WO2022053842A1

WO2022053842A1 - Hydro power production mechanism with autonomous closed water circuit

Info

Publication number: WO2022053842A1
Application number: PCT/GR2021/000054
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ioannis NIKOLAKOPOULOS
Original assignee: Nikolakopoulos Ioannis
Priority date: 2020-09-09
Filing date: 2021-08-10
Publication date: 2022-03-17
Also published as: ES2952907B2; EP4211347A1; GR1010124B; ES2952907A1

Abstract

This invention concerns a hydropower production mechanism from an autonomous closed water circuit. From tank A3 (3) situated at a certain altitude and on downhill ground, the water descends due to gravity, towards the A4 power station (4), rotates the hydro turbine and the generator 5 generates electricity. After leaving the hydro turbine, the water fills a pair of tanks A1 (1 ) and A2 (2) alternately. With the help of a pressure disc F (38), the water returns through a pipeline to the tank A3, from which it descends again to the production station and continues the same process. Disc F is suspended on an electric winch (21), which controls the descent and rise of the disc within tanks A1 or A2.

Description

DESCRIPTION

HYDRO POWER PRODUCTION MECHANISM WITH

AUTONOMOUS CLOSED WATER CIRCUIT

This invention concerns a mechanism for the production of hydropower from closed recycled water system. From tank A3 (3) placed at a certain altitude, on sloping ground, natural or artificial, water falls due to its self-weight, towards the A4 power station (4). After leaving the hydro turbine, the water alternately fills a pair of tanks A1 (1) and A2 (2), and with the help of a pressure disc F (38), the water returns through a pipeline to the upper tank A3, from which it descends again to the production station and continues perpetually.

The production of hydropower to this date is mainly: a) through diversion of an amount of water from the river or streambeds, whereby the water is driven out of bed via a pipeline for several kilometers towards a lower altitude, to a production station and there the hydro turbine moves and electricity is produced due to the difference of dynamic energy that has been created. This electricity production is not stable throughout the year, because the amount of water available depends on seasons, droughts and various natural phenomena.

The diversion of water from the riverbed has an impact on the natural environment, on the fauna and flora of the riverbed and on the irrigation of the surrounding areas.

(b) From river reservoir, dams, technical lakes, which also have an impact on the environment, with major interventions and whereby the production of electricity depends on the water supply of rivers during the whole year, which is not stable. c) To date in Ikaria, hydropower is produced with two reservoirs, one at a high altitude on the mountain and one at a lower level. The restoration of water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir is done via electric pumps which are powered for their operation by electrical power, produced by wind turbines in the area. This is a scheme with high construction costs, high operating costs and its performance depends on the supply of water from natural streams at the mountain of Ikaria and on how many hours a day will the wind turbines operate depending on wind conditions.

The current invention is a Renewable Energy Source and will have little to zero impact on the environment. Its advantages over other hydro-electric and other systems, such as wind turbines and photovoltaics, are as follows:

It will generate twice the total amount of electricity during the whole year.

The amount of electricity produced will be stable around the clock and throughout the year and thus will contribute to stabilizing the load on the country’s electricity grid. The water amount to be used will be a fixed, very small amount that will be recycled. A project of 1000 KWh will not require a quantity of water more than 800,00 m3. Only losses from evaporation will be refilled in, for which a household faucet or a small water source or transportation and supply with a tank will be sufficient, as opposed to a hydropower station of the same capacity using the supply of a river that will divert more than 15 million m3 of water from the riverbed in one year.

A hydropower station on a river or photovoltaic installation or a wind turbine with a capacity of 1000 KWh, produce and feed to the electricity grid a total of 2.500000,00 to 3.500000 KWh throughout the year. This invention for the same capacity will provide the grid with 7,000000,00 KWh.

This invention can be applied at short distances from densely built urban centers where there is a great need for electrical capacity, as it is characterized by the low nuisance characteristics in line with current regulations , as long as there are favorable ground conditions with an appropriate slope and an elevation difference of at least 20m. The project does not require a large area of land to occupy as an area of 4000,00 to 8000,00 m2, will suffice. It does not need to have nearby rivers as it can also be installed in areas that do not have water e.g., on the islands, since the small amounts of water required for its operation can be easily found.

Separate units can be built over short distance or in contact with each other and use the same A3 loading tank (3) with a greater capacity and thus at a lower cost increase the production of electricity.

