UNDERGROUND WATERMILL

• US 20140062092A1
• Filed: 02/10/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-Mill APS
• Original Assignee: E-Mill APS
• Inventors: Stausgaard, Carsten
• Granted Patent: US 9,657,711 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 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/062 with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
• 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 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
• 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

A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit. The flow of waste water defines a free surface and a flow direction inside the waste water conduit. The waste-watermill comprises 1) a water wheel for being driven by the flow of waste water in an undershot configuration, 2) an axle for defining an rotational axis for the water wheel, where the flow of waste water passes below and transverse to the rotational axis in the undershot configuration, 3) a wheel support for rotationally supporting the water wheel in the undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to the underground waste-water conduit, and 4) an electric generator operatively connected with the water wheel and the axle for being driven by the water wheel to produce electrical energy.

Claims

1. A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit, said flow of waste water defining a free surface and a flow direction inside said waste water conduit, said waste-watermill comprising:

a water wheel configured for being driven by said flow of waste water in an undershot configuration;

an axle defining a rotational axis for said water wheel, said flow of waste water passing below and transverse to said rotational axis in said undershot configuration;

a wheel support rotationally supporting said water wheel in said undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to said underground waste-water conduit; and

an electric generator operatively connected with said water wheel and said axle and configured for being driven by said water wheel to produce electrical energy.

2. The waste-watermill according to claim 1 wherein said flow of waste water passes perpendicularly to said rotational axis in said undershot configuration.

5. The waste-watermill according to claim 1, wherein said water wheel comprises a paddle configured for being pushed by said flow of waste water to drive said water wheel, wherein said paddle extends in a radial direction relative to said rotational axis, and wherein said water wheel comprises a paddle support interconnecting said paddle and said axle for supporting said paddle.

6. The waste-watermill according to claim 5 wherein said paddle support has a first maximum extension perpendicular to said rotational axis and a second maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, and said first maximum extension is greater than said second maximum extension.

7. The waste-watermill according to claim 1, wherein said water wheel comprises said axle, wherein said water wheel is fixed to said axle, wherein said wheel support rotationally supports said axle, and wherein said electric generator is operatively connected with said water wheel via said axle.

8. The waste-watermill according to claim 5, wherein said paddle is curved to define a convex side and a concave side opposite from said convex side, and wherein said paddle defines a portion of a cylindrical surface having a symmetry axis, and wherein said paddle extends parallel to the symmetry axis of the cylindrical surface.

9. The waste-watermill according to claim 5, wherein said paddle comprises a narrow portion and a wide portion, said narrow portion being located closer to said rotational axis than said wide portion, wherein said narrow portion has a third maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, said wide portion has a fourth maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, and said third maximum extension is smaller than said fourth maximum extension.

10. The waste-watermill according to claim 5, wherein said paddle defines a paddle profile when viewed in a direction perpendicular to said radial direction and said rotation axis, and wherein said paddle profile has a curved distal edge.

11. The waste-watermill according to claim 1, wherein said waste-water conduit has a top and a bottom, and wherein said wheel support is configured for positioning said water wheel such that said rotational axis is located below the top of said waste-water conduit and closer to the top of said waste-water conduit than to the bottom of said waste-water conduit.

12. The waste-watermill according to claim 1, wherein said waste-water conduit has a top and a bottom, wherein said generator is located at a first elevation from the bottom of said waste-water conduit, and wherein said rotational axis is located at a second elevation from the bottom of said waste-water conduit, and wherein said first elevation is at least equal to said second elevation.

13. The waste-watermill according to claim 1, wherein said underground waste-water conduit is connected with an underground passageway, and said waste-watermill further comprises:

a watertight partition configured for sealing off said underground passageway from said waste-water conduit for preventing waste water from flowing into said underground passageway, said watertight partition defining an aperture allowing said wheel axle to pass through said watertight partition, and said electric generator being positioned on the side of said partition opposite that is from the side on which said water wheel is positioned.

