Power generating floating vessel

• US 8,772,957 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2011
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Power Flo LLC
• Original Assignee: John Herman Willingham
• Inventors: Willingham, John Herman
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TRUC T
• Application Number:
  US13/303,251
• Publication Number:
  US 20130229014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 958 Days
• Field of Search: 290 54- 55
• US Class Current: 290/55
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/063 the flow engaging parts having no movement relative to the rotor during its rotation
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 7/00 Water wheels of swinging flap type F03B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/93 on a structure floating on a liquid surface
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/94 on a movable wheeled structure
• 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

Abstract

The present invention pertains to hydroelectric generation devices, and more particularly pertains to a fixed or floating paddlewheel electric generation device that may be placed in any flowing liquid source in order to generate power. Such an overall power generating system includes a paddlewheel component that is situated within an artificial channel properly configured to increase the velocity of the flowing liquid therethrough, thereby providing a manner of generating paddlewheel rotation at a speed greater than that relative to the main body of the fluid itself. Such an efficient process thus allows for effective conversion of such hydrokinetic power into mechanical energy in order to couple to a device to produce electricity from such captured power. The resultant electrical energy can then be supplied to a user'"'"'s individual location or into an electrical grid in order to supply a clean, efficient, power source.

Claims

1. A paddlewheel power generation system, wherein said system comprises a suitable paddlewheel including a plurality of radially configured blades, wherein said paddlewheel is situated within an artificial channel made from a solid material such that said channel includes a closed bottom portion, two closed sides, a first open end, a second open end, and an open top portion, wherein said paddlewheel is positioned at a location above said artificial channel but also in a configuration to allow for a portion thereof to always be extended into said artificial channel and to allow for a portion thereof to always be present external to said artificial channel, wherein said paddlewheel is situated properly to permit rotation thereof in the same direction as a fluid passing through said artificial channel, and wherein said closed bottom portion includes a rising and lowering curved floor that is at the same height at said first and second open ends and rises to a different height in between said first and second open ends.

2. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 1, wherein said artificial channel is configured to allow for a flowing fluid source to pass therethrough and to contact said paddlewheel blades such that upon proper contact with said paddlewheel blades, said flowing fluid source causes said paddlewheel to rotate, thereby capturing the hydrokinetic energy present within the flowing water source;

wherein said artificial channel is configured to generate a fluid flow velocity through said artificial channel in excess of the fluid flow velocity of the flowing fluid source external to said artificial channel.

3. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 1, wherein said artificial channel is configured into at least three separate components, wherein a first component includes the fluid ingress portion, a second component includes the paddlewheel/fluid contact portion, and a third component includes the fluid egress portion.

4. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 3 wherein the shape of said first component as determined from its leading edge to its finishing edge is the exact reverse of the shape of said third component as determined from its leading edge to its finishing edge.

5. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including the paddlewheel system of claim 1 wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

6. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including the paddlewheel system of claim 2 wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

7. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including the paddlewheel system of claim 3 wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

8. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including the paddlewheel system of claim 4 wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

9. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 5 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

10. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 6 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

11. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 8 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

12. A paddlewheel power generation system, wherein said system comprises a suitable paddlewheel including a plurality of radially configured blades, wherein said paddlewheel is situated within an artificial channel made from a solid material such that said channel includes a closed bottom portion, two closed sides, two open ends, and an open top portion, wherein said paddlewheel is positioned at a location above said artificial channel but also in a configuration to allow for a portion thereof to always be extended into said artificial channel and to allow for a portion thereof to always be present external to said artificial channel, wherein said, wherein said paddlewheel is situated properly to permit rotation thereof in the same direction as a fluid passing through said artificial channel wherein said first, second, and third components are defined by a leading edge and a finishing edge, wherein said leading edge of said first component is located at a height below that of said finishing edge of said first component, wherein said leading edge of said second component is at the same height as the finishing edge of said first component, wherein said finishing edge of said second component is at the same height as the leading edge of said third component, and wherein said leading edge of said third component is at a height higher than the leading edge of said third component.

13. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 12 wherein said leading edge of said first component is at the same height as the finishing edge of said third component.

14. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including the paddlewheel system of claim 12 wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

15. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 13 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

16. A floating power generating vessel configured to be placed within a flowing body of water including a paddlewheel power generation system, wherein said system comprises a suitable paddlewheel including a plurality of radially configured blades, wherein said paddlewheel is situated within an artificial channel made from a solid material such that said channel includes a closed bottom portion, two closed sides, two open ends, and an open top portion, wherein said paddlewheel is positioned at a location above said artificial channel but also in a configuration to allow for a portion thereof to always be extended into said artificial channel and to allow for a portion thereof to always be present external to said artificial channel, wherein said paddlewheel is situated properly to permit rotation thereof in the same direction as a fluid passing through said artificial channel, and wherein said body of water includes a water flow external to said paddlewheel system while simultaneously flowing through said paddlewheel system.

17. The floating power generating vessel of claim 16, wherein said artificial channel is configured to allow for said flowing water to contact said paddlewheel blades such that upon proper contact with said paddlewheel blades, said flowing water causes said paddlewheel to rotate, thereby capturing the hydrokinetic energy present within the flowing water source;

wherein said artificial channel is configured to generate a fluid flow velocity through said artificial channel in excess of the fluid flow velocity of the flowing fluid source external to said artificial channel.

18. The paddlewheel power generation system of claim 17, wherein said artificial channel is configured into at least three separate components, wherein a first component includes the water ingress portion, a second component includes the paddlewheel/water contact portion, and a third component includes the water egress portion.

19. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 16 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

20. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 19 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.

21. A method of utilizing the floating power generating vessel of claim 18 to generate electrical power, wherein said vessel includes an electrical generator connected to said paddlewheel system, said method including the steps of:

placing said vessel within a flowing body of water wherein said body of water simultaneously flows both externally to said paddlewheel system and through said paddlewheel system, wherein the velocity of said water flowing through said paddlewheel system is greater than the velocity of said water flowing externally to said paddlewheel system;

allowing said body of water to flow through said paddlewheel system, wherein said water flow generates rotational energy of said paddlewheel that transfers to said electrical generator; and

wherein said electrical generator generates said electrical power.