The technology to be used is well known and applicable to date and 70.00% of the project budget will come from the internal market, thus helping to stimulate the national economy.

The invention will have a high value of economic exploitation in all countries abroad.

Description of the Mechanism

The mechanism will consist of the following parts, depending on each other, with dimensions that will be modified, according to the size of the chosen capacity in KW of the project to be constructed:

1) A1(1 ) and A2 (2) is a pair of 112,00 m3 capacity, cylindrical or rectangular identical storage tanks for the water to be raised to tank A3 (3). The walls of the tanks will made of reinforced concrete (40) and coated internally with smooth and hard material (41 ) e.g., steel, which will withstand stresses and frictions, with their base at the starting level (27) +0,00, inner bottom (49) level +1 ,00 and their top (23), at +8.20. A3 (3) Storage/loading tank will be made of reinforced concrete to which water will be transferred from tanks A1 or A2, via pipes D1 (8) and D2 (9) with internal diameter D= 1 ,00 m.

2) The base of tank A3 shall be at level (31) +60,50 m and its top (30) at +68, 50m. 3) A4 (4) is the building of the power station with the base level of the hydro turbine (19) at +12.50m and water outlet (32) at +11.00 m.

4) D1(8), D2 (9), D3 (10), D4 (6) and D5 (7) are closed pipelines for water transfer, from metal or plastic with internal diameter <t> = 1 ,00 m.

5) K (11 ) is water receiving channel from the turbine to tank A5 (5).

6) Tank A5 (5) shall be placed with its base at level (33) +8,50 and top at +10,00 m. The D6 (6) and D7 (7) pipes start from the base of tank A5 and drive the water to the base of tanks A1 at point (12) and A2 at point (14) respectively by natural flow.

7) From point (13) of tank A1, pipe D1 (8) transfers water to tank A3 (3) at entry point (16).

8) From point (15) of tank A2, pipe D2 (9) transfers water to tank A3 (3) at entry point (17).

9) In tank A1 at points (12) and (13), there will be an electrical switch controlling the water supply to and from tank A1.

10) In tank A2 at points (14) and (15), there will be an electrical switch controlling the water supply to and from tank A2.

11) From tank A3 (3) at point (18) via pipe D3 (10), to point (19), water is free-falling due to its self weight and rotates the hydro turbine, and the electric generator produces electricity.

12) Tank A1 (1) or as well as tank A2 (2):

(a) Inside them a vertical pressure disc F (38) shall be moved from level (24) at +7,00 to the lower level (50) at +2,80. Disc F will be suspended by an electric winch (21) which will control its vertical movement within the tank. The thickness of disc F will be 0.20 m to 1 .00 m, depending on the self-weight of the materials to be used for its construction. The outer surface of the perimeter of disc F and its lower base (42) will consist of hard metal, smooth e.g. steel, which will withstand friction during its descent and rise within the tanks. The rest of its body will be reinforced concrete (43). Disc F is in a short distance away from the vertical inner surface of tank A, point (46), approximately 1 to 3 mm distance, so as not to touch and rub on the inner surface of the tank. To avoid leakage, at point (45), elastic material will be applied, which will block the leak and follow the movement of disc F.

At the level (50) at +2.80 of tanks A1 and A2, there will be fixed bases of reinforced concrete and rubber cover, on which the disc will sit and end its descent, so that the tanks at an internal height of 1 ,80m and the pipes D1 and D2 are always full with water.

13) The electric winch (21) shall be placed on a metal frame’s beam , at the level (29) at +13,00 m with a final upper level of the metal frame up to +14,00 m. The main task of the electric winch will be to control the descent of the pressure disc from the level (24) +7.00 to the level (50) +2.80m and to restore the disc to the initial upper level +7.00 m.

14) At level +7,00 in the body of the tank’s wall (49), there will be holes to allow water leaks to be led to a gutter (26) and the water will then be concentrated into the spare tank A6 (51) through closed pipes D (11) from where it will be restored to tank A5 (5) through the pipe (35) using a pump.

Assumptions and Energy Quantity Calculation:

1) Pipeline cross-sectional area D1 = TT. r²= 3.14*0.50² = 0.785 m2.

2) The weight of water in pipeline D1 or D2 from an altitude of +2,80 to +68,50: B= 0.785 *(68.50-2.80) = 0.785*65.70 = 51575.00 Kg.

