JP3028554B2 - Power generator - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a power generator using a water turbine, and more particularly to a power generator that generates power by rotating a water turbine with tap water or the like.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a power generating apparatus that generates power by rotating a water wheel with tap water or the like, for example, it is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-51414. This power generator includes a water turbine that obtains rotational force from a water flow, and a generator connected to the water turbine.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, this type of device requires a shaft sealing member on a rotating shaft connecting the water turbine and the generator in order to separate the water flow from the generator, and has been expensive. Further, since a force is applied to the shaft of the water turbine in the thrust direction, it is necessary to provide a thrust bearing, which has been expensive.

An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive power generator with a reduced number of components.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a Francis-type water turbine that is disposed in a water channel in a casing and that rotates when a water flow from a vortex chamber hits a wing on one surface of a back plate, and is fixed to the water wheel. A power generator comprising: a permanent magnet that is provided, and a stator coil that is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the permanent magnet so as to be separated from the permanent magnet and generates an electromotive force by rotation of the permanent magnet. The gist of the present invention is to provide a power generation device in which a through hole is provided in the plate and the water turbine is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction, and the opening area of the outer peripheral portion of the back plate is changed with the movement of the water turbine in the axial direction. is there.

[Operation] According to the present invention, the first portion having the blade portion with respect to the back plate of the water turbine is provided.
When the water flow from the vortex chamber hits the vanes on one side of the back plate from a state where there is no differential pressure between the chamber and the second chamber without the blades, the water wheel rotates, and the centrifugal force accompanying the turning of the water causes the back plate to rotate. Water flows from the first chamber to the second chamber through the opening in the outer peripheral portion of the, and the pressure in the second chamber increases, and the water turbine receives a thrust force. As the pressure in the second chamber rises, water flows from the second chamber to the first chamber through the through-hole in the backboard of the waterwheel, and the waterwheel moves toward the first chamber to reduce the opening area of the outer periphery of the backboard. Be changed. Then, it is held in a state where the opening area of the outer peripheral portion of the predetermined back plate becomes the same.

Thus, the thrust force of the shaft of the water turbine in the thrust direction can be absorbed without providing a thrust bearing.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is embodied in an automatic faucet with a power generation device, and is capable of electrically stopping and supplying water and generating power when supplying water.

As shown in FIG. 1, bodies 1 and 2 made of a bronze casting are connected and fixed by bolts 3, and an inflow port 4 and an outflow port 5 are connected to the body 1 and a water passage 6 connecting these bodies (a dashed line in FIG. 1). ) Are formed. A main valve 7 of a diaphragm type is sandwiched between the bodies 1 and 2 in the middle of the water channel 6. A diaphragm plate 8 is fixed to the main valve 7 by a diaphragm holder 9. The main valve 7 is a valve seat
The seat 11 can be seated, and is urged by a spring 11 in the seating direction.

The main chamber 12 is defined by a main valve 7, and the main chamber 12 is formed by a pilot orifice formed in the diaphragm plate 8.
13 communicates with the upstream water passage 6 of the main valve 7. The pilot orifice 13 is covered with a filter 14 in the water passage 6 on the upstream side of the main valve 7. The main chamber 12 communicates with a sub-chamber 16 via a passage 15 formed in the body 1, and the sub-chamber 16 communicates with a second chamber R2 of a water wheel 27 described later via a passage 17.

A cylindrical movable core 18 is provided in the sub-chamber 16, and the distal end surface of the movable core 18 is seated on the opening surface of the passage 17 so that the passage 17 can be closed. Further, the fixed core 19 is opposed to the movable core 18 with a slight gap between the rear end surfaces thereof. The fixed core 19 is fixed in a coil 20 and the coil 20 is
1, is fixed to the body 1 via a first ring 22, an annular magnet 23, and a second ring 24. The annular magnet 23 is magnetized in the thickness direction. Further, a cylindrical cylinder 25 is provided so as to penetrate the inner holes of the coil 20, the rings 22, 24, and the annular magnet 23, and the fixed core 19 is inserted therein and the movable core 18 is movable in the axial direction. Has been inserted. Further, a compression coil spring 26 is interposed between the movable core 18 and the fixed core 19, and biases the movable core 18 in the seating direction.

