WO2008002149A1

WO2008002149A1 - Turbine wheel

Info

Publication number: WO2008002149A1
Application number: PCT/NO2007/000234
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Robert Skjelvan
Original assignee: John Robert Skjelvan
Priority date: 2006-06-30
Filing date: 2007-06-26
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: NO20063041A; NO324133B1

Abstract

Turbine wheel (1) to catch a force from a water flow or wind flow, including several blades (5) which are distributed about the rotation axis of the turbine wheel, and rotatably supported in relation to the turbine wheel (1) at a turning point (7), and which by means of a force from a water flow or wind flow are arranged to take a transport position at the side of the turbine wheel which is turning against the water flow or wind flow, and a functioning position at the side of the turbine wheel (1) which is turning with the water flow or wind flow. At least some of the blades (5) include a flap (5c) which is hinged to the rest of the respective blade (5), which flap (5c) is arranged to, by means of a force from the water flow or wind flow, to arrange itself mainly parallel to the water flow or wind flow as the blade (5) is in the transport position, and in an orientation with an angle against the direction of the water flow or wind flow as the blade (5) is in the functioning position.

Description

Turbine Wheel

The present invention relates to a turbine wheel to catch force from water flow or wind flow, both at sea and onshore, and also in lakes if there is enough water flow, as described in claim 1.

Background

There are known water flow turbine wheels having rotatable supported blades, which are so arranged that the blades have an angle in relation to the direction of the water flow at one side of the rotation axis of the turbine wheel, and they take an arrangement mainly parallel with the water flow at the other side. The blades are rotatably supported at a distance from the centre of the blades, and are automatically arranged by means of force from the flowing water. Such turbine wheels have been known for a long time, and such a construction is among others described in the patent publication US 485,933. Here planar blades are arranged along the circumference of a turbine wheel. The blades are rotatably arranged in such a way that they enter a functioning position at the functioning side of the turbine wheel, and a transport position at the transport side of the turbine wheel. In the functioning position the blades provides an angle against the water flow, such that the water flow provides a force to the surfaces of the blades, and thus provides a turning moment to the turbine wheel. In transport position, at the opposite side of the turbine wheel in relation to the functioning side, the blades rotates continuously around a turning point, in such a way that they in the transport position always are arranged parallel to the direction of the water flow. At the transport side they are thus pulled against the flow, while they at the functioning side runs with the water flow. As the blades are pulled or rotated over to the functioning side, they will, as they rotate about the turning point, get into contact with a stop element at the turbine wheel, such that they remain in a fixed position in relation to the turbine wheel while they are at the functioning side of the wheel. The patent publication US 113 284 describes a similar water turbine wheel. Here the blades also are rotatable about a turning point, but in difference to the blades described in US 458 933, the turning point is arranged preferably near the rotation axis of the turbine wheel, while the turning points of the blades described in US 465 933 are arranged closer to the circumference of the turbine wheel. To obtain a large turning moment of the turbine wheel as the water flow or wind flow acts on the blades with a force, it is desirable that the blades provide a curve or at least an angle, such that the water flow or wind flow hits the blades at their concave side, whereby the mentioned force against the blades becomes as large as possible. In the mentioned type of turbine wheel, a curved or angled blade will however provide a larger resistance against the water flow or wind flow than a planar blade, as it is pulled against the flow at the transport side of the turbine wheel. At the functioning side it is accordingly desirable to have curved or angled blades to obtain as large turning moment as possible on the wheel, while at the transport side it is desirable to have blades that provide as low flow resistance as possible as they are pulled against the flow, through the water or wind.

Object

The main object of the present invention is to provide a wind flow or water flow turbine wheel of the above mentioned type, for effective utilization of the energy in a water flow or wind flow.

The invention

The object of the invention is obtained by a turbine wheel according to the characterizing part of claim 1. Advantageous features of the invention will appear of the independent claims.

The invention will now be described with regards to a water flow turbine wheel, but the same description will mainly be analogous for a wind turbine wheel.

The water flow turbine wheel according to the invention includes, at respective turning points, rotatably supported blades arranged about the rotation axis of the wheel. The turbine wheel has a functioning side and a transport side. At the functioning side the blades will take an angle in relation to the direction of the water flow, and thus provide a turning moment on the turbine wheel as the flowing water acts on the blades with a force. At the transport side the blades will be arranged mainly parallel with the direction of the water flow, and continuously rotate about their respective turning point as the turbine wheel rotates about its rotation axis, whereby the force between the water flow and the blades will be minimal compared to the force applied to the blades at the functioning side.