3) For the water output speed: U=2.00 m/sec at point (16) or (17), the following water quantity will flow into tank A3, Q=0.785 m2*2.00 m/sec = 1 .57 m3/sec = 1570.00 kg/sec. 4) The weight of the pressure disc F in tanks A1 and A2 to balance the system and the flow of water at points (16) or (17) at a speed of 2,00 m/sec should be equal to or greater of: B= (51575,00 +1570,00) = 53145,00 Kg. Frictions on the inner surface of the pipes and tanks A1 and A2 are considered negligible due to smooth surfaces and disk F not fully touching the inner surface of tanks A1 and A2, as it will be 0.003 m away.

The descent of disc F from level +7,00, to level +2,80 and for the surface of the disc or cross section of tanks A1 or A2 = 20,00 m2, shall be done at a speed of: dx = 1.57 m3/20,00 m2 = 0,0785 m/sec. The selected A1 or A2 tanks for a water height of 4,20 m will be empty in: 4,20 m/0,0785 = 53 sec. (and 7 seconds will remain up to the 60 sec cycle for adjustmentinterventions of the water supply control switches for the pipelines).

5) Electric winches, which will bring the discs F back from the lower +2,80 to the upper level +7,00 the starting position for descent, should be capable of lifting a weight of 60000,00 Kg each or more.

6) The main task of the winch will be to control the descent of the pressure disc F by breaking before contact at level +2.80 and restore disc F to the upper level+7.00.

During descent, the disc F will move due to its own weight and will press the water to move within the D1 or D2 pipes towards tank A3.

7) Electricity generation at station A4:

By selecting the appropriate hydro turbine and electric generator, electricity will be generated = (formula of energy) =

E = Q*H*9.81*0.86 = 1.57 m3*(68.50-12.50) m*9.81*0,86 = 742,00 KWh and for 360 days: 740,00*24*360 = 6,400,000,00 KWh

(having a yearly allowance of 5 days for system downtime, maintenance and repairs). 8) Winches will consume electricity generated by the system itself: 2 70,00 KW *24*360 = 1 ,210000,00 KWh + 50000,00 KWh for other systems (control panels, pumps, etc.), so the system will consume for its own operation, almost: 1 .300000,00 KWh per year.

Therefore, for economic exploitation, it will provide the electricity grid with = 6400000,00 - 130000,00 = 5,100000,00 KWh per year and for a compensation price to the producer of 0,09 Euro/KWh = EUR 459000,00.

Preparedness of the Pre-Operation Mechanism:

1 ) Tank A1 (1) up until level (24) +7,00 and pipe D1 (8) up to point (16) are completely full of water. The control switch (13) is on and the control switch (12) is off.

2) The tank A2 (2), is empty of water up to the lower level (50) +2.80, the control switch (14) is open and the control switch (15) is closed.

3) Tank A3 (3) and pipe D2 (9) are full of water, as well as pipes D4 (6), D5 (7) and D3 (10).

4) Discs F (38) are at level (24) +7.00 m.

5) The production station A4 (4) (turbine, generator and control panels, etc.) are ready.

Start Of Operation

The turbine is turned on and the water moves through the pipe D2 (10) under its own weight and rotates the turbine. The generator produces electricity of 740,00 KWh, the winches and all the systems necessary for the operation of the whole unit are supplied with power with the help of transformers. The excess electrical charge is channeled to the electrical grid for consumption. The entire operation of the unit is adjusted via a central control panel, automations and sensors.

After the turbine at a height of +8,50 m the water enters pipe D5 (7), which has a gradient of more than 10,00% and at a speed of 2,00 m/sec with natural flow, enters at point (14) and fills the tank A2 (2) from the level (50) +2,80 up to level (24) +7.00 in 53 sec. At the same time as the power is supplied, the electric winch (21 ) releases the disc F (38), which with its descent into the A1 tank causes the water to move within the pipe D1 and towards the A3 tank at a speed of U = 2.00 m/sec. When Disc F descends to the level +2,80, the control switch (13) automatically closes due to a sensor being triggered and opens the control switch (12), in order to start filling the tank A1 from pipe D4 (6) and at the same time the electric winch (21) pulls the disc F upwards to the position at level +7,00. At the same time the electric winch (21) releases the disc F in the A2 tank, the control switch (15) opens, the control switch (14) closes and the water starts to flow from tank A2 to tank A3. Consequently, when tank A1 empties the water towards tank A3, the tank A2 fills with water coming down from tank A3 towards the turbine and after exiting it and vice versa in a continuous mode.

