Miniature hydro-power generation system

• US 7,675,188 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• 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: Marshall, Mark, Baarman, David W., Becker, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A
• Application Number:
  US11/980,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 860 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/52, 290/54
• US Class Current: 290/54
• 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 2201/009 Apparatus with independent power supply, e.g. solar cells, windpower, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• 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: F03B 13/10 Submerged units incorporating electric generators or motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/04 with substantially axial flow throughout rotors, e.g. propeller turbines rotors per se F03B3/126
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 3/186 Spiral or volute casings
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/20 within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/602 with energy recovery turbines
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/604 for domestic central heating or production of electricity
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/133 with a convergent-divergent guiding structure, e.g. a Venturi conduit
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/2411 Pelton type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/82 Micromachines
• 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

Abstract

A miniature hydro-power generation system includes an outer housing and an inner housing. The outer housing may receive a flow of liquid flowing in a first direction at a predetermined range of pressure. The flow of liquid may be decreased by a predetermined amount of pressure and increased by a predetermined amount of velocity and channeled to a hydro-generator included in the inner housing with an inlet nozzle. The flow of liquid may be channeled with the inlet nozzle to flow in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Upon transfer of kinetic energy in the flow of liquid to the hydro-generator, the inner housing may rotate in the second direction. The flow of liquid may then be channeled back to the first direction and out of the housing with an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle configured to increase the pressure and decrease the velocity of the flow of liquid to minimized non-laminar flow characteristics.

Claims

1. A method of channeling a flow of liquid in a miniature hydro-power generation system, the method comprising:

providing a generator comprising a stator that includes a coil, a rotor that includes a permanent magnet, and a plurality of vanes;

receiving a flow of liquid flowing in a first direction;

increasing a velocity and decreasing a pressure of the flow of liquid;

directing the flow of liquid to impact with the plurality of vanes;

changing the flow of liquid from the first direction to a second direction upon impact with the plurality of vanes, the second direction always substantially perpendicular to the first direction;

rotating the generator in the second direction within the flow of liquid to produce an electric current in the coil;

changing the flow of liquid from the second direction back to the first direction; and

decreasing the velocity and increasing the pressure of the flow of liquid.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a flow of liquid flowing in a first direction comprises receiving the flow of liquid that flows substantially in parallel with a central axis around which the generator axially rotates.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the generator in the second direction within the flow of liquid comprises channeling the liquid to flow around an outer surface of the generator at substantially the same velocity that the generator is rotated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein decreasing the velocity and increasing the pressure of the flow of liquid comprises decreasing the velocity to be substantially equal to a velocity of the flow of liquid received in the first direction and channeling the flow of liquid to have a laminar flow that is substantially parallel with the first direction.