Pipeline Deployed Hydroelectric Generator

• US 20080284174A1
• Filed: 10/03/2006
• Published: 11/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hydro-Industries Tynat Limited
• Original Assignee: Hydro-Industries Tynat Limited
• Inventors: Nagler, Ehud
• Granted Patent: US 7,723,860 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 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 13/105 Bulb groups
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/7066 via a direct connection, i.e. a gearless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy

Abstract

The hydroelectric generator of the present invention provides a pre-sealed, watertight device in which the rotor that includes the induction magnets is deployed within the main flow passage of the pipeline and thereby sealed within the pipeline, and he induction coil assembly is deployed outside of the pipeline such that the fluid is sealed within the pipeline away from the induction coils

Claims

1. A pipeline deployed electric generator comprising:

(a) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, said rotor being deployed within the pipeline so as to be in a fluid flow path of the pipeline such that a flow of fluid through the pipeline effects rotation of said rotor, and at least a portion of said rotor being magnetized; and

(b) at least one induction coil deployed on an exterior surface of the pipeline in proximity to said rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of said rotor within the pipeline generates a flow of electric current in said induction coil.

2. The generator of claim 1, wherein said at least a portion of said rotor that is magnetic is at least a portion of at least one rotor blade.

3. The generator of claim 1, wherein said rotor has an axis of rotation that is substantially parallel to a central axis of the pipeline at a region of the pipeline in which said rotor is deployed.

4. The generator of claim 3, wherein said rotor is configured with a substantially cylindrical wall that is spaced apart from and circumscribes said central axle of said rotor and is spaced apart form an inside wall of said pipeline and at least a portion of said rotor blades extend outwardly from said cylindrical wall.

5. The generator of claim 4, further including a flow impedance regulator deployed in an interior region defined by said cylindrical wall so as to block fluid flow through said interior region defined by said cylindrical wall at low flow rates and allow the passage of fluid through said interior region defined by said cylindrical wall at high flow rates.

6. The generator of claim 4, further including a fluid directing configuration associated with said rotor and configured to direct said fluid flow path so as to pass between said cylindrical wall and an interior surface of the pipeline so as to impinge of the rotor blades thereby generating rotation of said rotor.

7. The generator of claim 6, further including a flow impedance regulator deployed in said fluid directing configuration so as to block fluid flow through an interior region of said fluid directing configuration at low flow rates and allow the passage of fluid through said interior region of said fluid directing configuration at high flow rates.

8. The generator of claim 7, wherein said flow impedance regulator is configured to direct at least of portion of fluid flowing through said interior region of said fluid directing configuration to a portion of said rotor blades deployed within said interior region of said fluid directing configuration.

9. The generator of claim 1, wherein said rotor has an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the pipeline.

10. The generator of claim 9, further including a flow-directing barrier deployed up stream and in close proximity to said rotor.

11. The generator of claim 1, further including a generator housing having a fluid flow passage configured between inlet and outlet ports said inlet and outlet ports being configured for attachment to the pipeline, wherein said rotor is deployed within said fluid flow passage and in said fluid flow path of the pipeline, and said induction coils are deployed on an exterior surface of said generator housing such that fluid remains sealed within the pipeline with no passage of fluid to the region of said generator housing in which said induction coil is deployed.

12. The generator of claim 11, wherein at least said induction coils are enclosed in a pre-sealed, watertight casing.

13. The generator of claim 11, wherein said generator housing has a length that is less than three times a diameter of the pipeline.

14. The generator of claim 11, wherein said generator housing has a length that is less than two times the diameter of the pipe.

15. The generator of claim 1, wherein said flow of electric current generated in said induction coils is used to power electronic components associated with at least one from the group consisting of:

a fluid flow meter;

a leak indicator;

a fluid usage meter;

a sprinkler system;

a irrigation system;

a lighting system;

a flow control system and a fluid characteristics measurement system.

16. The generator of claims 15, wherein said electronic components include at least one from the group consisting of:

a radio transponder;

a control circuit;

a memory chip;

a lighting element;

a switch;

a motor;

a temperature sensor;

a proximity sensor;

a pressure sensor;

a electronically operated fluid flow control valve and a sensor configured to measure chemical properties of material flowing through the pipeline.

17. A system for monitoring the flow of a fluid through a pipeline, the system comprising:

(a) a meter housing having a fluid flow passage configured between inlet and outlet ports configured for attachment to the pipeline;

(b) an electronic metering system attached to said meter housing;

(c) a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, said rotor being deployed within said meter housing so as to be in said fluid flow passage such that a flow of fluid through said fluid flow passage effects rotation of said rotor, and at least a portion of at least one rotor blade of said rotor is configured with magnetic properties; and

(d) at least one induction coil deployed on an exterior surface of said meter housing in proximity to said rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of said rotor within the meter housing generates a flow of electric current in said induction coil;

wherein an electric current generated in said induction coils is used to power said at least one electronic component of the meter.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one electronic component includes a radio transponder configured for communication with a remote meter-reading device.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one electronic component includes a display element configured to display a representation of a volume of fluid that has passed through the monitoring system.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said electronic metering system is configured to determine a volume of fluid flow through the pipeline based on rotation characteristics of said rotor.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein said at least one electronic component includes an alarm system.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said alarm system is configured to indicate when a predetermined limit of fluid flow has been reached.

23. A method for generating electricity in a fluid flow pipeline, the method comprising:

(a) providing a rotor having rotor blades extending outwardly from a central axle, at least a portion of said rotor is a magnetic;

(b) deploying said rotor within the pipeline so as to be in a fluid flow path of the pipeline such that a flow of fluid through the pipeline effects rotation of said rotor;

(c) providing at least one induction coil;

(d) deploying said at least one induction coil on an exterior surface of the pipeline in proximity to said rotor such that a change in magnetic field caused by rotation of said rotor within the pipeline generates a flow of electric current in said induction coil;

(e) effecting rotation of said rotor by providing a flow of fluid through the pipeline.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said at least a portion of said rotor that is a magnetic is implemented as at least a portion of at least one rotor blade.

25. The method of claim 24, further including directing said fluid flow path toward at least a first group of rotor blades during low fluid flow rate conditions and additionally toward at least a second group of rotor blades during high fluid flow rate conditions.