POWER GENERATING FLOATING VESSEL

• US 20130229014A1
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Published: 09/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Flo LLC
• Original Assignee: John Herman Willingham
• Inventors: Willingham, John Herman
• Granted Patent: US 8,772,957 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/54
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/063 the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 7/00 Water wheels of swinging flap type F03B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/94 on a movable wheeled 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

The present invention pertains to hydroelectric generation devices, and more particularly pertains to a fixed or floating paddlewheel electric generation device that may be placed in any flowing liquid source in order to generate power. Such an overall power generating system includes a paddlewheel component that is situated within an artificial channel properly configured to increase the velocity of the flowing liquid therethrough, thereby providing a manner of generating paddlewheel rotation at a speed greater than that relative to the main body of the fluid itself. Such an efficient process thus allows for effective conversion of such hydrokinetic power into mechanical energy in order to couple to a device to produce electricity from such captured power. The resultant electrical energy can then be supplied to a user'"'"'s individual location or into an electrical grid in order to supply a clean, efficient, power source.

Claims

1. A paddlewheel power generation system, wherein said system comprises a suitable paddlewheel including a plurality of radially configured blades, wherein said paddlewheel is situated within an artificial channel made from a solid material such that said channel includes a closed bottom portion, two closed sides, two open ends, and an open top portion, wherein said paddlewheel is positioned at a location above said artificial channel but also in a configuration to allow for a portion thereof to always be extended into said artificial channel and to allow for a portion thereof to always be present external to said artificial channel, wherein said paddlewheel is situated properly to permit rotation thereof in the same direction as a fluid passing through said artificial channel.

2. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 1, wherein said artificial channel is configured to allow for a flowing fluid source to pass therethrough and to contact said paddlewheel blades such that upon proper contact with said paddlewheel blades, said flowing fluid source causes said paddlewheel to rotate, thereby capturing the hydrokinetic energy present within the flowing water source;

wherein said artificial channel is configured to generate a fluid flow velocity through said artificial channel in excess of the fluid flow velocity of the flowing fluid source external to said artificial channel.

3. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 1, wherein said artificial channel is configured into at least three separate components, wherein a first component includes the fluid ingress portion, a second component includes the paddlewheel/fluid contact portion, and a third component includes the fluid egress portion.

4. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 3 wherein said first, second, and third components are defined by a leading edge and a finishing edge, wherein said leading edge of said first component is located at a height below that of said finishing edge of said first component, wherein said leading edge of said second component is at the same height as the finishing edge of said first component, wherein said finishing edge of said second component is at the same height as the leading edge of said third component, and wherein said leading edge of said third component is at a height higher than the leading edge of said third component.

5. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 4 wherein said leading edge of said first component is at the same height as the finishing edge of said third component.

6. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 3 wherein the shape of said first component as determined from its leading edge to its finishing edge is the exact reverse of the shape of said third component as determined from its leading edge to its finishing edge.

7. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 3 wherein said second component is configured as determined from its leading edge to its finishing edge to be selected from the group consisting of a concave shape, a flat shape, and a convex shape.

8. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 7 wherein said second component is a convex shape.

9. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 1.

10. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 2.

11. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 3.

12. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 4.

13. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 7.

14. A floating power generating vessel including the paddlewheel system of claim 8.

15. A method of utilizing the paddlewheel system of claim 1 to generate electrical power.

16. A method of utilizing the paddlewheel system of claim 2 to generate electrical power.

17. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 3 to generate electrical power.

18. A method of utilizing the paddlewheel system of claim 4 to generate electrical power.

19. A method of utilizing the paddlewheel system of claim 7 to generate electrical power.

20. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 8 to generate electrical power.