In-pipe hydro-electric power system and turbine
First Claim
1. A power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids, the system comprising:
- a turbine comprising;
a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate within diametrically opposed mounts, the shaft configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the fluid flow, with one end of the shaft configured to operatively couple with a piece of rotating machinery;
a plurality of bearings, the first one configured to mount at the end of the shaft furthest from a generator to a support for rotation in a circular direction, and a second bearing configured to mount an intermediate part of the shaft to a support for rotation, with the shaft extending through the second of the bearings;
a plurality of blades coupled with the shaft between the pair of bearings, the blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, the blades being substantially evenly spaced apart around the shaft and each of the blades extending such that a plane defined by them is not parallel to the central axis; and
a cylindrical pipe housing the turbine for rotation therein in response to the fluid flow through said cylindrical pipe and said pipe including one or more deflector plates attached to the sidewall and covering a portion of a cross-sectional area of the pipe; and
wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same direction, regardless of the direction of fluid flow.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A generally spherical turbine configured to rotate transversely within a cylindrical pipe under the power of fluid flowing either direction therethrough is operatively coupled with a rotating machine or generator to produce electricity. In one embodiment, the blades of the spherical turbine curve in an approximately 180 degree arc in a plane that is at an inclined angle relative to the rotational axis of a central shaft. In another embodiment, a deflector is provided upstream of the spherical turbine and within the cylindrical pipe to control flow through the spherical turbine by shielding a part thereof. The blades of the spherical turbine are airfoil in cross section to optimize hydrodynamic flow, to minimize cavitation, and to maximize conversion from axial to rotating energy.
20 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids, the system comprising:
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a turbine comprising; a central longitudinal shaft configured to rotate within diametrically opposed mounts, the shaft configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the fluid flow, with one end of the shaft configured to operatively couple with a piece of rotating machinery; a plurality of bearings, the first one configured to mount at the end of the shaft furthest from a generator to a support for rotation in a circular direction, and a second bearing configured to mount an intermediate part of the shaft to a support for rotation, with the shaft extending through the second of the bearings; a plurality of blades coupled with the shaft between the pair of bearings, the blades extending radially outwardly from the shaft, the blades being substantially evenly spaced apart around the shaft and each of the blades extending such that a plane defined by them is not parallel to the central axis; and a cylindrical pipe housing the turbine for rotation therein in response to the fluid flow through said cylindrical pipe and said pipe including one or more deflector plates attached to the sidewall and covering a portion of a cross-sectional area of the pipe; and wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same direction, regardless of the direction of fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An electric power generating system that generates power from the movement of fluids through a pipe, the system comprising:
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a turbine comprising; a central longitudinal shaft configured to extend substantially perpendicularly to the long axis of the generally cylindrical pipe, with one end of the shaft configured to operatively couple with an electric generator; a plurality of bearings, the first one configured to mount at the end of the shaft furthest from the generator to the sidewall of a generally cylindrical pipe for rotation in a circular direction, and a second bearing configured to mount an intermediate part of the shaft for rotation within the generally cylindrical water pipe, with the shaft extending through the second of the bearings; a plurality of blades coupled with the shaft between the bearings; and a cylindrical pipe housing the turbine for rotation therein in response to the fluid flow through said cylindrical pipe and said pipe including one or more deflector plates inclined towards the turbine in the direction of turbine rotation at an angle of less than 90 degrees to a plane perpendicular to the long axis of the pipe; and wherein the turbine is configured to rotate in the same direction, regardless of the direction of fluid flow. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification