SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTRACTING POWER FROM FLUID USING A TESLA-TYPE BLADELESS TURBINE

• US 20100129193A1
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gordon David Sherrer
• Original Assignee: Gordon David Sherrer
• Inventors: Sherrer, Gordon David
• Granted Patent: US 8,801,359 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 17/062 with rotation axis substantially at right angle to flow direction
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/18 Stator blades; Guide conduits or vanes, e.g. adjustable conduits in dams or the like F03B13/08; arrangement of valves F03B11/004
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/00 Transmission of mechanical power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/20 Gearless transmission, i.e. direct-drive
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/02 having a plurality of rotors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0427 with converging inlets, i.e. the guiding means intercepting an area greater than the effective rotor area F03D3/0463, F03D3/049 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/0436 for shielding one side of the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/34 on stationary objects or on stationary man-made structures
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/13 to collect or cause flow towards or away from turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/211 with vertical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/213 of the Savonius type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/221 with horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/40 Use of a multiplicity of similar components
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/911 already existing for a prior purpose
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/9113 which is a roadway, rail track, or the like for recovering energy from moving vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/5011 augmenting, i.e. with intercepting fluid flow cross sectional area greater than the rest of the machine behind the inlet
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/713 inflexed
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/20 Hydro energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 : Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

Smooth, preferably variable-sweep fluid collection device surfaces disposed into opposition with wind, river, surf, ocean or tidal currents generate enhanced velocity fluid flows at length driven into onboard work-extracting disc turbines at advantageous angles of attack. Keyed to shafts turning freely through optionally extendable volutes, disc turbines comprising a dense population of smooth, axially fixed or adjustably spaced discs conducting preferably laminar flow between adjacent elements develop significant torque through boundary layer adhesion and viscous shear-stress between fluid layers. Exhaust of disc turbine throughput into divergent channels drafting into external currents of initially higher than ambient velocity and lower pressure may reduce turbine discharge backpressure, rapidly clear system throughput, and allow normally disadvantageous drag to be utilized to develop greater work generation. Gainfully turning with, instead of at odds to natural or anthropogenic currents provided, disc turbines utilized as disclosed may provide unprecedented renewable energy from fluids in motion.

Claims

1. A fluid energy conversion system comprising:

a) One or more Tesla-type disc turbines each comprising a shaft and one or more operatively associated disc runners, each of said disc runners comprising;

two or more axially spaced apart, parallel discs, said discs configured to extract energy to drive said shaft, from working fluid passing through one or more discharge openings between all of said discs;

b) One or more fluid inlets configured to guide said working fluid to said disc turbines parallel to said discs and tangential to a periphery thereof; and

c) One or more fluid outlets configured to release said working fluid discharged from said disc runners through discharge openings of discs at either or both ends of said disc runners.

2. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein the axial spacing between at least two of said discs is adjustable.

3. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a fluid collection device comprising one or more fluid collection surfaces, said fluid collection surfaces configured to intersect an incoming current of said working fluid at an angle and to enhance the velocity thereof, and further configured to substantially guide said working fluid into said fluid inlets.

4. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 3, further comprising a fluid extraction device configured to enhance the extraction of working fluid from said fluid outlets at least partially by directing thereto a partial stream of fluid flow with enhanced velocity obtained from said fluid collection device.

5. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 2, wherein said discs are axially spaced apart by resilient spacing elements.

6. The fluid energy system of claim 2, wherein the spacing between said discs is adjusted using manual control, automatic control or a combination thereof.

7. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 3, wherein the position or inclination of said fluid collection surfaces is controlled by a control system, to thereby control the extent of intersection of the incoming current of said working fluid.

8. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 7, wherein said control system comprises one or more actuators, and is operatively associated with one or more fluid flow sensors configured to measure one or more flow parameters of working fluid currents incoming and outgoing with respect to the fluid collection surfaces.

9. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein said fluid inlets are involute.

10. The fluid energy conversion system according to claim 1, wherein said fluid inlets comprise lateral fluid guiding surfaces spaced apart by a distance less than the distance between the discs at or near the ends of an operatively associated disc runner.

11. The fluid energy conversion system according to claim 1, wherein said fluid outlets are formed by one or more isolation plates mounted parallel and adjacent to one or more ends of said disc runners, said isolation plates comprising holes operatively associated with the discharge openings of the discs to discharge working fluid there-from.

12. The fluid energy conversion system according to claim 1, wherein said disc runners are arranged in rows offset in longitudinal or transverse direction.

13. The fluid energy conversion system according to claim 2, wherein said discs are inflatable, allowing for control of spacing there-between by movement of a pressurized control fluid, into and out of at least some of said inflatable discs.

14. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured to be buoyant at an elevation via filling of inflatable components thereof with a pressurized control fluid of density lesser than density of atmosphere at said elevation.

15. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 2, further comprising a control system utilizing electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuating means for controlling one or more of disc spacing;

effective cross-sectional area of fluid collection device; and

/or horizontal or vertical offsets for arrays of disc runners.

16. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 15, wherein said system is configured for creating sufficient energy for activating said electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic actuating means.

17. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1, further operatively associated with work conversion means located locally or remotely.

18. The fluid energy conversion system of claim 1, wherein said working fluid is a gas, a liquid, or a heterogeneous combination thereof.

19. The fluid energy conversion system according to claim 1, wherein said incoming fluid currents are naturally occurring or man-made.

21. A method for converting the energy of fluids in motion into other forms of energy using the system of claim 1.

22. A method for converting the energy of fluids in motion into other forms of energy using the system of claim 7, comprising the steps of:

a) intersecting a cross-section of incoming working fluid with the one or more fluid collection surfaces configured to guide said incoming currents of working fluid into the fluid inlets;

b) adjusting said fluid collection surfaces to enhance velocity of said working fluid;

c) adjusting axial spacing between the discs of the disc turbine to enhance extraction of energy from working fluid flowing between said discs; and

d) extracting working fluid from the fluid outlets.

20. A disc runner configured for automatic control of the spacing between axially separated discs, for application in disc turbines, compressors, and pumps, said disc runner comprising:

two or more adjustably positioned discs; and

a control system configured for dynamic control of the spacing between said discs.