SUMMARY of PLANS:

Drawing 1 illustrates the general layout of the hydropower production mechanism based on natural or artificial sloping land.

Drawing 2 shows the vertical cross-section at tank A1 (1 ) or A2 (2).

Drawing 3 shows the horizontal cross-section at tank A (1) or A2 (2) at level (50) +2.80 m.

Drawing 4 shows the horizontal cross-section at tank A1 (1 ) or A2 (2) at level (24) + 7,00 m.

Claims

9

1. Hydropower production mechanism with autonomous closed water circuit, mounted on sloping ground, natural or artificial. The mechanism consists of individual parts, dependent, and cooperating with each other, which place certain amount of water in the circuit, in continuous circular motion and along with a hydro turbine and an electric generator, electricity is produced. The individual parts of the mechanism have the following characteristics:

(a) Pair of cylindrical or rectangular tanks A1 (1 ) and A2 (2) for water storage, positioned vertically with their base at ground level+0.00 (27) and with a capacity of V(m3) = Q m3/sec*57 sec+r2*3.14*h1 +Em2*h1 * 4. Where Q is the amount of water we choose for moving the hydro turbine, r is the internal radius of the tank A1 or A2, E is the area of the surface of base (53) for the pressure disc F (38), hi is the internal height of the tank A1 or A2 from the level (49) to the level (50). The hi is equal to or greater than 2*D1 , where D is the diameter of the pipe D1 in m. The walls of the tanks are made of reinforced concrete (40) and coated internally with smooth and hard material (41 ), such as steel, which will withstand stresses and frictions. Inside the tanks A1 and A2, there is a pressure disc F (38) which with its weight presses and moves the water through pipes D1 (8) or D2 (9) towards the loading tank A3 (3). The external distance between tanks A1 and A2 shall be a minimum of 2,00 m. Disc F(38) is suspended with steel wire rope (22) from an electric winch (21) that sits above it. Electric winches are placed on a metal frame’s beam (28) situated above tanks A1 and A2. b) Tank A3 (3) for water storage and loading of hydropower station A4 (4), is made of reinforced concrete and its top is at altitude + h (m) (30) = P/Q*9.81 *0.86 + L + 4,00 m, from the base of tanks A1 and A2. Where P is the power of the hydropower station in KW/h, Q is the amount of water that will move the turbine in m3/sec, L is the height of tanks A1 or A2 in m from the level (27)+0.00 to the level (24). The capacity of the tank A3 (3), tV(m3), is equal to or greater than 3*60sec*Q m3/sec.

(c) Building A4 (4) of the production plant that will be based at an altitude of at least h (32) = L+4.00 m will have in its interior at the floor level (48) which is at least +1 ,50 m from its base level, the hydro turbine, the electric generator, transformers and the control panels required for the production of electricity. Part of the electricity produced will be consumed by the mechanism for its operation and the rest will be channeled into the national transmission and distribution network.

(d) D1 (8) isclosed pipe, from metal or synthetic material, for the transport of water from the base of tank A1(13) to the loading tank A3 (3) in position

(16), and has a diameter D = ((4*Q(m3/sec)/3.14*U(m/sec))1/2, where Q is the desired water supply set in the design of the hydro turbine and U is the speed we choose for the water within D1 pipe.

(e) D2 (9) is closed pipe, from metal or synthetic material, for the transport of water from the base of tank A2 (15) to the loading tank A3, in position

(17) and has the same diameter as D1 pipe.

(f) D3 (10) is a closed pipe with the same characteristics as pipes D1 and D2, for the transport of water through freefall, from the base of tank A3 (18) to the hydro turbine in the building of the A4 (19) production plant.

(g) Tank A5 (5) is made of reinforced concrete, with a minimum capacity of 25 m3, is placed at base level +(L+1 ,50) m, near the water outlet and after the turbine, and its top is at least +1 ,50 m from its base. Tank A5 (5) will be loaded with water from open channel (11) after exiting (20) from the station A4. From the base of the tank A5, the water will be received by the closed pipe D4 (6) that has the same diameter and characteristics as D1 and D2 and through natural flow the water will enter the tank A1 in position(12),as well as tank A2 in position(14) through pipe D5 (7). 11

(h) At the base of tank A1 in (12) and (13), there will be electrical switches with sensors, which will control the entry and exit of the water supply to the tank AI.

