JP2014015904A - Hydraulic power generation device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a hydraulic power generation device which enables a water wheel to be unfailingly disposed below water without enlarging the device and obtains stable electric power generation.SOLUTION: A hydraulic power generation device 1 includes: a water wheel 10 disposed below a water surface Ws; a power generator 53 which generates electric power by rotations of the water wheel 10; and a water wheel position adjustment part 20 which moves the water wheel 10 in a vertical direction according to fluctuations of a water level Ws and transmits the rotations of the water wheel 10 to the power generator 53.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hydroelectric generator.

  In a power generation device using a vertical axis type water wheel (through-flow water wheel), even if the water level (water surface) changes up and down, it is necessary to always arrange (submerge) the water wheel (wings) below the water surface. If a part of the water wheel is exposed on the surface of the water, the load applied to the water wheel becomes non-uniform, which may cause a problem in the water wheel.

  Therefore, a technique has been proposed in which a vertical axis type water turbine is always placed below the water surface by fixing the generator to a floating body floating above the water surface and arranging the water wheel on the bottom surface side (lower side) of the floating body. (Patent Document 1).

No. 1-10446

However, in the conventional technique, the entire vertical axis hydroelectric generator including the generator is supported by the floating body, so that a large floating body capable of obtaining sufficient buoyancy is required. For this reason, there exists a problem that an apparatus will enlarge.
In addition, since the entire vertical axis hydroelectric generator floats on the surface of the water, there is a problem that the posture of the entire apparatus including the water wheel becomes unstable and power generation tends to become unstable. Further, since the posture of the entire apparatus is unstable, there is a problem that the maintainability and reliability are inferior.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to propose a hydroelectric generator that can reliably dispose a water turbine below the surface of the water without increasing the size of the apparatus.

The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
The hydraulic power generation apparatus according to the present invention includes a water turbine disposed below the surface of the water, a generator that generates power by rotating the water wheel, and the rotation of the water wheel while moving the water wheel up and down according to fluctuations in water level. And a water wheel position adjusting unit for transmission to the machine.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the hydraulic power unit which can arrange | position a water turbine reliably under the water surface without enlarging an apparatus is obtained.

It is a figure which shows schematic structure of a vertical axis | shaft type hydroelectric generator. It is a figure which shows the detailed structure of a ball spline bearing. It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the vertical axis type hydroelectric generator when a water level changes up and down.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1 according to the present invention.
The vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1 can be installed in a water channel C used for, for example, agriculture, industry, water supply, or the like.
In the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, the vertical axis turbine 10 is disposed below the water surface Ws of the water channel C. That is, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is disposed so as to be submerged in the irrigation channel C. Further, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is arranged such that a rotation axis which is a central axis (rotation center) A faces a vertical direction. And the generator 53 is connected with the edge part of the rotating shaft exposed on the water. The generator 53 converts the rotational force (mechanical energy) of the vertical axis type water turbine 10 into electric energy. That is, power generation is performed using the force of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C.

The vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1 includes a vertical axis turbine 10, a turbine position adjusting unit 20, and a fixed unit 50.
The water turbine position adjustment unit 20 moves the vertical shaft water turbine 10 in the vertical direction in response to a change in the water level (water surface Ws) while transmitting the rotation of the vertical shaft water turbine 10 to the generator 53.
The fixing unit 50 is disposed above the water channel C, supports the vertical axis type water turbine 10 and the water turbine position adjusting unit 20, and generates power with a generator 53 described later.

The vertical axis type turbine 10 is a so-called gyromill type windmill, but is not limited thereto.
The vertical shaft type water turbine 10 has a rectangular plate shape or a strip plate shape, and includes a plurality of blades 11 extending in the vertical direction. The plurality of blades 11 are arranged around the central axis A at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. Each blade 11 is coupled to the outer peripheral surface of a pipe 21 described later via a pair of arms 12 connected to both ends.
The plurality of blades 11 are formed in a shape that generates lift when receiving water W. With this lift, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 rotates the pipe 21 arranged along the central axis A around the central axis A.
The vertical axis type water turbine 10 is not dependent on the flow of water. That is, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 can rotate about the central axis A with respect to the water W from any direction.

The turbine position adjusting unit 20 includes a pipe 21, a float 24, a ball spline bearing 40, and the like.
The pipe (cylindrical member) 21 is a cylindrical member disposed along the central axis A of the vertical axis type water turbine 10.
The vertical shaft type water turbine 10 is connected to the outer peripheral side of the lower end 21 </ b> B of the pipe 21. The upper end portion 21A of the pipe 21 protrudes upward from the water surface Ws. As will be described later, the upper end portion 21A of the pipe 21 is always exposed on the water.
A bottom lid 22 is provided at the lower end of the pipe 21 to prevent water W from entering (immersed) into the pipe 21. An upper lid may be provided at the upper end of the pipe 21.
The diameter (inner diameter) of the pipe 21 is set to such a size that the ball spline bearing 40 (spline nut 42) is fixed to the inner peripheral surface thereof by fitting or the like.

