Miniature hydro-power generation system

• US 20040195840A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Baarman, David W., Lautzenheiser, Terry Lee
• Granted Patent: US 6,885,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/43
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/08 Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 1/00 Engines of impulse type, i.e. turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on blades or like rotors, e.g. Pelton wheels; Parts or details peculiar thereto
• 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: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2411 Pelton type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 : Hydropower in dwellings
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 : Dynamoelectric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 : Prime mover or fluid pump making

Abstract

A miniature hydro-power generation system may produce electric power from a flow of liquid. The miniature hydro-power generation system may include a housing that includes a plurality of paddles positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing. The system may also include a nozzle and a centering rod extending through the housing. The housing may rotate around the centering rod when a stream of liquid from the nozzle is directed at the paddles. A generator that includes a rotor and a stator may be positioned within a cavity of the housing. The rotor may be coupled with the housing and the stator may be coupled with the centering rod. The rotor may rotate around the stator at high RPM to generate electric power when the housing rotates. The electric power may supply a load and/or may be stored in an energy storage device.

Claims

1. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a housing comprising a plurality of paddles that are generally concaved and positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing;

only one nozzle configured to direct a single stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the housing;

a centering rod extending through the housing, the housing rotatable around the centering rod in response to liquid striking the paddles; and

an electrical generator disposed within the housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a stator coupled with the centering rod and a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the housing, wherein the rotor rotates around the stator as the housing rotates to produce electric power.

2. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of vents that allow liquid communication with the electrical generator, the vents configured concentrically around the outer surface to minimize the amount of liquid present in the housing when the housing is rotated so that the housing remains substantially filled with gas.

3. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein each of the paddles comprise a first elliptically shaped paddle section and a second elliptically shape paddle section positioned perpendicular with the outer surface and a base configured to be coupled with the outer surface and form a portion of an unbroken concentric ring adjacent to the outer surface that is formed by the paddles.

4. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises an axial bore having a nozzle outlet with a diameter of less than about two millimeters and the housing is rotatable at more than about 5000 revolutions-per-minute by the stream of liquid.

5. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises a rib extending through a passageway of the nozzle to minimize swirling of liquid flowing through the passageway.

6. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to rotate above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute by the stream of liquid flowing at between about 0.44 liters per minute and about 4.16 liters per minute.

7. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical with a diameter that is less than about 40 millimeters.

8. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, further comprising an outer housing enclosing the housing, wherein the outer housing is coupled with the nozzle and comprises an outlet and a plurality of fingers positioned along a plurality of channels on an interior surface of the outer housing to channel liquid to the outlet.

9. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

an outer housing;

an inner housing confined within the outer housing, the inner housing comprising a first hub engageable with a second hub to form a cavity inside the first and second hubs, the inner housing also comprising a plurality of paddles configured to be held between the first and second hubs when the first and second hubs are engaged;

a centering rod non-rotatably coupled with the outer housing and extending through the inner housing, the inner housing rotatable within the outer housing around the centering rod;

an electrical generator disposed within the inner housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a stator coupled with the centering rod and a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the inner housing, wherein the rotor rotates around the stator as the inner housing rotates; and

a nozzle penetrating the outer housing, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the inner housing.

10. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein each of the first and second hubs comprises a plurality of lugs that are interlocked when the first and second hubs are engaged.

11. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein an interior surface of the outer housing comprises ducting configured to minimize liquid spray in the outer housing and to channel the liquid out of the outer housing to maintain the outer housing substantially empty of liquid.

12. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the inner housing comprises a plurality of vents configured to allow liquid communication between the cavity and the outer housing, the vents configured to evacuate liquid from the cavity to maintain the cavity substantially empty of liquid when the inner housing is rotated.

13. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein each of the paddles are generally concaved and are positioned on an outer surface of the inner housing perpendicular to the centering rod and outwardly extended from the inner housing toward the outer housing.

14. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the paddles are configured to contact one another to form an unbroken ring concentric with the inner housing.

15. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the paddles each comprise a foot having a first angled surface and a second angled surface, wherein the first and second angled surfaces are contacting the first and second hubs, respectively.

16. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein each of the paddles comprise a face surface and a back surface, the face surface of each of the paddles contacting a back surface of another of the paddles to form an unbroken ring concentrically surrounding the inner housing.

17. The hydro-power generation system of claim 9, wherein the rotor comprises a keeper ring coupled with a magnet, a portion of the keeper ring and the magnet positioned in each of the first and second hubs.

18. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a nozzle;

a housing having a cavity, a plurality of vents coaxially disposed on an outer surface of the housing and a plurality of paddles mounted perpendicular to the outer surface of the housing, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the housing, the vents configured to evacuate liquid from the cavity when the housing is rotated so that the cavity remains substantially dry;

a centering rod extending through the housing, the housing rotatable around the centering rod; and

an electric generator disposed within the cavity, the electric generator comprising a stator coupled with the centering rod, and a rotor coupled with the housing, wherein the rotor is positioned in the housing to rotate around the stator when the housing rotates.

19. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the vents provide liquid communication between the cavity and the outer surface of the housing to remove liquid by centrifugal force from the cavity when the housing is rotated.

20. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle comprises a passageway between a nozzle inlet and a nozzle outlet, the passageway comprising a first angled section that forms the nozzle inlet, a first straight section contiguous with the first angled section, a tapered section contiguous with the first straight section, a second angled section contiguous with the tapered section and a second straight section contiguous with the second angled section that forms the nozzle outlet.

21. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle comprises a first straight section adjacent an inlet of the nozzle with a diameter of about 5.8 millimeters and a second straight section with a diameter less than about 1.9 millimeters forming an outlet of the nozzle.

22. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle comprises a passageway having a rib that extends outwardly from an interior surface of the passageway toward a central axis of the passageway to minimize non-laminar flow of liquid through the passageway.

23. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle is only one nozzle, and the housing is configured to rotate at about 5000 revolutions-per-minute or greater when induced to rotate by the stream of liquid from the nozzle flowing between about 0.44 liters/minute and about 4.16 liters/minute.

24. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle comprises a nozzle outlet, the diameter of the nozzle outlet is less than about 1.9 millimeters and the diameter of the housing is less than about 40 millimeters.

25. The hydro-power generation system of claim 18, wherein the nozzle comprises a passageway with a first diameter adjacent an inlet of the nozzle and a second diameter forming an outlet of the nozzle, wherein the second diameter is about 33% or less of the first diameter.

26. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a centering rod;

a bushing positioned to surround the centering rod;

a housing coupled with the bushing, wherein the housing and the bushing are rotatable around the centering rod;

a plurality of paddles coupled with an outer surface of the housing, wherein the paddles are generally concaved and longitudinally extend outward from the outer surface of housing perpendicular to the centering rod; and

a permanent magnet generator enclosed within the housing, the permanent magnet generator comprising a stator coupled with the centering rod and a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the housing,

wherein the rotor and stator cooperatively operate to maintain the position of the bushing surrounding the centering rod without substantial contact between the bushing and the centering rod.

27. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the rotor comprises a permanent magnet that is configured to spin balance rotation of the housing.

28. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the rotor comprises a permanent magnet having a magnetic field configured to suspend the rotor in axial alignment with the stator.

29. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, further comprising an outer housing surrounding the housing, wherein the centering rod extends through opposed ends of the housing and is non-rotatably coupled with the outer housing.

30. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the housing is generally cylindrical with a diameter between about 40 millimeters and about 20 millimeters and is configured to rotate above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute.

31. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein each of the bushings comprise a sleeve having an aperture formed to accommodate the centering rod.

32. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, wherein the bushings are disposed at opposed ends of the housing and comprise an aperture to accommodate the centering rod and an outer surface formed to fit within an aperture in the outer surface of the housing.

33. The hydro-power generation system of claim 26, further comprising an ultraviolet light source coupled with the permanent magnet generator, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of coils configured to be dynamically switchable between a parallel configuration and a series configuration to provide a first voltage for initial energization of the ultraviolet light source and a second voltage for continued energization of the ultraviolet light source.