(i) At the base of tank A2 in (14) and (15), there will be electrical switches with sensors, which will control the entry and exit of the water supply to the A2 tank

2. Tank A1 (1) and as well tank A2 (2) as per claim 1 are characterized by.

The pressure disc F (38) inside the tanks shall have a diameter of less than the diameter of the internal cross-section of tanks A1 or A2 by0,003 to 0,005 m to avoid friction, and height-thickness 0,20 m to 1 ,00 m, depending on the specific self-weight of the materials we choose for its construction, so that, with its self-weight, it balances and sets in motion the column water of the D1 or D2 pipeline at the desired speed towards the A3 tank. Disc F shall have a weight equal to the weight of the water column within the D1 or D2 pipe from the level (50) to the level (30) where the water enters tank A3 (3) at point (16) + the weight of the water supplied Q m3 /sec to rotate the hydroturbine. By adding weight on disc F, we can increase the speed of water within pipes D1 or D2. Disc F shall move vertically within tanks A1 or A2 from the upper level (24) to the lower level (50). During descending, it will be moved by its self-weight and it will press the water towards the A3 tank. During rising, it will be pulled by electric winches (21), by which it will be suspended on steel wire rope (22). Vertical metal guides will be applied to the internal surface of discs A1 or A2 from level (50) to level (23) at points (54) to control the movement of disc F (38). The guides will be fully fixed onto the body of the tanks, will have a diameter of up to 0.003 m and will enter by half their diameter in the body of disk F.

3. Tank A1(1) and as well as tank A2 (2) at claim 1 and 2 are characterized by: 12

From level (49) to level (50) at an internal height of hi , there will be four fixed bases (53), made of reinforced concrete with rubber cover, on which the pressure disc F (38) will sit and end its descent so that the tanks are always full of water from an internal height of hi , to at least twice the D1 or D2 diameter, up to the level (50) and the D1 and D2 pipes are also full of water up to the level (30) in tank A3 (3).

4. Tank A1 (1) and as well as tank A2 (2) at claim 1 are characterized by:

At the level (24) in the body of the wall of the tank A1 or A2 (49), there will be holes leading the water leaking from the lateral contact of disc F (38) with the tank, to a gutter (26) and through the closed pipes D(25) and (11 ) by natural flow, that water will be concentrated in tank A6 (51), which has its base at level (37) +(L-2.00) m. From the base of the A6 tank, that water will be restored to the A5 tank (5)through the pipe (35) using an electric pump.

5. Tank A1 (1) and as well as tank A2 (2) at claim 1 are characterized by:

Electric winches (21) shall be placed on a metal frame’s beam (28) at level (29) on the vertical axis of tanks A1 or A2, with a final upper level of the metal frame in (39). The main task of the electric winch will be to control the descent of the pressure disc by braking from the level (24) to the level (50) and to restore the disc to the initial upper level (24). The winches will have a lifting capacity greater than the weight of the pressure disc F (38). The speed at which the winch will control the descent of disc F(38), within tank A1 or A2 is: Um/sec = Q (m3 /sec)/ E (m2), where Q is quantity of water that will rotate the hydro turbine and E is the inner surface area of the horizontal cross-section of tanks A1 or A2.

6. Tank A1(1) and as well as tankA2 (2) at claim 1 and 2 are characterized by:

At the bottom base of disc F(38) and in the 0,03 to 0,005m gap left between disc F (38) and the inner wall of tanks A1 or A2 to avoid friction, a belt of 13 elastic material will be applied around the perimeter of the base of the disc (45) that will block the gap, follow the movement of disc F and prevent the water from leaking over disc F.

7.Tank A1 (1 ) and as well as Tank A2 (2) at claim 1 and 2 are characterized by:

The section of disc F(38), consisting of reinforced concrete shall be divided into four or more smaller sections, preferably into even number sections that can be fitted and connected to each other, in order to make it easier to transport them during construction and to remove them more easily during repair. In the body of the upper parts and on the upper surface, there will be lifting points (56), from which they will be fastened and moved with cranes.