An annular float 24 is connected to the outer peripheral side of the upper end 21 </ b> A of the pipe 21.
The float (floating body) 24 is made of a synthetic resin material such as foamed polystyrene, and is a low-density member that floats on the water surface Ws. The float 24 exposes the upper end portion 21A of the pipe 21 above the water surface Ws by its buoyancy. The shape, buoyancy, and the like of the float 24 can be appropriately changed as long as the upper end portion 21A of the pipe 21 is not submerged. Therefore, the float 24 is not limited to being formed of foamed polystyrene, and may be a bag body such as a floating ring. Further, it may be a tank-shaped member formed of a metal material.

  In this way, the float 24 exposes the upper end 21A of the pipe 21 above the water surface Ws by its buoyancy, so even if the water level (water surface Ws) changes up and down, it is connected to the lower end 21B of the pipe 21. The vertical axis type water turbine 10 is always submerged.

A bearing 25 is disposed between the inner peripheral surface of the float 24 and the outer peripheral surface of the pipe 21. For the bearing 25, for example, a waterproof bearing is used.
That is, the float 24 is rotatably connected to the pipe 21 around the central axis A via the bearing 25. In other words, even if the pipe 21 rotates around the central axis A, the float 24 is connected to the pipe 21 so as not to rotate.
For this reason, the presence of the float 24 does not hinder the rotation of the vertical axis type water turbine 10.

  The ball spline bearing (motion guide mechanism) 40 enables the vertical axis type water turbine 10 (pipe 21) to move in the direction of the central axis A while rotating together with the vertical axis type water turbine 10 (pipe 21). That is, while transmitting the rotation of the vertical axis type water turbine 10 to the generator 53, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 can be moved in the vertical direction in response to a change in the water level (water surface Ws).

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of the ball spline bearing 40.
The ball spline bearing 40 includes a spline shaft 41, a spline nut 42, and the like.
The spline nut 42 and the spline shaft 41 are relatively linearly movable.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of rolling element rolling grooves 41 </ b> A extending along the extending direction are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the spline shaft 41. These rolling element rolling grooves 41 </ b> A are formed at least at positions corresponding to the spline nuts 42, and are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. Since the balls 44 of the spline nut 42 are arranged so as to be able to roll in the rolling element rolling grooves 41 </ b> A, quenching is performed to ensure the mechanical strength of these balls 44.

  The spline nut 42 is incorporated in the outer cylinder 43, a cylindrical outer cylinder 43 that is loosely fitted to the spline shaft 41, a plurality of balls 44 that are interposed between the spline shaft 41 and the outer cylinder 43 so as to allow rolling motion. And a cage 45 that aligns a plurality of balls 44 in a flat circular or circuit-shaped ball circulation path.

  A plurality of load rolling element rolling grooves extending in the extending direction are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 43 so as to face the rolling element rolling grooves 41 </ b> A of the spline shaft 41. Retaining rings 46 for assembling the retainer 45 to the outer cylinder 43 are provided at both ends of the outer cylinder 43 in the axial direction.

The ball circulation path includes a loaded rolling element rolling path, a pair of direction changing paths 47, and a return path (no-load rolling element rolling path) 48, and forms a flat annular shape or a circuit shape. The loaded rolling element rolling path is composed of a rolling element rolling groove 41 </ b> A of the spline shaft 41 and a loaded rolling element rolling groove of the outer cylinder 43. The pair of direction change paths 47 is formed in the holder 45. The return passage 48 is formed between the cage 45 and the outer cylinder 43.
Along with the relative linear motion of the spline shaft 41 with respect to the spline nut 42, the ball 44 rolls along the loaded rolling element rolling path. The ball 44 rolled to one end of the loaded rolling element rolling groove is scooped up from the rolling element rolling groove 41A by the retainer 45, passes through the U-shaped direction change path 47, and then changes its direction to load the rolling element. It enters a return passage 48 extending parallel to the rolling groove. The ball 44 that has passed through the return path 48 passes through the opposite direction change path 47 and is then returned to the rolling element rolling groove 41A again. Since the return passage 48 is formed between the cage 45 and the outer cylinder 43, the ball 44 does not contact the rolling element rolling groove 41A in the return passage 48.
A spline nut 49 is provided at the lower end of the spline shaft 41 so that the spline nut 42 does not fall off the spline shaft 41.

