WO2011039406A1

WO2011039406A1 - Device for producing energy by hydropower

Info

Publication number: WO2011039406A1
Application number: PCT/FI2010/000059
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jorma Einolander
Original assignee: Jorma Einolander
Priority date: 2009-10-02
Filing date: 2010-10-04
Publication date: 2011-04-07
Also published as: FI8809U1; FIU20090350U0; FI20100337A0

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing energy by hydropower, the device comprising at least one waterwheel (3) which is arranged to rotate about its axle through a force impact generated by the flow of water (5). The device comprises a body part (7) arranged to float on the water, into which is formed a water flow channel (9), through which a water flow (5) of desired volume can be guided, and that the waterwheel (3) is mounted on the body part (7) in such a way that it divides the water channel (9) into an input side (11) and an output side (13), and that the shape of the water channel (9) is arranged to bring about an increase in the velocity of the water current (9) on the input side (11), whereby energy can be recovered from the water flowing in the flow channel (9) by means of the waterwheel (3).

Description

Device for producing energy by hydropower

Object of the invention The present invention relates to a device for producing energy by hydro- power, the device comprising at least one waterwheel which is arranged to rotate about its axle through a force impact generated by the flow of water.

Prior art

Numerous different types of solutions have been put forth for utilising the flow of water for energy production. One of these is a waterwheel, which is arranged to rotate about its typically horizontally extending axle of rotation. The flow of water is either guided to fill pockets formed on the periphery of the wheel, which will make the wheel rotate by their weight due to the force of gravity, or the flow is directed to exert an impulse-like impact on blades extending essentially radially from the periphery of the wheel, the said blades thus producing a torsional effect on the wheel axle and bringing about the rotation of the wheel.

Both of these methods require at least a reasonably high potential difference, that is, a difference in water level or, alternatively, at least a high flow rate. The prior art waterwheel solutions are also intended for fixed installations, in which the torsional force exerted on the wheel axle is conducted away from the wheel for further use or energy production. In addition, installing this type of equipment, especially in free natural water currents, always requires a building permit.

However, there often appears a need for a device by means of which energy can be recovered with high efficiency in places where the potential difference, amount of flow and/or flow rate of water is low or where a fixed instal- lation is out of the question. The question of cost also often constitutes an obstacle.

The aim and solution of the invention

The aim of the invention is to provide a solution by means of which the above-mentioned problems of the prior art can be diminished or completely avoided. The characteristic features of the device according to the present invention for achieving this aim appear from the characterising part of claim 1. Furthermore, some preferred embodiments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

In order to avoid the deficiencies described above, a waterwheel device which utilises a floating body part is now provided in accordance with the invention. Thanks to the floating of the body part acting as the mounting base of the waterwheel, no fixed hydroelectric device installations are required. The essential idea of the invention also consists of the fact that the flow channel provided in the body part is made to provide more efficient flow of water at the waterwheel, so that as large a proportion as possible of the energy contained in the water current can be recovered. The potential energy of both the kinetic energy of the water as well as that of the water may be recovered.

Advantages achieved with the invention

With respect to the prior art, the solution according to the invention provides a very flexible and easily installed device assembly which is highly adaptable to installation sites of quite different conditions. The structure of the assembly is very simple and at the same time also economical to manufacture.

One noteworthy advantage of the arrangement is also that no separate building permit is required for mounting a device based on this type of float- ing installation, but it can be started up quite quickly and, if necessary, also be removed quite rapidly from its site of use, for example, during drought or the breaking up of ice. On the other hand, the device is easily installed for operation, for example, during diversions and it is in fact particularly well suited for the utilisation of such water currents, which are otherwise difficult to utilise for energy production.

Other advantages of the invention appear in connection with the following embodiment of the invention.

List of figures

The invention is described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a perspective view of the device according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows a top view of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 3 shows a side view of the device of Figure 1,

Figure 4 shows a further embodiment of the invention for equipping the body part.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows the device 1 according to the invention, wherein at least one waterwheel 3 is arranged to rotate about its axle while supported on its body part 7, for example, by bearings 31. The device may be provided to any site where there is water flow. In the body part 3 is arranged a flow channel 9 through which the water current 5 is guided to flow. The waterwheel 3 is supported on the body part 7 with respect to the follow channel 9 in such a way that the waterwheel essentially divides the channel into the input side 11 and the output side 13. No fixed installations are needed in this case to maintain the body part 7 and the entire assembly 1 in place, but the body part can be kept essentially in place in the water current by means of cables or other suitable means (not shown). The device is, therefore, easy to move, for example, when the conditions of flow change and to remove completely, if necessary.

The flow channel 9 of a device 1 installed in place is directed essentially parallel to the flow 24, as can be seen especially in Figure 2. The volume of the water current 5 guided into the flow channel may be adjusted by means of the design of the input side 11 of the flow channel 9 and by the displace- ment and position of the body part. If necessary, the flow of water to the blades of the waterwheel 3 may be limited further and be controlled by means of a suitable throttle device 35, as shown in Figure 3.

Due to the design of the flow channel, the rate of flow of the water in the channel accelerates until it strikes the blades of the waterwheel, which consist of, for example, flanges or pockets 33. The water current depicted by arrow 23 now exerts a force impact on the blades of the waterwheel, due to which the waterwheel in Figure 3 rotates clockwise about its axle in the direction of flow of the water. The flow of water is made more efficient by the shape of the water channel which, regarding especially the profile of its base, provides a longer distance of flow compared with the flow 24 taking place past the preferably straight base of the device. The shape of the base is illustrated by section line 21 corresponding to it in Figure 1. By the time the water returns from the blades of the waterwheel to the output side of the flow channel, it has given up a significant part of its kinetic energy to the blades of the waterwheel and its velocity has decreased. The change of velocity in the flow channel is illustrated by means of a velocity vector 29 in Figure 2.