 Next, the power generator will be described.

The body 2 is formed with a recess 28 for accommodating a water wheel 27. The water wheel 27 is a Francis type water wheel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a stainless steel shaft 30 is fixed to a water turbine body 29 made of polyacetal so as to penetrate therethrough. The water turbine body 29 has a disk-shaped back plate 31 and five blades 32 projecting radially from the lower surface thereof. This wing part 32
Has an outer diameter of 30 mm and a height at the outer peripheral end of 1.8 mm. The back plate 31 of the water turbine main body 29 is provided with five through holes 33 at the center thereof. The diameter of this through hole 33 is
It is 2 mm. Further, a permanent magnet 34 is fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the back plate 31 of the water turbine main body 29.
The N and S poles are alternately magnetized in the circumferential direction.

In FIG. 1, an annular pedestal 35 is provided in the recess 28 of the body 2.
Is inserted, and an inclined portion 35a is formed on the inner peripheral side of the base 35. On the inclined portion 35a of the pedestal 35, the back plate 3 of the waterwheel 27
1 is placed on the outer periphery. A case 36 made of a stainless steel thin plate is disposed above the back plate 31 of the water wheel 27 so as to surround the water wheel 27 and the permanent magnets 34.

The lower end of the shaft 30 of the water turbine 27 is supported by a radial bearing 38 fixed to the body 2, and the upper end is supported by a radial bearing 39 fixed to the case 36. Further, the water turbine 27 has a shaft 30 with radial bearings 38,39.
It can be moved in the axial direction (thrust direction) by sliding inside. Note that the radial bearings 38 and 39 are made of Teflon-based resin.

Further, a yoke 40 made of a soft magnetic material is fixed to the body 2 by bolts 41 so as to be in contact with the case 36 on the outer peripheral side of the permanent magnet 34, and a stator coil is provided inside the yoke 40.
A coil bobbin 45 on which 42 is wound is mounted. The stator coil 42 is connected to an external device at a terminal 43. The body 2 and the case 36 are hermetically sealed by an O-ring 37.

A vortex chamber 44 is formed on the bottom surface of the concave portion 28 of the body 2,
The vortex chamber 44 is connected to the water passage 6 downstream of the main valve 7.

Thus, the water wheel 27 and the permanent magnet 34 are
The structure is submerged in the case 36 in the case 28. Further, the lower part of the back plate 31 of the water wheel 27 in the concave portion 28 of the body 2 is defined as a first chamber R1, and the upper part of the back plate 31 of the water wheel 27 is defined as a second chamber R1.
Room R2. As described above, the passage 17 communicates with the second chamber R2, and further, the second chamber R2 and the first chamber R1 communicate with each other through the through hole 33. It is in communication with the first chamber R1 on the downstream side of the water wheel 27 via R2 and the through hole 33.

In the first chamber R1, the water wheel 27 is arranged to be directly hit by water flowing through the waterway 6, and the permanent magnet 34 is arranged in a space outside the waterway 6.

In this embodiment, a housing is constituted by the bodies 1 and 2 and the case 36.

Next, the operation of the thus-configured automatic faucet with a power generator will be described.

First, the operation of the automatic faucet will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the coil 20 is not energized in the closed state of the movable core 18, the magnetic flux from the annular magnet 23 flows through the second ring 24,
The movable core 18, the fixed core 19, the yoke 21, the first ring 22, and the annular magnet 23 flow in this order. As a result, a suction force acts between the movable core 18 and the fixed core 19. However, since the separation distance between the fixed core 19 and the movable core 18 is large, the attraction force of these cores is weak, the urging force of the spring 26 exceeds the magnetic attraction force, and the movable core 18 keeps the valve closed state.

When a current is caused to flow through the coil 20 in a direction in which a magnetic flux in the same direction as the above-described magnetic flux is generated in the closed state of the movable core 18 (this direction is defined as a positive direction), the magnetic attraction force of the annular magnet 23 increases, and the movable core 18 Is a fixed core that overcomes the biasing force of the spring 26
Approach 19 And once, the movable core 18 is fixed core 19
When the distance between the cores 18 and 19 begins to decrease, the magnetic flux attraction force further increases, and the movable core 18 is firmly attracted and held, as shown in FIG.
Is opened.