Since a plurality of balls 44 are interposed between the loaded rolling element rolling groove of the spline nut 42 and the rolling element rolling groove 41A of the spline shaft 41, the spline nut 42 rotates around the axis line of the spline nut 42. To limit. That is, relative rotation of the spline nut 42 and the spline shaft 41 around each other axis is restricted.
In other words, when the spline nut 42 rotates around the axis, the spline shaft 41 also rotates integrally around the axis.

Returning to FIG. 1, the spline nut 42 of the ball spline bearing 40 is fitted and fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 21. The spline nut 42 is not limited to being fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 21, but may be a case where the spline nut 42 is fixed using fastening means such as a bolt.
The spline nut 42 is fixed so as to be disposed substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction (vertical direction) of the pipe 21.
On the other hand, the spline shaft 41 of the ball spline bearing 40 has a lower end side inserted into the spline nut 42 and an upper end side protruding upward from the upper end portion 21 </ b> A of the pipe 21. That is, the upper end side of the spline shaft 41 is exposed above the pipe 21. A generator 53 is connected to the upper end of the spline shaft 41.

The fixed portion 50 includes a support frame 51, a bearing 52, a generator 53, a coupling 54, and the like.
The support frame 51 is bridged between both banks of the irrigation channel C, and supports the vertical axis type water turbine 10 and the water turbine position adjusting unit 20. The support frame 51 rotatably supports the upper end portion of the spline shaft 41 of the ball spline bearing 40 via the bearing 52. Specifically, the support frame 51 has a cylindrical casing portion 51A. The upper end portion of the spline shaft 41 is inserted into the casing portion 51A. A bearing 52 is disposed between the casing portion 51 </ b> A and the upper end portion of the spline shaft 41.

The bearing 52 includes a radial bearing 52A and a pair of angular bearings 52B and 52C that are separated from each other in the direction of the central axis A of the spline shaft 41.
The radial bearing 52 </ b> A is disposed on the upper side near the generator 53 in the upper end portion of the spline shaft 41. The pair of angular bearings 52 </ b> B and 52 </ b> C are disposed on the lower side near the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 in the upper end portion of the spline shaft 41.

  A generator 53 is fixed to the upper part of the casing part 51A. The generator 53 is connected to the upper end of the spline shaft 41 through a coupling 54.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1 when the water level (water surface Ws) changes vertically. 3A is a diagram illustrating a case where the water level of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C is low, and FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating a case where the water level of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C is high.

In the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is positioned below the water surface Ws. That is, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is completely submerged. For this reason, the lower end 21B of the pipe 21 is also submerged, but the upper end 21A is always positioned above the water surface Ws because the float 24 is connected (see FIG. 1).
The vertical shaft type water turbine 10 receives the water W flowing through the water channel C and rotates around the central axis A. Similarly, the pipe 21 connected to the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 rotates around the central axis A. As a result, the ball spline bearing 40 fitted and arranged on the inner peripheral surface of the pipe 21 also rotates about the central axis A. That is, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10, the pipe 21, and the ball spline bearing 40 rotate around the central axis A together.
Then, the rotation of the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 is transmitted to the generator 53 connected to the ball spline bearing 40 through the coupling 54. At this time, since the float 24 is connected to the pipe 21 via the bearing 25, even if the pipe 21 rotates around the central axis A, the float 24 does not rotate and floats on the water surface Ws. . For this reason, the float 24 does not hinder the rotation of the vertical axis type water turbine 10. Therefore, the power generator 53 can generate power by receiving the rotational force (mechanical energy) from the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 that rotates well without loss. That is, the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1 can perform efficient power generation.

And as shown to Fig.3 (a), when the water level of the water W which flows through the water channel C becomes low, in the vertical axis | shaft type hydroelectric generator 1, the water turbine position adjustment part 20 act | operates automatically, The vertical axis type water turbine 10 is moved downward according to the water level.
That is, when the water level of the water W becomes low, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10, the pipe 21, the float 24, and the spline nut 42 move downward together. Since the float 24 always floats on the water surface Ws, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10, the pipe 21, and the spline nut 42 move downward in the water channel C as the water level decreases.
On the other hand, even if the water level of the water W becomes low, the position and orientation of the spline shaft 41 and the generator 53 are maintained unchanged. That is, since the spline nut 42 moves with respect to the spline shaft 41, the positions and orientations of the spline shaft 41 and the generator 53 do not change.
For this reason, even if the water level of the water W flowing in the irrigation channel C becomes low, in the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, the vertical axis turbine 10 is not exposed on the water surface Ws. Receiving W and rotating. Therefore, it is possible to continue to maintain efficient power generation without damaging the vertical axis water turbine 10.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 3B, when the water level of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C becomes high, in the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, the turbine position adjusting unit 20 is automatically operated, The vertical axis type water turbine 10 is moved upward according to the water level.
That is, when the water level of the water W increases, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10, the pipe 21, the float 24, and the spline nut 42 move together as a unit. Since the float 24 always floats on the water surface Ws, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10, the pipe 21, and the spline nut 42 move upward in the water channel C as the water level rises.
As described above, the spline shaft 41 and the generator 53 maintain their positions and postures unchanged even when the water level of the water W becomes high. Since the spline nut 42 moves relative to the spline shaft 41, the positions and orientations of the spline shaft 41 and the generator 53 do not change.
For this reason, even if the water level of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C becomes high, the vertical axis type hydroelectric generator 1 has a constant position (water immersion depth) from the water surface Ws of the vertical axis type water turbine 10, so that the vertical axis type The water turbine 10 can maintain the efficient power generation by receiving the water W evenly.

