LU100968B1 - Device and method for moving a liquid and hydropower plant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2; 2a; 2b) for moving a liquid, in particular water, from an initial level (21; 21 a; 21 b) to an end level, which comprises a line for fluidly connecting an output reservoir (3; 3a; 3b ) with an outlet section (4; 4a; 4b; 29). A movable means (8; 8a; 8b) for storing potential energy is expediently provided in the connecting line. Positional energy can advantageously be stored and, if necessary, converted into kinetic energy for moving the liquid to the final level. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for moving a liquid from an initial level to an end level and a hydropower plant.

Description

N awd LU100968 Re WA W-PATENT Description: Mr. Frank Weppernig, 66780 Rehlingen-Siersburg (Germany) “Device | The invention relates to a device for moving a liquid, in particular water, from an initial level to an end level, which comprises a line for fluidly connecting an outlet reservoir to an outlet section.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for moving a liquid from an initial level to an end level and a hydropower plant.

Hydropower plants are known from the prior art, in which water is conducted from an initial level, for example a first, high-lying reservoir to an end level.

Potential energy is converted into kinetic energy so that flowing water can be used to operate a generator to generate electrical energy.

Apart from storing potential energy by the first reservoir, no further storage of potential energy is planned.

The object of the present invention is therefore to create a device of the type mentioned at the outset which enables energy to be stored at an intermediate level.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that a movable means for storing potential energy is provided in the connecting line.

For this purpose, the storage means can be moved from a basic position into a higher storage position, the storage position being between the initial and the final level.

Stored position energy can be converted to the final level for moving the liquid if necessary and can be led through the discharge section to a turbine of a generator.

The exit reservoir can be, for example, an above-ground rainwater reservoir, while the connecting line and the storage means can in particular be laid underground.

Such a device can be used as an additional energy store in a hydropower plant.

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The movable means for storing potential energy is expediently arranged in a riser section of the connecting line.

The connecting line can, in particular, run in a U-shape and have a drop section in which the liquid flows in the effective direction of the force of gravity.

In the rising section, the liquid flows against the direction of action of the gravitational force.

The storage means can advantageously be | the effect of the hydrostatic pressure of the output reservoir can be raised to a higher positional energy level.

In one embodiment of the invention, the storage means is formed from a material that has a higher density than the liquid, preferably from a metallic material.

A speed at which the storage medium is moved from the storage position back to the basic position can advantageously be determined by a suitable choice of material.

As a result, a flow rate at which the liquid flows through the drain section is fixed.

The lower the material density, the lower the speed of movement back to the basic position.

Furthermore, a height by which the storage medium rises at the same hydrostatic pressure is dependent on its density.

The lower the density, the higher the storage position into which the storage medium is raised.

The storage means is expediently introduced into a housing forming a connecting line section.

The housing forms part of the connecting line and can be open or closed.

Inner walls of the housing can be provided for guiding the storage means, so that a guided movement from the basic position into the storage position and back is possible.

This results in a particularly smooth movement of the storage medium.

In one embodiment of the invention, the movable storage means comprises a guided piston, preferably with a round cross-sectional area, which can preferably be raised and / or lowered.

Guiding the piston is simplified by a round cross section.

Furthermore, particularly good gas and / or watertight guidance is possible.

Although it is conceivable that the piston is made of a plastic or wood, the piston is preferably made of cast iron, steel or another metallic material.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a sealing means is provided between an outer side of the piston and an inner side of a housing forming a connecting line section, which comprises in particular a sealing ring.

Leakage of liquid during movement of the piston due to an active side 2/8 hydrostatic pressure into a storage position at a transition from the housing to the piston is advantageously prevented. A sealant can be formed, for example, from an elastic material and, in particular, can have a friction-reducing coating, for example made of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). This minimizes friction losses during a lifting or lowering movement of the piston. It is also conceivable that the sealant is made entirely of PTFE.

Furthermore, a circumferential groove can be provided in the piston, into which a sealing ring, in particular made of PTFE, is introduced. This makes a particularly stationary | Arrangement of the sealing ring possible. | In addition, the sealing means can comprise a friction-reducing, gas- and / or water-tight and -tight coating which is applied to at least one sliding surface. Sliding surfaces are those surfaces with which the outside of the piston rests against the inside of the housing. In a further embodiment of the invention, the movable means for storing potential energy has a through-channel which is provided on at least one side facing the connecting line with a means for closing and opening a through-channel opening. The means for closing and opening can have, for example, a valve, a pivotable flap or, in particular, a horizontally movable slide. To move the storage medium, for example a piston that can be raised and / or lowered, the closure means can close the through-channel opening in a liquid-tight manner, so that the liquid cannot flow through the storage medium directly to the final level, that is to say into a drainage section of the device. The through-channel opening remains closed in the storage position. The cross-sectional area of the through-channel opening is preferably one third to half the size of a base area of a piston into which the through-channel opening is introduced. It is also conceivable for the through-channel to be cylindrical or to have a cross section which is reduced, in particular round, in the direction of flow of the liquid. This reduction can ensure a laminar flow of the liquid through the through channel. It is also conceivable for the closure means to comprise a valve or a pivotable flap which is introduced into a drainage section of the device. This would advantageously prevent liquid from flowing back out of the outlet section. Page 3/8

A valve is expediently provided, which is arranged in a flow direction of the liquid from the initial level to the final level in front of the movable storage means.

