JP4921394B2 - Power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for generating electric power using a vane motor that is one of rotating devices for converting energy of a fluid such as water or air into rotational energy.

  Telemeters have been proposed mainly for reducing labor costs in water meters and gas meters. Telemeters require electric power to communicate by wire or wireless and to transmit information to an external server. As the power source, a method of supplying power with a wired cable, a method of supplying power with a primary battery or a secondary battery, and a method of generating power using fluid energy have been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). .

JP 2001-356036 A

  However, in the conventional technique, when power is generated using the wings of the flow meter, load torque is generated in the impeller, so that the rotational speed is reduced and the flow rate cannot be measured accurately. This problem is also pointed out in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1.

  In particular, when power consumption is high due to wireless communication or the like, the amount of power generation increases, so the above problem is significant.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems in the prior art, and has a function of a flow meter that can accurately measure the flow rate even when the power generation amount and the load torque of the impeller fluctuate during power generation. It aims at providing the generator which supplies electric power to various electronic devices including the communication apparatus for telemeters.

In order to solve the above-described problems and achieve the object, a power generation device according to the present invention includes an outer cylinder member having a fluid inlet and outlet and a rotation arranged eccentrically inside the outer cylinder member. A plurality of freely arranged rotors, vanes provided so as to be able to project and retract with respect to the rotors, and a plurality of them arranged at equal intervals around the rotation axis of the rotor along the circumferential direction of the rotor inside the rotor. by a plurality of magnets oriented connecting both poles is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor, the inside of the outer cylinder member or Oite outwardly, the rotor along the outer circumferential direction of the inner wall of the outer cylinder member A plurality of coil cores that are arranged at the same angle as the equally spaced angle around which the plurality of magnets are arranged around the rotation axis, and are mounted at positions facing the rotation axis of the rotor in each of the plurality of coil cores. A plurality of coils which are, rectifying means for rectifying an AC voltage generated in the coil, and a storage element for storing the rectified DC voltage, the shape of each coil core is in the outer periphery of the inner wall of the outer cylinder member From both ends of the portion to which the coil is attached, toward the upper and lower portions of the rotor, both ends of each coil core are arranged on the outer sides of the upper and lower portions of the rotor, and the magnetic poles of the upper and lower portions of the plurality of magnets are arranged. The tip of the vane is in contact with the inner wall of the outer cylinder member to isolate the suction port side from the discharge port side, and the fluid between the suction port side and the discharge port side The pressure difference is received by the vane and converted into the rotation of the rotor, and the magnetic flux density passing through the coil by the alternating magnetic field generated by the rotation of the rotor is reduced. Changing the characterized in that for generating the AC voltage.

Further, the power generation device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-mentioned invention, the power generation device further comprises frequency detection means for detecting the frequency of the AC voltage, and flow rate calculation means for calculating the flow rate of the fluid from the frequency. And

Moreover, the power generation device according to the present invention is characterized in that, in the above-described invention, the power generation device further includes communication means for communicating with an external information terminal.

Further, the power generation apparatus according to the present invention further includes a communication unit that communicates with an external information terminal in the above invention, and at least one of the frequency detection unit, the flow rate calculation unit, and the communication unit is the It is driven by electric power stored in the power storage element.

According to the present invention, the power generation device can efficiently obtain power from fluid energy. In particular, there is an effect that it is possible to obtain a power generation device that obtains electric power with high efficiency even when a fluid flows only at a low flow rate.

In addition, according to the present invention, since the power generation device is proportional to the rotational speed of the rotor and the flow rate regardless of the degree of load applied to the vanes, it is possible to obtain a power generation device that accurately measures the flow rate even during power generation. Play.

In addition, according to the present invention, the power generation device can control various electronic devices such as the power generation device and a flowmeter driven by using the power from an external information terminal, and obtain information emitted from the electronic devices. There is an effect that it is possible to obtain a power generation device capable of generating the power.

In addition, according to the present invention, the power generation device can obtain a power generation device that operates without receiving external power supply by performing flow rate calculation and communication using the generated power.

  Exemplary embodiments of a power generator according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1: is a schematic block diagram which shows the schematic structure of the rotary type electric power generating apparatus (turbine) which is an Example of this invention, and has shown the cross-sectional view and the AA sectional view. As shown in FIG. 1, the turbine 1 is arranged in a circular casing (outer cylinder) 11 with a rotor 12 being eccentric.

