1, and a bypass flow path 14 is formed in the bypass pipe 13. The bypass flow passage 14 branches off from the flow passage 2 at an upstream position separated from the impeller 3 by a predetermined distance, and joins the flow passage 2 at a position immediately upstream of the impeller 3.

In the flow path 2, the bypass flow path 1
A damper member 17 is rotatably provided as a flow rate adjusting means 16 at a position downstream of the inflow portion 15 of the fourth. The inclination angle of the damper member 17 changes according to the flow rate of the fluid,
The flow rate to the bypass passage 14 is adjusted.

The outflow portion 18 of the bypass passage 14 is formed at a predetermined angle with respect to the axis of the passage 2 (in the illustrated embodiment, the angle is 4 °).
5 °), and the tip of the outflow portion 18 is disposed so as to face the blade 9 of the impeller 3. Further, the downstream end of the bypass pipe 13 is connected to the flow pipe 1 in a tangential direction, and the fluid from the bypass flow path 14 flows out in the rotation direction of the impeller 3. The bypass flow path 14 serves as a rotational energy increasing means for flowing a fluid toward the impeller 3 so as to increase rotational energy per unit flow rate. Although the number of the bypass passages 14 is one in the illustrated embodiment,
A plurality can be provided. For example, if you have two,
The impeller 3 is provided symmetrically about the rotation axis 8.

The operation of the first embodiment will be described. When the flow rate is small, the damper member 17 is fully closed, and all the fluid flows into the bypass flow path 14. By configuring the bypass passage 14 as described above, the fluid flowing out of the outflow portion 18 collides with the blade surface of the blade 9 at an angle close to a right angle. Therefore,
The force for rotating the impeller 3 increases, and the impeller 3 starts rotating even with a small flow rate, thereby enabling power generation. When the flow rate is high, the damper member 17 is fully opened, and most of the fluid flows into the flow path 2. The open / close position of the damper member 17 can be controlled at two positions, fully closed and fully open, or can be controlled in multiple stages or proportionally according to the flow rate of the fluid. The opening / closing position of the damper member 17 is controlled based on a signal from a flow rate sensor (not shown).
Electric motor connected to the damper member 17 (not shown)
Is performed by driving.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the relationship between the flow rate of the fluid and the rotation speed of the impeller 3. The solid line is for the present invention and the dotted line is for the prior art. The thing of this invention shown in FIG.
The inclination angle of the damper member 17 is proportionally changed according to the flow rate of the fluid. The rotation start flow rate at which the impeller 3 starts to rotate is about 7.6 liter / min in the conventional one, whereas it is reduced to about 3.4 liter / min in the present invention. Also, the conventional one has a flow rate of about 4.
In the range of 8 liters / min or less, the impeller 3 does not rotate. On the other hand, according to the present invention, the impeller 3 rotates even when the flow rate is in a range of about 4.8 l / min or less (however, about 1.6 l / min or more).

Therefore, according to the first embodiment, even when the flow rate of the fluid is small, the impeller 3 can rotate and generate electric power, and the operating efficiency when the flow rate is small is significantly improved. In addition, since the rotation speed of the impeller 3 at a small flow rate is increased as compared with the conventional one, the generated voltage at a small flow rate is also increased, and a stable power generation amount can be obtained. Furthermore, when the flow rate is large, most of the fluid flows through the flow path 2, so that the rotation speed of the impeller 3 does not increase more than necessary, and the rotation shaft 8, the first bearing 4, and the Wear of the two bearings 5 can be suppressed, and high durability can be obtained.

Next, a second embodiment shown in FIG. 4 will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the second embodiment, an on-off valve 19 is provided as the flow rate adjusting means 16. The on-off valve 19 is provided with a valve seat 21 having a flow hole 20 in the center.
And a sphere 22 disposed so as to close the flow hole 20 from the downstream side, and an elastic member 2 pressing the sphere from the downstream side.
3 and a support member 25 that supports the elastic member 23 and has an opening 24 in the center. The on-off valve 19 is
The flow path 2 is provided at a position downstream of the inflow portion 15 of the bypass flow path 14.

While the flow rate of the fluid is small, the elastic member 2
The elastic force of No. 3 is larger than the pressure of the fluid, and the on-off valve 19 is in the closed state. Therefore, all the fluid flows to the bypass passage 14. Then, the outflow portion 1 of the bypass flow path 14
Due to the fluid flowing out of 8, the force for rotating impeller 3 is increased, and impeller 3 can be rotated with a small flow rate. When the flow rate of the fluid increases, the pressure of the fluid becomes larger than the elastic force of the elastic member 23, and the on-off valve 19 opens. Then, most of the fluid flows to the impeller 3 through the flow holes 20. As described above, according to the second embodiment, when the flow rate of the fluid is equal to or less than the predetermined value, the fluid flows to the bypass flow passage 14, and the impeller 3 can be rotated even at a small flow rate. The operating efficiency at the time is remarkably improved. Further, as in the first embodiment, a stable power generation amount and high durability can be obtained.

Next, a third embodiment shown in FIG. 5 will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. In the third embodiment, the constant flow valve 2
6 is provided in the bypass flow path 14. The flow pipe 1 includes a vertical portion 27 and a horizontal portion 28, and the inflow portion 15 of the bypass passage 14 is connected to the horizontal portion 28 along the axis of the vertical portion 27. An orifice member 29 is provided in the horizontal portion 28 in order to set a value of the flow resistance of the flow path 2 with respect to the flow resistance of the bypass flow path 14 to a predetermined value.

By the operation of the constant flow valve 26, a substantially constant amount of fluid flows into the bypass passage 14. Therefore, while the flow rate of the fluid is small, the flow rate to the bypass flow path 14 is large, and when the flow rate of the fluid is large, the flow rate to the bypass flow path 14 is small. As described above, according to the third embodiment, when the flow rate of the fluid is small, the fluid relatively flows into the bypass flow path 14, and even at a small flow rate, the impeller 3 can be rotated. The operating efficiency at the time of is greatly improved. Further, similarly to the first embodiment and the second embodiment, stable power generation and high durability can be obtained.

In the third embodiment, a constant flow rate function can be provided without the constant flow rate valve 26 so as to prevent a certain amount of fluid from flowing into the bypass flow passage 14 itself.

[0028]

According to the present invention, the rotation start flow rate of the impeller is reduced, and power can be generated even with a small flow rate. Therefore, the operation efficiency when the flow rate is small can be remarkably improved. Also, as compared with the conventional one, the rotation speed of the impeller at a small flow rate increases, and the generated voltage at a small flow rate increases, so that a stable power generation amount can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a relationship between a flow rate of a fluid and a rotation speed of an impeller according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory longitudinal sectional view showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 impeller 12 energy conversion means 14 bypass flow path 16 flow rate adjustment means

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An impeller 3 rotated by a flow of a fluid,
Energy conversion means 12 for converting the rotational energy of the impeller 3 into electric energy, and rotational energy increasing means for flowing a fluid toward the impeller 3 so as to increase the rotational energy per unit flow rate. Characteristic power generator. 2. The power generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotational energy increasing means is a bypass flow path for flowing a fluid toward said impeller. 3. The bypass flow path 1 according to a flow rate of a fluid.
The power generator according to claim 2, further comprising a flow rate adjusting means (16) for adjusting a flow rate ratio to the flow rate (4).