To provide a good utilisation of the energy in a water flow, i.e. to provide a large force from the water on the blades in the functioning position, the blades provide one or more angles or curves, whereby the concave sides of the blades are facing against the water flow. An angled or curved shape of the blades will however result in an undesired large flow resistance as they are pulled against the water flow at the transport side of the turbine wheel.

The blades include a wing part and a main part, where the wing part in the functioning position constitutes an enlargement of the main part, whereby the wing part besides has an angle in relation to the main part. To reduce the undesired flow resistance as the blades are in the transport position, the wing parts, or at least a part of these, are rotatably supported in relation to the blades, in such a way that they take a parallel arrangement in relation to the direction of the water flow as the blades are in the transport position. In this way the utilization of the energy in the water flow by the water turbine wheel is increased, as the loss at the transport side of the turbine wheel is reduced.

Example

In the following is provided an example of an embodiment of a water turbine wheel according to the invention with references to the drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a view, seen from above, of a water flow turbine wheel according to the invention, and illustrates the mode of operation of the turbine wheel in a water flow,

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a blade of a turbine wheel according to the invention, shown with an open wing part, as the blades at the transport side of the turbine wheel in Figure 1 ,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a blade of a turbine wheel according to the invention, shown with a closed wing part, as the blades at the functioning side of the turbine wheel in Figure 1 ,

Figure 4 is a view seen form above of a water flow turbine wheel according to the invention, with an alternative arrangement of the flaps,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a blade of a turbine wheel according to the invention, shown with an open wing part, as the blades at the transport side of the turbine wheel of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a blade of a turbine wheel according to the invention, shown with a closed wing part, as the blades at the functioning side of the turbine wheel of Figure 4, Figure 7 shows different means to increase the turning moment of the turbine wheel,

Figure 8 shows means to facilitate the elevation/lowering of the turbine wheel,

Figure 9 shows a water flow turbine wheel with shock absorbers,

Figure 10 shows a turbine wheel arranged in a rack, and

Figure 11 shows turbine wheels connected with by means of rods.

The invention will now be described mainly with as regards to a water flow turbine wheel, but the description will mainly also be analogous for a wind flow turbine wheel.

From Figure 1 appears the principal mode of operation of a turbine wheel 1 according to the invention. The turbine wheel 1 is preferably arranged to rotate in the horizontal plane, but can also work arranged with a different orientation, such as rotating in a vertical plane. Orientation in the horizontal plane has the advantage that the turbine wheel 1 always will be correctly adjusted in relation to a varying direction of a water flow, provided that the flow direction is horizontal.

The two arrows 3 illustrate the direction of a water flow, that is in an upwards direction on the Figure. The blades are rotatably supported at the turning points 7 of the turbine wheel 1 , which turning points 7 are arranged with the same distance from each other about the rotation axis, which is at the centre of the turbine wheel 1. At the right side of the turbine wheel 1 of Figure 1 , the water flow will act on the blades 5 with a force which results in the blades 5 taking a functioning position. As long as the blades 5 are in the functioning position, they will with one end bear against an inner stop 9. The blades 5 will thus not rotate in relation to the turbine wheel 1 as long as they are in the functioning position, but only rotate with the turbine wheel itself, about its centre. As appears from Figure 1 , the blades 5 provide an angle in relation to the water flow when they are at the functioning side. The water flow thus will act on the blades 5 with a substantial force, and provide a turning moment on the turbine wheel 1.

As a consequence of this force applied to the blades 5, the turbine wheel 1 will rotate. In the embodiment as shown in Figure 1 , the wheel will rotate in a direction anticlockwise, and this will take effect regardless of the horizontal direction of the water flow. It is also of course possible that the wheel rotates clockwise, which can be achieved by turning the blades or the entire turbine upside down. As the turbine wheel 1 rotates, it will pull the blades 5 over to a transport side, which in Figure 1 is at the left side of the turbine wheel. As a blade 5 is pulled to the left, past the summit of the rotation or "twelve o'clock", in Figure 1 , the water flow will cause the blade to be flipped or rotated over in a transport position, as the blades 5 of the left side exhibit. In the transport position, the blades 5 will no longer bear against the inner stop 9. They will on the other hand, as they are pulled against the flow direction by the rotating turbine wheel 1 , continuously rotate about the turning point 7, such that they take a position in relation to the water flow that provides as low resistance as possible against the water flow. So that the blades 5, when they are at the functioning side, shall provide the turbine wheel 1 with the highest possible turning moment as they are affected by the water flow, they are shaped with an angle 11 , between one main part 5a of the blade 5 and wing part 5b. The blade could also have a curved shape. The blade 5 provides thus a convex and a concave surface, and in the functioning position the concave surface faces against the water flow, to provide a large force effect from the water flow on the blades 5. The angle 11 is between 10 and 90 degrees, and preferably between 30 and 60 degrees.

