IN-PIPE TURBINE

• US 20120274066A1
• Filed: 04/27/2012
• Published: 11/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Scott Montgomery
• Original Assignee: James Scott Montgomery
• Inventors: Montgomery, James Scott
• Granted Patent: US 9,243,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/7
• 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 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/50 Hydropower in dwellings

Abstract

An in-pipe hydraulic turbine system includes a pipeline for fluid transport, the pipeline having an inlet and an outlet, and a turbine disposed within the pipeline, between the inlet and the outlet. The turbine is actuated by fluid moving through the pipeline and leaves usable fluid pressure downstream of the turbine.

Claims

1. An in-pipe hydraulic turbine system comprising:

a pipeline for fluid transport, said pipeline comprising an inlet and an outlet; and

a turbine disposed within said pipeline between said inlet and said outlet, the turbine comprising;

an output shaft; and

a runner fixedly attached to the output shaft,

the output shaft being substantially aligned with the direction of fluid flow through the system,

wherein said turbine is actuated by a fluid moving through said pipeline, and further wherein said turbine leaves usable fluid pressure downstream of said turbine.

2. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, further comprising a valve downstream of said turbine, the valve passively operable to control fluid pressure downstream of said turbine.

3. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is selected from the group consisting of an impulse turbine and a reaction turbine.

4. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, wherein the turbine is constructed from materials requiring no lubrication apart from that provided by the fluid moving through the system.

6. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a nozzle disposed within said pipeline between said inlet and said turbine, the nozzle in fluid communication with said inlet and said turbine, the nozzle sized and shaped to accelerate the flow of a fluid moving through said pipeline and to convert said flow to a substantially tangential flow.

8. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 6, wherein the nozzle is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter concentric with a diameter of said pipeline.

10. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, wherein said output shaft drives an electrical generator.

11. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 10, wherein the output of the electrical generator is selected from the group consisting of alternating current and direct current.

12. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 10, wherein the output of the electrical generator is regulated by a device selected from the group consisting of a rectifier, an inverter, and a grid-tieable inverter.

13. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1, wherein the pipeline comprises an elbow bend, the elbow bend defining an opening therein, the output shaft extending through said opening.

21. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 1 wherein said system drives a generator regulated by an inverter complying with standards selected from the group consisting of IEEE 1547 and UL 1741.

5. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 5, wherein the turbine includes a plurality of running surfaces, the running surfaces comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of synthetic polymers, metals, ceramics, and combinations thereof,

wherein the facing surfaces of moving components of said turbine system are constructed from chemically-distinct materials,

and further wherein fluid traveling through the system is induced into a plurality of interstitial running spaces of said turbine.

7. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 7, further comprising:

a diffuser disposed within said pipeline between said turbine and said outlet, the diffuser in fluid communication with said turbine, the diffuser sized and shaped to decelerate the flow of a fluid moving through said pipeline and to convert said flow to a substantially axial flow.

9. The in-pipe hydraulic turbine system according to claim 7, wherein the diffuser is substantially cylindrical and has a diameter concentric with a diameter of said pipeline.

14. A hydraulic turbine comprising:

an output shaft; and

a runner fixedly attached to said output shaft;

wherein said turbine is adapted to be affixed to an interior of a pipeline, fluid flow through said pipeline actuating said runner.

15. The hydraulic turbine according to claim 14 further comprising:

a nozzle fixedly attached to said output shaft upstream of said runner, the nozzle sized and shaped to accelerate the flow of a fluid moving through said pipeline and to convert said flow to a substantially tangential flow.

16. The hydraulic turbine according to claim 15 further comprising:

a diffuser fixedly attached to said output shaft downstream of said runner, the diffuser sized and shaped to decelerate the flow of a fluid moving through said pipeline and to convert said flow to a substantially axial flow.

17. The hydraulic turbine according to claim 16 wherein said output shaft drives a generator.

18. An in-pipe hydraulic motor comprising:

a pipeline for fluid transport, said pipeline comprising an inlet and an outlet;

a stator fixedly attached to an interior surface of the pipeline, the stator defining a substantially cylindrical opening therethrough; and

a rotor rotatably disposed within said stator, rotational movement of the rotor being actuated by the flow of a fluid moving through said pipeline.

19. The in-pipe hydraulic motor according to claim 18, further comprising a runner rotatably disposed within said pipeline, the rotor fixedly attached to said runner such that rotation of said runner causes a corresponding rotation of said rotor,

wherein rotational movement of the runner is actuated by the flow of the fluid through the pipeline.

20. The in-pipe hydraulic motor according to claim 18 further comprising a feed wire attached to said stator, the feed wire conducting current produced by the motor.

22. The in-pipe hydraulic motor according to claim 18 wherein said system drives a generator regulated by an inverter complying with standards selected from the group consisting of IEEE 1547 and UL 1741.

23. The in-pipe motor according to claim 18, wherein the rotor and stator are housed completely within the fluid-conveying pipe, said pipeline defining an opening through a surface thereof for extension of a feed wire therethrough.