Combined pump and turbine

• US 10,408,186 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2016
• Issued: 09/10/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aqua-Fer Corporation
• Original Assignee: Adebukola Olatunde
• Inventors: Olatunde, Adebukola
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Viet P
• Application Number:
  US15/354,654
• Publication Number:
  US 20170138213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 290 43, 290 54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/08 by speed, e.g. by measuring electric frequency or liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/103 the same wheel acting as turbine wheel and as pump wheel
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/02 Units comprising pumps and their driving means
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/706 an electrical generator
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/4023 through a friction clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/327 Rotor or generator speeds
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

A combined pump and turbine (electromechanical converter), which may be operable as a motorized centrifugal pump for starting a siphon and as an electromechanical turbine particularly for transmission of a liquid, such as water, in a water treatment plant. Recovery of energy from liquid flow with the combined pump and turbine, particularly in water treatment applications, allows for increased energy gains.

Claims

1. A hydroelectric system comprising:

a combined pump and turbine comprising impeller blades;

an electromechanical converter operably coupled to the combined pump and turbine, the electromechanical converter having a motor condition and a generator condition, wherein the motor condition drives liquid and the generator condition operates subject to a siphon flow;

wherein the driven liquid and the siphon flow move in a same direction;

a control unit operably connected to the electromechanical converter for switching the electromechanical converter between the motor condition and the generator condition; and

wherein the impeller blades rotate in the same direction with the electromechanical converter when the electromechanical converter operates in the motor condition and in the generator condition.

2. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein the electromechanical converter is a single electrical unit integrated motor-generator comprising:

a stator;

a rotor;

wherein the stator generates an electromagnetic field which causes the rotor to rotate when the electromechanical converter operates in the motor condition;

wherein the rotor generates a rotating magnetic field inducing a current in the stator when the electromechanical converter operates in the generator condition;

wherein the rotor rotates in the same direction in both the the generator condition and the motor condition.

3. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein the combined pump and turbine is a centrifugal pump.

4. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein the combined pump and turbine has a pump shaft and the electromechanical converter has a rotor shaft, wherein the pump shaft and the rotor shaft are a common drive shaft.

5. The hydroelectric system of claim 4, further including a flywheel operably connected between the combined pump and turbine and the electromechanical converter.

6. The hydroelectric system of claim 5, wherein the flywheel is operably connected to the electromechanical converter, wherein the flywheel is engaged and disengaged to the pump shaft responsive to a control from the control unit.

7. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a regenerative variable frequency drive.

8. The hydroelectric system of claim 7, wherein the regenerative variable frequency drive controls a speed of the electromechanical converter.

9. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein the combined pump and turbine is operably connected to a liquid storage tank and a surge tank.

10. The hydroelectric system of claim 1, wherein energy is produced when the siphon flow is in an uphill direction.

11. A method of starting fluid flow in a hydroelectric system comprising:

starting a siphon flow by pumping liquid from a liquid storage tank through a combined pump and turbine using a motor condition of an electromechanical converter operably coupled to the combined pump and turbine;

then, via the siphon flow, driving the liquid through the combined pump and turbine;

powering the electromechanical converter to produce energy by switching the electromechanical converter to a generator condition using a control unit operably connected to the electromechanical converter;

storing the energy; and

outputting the liquid into a surge tank;

wherein impeller blades of the combined pump and turbine rotate in a same direction with the electromechanical converter during the starting of the siphon flow and during the driving of the liquid.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electromechanical converter switches, at least once, between the motor condition and the generator condition while the impeller blades of the combined pump and turbine rotate in the same direction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one switch is made based on a predetermined rotational speed.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one switch is made based on a predetermined set point.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one switch is made in response to a pre-determined digital signal.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the at least one switch is made based on an electronic permissive.