  The rotor 12 contains a plurality of vanes (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f in the figure), and each vane is pushed by centrifugal force or a spring 14 or pulled out by other methods. Therefore, it is always in contact with the inner wall of the casing 11. Therefore, the fluid flow path between the suction port 15 and the discharge port 16 is completely isolated by the rotor 12 (and the vane).

  When a pressure difference occurs between the fluid at the suction port 15 and the fluid at the discharge port 16, a force of cross-sectional area × pressure is applied to each vane. This force becomes the rotational force of the rotor 12. For example, when the pressure at the suction port 15 is increased, pressure is applied to each vane. However, since the rotor 12 is located at an eccentric position with respect to the casing, the lengths protruding from the rotor 12 are different from each other. The cross-sectional area that receives is also different. Since the rotor 12 rotates according to the sum of the rotational direction components of the force applied to each vane, the rotor 12 rotates counterclockwise as a result.

  Since the turbine 1 rotates using the static pressure of the fluid, no flow rate is required, and the energy of the fluid can be converted into rotational energy with high efficiency even at low rotation.

  Furthermore, the rotor 12 has magnets 17a to 17f inside. And the coils 19a-19f are arrange | positioned at the outer side of the casing 11. FIG. The coil cores 18a to 18f face the magnet inside the rotor across the casing 11, and are arranged so that the magnetic lines of force by the magnet penetrate the coil efficiently.

  Therefore, when the pressure difference is generated in the fluid and the rotor 12 starts to rotate, the magnet embedded in the rotor 12 also rotates to generate an alternating magnetic field. This alternating magnetic field changes the magnetic flux density in the coil cores 18a to 18f, and induced electromotive forces are generated in the coils 19a to 19f, thereby obtaining electric power.

  The electric power generated here is alternating current, and as shown in FIG. 2, the electric power generated in the turbine 21 that is a generator can be converted into direct current through the rectifier circuit 22 and stored in a storage element 23 such as a secondary battery or a capacitor. It is possible to drive various electronic devices by using the stored electric power.

  In this way, by integrating the turbine that converts fluid energy into rotational energy and the generator that converts rotational energy into electrical energy, the device can be miniaturized and is optimal for incorporation in tight spaces. Become.

  Further, since it is not necessary to take out the power shaft from the inside of the turbine filled with fluid into the outside air, the rotor can be completely sealed in the casing, and the loss related to the sealing such as the O-ring can be eliminated. I can do it.

  The configuration of the turbine shown in the present embodiment is merely an example, and the number, arrangement, shape, etc. of the turbine vanes, magnets, coils, etc. are used (flow rate / pressure of fluid, required voltage / current, size). Can be changed according to the place of use).

  Furthermore, the turbine according to the present invention can be used not only for power generation but also for calculation of fluid flow rate. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an apparatus configuration for calculating a fluid flow rate using a turbine.

  In the apparatus configuration shown in the figure, a frequency detection circuit 34 that measures the frequency of the generated AC voltage and a flow rate calculation circuit 35 that calculates the flow rate of the fluid from the measured frequency are provided between the turbine 31 and the rectifier circuit 32. is doing. The power line is indicated by a thick line, and the information line is indicated by a thin line.

  The frequency detection circuit 34 and the flow rate calculation circuit 35 are driven by electric power obtained by power generation. The frequency measurement circuit 34 and the flow rate calculation circuit 35 may be designed using a counter IC or a logic circuit, or can be easily designed using a microcomputer.

  In the turbine according to the present invention, fluid does not pass through the gap between the turbines. Therefore, at any pressure and rotational speed, the rotational speed of the turbine is proportional to the flow rate of the fluid, and the flow rate flows per one rotation of the turbine. It can be accurately calculated by multiplying the flow rate (discharge amount) by the number of rotations.

  Moreover, since the electric power generated by the turbine 31 is used for detecting the rotational speed of the turbine 31 and calculating the flow rate, it is not necessary to supply electric power from the outside.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an apparatus configuration when the flow rate of the turbine is output by communication. The configuration shown in FIG. 2 is obtained by adding a communication device 47 that communicates with an external information terminal 48 to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The power line is indicated by a bold line, and the information line is indicated by a thin line. Thereby, the flow rate information of the fluid or information obtained from the electronic device 46 such as a sensor installed in the vicinity can be transmitted to the external information terminal 48.

