Micro-hydroelectric power plant
First Claim
1. A hydroelectric power plant comprising a penstock located in a stream diverting water therethrough from an intake basin located at a predetermined height above an outlet basin, a hydro turbine incorporated in a lower portion of the penstock having a rotor driven by the flow of water through the penstock, a closed hydraulic system through which hydraulic fluid circulates, said system comprising a variable displacement pump having a flow control, a hydraulic motor, an electric generator driven by said motor, drive and gearing means interposed between said turbine rotor and pump for driving the latter in a range of RMP between 1000 and 1800, said pump and flow control maintaining the input flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor at a constant volume whereby said motor and generator are driven at a predetermined RPM at all acceptable load conditions placed on said generator, said pump and flow control being mounted in close proximity to said turbine, and said hydraulic motor and generator being located remote from said turbine and pump with said hydraulic fluid conduits extending therebetween.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A small-scale hydroelectric generator has a micro-hydro axial-flow turbine mounted in a lower end of a penstock, preferrably of the siphon type, through which water is diverted from an intake basin. The turbine comprises a stator section formed with an axial core providing an annular passageway having an outlet end in close proximity to a rotor of a coaxial adjacent rotor section. The blades of the rotor have a length equal to the internal radius of the passageway. A plurality of flaps are arranged in an expandable circle between the stator section and rotor. A float mechanism located in the intake basin follows the water level and controls the extended positions of the flaps reducing the water flow through the penstock in a predetermined relation to the water level. The annular passageway has fixed vanes directing the stream of water in a helical swirling motion of predetermined pitch to impinge upon the blades which are disposed to receive the stream at an optimum angle of 90° . The generator is located remote from the turbine with a closed hydraulic system comprising a variable displacement pump located at and driven by the turbine and a hydraulic motor located at and driving the generator. The pump has a flow control driving the motor at a constant RPM at all acceptable load conditions placed on the generator.
62 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A hydroelectric power plant comprising a penstock located in a stream diverting water therethrough from an intake basin located at a predetermined height above an outlet basin, a hydro turbine incorporated in a lower portion of the penstock having a rotor driven by the flow of water through the penstock, a closed hydraulic system through which hydraulic fluid circulates, said system comprising a variable displacement pump having a flow control, a hydraulic motor, an electric generator driven by said motor, drive and gearing means interposed between said turbine rotor and pump for driving the latter in a range of RMP between 1000 and 1800, said pump and flow control maintaining the input flow of hydraulic fluid to said motor at a constant volume whereby said motor and generator are driven at a predetermined RPM at all acceptable load conditions placed on said generator, said pump and flow control being mounted in close proximity to said turbine, and said hydraulic motor and generator being located remote from said turbine and pump with said hydraulic fluid conduits extending therebetween.
- 5. A micro-hydro turbine mounted in a lower portion of a penstock, the latter being located in a stream diverting water therethrough from an intake basin located at a predetermined height above an outlet basin, said turbine having a stator section formed with a cylindrical housing and an axial core providing an annular passageway having an outlet end, adjustable means for moving radially inwardly to a retracted position and radially outwardly to extended positions narrowing said annular passageway to restrict the volumetric flow of water through said annular passageway and penstock, a float mechanism in said intake basin following the water level therein, and linkage between said adjustable means and said float mechanism controlling said extended positions to reduce said penstock water flow in predetermined relation to said water level.
- 16. A micro-hydro turbine mounted in a lower portion of a penstock, the latter being located in a stream diverting water therethrough from an intake basin located at a predetermined height above an outlet basin, said turbine comprising stator and rotor sections, each having a cylindrical housing of predetermined cross-section, said stator section having a bullet-shaped, coaxially mounted core, said core having a cylindrical portion adjacent an outlet end of said stator section providing an annular passageway between the core and said stator housing, a plurality of equally spaced fixed vanes extending in a longitudinal direction and radially between said housing and core cylindrical portion dividing said passageway into equal sections, each of said vanes having a curved delivery end portion extending from a longitudinal inlet portion disposed parallel to the axis of the core, whereby a stream of water enters an inlet end of each passageway section in a path parallel to the core axis and is diverted in a helical swirling motion about said core axis by said curved delivery end portions of said vanes, a rotor mounted for axial rotation in said rotor section facing and in close proximity to the outlet end of said stator, said rotor having a plurality of blades, each extending radially from a hub and of a height from hub to tip conforming to the radius of said annular passageway, each of said blades having a water impinging surface disposed at a predetermined angle to an axial plane and substantially normal to said vanes at the trailing ends of said curved delivery end portions thereof whereby said swirling stream of water emitted from said annular passageway sections impinges upon said blade surfaces at approximately 90°
Specification