System for generation of electrical power

• US 4,352,025 A
• Filed: 11/17/1980
• Issued: 09/28/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry D. Troyen
• Original Assignee: Harry D. Troyen
• Inventors: Troyen, Harry D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Truhe, J. V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wade, Shelley
• Application Number:
  US06/207,274
• Time in Patent Office: 680 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/54, 290/52, 60/398, 415/145
• 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: 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

A hydroelectric generator is located in the basement of a high-rise building and connected in series in the clean waste-water line of the building, to produce electrical power in response to the flow of the waste water from the building. An automatically controlled valve in a bypass line serves to direct excess water flow around the hydroelectric generator unit and maintain the flow through the generator unit at a predetermined maximum level. An automatic switch-over device disconnects the generator output terminals from the electrical output terminals of the unit when the voltage and/or frequency of the generator output is unsatisfactory, e.g., too low.

Claims

1. Apparatus for generating electricity, comprising:

a high-rise building waste water conduit system for delivering waste water from the interior of a high-rise building to an external waste water disposal sewer line;

a hydroelectric generator of electrical power installed in said waste water conduit system for generating electrical power in response to the flow of water from said conduit system to said sewer line wherein said apparatus comprises a bypass conduit containing a normally-closed type of valve, in parallel with said hydroelectric generator, and means responsive to the rate of flow of said water through said generator for opening said valve progressively further as said flow rate rises above a selected value.