The valve is open when the storage medium is moved into the storage position and can be closed when the storage medium is moved back into the basic position.

If it is closed, the storage medium can be used even with decreasing hydrostatic pressure, | which is caused by the output reservoir to be held in its storage position.

The hydrostatic pressure can decrease, for example, if a lot of water evaporates from the outlet reservoir.

This would be the case, for example, in areas where rainfall is very rare, but very large.

In one embodiment of the invention, an outlet channel or two outlet channels, preferably arranged at a vertical and / or horizontal distance, for removing liquid are provided above the movable means for storing potential energy.

If an outlet channel is arranged to be adjustable in height, a volume flow with which the liquid flows in the direction of a turbine can be set.

If several discharge channels are provided, several, in particular differently powerful, turbines can be operated with a single device.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings relating to the exemplary embodiments.

1 shows a first embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic side view, FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic side view, FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a device according to the invention in a schematic side view, one in FIG. 1a The hydropower plant (1) shown comprises a device (2) for moving water from a water reservoir (3) into an outlet channel (4), through which the water in the direction of the arrow (5) leads to a water turbine (not shown in FIG. 1a) Generation of electrical current can be performed.

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A first connecting channel section (6) with a vertical drop section connects the water reservoir (3) to an upwardly open housing (7) in which a piston (8) made of steel with a round cross section can be raised and lowered and into the water can flow into the reservoir (3) when a valve (9) arranged in the connecting channel section (6) is in an open position.

Between an inner wall (10) of the housing (7) and an outer side (11) of the piston (8) two circumferential sealing rings (12) are arranged, which are arranged at a vertical distance from each other and which are fixed to the piston during a lifting or lowering movement (8) stay connected.

For this purpose, these could, for example, be introduced into a groove (not shown in FIG. 1a) on the outside (11) of the piston (8).

A passage channel (13) is also introduced into the piston (8) and connects a passage opening (14) at a lower end (15) of the piston (8) to a passage opening (16) at an upper end (17).

The upper passage opening (16) and the lower passage opening (14) can be opened by means of pivotable flaps (18, 19) or closed in a liquid-tight manner.

A flexible hose element (20) is attached to the upper passage opening (16) and extends with a vertical directional component away from the piston (8) and is connected at an upper end to the drainage channel (4) or merges into it.

A connecting line that connects the water reservoir (3) to the drainage channel (4) comprises the first connecting channel section (6) as well as the housing (7) and the flexible hose element (20). The position of the piston (8) shown in FIG. 1a is a basic position in which no potential energy is stored.

To store potential energy, the piston (8) is moved into the higher storage position shown in FIG. 1b.

To do this, at least one of the flaps (18, 19) must be closed, preferably the flap (18). The valve (9) must also be open.

The open flap (19) is shown in dashed lines in Fig. 1b.

Due to the fact that an initial level (21) in the water reservoir (3) is higher than a level of the piston (8), a hydrostatic pressure force acts on the piston (8), which causes a piston stroke into the storage position shown in FIG. 1b.

As soon as the piston (8) has reached the storage position, the valve (9) is first closed.

Then the closed flap (18) or the closed flaps (18, 19) are opened.

The piston (8) sinks back into the basic position shown in FIG. 1a in the housing (7) and displaces water from a housing chamber (22) which flows through the passage side 5/8

| (13) and the flexible hose element (20) flow into the outlet channel (4) and to a | Water turbine can be guided.

A renewed storage of potential energy is possible by at least closing the flap (18) and then opening the valve (9).

It is also conceivable that the passage channel (13) is designed as a guide channel.

As a result, the hose element can be rigid or designed as a riser pipe and, when the piston (8) moves from the basic position into the storage position, plunge into the passage channel (13).

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, where the same or equivalent parts are designated with the same reference number as in FIG. 1 and the respective reference number is accompanied by the letter a.

A device (2a) shown in FIG. 2a differs from that shown in FIG. 1a in that a housing (7a) is closed and can be aerated or vented through a ventilation opening (23).

A riser pipe (25) is also passed through an upper housing opening (24), the upper section (26) of which opens into a drainage channel (4a).

A lower riser pipe section (27) projects into a housing chamber (22a) of the housing (7a) and opens with a lower end (28) into a passage channel (13a) of a piston (8a) of the device (2a). When the piston (8a) moves from a basic position shown in FIG. 3a into a storage position shown in FIG. 2b, the lower riser pipe section (27) dips into the passage channel (13a).

The outside of the lower pipe section (27) and the inside of the passage (13a) form a sealing surface.

To move the piston (8a) from the basic position into the storage position, a lower flap (18a) is closed and a valve (9a) in a connecting channel section (6a) of the device (2a) is opened.

