HYDROELECTRIC POWER GENERATING DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20140099185A1
• Filed: 10/03/2013
• Published: 04/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tom C. Tankersley
• Original Assignee: Tom C. Tankersley
• Inventors: Tankersley, Tom C.
• Application Number:
  US14/044,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20140099185A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/1
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 5/022 with concentric rows of axial blades
• 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 17/061 with rotation axis substantially in flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4932 Turbomachine making

Abstract

A fluid conduit has a constant diameter and a chamber in the conduit has a larger diameter than the diameter of the conduit. Within the chamber, an impeller is rotatable by fluid moving through the conduit and the chamber. The impeller includes blades extending spirally along an impeller shaft. When rotated, the impeller blades define a cylinder having a diameter greater than the conduit diameter and less than the chamber diameter.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a fluid conduit having a first diameter;

a cylindrical chamber coaxially mounted in the fluid conduit, the chamber having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;

an inlet at a first end of the chamber, the inlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit;

an outlet at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end, the outlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit; and

an impeller having a shaft coaxially and rotatably mounted in the chamber, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on the shaft, rotation of the blades defining a diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the impeller includes a single set of multiple blades.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the impeller includes a plurality of adjacent sets of multiple blades.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein each set of multiple blades is offset from each adjacent set of multiple blades.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

pump means for moving fluid through the conduit and the chamber.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a generator connected to receive energy from the rotatable impe

7. A system comprising:

a fluid conduit having a first diameter;

a cylindrical chamber coaxially mounted in the fluid conduit, the chamber having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;

an inlet at a first end of the chamber, the inlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit;

an outlet at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end, the outlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit;

pump means for moving fluid through the conduit and the chamber; and

an impeller having a shaft coaxially and rotatably mounted in the chamber, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on the shaft, rotation of the blades defining a diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the impeller includes a single set of multiple blades.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the impeller includes a plurality of adjacent sets of multiple blades.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein each set of multiple blades is offset from each adjacent set of multiple blades.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a generator connected to receive energy from the rotatable impeller.

12. A method comprising:

providing a fluid conduit having a first diameter;

coaxially mounting a cylindrical chamber in the fluid conduit, the chamber having a second diameter greater than the first diameter;

providing an inlet at a first end of the chamber, the inlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit;

providing an outlet at a second end of the chamber opposite the first end, the outlet having the first diameter and being connected to the fluid conduit;

coaxially and rotatably mounting an impeller, having a shaft, in the chamber, the impeller having a plurality of impeller blades mounted on the shaft, rotation of the blades defining a diameter greater than the first diameter and less than the second diameter; and

connecting a generator to receive energy from the rotatable impeller.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the impeller includes a single set of multiple blades.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the impeller includes a plurality of adjacent sets of multiple blades.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein each set of multiple blades is offset from each adjacent set of multiple blades.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising;

providing pump means for moving fluid through the conduit and the chamber.

17. The method of claim 12 wherein, in response to fluid flowing through the conduit and the chamber, the impeller is rotated sufficiently to provide energy to the generator for generating electricity.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

pumping fluid through the conduit and the chamber sufficiently to rotate the impeller, whereby the impeller provides sufficient energy to the generator for generating electricity.