34. The hydro-power generation system of claim 33, wherein the ultraviolet light source is one of a mercury lamp and a cold cathode lamp that is initially energized and continued to be energized without a ballast.

35. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

an outer housing;

an inner housing positioned to be completely enclosed by the outer housing, the inner housing comprising a plurality of paddles configured to longitudinally extend outwardly from an outer surface of the inner housing toward the outer housing;

a centering rod fixedly coupled with the outer housing and extending through the inner housing, the inner housing rotatable within the outer housing around the centering rod;

an electrical generator disposed within the inner housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor and a stator, the stator is coupled with the centering rod and the rotor is coupled with an interior surface of the inner housing and rotates around the stator as the inner housing rotates;

a nozzle penetrating the outer housing, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the inner housing; and

an interior surface of the outer housing comprising ducting configured to minimize liquid spray within the outer housing.

36. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the ducting comprises a plurality of fingers positioned in a swirl pattern that is formed to efficiently collect liquid spray within the outer housing.

37. The hydro-power generation system of claim 36, wherein the fingers are each formed as pyramid shaped members that extend outward from the interior surface of the outer housing toward the inner housing.

38. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the ducting comprises a center channel, an outer channel, and a plurality of branch channels formed in a swirl pattern in the interior surface, wherein the swirl pattern is formed based on a pattern of liquid flung from the inner housing when the inner housing is rotated.

39. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the ducting comprises a plurality of channels and a plurality of fingers, the fingers positioned along the channels to efficiently collect liquid spray and direct the liquid out of the outer housing via the channels.

40. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the rotation of the inner housing may be monitored to provide flow based measurements of the stream of liquid.

41. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the nozzle is positioned to penetrate the outer housing between the inner housing and an outlet included in the outer housing and provide the stream of liquid with substantially the same diameter as the diameter of an outlet of the nozzle.

42. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the nozzle is configured to be positioned to penetrate the outer housing to discharge a vertical stream of liquid toward an outlet included in the outer housing.

43. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the ducting is configured to channel liquid out of the outer housing so that the nozzle and the inner housing are not submerged in liquid discharged from the nozzle and remain in an airspace within the outer housing.

44. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, further comprising a an ultraviolet light source electrically coupled with the electrical generator, wherein the stator comprises a plurality of taps that are configured to be dynamically switchable between a startup voltage to initially energize the ultraviolet light source and a running state voltage to continue to energize the ultraviolet light source.

45. The hydro-power generation system of claim 44, wherein the ultraviolet light source is initially energize and continues to be energized without a ballast.

46. The hydro-power generation system of claim 44, wherein the ultraviolet light source is one of a mercury lamp and a cold cathode lamp.

47. The hydro-power generation system of claim 35, wherein the outer housing comprises a drain section with an interior surface shaped to receive liquid at a flow trajectory angle of about twenty degrees or less, wherein the liquid received by the drain section has previously collided with the paddles.

48. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

an inner housing comprising a plurality of paddles configured to longitudinally extend outwardly from an outer surface of the inner housing;

a centering rod non-rotatably extending through the inner housing, the inner housing rotatable around the centering rod;

an electrical generator disposed within the inner housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor and a stator, the stator is coupled with the centering rod and the rotor is coupled with an interior surface of the inner housing and rotates around the stator as the inner housing rotates;

a nozzle configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the inner housing; and

an outer housing non-rotatably coupled with the centering rod, wherein the outer housing is formed with a cavity to surround the inner housing and comprises a drain section configured to receive liquid after impact with the paddles, wherein the drain section is shaped to receive the liquid at a determined flow trajectory angle to minimize fluid impedance.

49. The hydro-power generation system of claim 48, wherein the flow trajectory angle is about twenty degrees or less.

50. The hydro-power generation system of claim 48, wherein the drain section formed in the shape of a generally cone-shaped rocket nozzle.

51. The hydro-power generation system of claim 48, wherein the outer housing comprises a nozzle section forming the top of the outer housing that is configured to receive a vertically positioned nozzle and an inner housing section configured to partially surround the inner housing to minimize fluid impedance.

52. The hydro-power generation system of claim 48, wherein the inner housing rotates at above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute in the cavity and the drain section is configured to evacuate liquid flowing at between about 0.44 liters/minute and about 4.16 liters/minute to maintain the cavity substantially dry.

53. A hydro-power generation system comprising:

a plumbing fixture;

a housing rotatable disposed in the plumbing fixture, the housing comprising a plurality of paddles that are generally concaved and positioned to extend outwardly from an outer surface of the housing;

an electrical generator disposed within the housing, wherein the electrical generator comprises a rotor coupled with an interior surface of the housing and a stator fixedly positioned in the housing, wherein the rotor rotates around the stator to produce electric power as the housing rotates;

a nozzle disposed in the plumbing fixture, the nozzle configured to direct a stream of liquid at the paddles to induce rotation of the housing;

an electrically operated valve disposed in the plumbing fixture, wherein the electrically operated valve is configured to supply a flow of liquid to the nozzle;

an energy storage device coupled with the electrical generator and the electrically operated valve; and

a voltage controller coupled with the electrically operated valve and the energy storage device, wherein the voltage controller is configured to direct the electrically operated valve to open when the voltage in the energy storage device is below a determined threshold level.

54. The hydro-power generation system of claim 53, wherein the housing rotates at above about 5000 revolutions-per-minute in response to a flow of liquid striking the paddles in a range between 0.44 liters per minute and 4.16 liters per minute.

55. The hydro-power generation system of claim 53, wherein the housing comprises a first hub and a second hub configured to be coupled together to maintain the paddles in position on the outer surface and concentrically surround the electrical generator.

56. The hydro-power generation system of claim 53, wherein liquid flowing through the nozzle in a range of between about 0.44 liters per minute and about 4.16 liters per minute results in production of electric power in a range of about 0.25 watts to about 30 watts.

57. The hydro-power generation system of claim 53, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of vents positioned concentrically around the outer surface to evacuate liquid from the housing as the housing is rotated so that the electrical generator operates substantially dry.

58. The hydro-power generation system of claim 53, wherein the plumbing fixture is a lavatory fixture.

59. A method of generating power with a hydro-power generation system, the method comprising:

accelerating the velocity of a stream of liquid with only one nozzle;

discharging the stream of liquid out of the nozzle through an airspace to strike a plurality of paddles, wherein the paddles are generally concaved and extend outward perpendicular to an outer surface of a housing;

transferring kinetic energy in the stream of liquid to rotational energy of the housing;

inducing rotation of the housing and a permanent magnet coupled with an interior surface of the housing with the stream of liquid;

rotating the permanent magnet around a stator non-rotatably positioned in the housing; and

generating electric power with the rotor and stator.

60. The method of claim 59, further comprising rotating the housing at about 5000 revolutions-per-minute or above with kinetic energy provided by between about 0.44 liters/minute and 4.16 liters/minute of flowing liquid.

61. The method of claim 59, further comprising evacuating liquid from out of the housing with a plurality of vents disposed in the surface of the housing so that the rotor and stator are substantially dry.

62. The method of claim 59, further comprising maintaining the paddles in an unbroken concentric ring on the outer surface of the housing with contiguously positioned paddles and compression of the paddles between a first hub and a second hub that form the housing.

63. The method of claim 59, further comprising suspending the rotor in axial alignment with the stator with a magnetic field produced by the permanent magnet.

64. The method of claim 59, further comprising channeling liquid away from the housing to avoid submerging either of the housing and the nozzle in liquid so that the housing and the nozzle are maintained substantially dry.

65. The method of claim 59, further comprising maintaining both the housing and an outer housing in which the housing is confined substantially dry as liquid is sprayed by the nozzle.

66. The method of claim 59, further comprising shaping the interior surface of a drain section included in the outer housing to intercept liquid that has collided with the paddles, wherein the interior surface of the drain section is configured to receive the liquid at a flow trajectory angle of about 20 degrees or less.

67. The method of claim 59, further comprising capturing liquid spray external to the housing to minimize liquid impedance, wherein the liquid spray is captured with a plurality of pyramid shaped members included on an interior surface of an outer housing that surrounds the housing.