Miniature hydro-power generation system power management

• US 7,932,618 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2009
• Issued: 04/26/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC (Alticor Incorporated)
• Inventors: Houghton, Christopher B., McPhilliamy, Stephen J., Lautzenheiser, Terry Lee, Leppien, Thomas, Baarman, David W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gon; J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A
• Application Number:
  US12/646,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20100327581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 489 Days
• Field of Search: 209/40.C, 209/1.R, 209/1.A, 322/29, 307/10.1, 320/135, 320/104, 320/166
• US Class Current: 290/43
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/001 Processes for the treatment of water whereby the filtration technique is of importance C02F1/44 takes precedence; construction of filters in general B01D24/00 - B01D41/00
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/008 Control or steering systems not provided for elsewhere in subclass C02F
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/283 using coal, charred products, or inorganic mixtures containing them
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/32 with ultraviolet light
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/325 Irradiation devices or lamp constructions
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower or fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/3222 Units using UV-light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/326 Lamp control systems
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/006 comprising a software program or a logic diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2307/06 Mounted on or being part of a faucet, shower handle or showerhead
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 9/20 Portable or detachable small-scale multistage treatment devices, e.g. point of use or laboratory water purification systems
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 1/08 Jet regulators or jet guides, e.g. anti-splash devices
• CPC Class Codes: E03C 2201/40 Arrangement of water treatment devices in domestic plumbing installations
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 1/00 Engines of impulse type, i.e. turbines with jets of high-velocity liquid impinging on blades or like rotors, e.g. Pelton wheels; Parts or details peculiar thereto
• 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 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2411 Pelton type
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1823 structurally associated with turbines or similar engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 20/212 Solar-powered wastewater sewage treatment, e.g. spray evaporation
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 : Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49009 : Dynamoelectric machine
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 : Prime mover or fluid pump making

Abstract

A miniature hydro-power generation system may include a hydro-power generator and energy storage devices. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power at a generator output. The generator output may be electrically coupled to each of the energy storage devices so that the energy storage devices can be independently charged with the electric power produced by the hydro-power generator. The hydro-power generator and/or the energy storage devices can also supply electric power to a load. The energy storage devices may also be electrically coupled via a series/parallel switch so that at least two of the energy storage device may be switched between a series configuration and a parallel configuration.

Claims

1. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a plurality of energy storage devices;

a hydro-power generator rotatable with a flow of liquid to produce electric power at a generator output; and

a plurality of switches comprising a first switch electrically coupled between a load and the energy storage devices and the generator output of the hydro-power generator, and a second switch electrically coupled between at least two of the energy storage devices, the first switch switchable to electrically connect at least one of the generator output and the energy storage devices to the load, and the second switch switchable to transition an electrical configuration of the at least two of the energy storage devices between a parallel configuration and a series configuration, wherein the at least two energy storage devices are switchable with the second switch to be in parallel or in series with respect to the hydro-power generator in accordance with a threshold magnitude of charge voltage being supplied to the energy storage devices by the hydro-power generator.

2. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the at least two energy storage devices are switchable with the second switch to be in parallel or in series with respect to the load in accordance with a threshold magnitude of a voltage being supplied to the load with the at least one of the energy storage devices and the hydro-power generator.

3. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the at least two energy storage devices are switchable with the second switch between the series configuration and the parallel configuration with respect to supply of discharge power to the load to maximize a discharge time of the energy storage devices.

4. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of energy storage devices comprises a super capacitor.

5. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of energy storage devices include a battery and a super capacitor.

6. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 5, wherein the plurality of switches include a first charging switch to selectively and independently charge and discharge the battery and a second charging switch to selectively and independently charge and discharge the super capacitor.

7. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 1, further comprising a processor, the processor configured to monitor a charge level of each of the energy storage devices, to selectively supply charging power to the energy storage devices, and to selectively extract discharge power from the energy storage devices in accordance with the charge level of each of the energy storage devices.

8. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a hydro-power generator rotatable with a flow of liquid to produce electric power for supply to a load;

a first switch electrically coupled between a first energy storage device and the hydro-power generator;

a second switch electrically coupled between a second energy storage device and the hydro-power generator; and

a third switch electrically coupling the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, the third switch switchable between a first position in which the first energy storage device is electrically coupled in parallel with the second energy storage device, and a second position in which the first energy storage device is electrically coupled in series with the second energy storage device, wherein the first switch and the second switch are independently switchable to selectively charge the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, respectively, based on a magnitude of voltage produced by the hydro-power generator and a respective threshold charge level of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

9. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device are configured to selectively supply power to the load.

10. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the third switch is switchable to adjust a magnitude of voltage supplied to the load from the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

11. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the third switch is switchable to maintain a magnitude of voltage supplied to the load from the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

12. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the third switch is switchable between the first position and the second position based on a discharge time of the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device.

13. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the first switch and the second switch are independent switchable to supply said electric power to charge the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device, respectively, based on a magnitude of the electric power produced with the hydro-power generator.

14. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, further comprising a fourth switch electrically coupled between the load and the hydro-power generator, the first energy storage device, and the second energy storage device;

the fourth switch switchable to disconnect the load from the hydro-power generator, the first energy storage device, and the second energy storage device.

15. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the first switch and the second switch are selectively switched to charge the first energy storage device and the second energy storage device in response to a first magnitude of voltage at an output of the hydro-power generator being equal to or greater than a second magnitude of voltage being supplied to the load.

16. A miniature hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a load switch configured to be electrically coupled with a load;

a plurality of energy storage devices electrically coupled with the load switch so that the load switch is between the energy storage devices and the load;

a hydro-power generator rotatable with a flow of liquid to produce and supply electric power for the load, the hydro-power generator electrically coupled with the load switch so that the load switch is between the hydro-power generator and the load; and

a series/parallel switch electrically coupled between at least two of the energy storage devices, the series/parallel switch switchable to electrically couple the at least two of the energy storage devices in either of a parallel configuration or a series configuration to affect a magnitude of voltage supplied to the load through the load switch, wherein the load switch is switchable to disconnect the load from both the hydro-power generator and the energy storage devices in response to discharge of at least one of the energy storage devices below a determined threshold.

17. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 16, wherein the hydro-power generation system includes a plumbing fixture within which the load switch, the plurality of energy storage devices, the hydro-power generator and the series/parallel switch are disposed.

18. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 17, wherein the plumbing fixture is a shower head.

19. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 17, wherein the plumbing fixture is a faucet.

20. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 17, wherein the load is a waterproof electronic entertainment device.

21. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 16, wherein at least one of the energy storage devices comprises a super capacitor.

22. The miniature hydro-power generation system of claim 21, wherein at least one of the energy storage devices comprises a battery cooperatively operable with the super capacitor to supply power to the load.

23. A method of controlling a miniature hydro-power generation system, the method comprising:

providing a plurality of energy storage devices;

providing a hydro-power generator;

rotating the hydro-power generator with a flow of liquid to produce electric power at a generator output;

switching a first switch electrically coupled between a load and at least one of the energy storage devices and the generator output of the hydro-power generator to electrically connect at least one of the generator output and the energy storage devices to the load; and

switching a second switch electrically coupled between at least two of the energy storage devices to transition an electrical configuration of the at least two of the energy storage devices between a parallel configuration and a series configuration, wherein switching the second switch further comprises monitoring a magnitude of voltage being supplied to the load with the at least two energy storage devices, and switching the at least two energy storage devices to be in the parallel configuration or in the series configuration with respect to the load in accordance with a predetermined threshold of the magnitude of voltage being supplied to the load.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein switching the second switch further comprises monitoring a charge voltage being supplied to the energy storage devices by the hydro-power generator, and switching the at least two energy storage devices to be in the parallel configuration or in the series configuration with respect to the hydro-power generator in accordance with a threshold magnitude of the charge voltage.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein switching the second switch further comprises monitoring a discharge time of at least one of the energy storage devices, and switching the second switch between the series configuration and the parallel configuration with respect to supply of discharge power to the load to maximize the discharge time of the at least one of the energy storage devices.