3. A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit, said flow of waste water defining a free surface and a flow direction inside said waste water conduit, said waste-watermill comprising:

a water wheel configured for being driven by said flow of waste water in an undershot configuration;

an axle defining a rotational axis for said water wheel, said rotational axis being positioned above said free surface and oriented transverse to said flow direction in said undershot configuration;

a wheel support rotationally supporting said water wheel in said undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to said underground waste-water conduit; and

an electric generator operatively connected with said water wheel and said axle and configured for being driven by said water wheel to produce electrical energy.

4. The waste-watermill according to claim 3 wherein said rotational axis is perpendicular to said flow direction.

16. The waste-watermill according to claim 3, wherein said water wheel comprises a paddle configured for being pushed by said flow of waste water to drive said water wheel, wherein said paddle extends in a radial direction relative to said rotational axis, and wherein said water wheel comprises a paddle support interconnecting said paddle and said axle for supporting said paddle.

17. The waste-watermill according to claim 16, wherein said paddle support has a first maximum extension perpendicular to said rotational axis and a second maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, and said first maximum extension is greater than said second maximum extension.

18. The waste-watermill according to claim 3, wherein said water wheel comprises said axle, wherein said water wheel is fixed to said axle, wherein said wheel support rotationally supports said axle, and wherein said electric generator is operatively connected with said water wheel via said axle.

19. The waste-watermill according to claim 16, wherein said paddle is curved to define a convex side and a concave side opposite from said convex side, and wherein said paddle defines a portion of a cylindrical surface having a symmetry axis, and wherein said paddle extends parallel to the symmetry axis of the cylindrical surface.

20. The waste-watermill according to claim 16, wherein said paddle comprises a narrow portion and a wide portion, said narrow portion being located closer to said rotational axis than said wide portion, wherein said narrow portion has a third maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, said wide portion has a fourth maximum extension parallel to said rotational axis, and said third maximum extension is smaller than said fourth maximum extension.

21. The waste-watermill according to claim 16, wherein said paddle defines a paddle profile when viewed in a direction perpendicular to said radial direction and said rotation axis, and wherein said paddle profile has a curved distal edge.

22. The waste-watermill according to claim 3, wherein said waste-water conduit has a top and a bottom, and wherein said wheel support is configured for positioning said water wheel such that said rotational axis is located below the top of said waste-water conduit and closer to the top of said waste-water conduit than to the bottom of said waste-water conduit.

23. The waste-watermill according to claim 3, wherein said waste-water conduit has a top and a bottom, wherein said generator is located at a first elevation from the bottom of said waste-water conduit, and wherein said rotational axis is located at a second elevation from the bottom of said waste-water conduit, and wherein said first elevation is at least equal to said second elevation.

24. The waste-watermill according to claim 3, wherein said underground waste-water conduit is connected with an underground passageway, and said waste-watermill further comprises:

a watertight partition configured for sealing off said underground passageway from said waste-water conduit for preventing waste water from flowing into said underground passageway, said watertight partition defining an aperture allowing said wheel axle to pass through said watertight partition, and said electric generator being positioned on the side of said partition opposite that is from the side on which said water wheel is positioned.

14. A method for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit of an underground sewer structure, said flow of waste water defining a free surface and a flow direction inside said waste water conduit, said method comprising:

providing a water wheel for being driven by said flow of waste water in an undershot configuration,

providing an axle for defining a rotational axis for said water wheel, positioning said axle above said free surface,

orienting said axle transverse to said flow direction,

providing a wheel support for rotationally supporting said water wheel in a stationary position relative to said underground waste-water conduit,

securing said wheel support to said underground sewer structure for supporting said water wheel in said undershot configuration, and

providing an electric generator for producing electrical energy,

operatively connecting said generator with said water wheel for driving said electric generator by said water wheel.

15. (canceled)