  As described above, in the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, even if the water level of the water W flowing through the irrigation channel C changes up and down, the water turbine position adjusting unit 20 automatically operates to Can always be submerged. For this reason, the situation where the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is exposed on the water surface Ws and is damaged due to the non-uniform hydraulic force can be reliably avoided. And by always submerging the vertical axis type water wheel 10, the vertical axis type water wheel 10 receives the water W evenly and rotates, so that efficient power generation can be maintained.

  Further, in the vertical axis hydroelectric generator 1, only the vertical axis type water turbine 10 is moved up and down according to the water level by the water wheel position adjusting unit 20. That is, the water turbine position adjustment unit 20 does not support the generator 53 that is a heavy object on the water surface Ws. For this reason, the float 24 can be reduced in size compared with the past. Therefore, the vertical axis type water turbine 10 can be reliably disposed below the water surface Ws without increasing the size of the vertical axis type hydroelectric generator 1.

  Moreover, since the generator 53 does not move up and down according to the water level, it is excellent in maintainability. Further, since the cables connected to the generator 53 do not move up and down, the reliability is improved.

  Further, since the annular float 24 is connected to the pipe 21 (the vertical axis turbine 10) via the bearing 25, efficient power generation can be performed without hindering the rotation of the vertical axis turbine 10. Can do.

Since the water turbine position adjusting unit 20 includes the ball spline bearing 40, the vertical shaft type water turbine 10 can be smoothly moved up and down in accordance with the fluctuation of the water surface Ws.
And since the pipe 21 which accommodates the ball spline bearing 40 has the bottom cover 22 which prevents the penetration | invasion (water immersion) of the water W to an inside, the ball spline bearing 40 is operated smoothly over a super period. be able to.

  Various shapes, combinations, and the like of the constituent members shown in the above-described embodiments are examples, and various modifications can be made based on design requirements and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention.

Although the case where the water turbine position adjusting unit 20 includes the ball spline bearing 40 has been described, the present invention is not limited thereto.
The water turbine position adjustment unit 20 only needs to have a mechanism that enables movement in the axial direction while transmitting the rotation of the pipe 21 (vertical shaft type water turbine 10) to the generator 53. Therefore, instead of the ball spline bearing 40, a feather key, a serration, or a sliding spline may be used.

  The vertical axis type water turbine 10 is not limited to the gyromill type. A straight wing type, a Darrieus type, a Savonius type, a paddle type, a cross flow type, an S type rotor type, or the like may be used.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vertical axis | shaft type hydroelectric generator, 10 ... Vertical axis type | mold water wheel, 20 ... Water wheel position adjustment part, 21 ... Pipe (tubular member), 21A ... Upper end part, 22 ... Bottom cover, 24 ... Float (floating body), 25 ... Bearing, 40 ... Ball spline bearing (motion guide mechanism), 41 ... Spline shaft, 42 ... Spline nut, 53 ... Generator, A ... Center shaft (rotation center), C ... Water channel, W ... Water, Ws ... Water surface

Claims (5)

A water wheel placed under the surface of the water,
A generator for generating electricity by rotating the water wheel;
A turbine position adjusting unit that transmits the rotation of the turbine to the generator while moving the turbine up and down according to fluctuations in the water level;
A hydroelectric power generator comprising: The water wheel position adjusting unit is
A cylindrical member coaxially arranged at the rotation center of the water wheel;
A floating body connected to the outer peripheral side of the upper end of the tubular member;
A motion guide mechanism that enables movement of the cylindrical member in the axial direction while transmitting rotation of the cylindrical member to the generator;
The hydroelectric generator according to claim 1, comprising: The movement guide mechanism is
3. The hydroelectric power generation according to claim 2, wherein the hydroelectric power generation is a ball spline bearing having a spline shaft disposed in an axial direction inside the cylindrical member and a spline nut fitted to an inner wall of the cylindrical member. apparatus. The floating body has an annular shape,
The hydroelectric generator according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the hydraulic power generator is rotatably connected to the cylindrical member via a bearing.   The hydroelectric generator according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the cylindrical member has a bottom lid that prevents water from entering the inside.

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