The device is preferably also arranged in the water flow in such a way that the difference in the potential energy of water due to the difference in water level also actuates over it. Thus, the potential energy due to the difference in water level also brings about a more efficient increase in the flow rate of the water and thus also a more efficient impact on the blades of the waterwheel. Some of the potential energy is thus transmitted further as thrust caused by gravitation to the blades of the wheel.

As regards the waterwheel, the solution according to the invention is particularly well suited for so-called undershot wheel type applications. They generally use a Poncelet-type waterwheel provided with a pocket-like set of blades. It is also possible to use a Sagebien- or Zuppinger-type waterwheel. The invention is not, however, limited to the use of any specific waterwheel type.

Preferred embodiments of the invention

Although especially in Figure 2, the size and shape of the water channel 5 is depicted as essentially similar on both the input side 11 and the output side 13, the shape of the water channel can be provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention in such a way that it will expand im- mediately after the waterwheel 3, thus making possible an essentially slower flow rate and thus an efficient decrease in the flow rate of the water over the waterwheel. Figure 3 shows by broken line 22 the shape of the base of a water channel according to the conception of this embodiment. It shows especially a downwards oriented step 26 immediately following the wheel 3, by means of which the discharge of water from the blades of the wheel is made more efficient. Similarly, also the size of the cross-section of the water channel can be arranged to increase sooner on the output side 13 in the direction of flow than it decreases on the input side 11 of the flow channel in the direction of flow. In designing the output side, the aim is preferably to achieve a design which acts efficiently as a diffuser.

Both the wheel part and the body part can be made of a freely selected material in such a way that the weight of the device is preferably substantially less than the weight of the water corresponding to its volume. Both metal and plastic as well as fibreglass based materials are acceptable.

Figure 4 further illustrates, as an additional advantage of the solution according to the invention, the possibility of providing means 45, 47 in connection with the body part 7, by which the displacement and/or inclination of the body part can be adjusted. For example, tillable tanks can be used, the degree of filling of which can be adjusted to control both the displacement of the device 1 and especially its longitudinal inclination in the direction of flow. The original water level 42 will fall over the device to level 41. The inclination makes possible a greater utilisation capacity of the potential energy. Simi- larly, broken line 43 shows a smaller difference in level over the device 1.

Although the position of the wheel 3 in the Figures depicting the embodiment is a very central one with respect to the body part 7, the position of the wheel 3 with respect to the body part 7 can also be made adjustable to op- timise the output and operating efficiency of the device. The position of the wheel may also be arranged to be fixed essentially in the vicinity of the output side 13 end of the flow channel. Similarly, also the shape of the flow channel 9 can be fitted in accordance with the position of the wheel, whereby the length of the input side 11 of the channel is preferably made greater than that of the output side 13. Especially in a particularly strongly inclined device installation, the positioning of the wheel emphasized on the output side end of the device can be used to achieve a more efficient increase in flow rate before directing the flow at the blades of the wheel. The balance of the device can be adjusted by the above-mentioned means 45, 47 in accordance with the position of the wheel.

It is also conceivable to provide a generator for producing electricity inside the hub of the wheel, whereby separate power transmission outside the wheel is not required. By arranging the generator's stator on the wheel axle and the rotor to rotate around the stator on the shell of the wheel hub, a structurally very simple structure is obtained.

It is, however, also possible to use a hydraulic-type solution, where the generator is replaced by a hydraulic pump, by means of which pressurised hy- draulic medium is led from the hydroelectric device onshore for energy production or other utilisation. According to an additional idea of the invention, a multi-part solution may also be used, where devices are preferably arranged in parallel by connecting their body parts in a suitable manner. It is also possible to provide several flow channels in a single body part and a water wheel in each one, respectively.

According to yet another additional embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable to arrange the device upside down in the water flow so that the water channel 5 will open downwards. In this case the device floats on the wa- ter with the top surfaces 25, 27 of the body part against the water. The wa- terwheel 3 is mounted on body part 7 on the opposite side with respect to the water channel 5. On the base of the water channel 21 is formed an opening for the waterwheel, through which the periphery of the waterwheel 3 extends essentially over the entire cross-sectional area of flow of the water channel. The device can be used in rivers, streams, rapids, in connection with waterfalls, in connection with dams, in connection with tidal currents, in connection with diversions, as well as otherwise in flowing streams of water and the like.

Claims

1. A device (1) for producing energy by hydropower, the device comprising at least one waterwheel (3) which is arranged to rotate about its axle through a force impact generated by the flow of water (5), characterised in that the device comprises a body part (7) arranged to float on the water, into which is formed a water flow channel (9), through which a water flow (5) of desired volume can be guided, and that the waterwheel (3) is mounted on the body part (7) in such a way that it divides the water channel (9) into an input side (11) and an output side (13), and that the shape of the water channel (9) is arranged to bring about an increase in the velocity of the water current (9) on the input side (11), whereby energy can be recovered from the water flowing in the flow channel (9) by means of the waterwheel (3).

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the flow channel (9) is formed in such a way that the flow velocity is higher on the input side (11) than on the output side (13).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that in the base (21) of the flow channel (9), behind the waterwheel (3), is arranged a downwards oriented step (26) for making the discharge of water from the blades of the wheel (3) more efficient.

4. A device as claimed in any of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the body part (7) is provided with means (15) for adjusting its displacement and/or inclination.

5. A device as claimed in any of the claims 1-4, characterised in that the device (1) is installed.