Even when the energization of the coil 20 is stopped when the movable core 18 is opened, the gap between the cores 18 and 19 is small. Above, the movable core 18 continues the valve-open state.

When the coil 20 is energized so as to generate a magnetic flux in the opposite direction to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet from the valve-open state of the movable core 18 (this is defined as the opposite direction), the fixed core 19 and the magnetic flux from the annular magnet 23 are supplied to the fixed core 19. A magnetic flux in the opposite direction is generated, and the urging force of the spring 26 exceeds the magnetic attraction force, and the movable core 18 is separated from the fixed core 19 to be in a valve closed state.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the movable core 18 is closed and the main valve 7 is seated on the valve seat 10, the water passage 6 upstream of the main valve 7 and the main chamber 12 communicate with each other via the pilot orifice 13. Then, the water pressure in the upstream water passage 6 and that in the main chamber 12 become equal,
The force by the water pressure of the difference between the biasing force of 11 and the pressure receiving area works,
The state where the main valve 7 is seated on the valve seat 10 is maintained.

In this state, when a current in the positive direction is applied to the coil 20, the movable core 18 moves and the opening of the passage 17 is opened.
As shown in the figure, passage 15, sub-chamber 16, passage 17, second chamber R2,
The through hole 33 communicates with the first chamber R1, and the inside of the main chamber 12 communicates with the downstream water passage 6 of the water wheel 27. Then, the water in the main chamber 12 flows through the passage 15, the sub-chamber 16, the passage 17, the second chamber R2, the through hole 33, and the first chamber R1 to the downstream water passage 6 of the water wheel 27, and the pressure in the main chamber 12 is reduced. The pressure becomes lower than the pressure in the upstream water passage 6, and the water pressure in the upstream water passage 6 of the main valve 7 causes the main valve 7 to separate from the valve seat 10 to be in a water-flowing state.

In this water flowing state, when a current in the opposite direction is applied to the coil 20, the movable core 18 closes, water gradually flows into the main chamber 12 through the pilot orifice 13, and the main valve 7 gradually moves to the valve seat 10. When approaching, the water stops.

Next, the power generation operation will be described. As shown in FIG.
In a state where the main valve 7 is closed, the first chamber R1 having the blade 32 against the back plate 31 of the water turbine 27 and the second chamber having no blade rain 32 are provided.
There is no pressure difference between the water wheel R2 and the water wheel 27 is placed on the inclined portion 35a of the pedestal 35 by the weight of the water wheel 27. When the main valve 7 is opened from this state, the water flow from the vortex chamber 44 hits the blade portion 32 of the water wheel 27, and the water wheel 27 separates from the inclined portion 35a of the pedestal 35 and rotates. Due to the centrifugal force accompanying the turning of the water, the back plate of the turbine 27
Water flows from the first chamber R1 to the second chamber R2 through the opening at the outer periphery of the 31 and the pressure in the second chamber R2 rises, and the water wheel 27 receives a thrust force F. As the pressure in the second chamber R2 rises, water flows from the second chamber R2 to the first chamber R1 through the through hole 33 of the water turbine 27, and the water turbine 27 moves to the first chamber R1 side by the thrust force, thereby The opening area (gap δ in FIG. 4) in the outer peripheral portion of the back plate 31 of the 27 is reduced.

Then, the opening area of the outer peripheral portion of the predetermined back plate 31, that is,
The pressure in the first chamber R1 and the pressure in the second chamber R2 are balanced so that the opening area (gap δ) is maintained so that the thrust force F is not generated.

Note that the gap δ depends on the diameter of the through hole 33,
It changes according to the flow rate flowing through 27. On the other hand, the larger the diameter of the through hole 33, the greater the water leakage loss. Therefore, it is desirable that the through hole 33 be as small as possible. However, if the gap δ is not made larger than the value determined by the processing accuracy of the back plate 31 and the pedestal 35 (undulation, misalignment, etc.), the back plate 31 and the pedestal 35 will come into contact with each other in a part thereof, You will not be completely separated. That is, it is desirable to select an appropriate value for the size of the through hole 33 according to the processing accuracy and the flow rate.