The wing part 5b includes a flap 5c which is hinged at its upper end to an upper part of the wing part 5b. This is illustrated by the blades in the transport position in Figure 1 (left side) and in the Figures 2 and 3. The blade of Figure 2 is shown in the transport position, whereby the flap 5c has taken a mainly horizontal position as a result of the power effect from the water flow. The water flow consequently turns the flap 5 up, such that the water can flow freely through a resulting opening 5d in the wing part 5b (Figure 2). This results in minimal flow resistance between the blades 5 and the water flow as the blades are in the transport position at the transport side of the turbine wheel 1.

As the blades 5 are pulled over again to the functioning position, the water flow will act on the flap 5c with a force, such that the flap 5c closes the opening 5d, as shown in Figure 3. There is thus provided an advantageous shape of the blades 5, which results in a high utilisation of the energy of the water flow at the functioning side of the turbine wheel 1 , and a minimum loss as a consequence of flow resistance at the transport side of the turbine wheel 1. The flap 5c can instead of being hinged about a horizontal axis at the upper part of the blade 5, be hinged in other ways, for example about a vertical axis near the outer point of the blade 5, as the blade is seen in a functioning position.

In the embodiment shown in the Figures 4-6, the flap 5c is hinged about a vertical axis, furthest out on the wing part 5b. This principle of this mode of operation is similar to the one described with reference to Figure 1. The wing parts 5b of the blades 5 can also include a number of flaps, which work in the same way as the shown flap 5c, but where each flap is smaller.

When the water turbine wheel 1 is used as a tidal water turbine, problems can arise as the direction of the tidal water changes. There will then be a period with approximately zero flow, and the turbine wheel 1 will stop its rotation. As the tide water again starts to flow, the flow will mainly be directed in the opposite direction in relation to the past flow period. If the blades 5 then turn over to the wrong position, the turbine wheel 1 will not start to rotate. To avoid this problem, as shown in Figure 4, outer stops 15 are arranged in connection with each blade, or at least some of the blades. As one blade 5 rotates from the functioning position to the transport position, it will come into contact with an outer stop 15, such that the wing part thereof 5a will not be parallel with the water flow as the blade 5 just has rotated over, c.f. Figure 4. In this way, as the tidal water stops, later to flow in the opposite direction, the flow will "catch" the blade in this position and turn it into the functioning position. This blade 5 will thus be provided with a force from the flow, such that the turbine wheel 1 can start to rotate again in a previously mentioned way. The outer stops 15 are preferably arranged in such a way that they can easily and quickly either be removed or put in position with plain handles, so that the blades 5 can be turned outwards from the centre, such that all the blades 5 are put in the transport position and the entire turbine wheel 1 is standing still.

This is preferable both during installation, disassembly and the towing of the turbine wheel while it is in a standing position in the water, or when it is required to stop the rotation after commissioning for service or of other reasons. In connection with for example towing and installation of the turbine wheel, you also can use a stocking or similar which can be provided over the turbine wheel to prevent water flow from affecting the blades/turbine wheel. As described above, the blades 5 are supported at turning points 7 of the water turbine wheel 1. The water turbine wheel 1 can include a mainly planar and circular shaped plate 13, to which the blades 5 are fixed at the turning points 7. The blades 5 can also be arranged between two parallel plates 13 like this. Also other types of construction solutions can be utilized, for example a frame work. The water turbine wheel according to the invention can preferably be installed in a tidal water flow. By arranging several turbine wheels, stacked above each other, it is simple to provide a construction which is adapted to the size of the tidal water flow. The turbine wheel according to the invention can also preferably be arranged in a river, but can also be arranged in lakes if the flow is large enough. Also in such a case, the size of an assembly of turbine wheels can simple be adapted to the size/depth of the river. A water turbine wheel according to the invention can for example have a diameter of ca. 1-20 meters, and a height of ca. 1-10 meters, but also larger and smaller sizes are possible. By assembly of several turbine wheels above each other, the overall construction can for example be over 100 meters high, but can also off course be both lower and higher. In such an assembly it will also be possible to use turbine wheels having a different diameter. For example the turbine can have a larger diameter at the lower part of the turbine and smaller diameter at the upper part of the turbine, or opposite.