A hydrostatic water pressure that acts on the underside of the piston causes a movement into the storage position.

During this movement, air can escape through the ventilation opening (23) from the otherwise liquid-tight, in particular watertight, housing chamber (22a).

To move water out of the housing chamber (22a) in the direction of the outlet channel (4a), the valve (9a) is closed and the flap (18a) is opened.

This lowers the page 6/8

Piston (8a) in the housing (22a) and displaces water that can flow through the outlet channel (4a).

Reference is now made to FIG. 3, where identical or equivalent parts are designated with the same reference number as in FIGS. 1 and 3 and the respective reference number is accompanied by the letter b. A device (2b) shown in FIG. 3 differs from that shown in FIG. 2 in that a further drain channel (29) is provided with a valve (30) which is located below a drain channel (4b) and above the housing (22b ) branches off. This makes it possible to drain water, which is located between the upper drain channel (4b) and the lower drain channel (29) in a riser pipe (25b), through the further drain channel (29) and to guide it in the direction of a water turbine. Although it is not shown in FIG. 3, it is conceivable that a flexible hose element as shown in FIG. 1 is provided with a further hose element acting as an outlet channel (29), through which water flows and can be fed to a further water turbine. It is also conceivable that a plurality of outlet channels (29) arranged at a vertical or horizontal distance are provided. A sinking speed of a piston (8; 8a; 8c) in a housing (22; 22a; 22b) of a device (2; 2a; 2b) according to the invention depends on its density - the higher the density, the higher the sinking speed. A constant volume flow of water flowing in the direction of an outlet channel (4; 4a; 4b) can thereby be established. If the piston were formed from a plastic, for example, the sinking rate and a volume flow would be lower. It is also conceivable that a single device (2, 2a; 2b) comprises a plurality of housings (7; 7a; 7b), each with a piston (8; 8a; 8b), which can be raised or lowered together or at different times. Page 7/8

It is also conceivable that in a drop section of a connecting channel section (6; 6a; 6b) a line branches off, which opens into a housing (22; 22a, 22b) and which has a piston (8; 8a; 8b) that can be raised and lowered . A passage channel (13; 13a) does not have to be cylindrical, but can have a cross section that decreases from a first passage opening (14) to a second passage opening (16). A passage opening (14) can also have a cross-sectional area that is half the size of a piston base area at a lower end (15) of a piston (8; 8a; 8b).

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Claims (13)

Claims: LU100968 1. Device (2; 2a; 2b) for moving a liquid, in particular water, from an initial level (21; 21a; 21b) to an end level, which has a line for fluidly connecting an output reservoir (3; 3a; 3b) to an outlet section (4; 4a; 4b; 29), characterized in that a movable means (8; 8a; 8b) for storing potential energy is provided in the connecting line. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable means (8; 8a; 8b) for storing potential energy is arranged in a rising section of the connecting line. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the storage means (8; 8a; 8b) is formed from a material which has a higher density than the liquid, preferably from a metallic material. 4, Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the storage means (8; 8a; 8b) is introduced into a housing (7; 7a; 7b) forming a connecting line section. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movable storage means comprises a guided piston (8; 8a; 8b) with a preferably round cross-sectional area, which can preferably be raised and / or lowered. 6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that between an outer side (11; 11a; 11b) of the piston (8; 8a; 8b) and an inner side (10; 10a; 10b) of a housing (7; 7a; 7b) a sealing means (12; 12a; 12b) is provided, which in particular comprises a sealing ring. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that LU100968 that the movable means (8; 8a; 8b) for storing potential energy has a through channel (13; 13a; 13b) which is provided on at least one side facing the connecting line with a means (18, 19; 18a; 19a ) for closing and opening a through-channel opening (14, 16). 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a valve (9; 9a; 9b) is provided which in a flow direction of the liquid from the initial level (21; 21a; 21b) to the final level in front of the movable storage means is arranged. 9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, | characterized in that above the movable means for storing potential energy there is an outlet channel (4; 4a, 4b) or two outlet channels (29), preferably arranged at a vertical and / or horizontal distance, for removing liquid. 10. A method for moving a liquid, in particular water, from an initial level (21; 21a; 21b) to an end level, in which the liquid is connected through a connecting line which connects an output reservoir (3, 3a; 3b) to a drain section (4 ; 4a, 4b; 29) is provided, flows, and a movable means (8; 8a; 8b) arranged in the connecting line for storing positional energy is moved from a basic position into a storage position. 11. The method according to claim 10, characterized in that the storage means (8; 8a; 8b) for converting potential energy for moving the liquid to the final level is moved back to the basic position. 12. The method according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that before a movement of the storage means (8; 8a; 8b) from the storage position into the basic position, a valve (9; 9a; 9b) introduced into the connection power is moved into a blocking position . 13. Hydroelectric power plant (1; 1a; 1b), which has a device according to one of claims 1 to 9 LU100968 and / or is provided for performing the method according to one of claims 10 to 12.