Submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus and a method of evacuating water from such an apparatus

• US 10,641,236 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2014
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mcelroy Owen
• Original Assignee: Mcelroy Owen
• Inventors: Owen, McElroy
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Ninh H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mikus, Jason
• Application Number:
  US14/890,112
• Publication Number:
  US 20160084219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 11/004 Valve arrangements F03B3/10 takes precedence; adjustable wicket gates F03B3/183; valves in general F16K
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 11/008 Measuring or testing arrangements in general G01
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 11/02 Casings spiral or volute casings F03B3/186
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 15/14 by or of water level
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/005 Installations wherein the liquid circulates in a closed loop F03B13/06 takes precedence; Alleged perpetua mobilia of this or similar kind perpetua mobilia using hydrostatic thrust or buoyancy F03B17/04
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/12 Blades; Blade-carrying rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/97 on a submerged structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/30 Energy from the sea, e.g. using wave energy or salinity gradient

Abstract

This invention relates to a submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus (1) and a method of evacuating water from such an apparatus. The method of evacuating water from a submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus (1) comprising the steps of pressurizing a fluid supply in the submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus using the water flowing into the apparatus and thereafter using the thus-pressurized fluid supply to evacuate the water from the apparatus. Additional pressurized fluid can be supplied to provide a pressurized fluid supply with sufficient pressure to expel the water from the apparatus. The apparatus (1) can be used in a grid connected electricity generating system or indeed in a smaller scale implementation such as in a single building or group of buildings to provide electricity to those buildings. The invention overcomes problems with prior art devices by evacuating water from the apparatus in an efficient manner.

Claims

1. A submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus comprising a substantially upright body having an outer chamber and an inner pressure chamber surrounded by and spaced apart from the outer chamber, the inner pressure chamber being in fluid communication with the outer chamber adjacent the lowermost end of the inner chamber, the inner pressure chamber having a pressurizable fluid supply therein, pressurizable by water flowing into the apparatus, the outer chamber having a charging inlet adjacent the top of the upright body, a discharge outlet located adjacent the bottom of the upright body, and a liquid passageway intermediate the charging inlet and the discharge outlet, the liquid passageway having a turbine mounted therein and a flow regulator in the liquid passageway intermediate the turbine and the discharge outlet, and in which there is provided a closure moveable to and from a first position blocking the discharge outlet thereby preventing evacuation of water from the apparatus and a second position opening the discharge outlet thereby permitting evacuation of water from the apparatus, and in which there is provided a controller and a closure actuator capable of moving the closure to and from the first position to and from the second position in response to a control input from the controller.

2. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided an auxiliary pressurized fluid supply to supplement the pressurizable fluid supply.

3. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus (1) as claimed in claim 2 in which there is provided a compressor to provide the auxiliary pressurized fluid supply.

4. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the compressor is powered by some of the electricity generated by the turbine.

5. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there are provided a plurality of turbines.

6. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which there are provided a plurality of liquid passageways, each having a turbine therein.

7. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 5 in which the plurality of turbines are spaced circumferentially around the outer chamber.

8. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the flow regulator comprises a sump located in the liquid passageway below the turbine.

9. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the flow regulator comprises a valve operable to selectively block passage of water through the liquid passageway.

10. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a turbine mounted in line with the discharge outlet of the apparatus.

11. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a ram mounted in the inner pressure chamber operable to evacuate water from the apparatus.

12. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 11 in which the ram is powered by some of the electricity generated by the turbine.

13. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a pressure sensor in communication with the controller, the pressure sensor being operable to measure the pressure of the pressurizable fluid supply in the inner pressure chamber.

14. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the apparatus comprises a two-part construction:

the first part comprising the inner pressure chamber and a substantial portion of the outer chamber including the discharge outlet and a portion of the liquid passageway that is in communication with the discharge outlet;

the second part being releasably detachable from the first part and containing the charging inlet, the turbine and a portion of the liquid passageway that is in communication with the charging inlet;

both the first part and the second part each having a linking aperture therein for communication with the linking aperture of the other of the first and second part to connect the portions of the liquid passageway together and complete the fluid passageway.

15. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the apparatus is constructed predominantly from a polymer material.

16. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a release valve in the inner pressure chamber to allow evacuation of at least some of the pressurizable fluid supply from the inner chamber.

17. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 16 in which there is provided a tank connected to the release valve to receive the pressurizable fluid supply evacuated from the inner pressure chamber.

18. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 17 in which the tank is located intermediate the inner pressure chamber and the outer chamber.

19. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a pressure vessel operable to promote flow of a fluid through the apparatus.

20. The submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which there is provided a turbine adjacent the discharge outlet.

21. Use of the submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as a pump to pump a liquid from one location to another.

22. Use of the submersible hydroelectric generator apparatus as claimed in claim 1 as a propulsion device to propel a waterborne craft from one location to another.