Figure 7 shows different means to increase the turning moment of the turbine wheel 1. The first way is to arrange for example barbs 20, for example longitudinal angle iron with a sharp angle, which faces the wind flow direction/water flow direction, or other similar solutions. This will contribute to an increased turning moment, providing the shape and arrangement is correct. The number of such barbs can vary. These barbs 20 are preferably arranged at the straight main part 5a of the blade 5 and/or on the wing part 5b of the blade. These barbs can also be constructed as movable flaps 21 , which open against the flow, and close at the opposite side, with the flow. The angles can be from 10 to 90 degrees.

Figure 7 also shows possible means that can be used to reinforce the blades 5. This can for example be done by reinforcing the angle of the outer part of the blade with either a bar 22 or an entire plate 23, arranged at the inner side, i.e. the concave side of the blade. Another way to reinforce the blades 5 will be to arrange supporting mountings 24 at the outside of the angle, i.e. at the convex side of the blade 5. This mounting 24 can extend over parts of the blade 5, especially in the area around the angle, or along the entire outer side of the blade.

Figure 8 shows the turbine wheel 1 provided with means for elevation and lowering. The inner part of the stem can be an axle or tubing, which again can be divided into different floating compartments, for example, four or more floating compartments 25a-d of the same size, evenly distributed inside the stem. These floating compartments 25a-d can entirely or partly be filled with different means for elevation and lowering of the turbine wheel 1 , for example, water at lowering and cork, polystyrene or similar or air at the elevation of the turbine wheel 1 , in this way to provide uplift or weight in relation to the required operation. The motor house of a water turbine can also of course be arranged at the bottom. The water turbine can also off course have more than one motor house. The above described turbine wheel 1 can also be used to catch wind flow. When this turbine wheel is to be used to catch wind flow, either at sea or onshore, the turbine wheel must be provided with, among other things, shock absorbers 26 or similar (as shown in Figure 9) at the inner part of the blade 5 or at the axis/column. Shock absorbers or similar (not shown) should also be arranged on wings with flaps. As mentioned above, the wings can also be without flaps, i.e. solid, and thus you do not need to have shock absorbers or similar on wings with flaps. Shock absorbers 26 are only shown for one half of the turbine wheel 1 , but it is clear that the shock absorbers 26 shall be arranged in connection to all blades 5. The rotational speed for a wind turbine wheel will be much higher than for a water turbine wheel. As the blades then hit against the stops, this will result in a lot of noise. The blades will besides be roughly handled and be exposed to large wear and tear. It will in addition be required to gear down the rotation speed, which can be done in a known way.

For onshore installation the motor house can preferably be arranged at the ground. The wind flow will mainly give the same result to the turbine wheel as the water flow in the described examples above. Such a wind turbine will preferably generally be similar to a cylinder as for a water turbine.

Preferably a number of turbine wheels or columns of turbine wheels can be arranged in a system, which is shown in Figures 10a and 10b. In Figure 10a there is shown a rack 30 for systematic arrangement of turbine wheels 1 or columns of turbine wheels 1. The rack 30 has preferably, but not necessarily, an elliptical shape, with preferably a solid rear wall 31 (but not necessarily straight), where the turbine wheel 1 or columns with several turbine wheels 1 are arranged at the outside of the rack 30, with a mutual distance between them. By means of a solid wall 31 , shaped in this way, there is obtained a "choke effect" in the water flow which passes, which results in higher speed in the water flow in connection with the turbines 1 , which results in more energy that can be utilized. The motor houses (not shown) are arranged either at the insjde or the outside. Such a rack 30 can preferably be arranged at the bottom of a river, lake or at the sea bottom.

Further a construction with floating properties can be achieved, for example with the form as a boat, which floats on the water surface or under the water surface.

There are of course many ways to connect several water turbine wheels 1 or columns of water turbine wheels 1 , for example they can be tied together by means of chains/wires, bars 32 or similar, as shown in Figure 11. Such an embodiment can float in the water, be fixed at the bottom or stand at the bottom, depending on the flow in the area.

There is no limitation to how many turbine wheels 1 or columns of turbine wheels 1 can be fixed together by means of the above described ways. The size of the rack 31 or the other described ways to arrange several turbine wheels 1 or columns of turbine wheels 1 together, can be adapted to the environments they are arranged in.

It is incidental that in all the embodiments several motor houses can be arranged in connection with the same turbine column, if the turbines are dimensioned correctly and there is enough power to run several motor houses/generator houses. Of course the rotation speed must be considered and a gear ratio arranged if it is required. Finally it shall be mentioned that several of the above described additional means can be combined and provide a large number of embodiments.