  The communication means may be, for example, wired or wireless, and the communication direction may be such that the control signal can be sent from the external information terminal by bidirectional communication as well as the information terminal from the power generation device side.

  For example, if an intermittent operation is performed in which information is automatically transmitted to an external information terminal at regular intervals, power consumption during standby can be significantly reduced.

  In addition, for example, if the operation is such that information is returned to the external information terminal when a request is received from the external information terminal, the power consumption during standby increases in order to monitor the request signal from the outside. Information is sometimes obtained, and power consumption is easy to control because only minimum communication is performed.

  As described above, the power generation apparatus according to the present embodiment can obtain electric power using the force of the fluid flowing in the pipe. Therefore, electronic devices can be installed in various places that could not be installed because there is no power source.

  In particular, according to the present invention, since the flow rate can be accurately measured during power generation, it can be used as a self-supporting flow meter that does not require an external power source and does not require battery replacement.

  Further, by providing a communication means with the outside, it becomes possible to use electronic devices and sensors in various places where humans cannot normally approach, and information on the places can be obtained. It can be, for example, in a wall, behind a ceiling, under the floor, in the ground, in the water, exposed to high temperatures, an area contaminated with radioactivity, etc.

  As described above, the power generation device according to the present invention is useful as a device for efficiently generating energy by converting the energy of a fluid into rotational energy, and is suitable as a power source for flow rate measurement.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a rotary power generator that is an embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram explaining the structure which rectifies | stores and accumulate | stores the electric current which generate | occur | produced with the turbine. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the apparatus structure which uses a turbine for an electric power generation and flow volume measurement. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the apparatus structure of the electric power generating apparatus provided with the communication means.

Explanation of symbols

1, 21, 31, 41 Turbine 11 Casing 12 Rotor 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e, 13f Vane 15 Suction port 16 Discharge port 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d, 17e, 17f Magnet 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f Coil core 19a, 19b, 19c, 19d, 19e, 19f Coil 22, 32, 42 Rectifier circuit 23, 33, 43 Power storage element 34, 44 Frequency detection circuit 35, 45 Flow rate calculation circuit 46 Electronic device 47 Communication device 48 External Information terminal

Claims (4)

An outer cylinder member having a fluid inlet and outlet;
A rotatable rotor arranged eccentrically inside the outer cylinder member;
A vane provided so as to freely protrude and retract with respect to the rotor;
In the rotor, a plurality of magnets are arranged at equal intervals around the rotation axis of the rotor along the circumferential direction of the rotor, and the direction connecting both magnetic poles is parallel to the rotation axis of the rotor When,
Inside of the outer cylinder member or Oite outward, more at the same angle as equally spaced angular said plurality of magnets are disposed along the outer circumferential direction of the inner wall of the outer cylinder member about an axis of rotation of the rotor A plurality of coil cores disposed;
A plurality of coils attached to positions of the plurality of coil cores facing the rotation axis of the rotor ;
Rectifying means for rectifying the AC voltage generated in the coil;
A storage element for storing the rectified DC voltage;
With
The shape of each coil core is directed from both ends of the portion to which the coil is mounted on the outer periphery of the inner wall of the outer cylindrical member toward the upper and lower portions of the rotor, and both ends of each coil core are respectively connected to the upper and lower portions of the rotor. Located on the outside in the vicinity of the circumference where the magnetic poles of the upper and lower portions of the plurality of magnets are arranged,
The tip of the vane is in contact with the inner wall of the outer cylinder member to isolate the suction port side and the discharge port side, and the rotor receives the pressure difference of the fluid between the suction port side and the discharge port side. And generating the AC voltage by changing a magnetic flux density passing through the coil by an alternating magnetic field generated by the rotation of the rotor.   The power generation apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a frequency detection unit that detects a frequency of the AC voltage; and a flow rate calculation unit that calculates a flow rate of the fluid from the frequency.   The power generator according to claim 1, further comprising a communication unit that communicates with an external information terminal. A communication means for communicating with an external information terminal;
3. The power generation device according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the frequency detection unit, the flow rate calculation unit, and the communication unit is driven by electric power stored in the power storage element.

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