 In this way, water supply of 5 to 15 / min is performed.

Further, with the rotation of the water wheel 27, the permanent magnet 34 rotates, and the flow of the magnetic flux transmitted from the permanent magnet 34 to the yoke 40 changes. A current flows through the stator coil 42 in a direction that hinders this change, and power generation is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the water turbine 27 is disposed at a position where water flowing in the water channel directly hits, and the permanent magnet fixed to the water turbine is used.
34 was submerged rotatably so as to be placed in a space outside the waterway. As a result, the shaft sealing member for the shaft 30 can be dispensed with. Furthermore, since there is no shaft sealing member, torque loss due to the shaft sealing is eliminated, and the efficiency can be increased.

Also, the back plate of the Francis-type water turbine 27 equipped with a permanent magnet 34
A through-hole 33 is provided in 31 and the water wheel 27 is supported so as to be movable in the axial direction, so that the opening area of the outer peripheral portion of the back plate 31 is changed with the movement of the water wheel 27 in the axial direction. In other words, the water wheel
The pressure in the second chamber R2 rises with the rotation of 27, and a thrust force F is generated. The thrust force F is transferred to the second chamber R through the movement of the water wheel 27 and the through hole 33 of the back plate 31 of the water wheel 27. From R2 to R1
Canceled by the flow of water to As a result, the thrust of the shaft of the water turbine 27 in the thrust direction can be absorbed without providing a thrust bearing.

In addition, the main chamber 12 communicates with the downstream water passage 6 of the turbine 27 through the passage 15, the sub-chamber 16, the passage 17, the second chamber R2, the through hole 33 of the turbine 27, and the first chamber R1. As a result, the pressure difference between the main chamber 12 and the main chamber 12 can be increased as compared with the case where the main chamber 12 communicates with the upstream water passage 6 of the water wheel 27, and the opening and closing operation of the diaphragm-type main valve 7 can be speeded up. Can be.

Further, when the water wheel 27 and the permanent magnet 34 are submerged, the thin metal case 36 is used and the stator coil 42 is arranged on the outer periphery thereof, so that the interval between the permanent magnet 34 and the stator coil 42 can be made smaller. Further, since the yoke 40 is provided so as to reinforce the metal case 36, the case 36 can be more reliably supported.

Further, since the permanent magnet 34 is provided in the second chamber R2 separated from the water channel 6, foreign matters such as iron powder hardly adhere to the permanent magnet 34. That is, as compared with the case where the permanent magnets 34 are provided in the water passage 6, the adhesion of foreign substances supplied by the flow of water in the water passage 6 is avoided.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an inexpensive power generator with a reduced number of components.

Further, according to the present invention, the opening area of the outer peripheral portion of the back plate changes along with the axial movement of the turbine, and when the opening area reaches a predetermined opening area, the axial thrust force of the turbine becomes substantially zero. Thus, a balanced state can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a sectional view of an automatic faucet with a power generating device according to an embodiment, FIG. 2 is a view of a water turbine viewed from a bottom side, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 2, and FIG. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating operation | movement of an attached automatic faucet. 1, 2 are bodies, 27 is a water wheel, 31 is a back plate, 32 is a blade, 33 is a through hole, 34 is a permanent magnet, 36 is a case, 42 is a stator coil, and 44 is a vortex chamber.

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-62-195467 (JP, A) JP-A-1-219358 (JP, A) JP-A-57-204472 (JP, U) JP-A-57-69981 (JP) , U) Shokai Sho 55-46751 (JP, U) Special Table Sho 63-500280 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) H02K 5/04-5/136 F03B 11/00-11/06

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A Francis-type water turbine that is disposed in a water channel in a casing and is rotated by a water flow from a vortex chamber against a blade of one surface of a back plate; a permanent magnet fixed to the water wheel; A stator coil that is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the magnet and is spaced apart from the permanent magnet, and that generates a electromotive force by the rotation of the permanent magnet. A power generator wherein a water wheel is supported movably in an axial direction, and an opening area of an outer peripheral portion of a back plate is changed as the water wheel moves in an axial direction.