Claims

1. Turbine wheel (1 ) to catch a force from a water flow or wind flow, including several blades (5) which are distributed about the rotation axis of the turbine wheel, and rotatably supported in relation to the turbine wheel (1) at a turning point (7), and which by means of a force from a water flow or wind flow are arranged to take a transport position at the side of the turbine wheel which is turning against the water flow or wind flow, whereby the blades (5) are mainly parallel with the direction of the water flow or wind flow, and a functioning position at the side of the turbine wheel (1) which is turning with the water flow or wind flow, whereby the blades (5) each provide an orientation with an angle against the direction of the water flow or wind flow, which blades (5) each provide a curve or an angle along the plane, which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the turbine wheel, characterized in that at least some of the blades (5) include a flap (5c) which is hinged to the rest of the respective blade (5), which flap (5c) is arranged to, by means of a force from the water flow or wind flow, to arrange itself mainly parallel to the water flow or wind flow as the blade (5) is in the transport position, and in an orientation with an angle against the direction of the water flow or wind flow as the blade (5) is in the functioning position.

2. Turbine wheel according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of the blades (5) provides a mainly straight main part (5a) and a mainly straight wing part (5b), which parts form an angle (11) to each other of between 10 and 90 degrees.

3. Turbine wheel according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each of the blades (5) provides a mainly straight main part (5a) and a mainly straight wing part (5b), which parts form an angle (11) to each other of between 30 and 60 degrees.

4. Turbine wheel according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the wing part (5b) is arranged radially outside the main part (5a) as the blade (5) is in the functioning position, and that the wing part (5b) includes the flap (5c).

5. Turbine wheel according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flap (5c) is hinged about an axis which is mainly perpendicular to the rotation axis of the turbine wheel (1).

6. Turbine wheel according to one of the claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the flap (5c) is hinged about an axis which is mainly parallel to the rotation axis of the turbine wheel (1).

7. Turbine wheel according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the turning point (7) is closer to the outer end of the blade than the inner end, in relation to the centre of the turbine wheel, when the blades (5) are in the functioning position.

8. Turbine wheel according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that when the turbine wheel (1) is being used in connection with tidal water, an outer stop is arranged in relation to at least some blades (5), the outer stop (15) being arranged to come into contact with a blade (5) and stop its rotating movement, as it rotates from a functioning position to a transport position, in such a way that the blade (5) then is prevented from turning completely over into a position where the main part (5a) is parallel with the water flow or wind flow.

9. Turbine wheel according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that to increase the turning moment of the turbine wheel, means (20) are arranged on the main part (5a) of the blade (5) and/or the wing part (5b) of the blade, which means (20) have a sharp angle facing against the direction of the water flow or wind flow.

10. Turbine wheel according to claim 9, characterized in that the means (20) are movable flaps (21) which open against the water flow or wind flow and which close at the opposite side, with the water flow or wind flow.

11. Turbine wheel according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blades (5) are provided with reinforcing means (22, 23) at the concave side of the blades (5), which means can extend themselves entirely or partly along the blade (5).

12. Turbine wheel according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the blades (5) are provided with reinforcing means (24) at the convex side of the blades (5), which means (24) can extend themselves entirely or partly along the blade (5).

13. Turbine wheel according to claim 1 , characterized in that the turbine wheel (1) is provided with means for lowering and elevation, for example by the stem of the turbine wheel (1) as an axle or tubing, which again can be divided into different floating compartments (25a-d), evenly distributed in the stem.

14. Turbine wheel according to claim 13, characterized in that the floating compartments (25a-d) are entirely or partly filled with different means for lowering and elevation, such as water for lowering, and cork, polystyrene or similar or air for elevation of the turbine wheel CD-

is. Turbine wheel according to claim 1, characterized in that the turbine wheel (1) is provided with shock absorbers (26) or similar, at the axis/column, when the turbine wheel (1) is used in connection with wind flow.

16. Turbine wheel according to claim 1 , characterized in that several turbine wheels (1) or columns with several turbine wheels (1) are arranged together in a system by means of a rack (30), chains/wires or bars (32) or similar, where the turbine wheels (1) or columns of turbine wheels (1) are arranged with a fixed mutual distance, where the connection of turbine wheels (1) or columns of several turbine wheels (1) can float at the water surface or be entirely or partly submersible in water or fixed at the bottom.

17. Turbine wheel according to claim 16, characterized in that the rack (30) has a solid wall (31) which forms an elliptical shape or similar to increase the speed of the water close to the turbine wheels (1).