Hydro-power generation system

• US 7,701,076 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• 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: Baarman, David W., Houghton, Christopher B., McPhilliamy, Stephen J., Lautzenheiser, Terry Lee, Leppien, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi; Iraj A
• Application Number:
  US11/981,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20080061558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 290/52, 290/54, 290/43
• US Class Current: 290/54
• 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, fuel cells for electrolysis apparatus C02F2201/46165
• 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 hydro-generation system includes housing having a passageway, a turbine nozzle, a rotor and a stator. The rotor includes a plurality of turbine blades and a permanent magnet. A flow of liquid may enter the passageway and be directed by the turbine nozzle to the turbine blades to induce rotation. The stator is position within the permanent magnet such that rotation of the permanent magnet induces the production of the electrical energy in the stator. The flow of liquid may flow through the housing and out of the hydro-generation system.

Claims

1. A hydro-power generation system comprising:

a housing having an inner wall that defines a passageway, the passageway having an inlet and an outlet and configured to accommodate a flow of liquid through the housing;

a turbine nozzle positioned concentrically in the passageway, wherein the turbine nozzle includes a tip positioned near the inlet that is configured to divert the flow of liquid outwardly toward the inner wall and a plurality of struts operable in conjunction with the inner wall to form a plurality of inlet channels to channel the diverted flow of liquid, the struts formed to progressively narrow the inlet channels toward the outlet of the passageway to reduce a cross-sectional area of the inlet channels by a predetermined amount;

a rotor comprising a plurality of turbine blades and a permanent magnet positioned concentrically in the passageway downstream of the turbine nozzle so that the flow of liquid through the inlet channels is directed to the turbine blades;

a generator stator concentrically positioned in the passageway, the generator stator disposed within the permanent magnet;

a centering rod fixedly coupled with the generator stator and non-rotatably positioned in the housing; and

a plurality of exit guide vanes that are operable in conjunction with the inner wall to form a plurality of exit channels, wherein the inlet channels are aligned with the exit channels to form a flow path for the flow of liquid through the passageway past the turbine blades.

2. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the turbine blades comprise a helical ridge formed to surround a portion of the rotor.

3. The hydropower generation system of claim 1, wherein the turbine blades comprise a plurality of paddles coupled with a body, the paddles extending away from a surface of the body toward the inner wall of the passageway.

4. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the struts are coupled with the inner wall and are formed to provide structural support to maintain the turbine nozzle positioned in the passageway.

5. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of flow straightners are included in the inlet channels.

6. The hydro-power generation system of claim 5, wherein the flow straightners each comprise a blade formed as a substantially straight section and a spherical section, the flow straightners disposed in the channels with the blade positioned closer to the inlet of the passageway, and the spherical section positioned closer to the outlet of the passageway.

7. The hydro-power generation system of claim 1, wherein the exit guide vanes are configured in a swirl pattern to receive the flow of liquid after flow through the turbine blades.

8. A hydro-power generation system, comprising:

a housing that includes an inner wall defining a passageway, the passageway comprising an inlet configured to receive a flow of liquid and an outlet configured to discharge the flow of liquid;

a turbine rotor concentrically positioned within the passageway such that the turbine rotor is rotated by the flow of liquid through the passageway, the turbine rotor comprising a plurality of turbine blades and a body, the turbine blades extending away from the body towards the inner wall;

a single turbine nozzle fixedly coupled with the housing and concentrically positioned proximate the inlet of the passageway, wherein the turbine nozzle comprises a tip and a channel formed with the turbine nozzle and the inner wall;

wherein the tip decreases the volume of liquid capacity in the passageway to increase the velocity of the flow of liquid, and the channel is configured to further increase the velocity of the flow of liquid and direct the flow of liquid to the turbine blades through the channel formed with the turbine nozzle and the inner wall;

a shaft coupled with the body of the turbine rotor;

a generator coupled with the shaft, the generator comprising a stator and a rotor configured such that rotation of the rotor proximate the stator induces the production of electricity;

an energy storage device coupled with the electrical generator, the energy storage device configured to receive and store electricity produced by the generator; and

a timer electrically coupled with the energy storage device, and configured to receive power from at least one of the generator and the energy storage device.

9. The hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the rotor is coupled with the shaft, and the stator is coupled with the inner wall, and is non-rotatably positioned to surround the rotor.

10. The hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the rotor is a permanent magnet coupled with the shaft.

11. The hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the channel is a plurality of channels that are formed to gradually narrow toward the turbine blades to reduce a cross-sectional area of each of the channels.

12. The hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the tip of the turbine nozzle is configured to increase the velocity of the flow of liquid by diversion of the liquid outwardly away from the body and toward the inner wall.

13. The hydro-power generation system of claim 8, wherein the turbine nozzle comprises a compression region formed to provide a decreasing volume of liquid capacity in the passageway and a transition in a direction of the flow of the liquid, and a settlement region formed with a uniform volume of liquid capacity to reduce non-laminar flow.

14. A method of producing electricity using a flow of liquid, the method comprising:

providing a housing that includes a passageway, the passageway comprising an inlet and an outlet;

supplying the flow of liquid to the inlet of the passageway, wherein the liquid flows through the passageway to the outlet;

rotating a rotor that is positioned in the passageway such that the rotor rotates concentric with a central axis of the passageway as a result of the liquid flowing through the passageway, the rotor comprising a plurality of turbine blades coupled with a body, the turbine blades formed to extend away from a surface of the body toward the housing;

directing the flow of liquid to a turbine nozzle having a tip;

decreasing a volume of liquid capacity of the passageway with the tip of the turbine nozzle to increase velocity of the flow of liquid;

directing the flow of liquid at increased velocity to the rotor through at least one channel formed with the turbine nozzle to further increase the velocity of the flow of liquid;

the flow of liquid exiting the channel and impacting the turbine blades at a predetermined angle of incidence to induce rotation;

rotating the rotor and a permanent magnet coupled with the rotor via a shaft in response to the impact;

inducing an electric current in a stator non-rotatably positioned proximate the rotor;

storing electric power produced by the stator in an energy storage device; and

energizing a timer with the electric power received from at least one of the energy storage device and the stator.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the turbine nozzle comprises a compression region and a settlement region, and decreasing a volume of liquid capacity of the passageway with the tip of the turbine nozzle comprises changing the direction of flow of liquid within the compression region of the turbine nozzle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein changing the direction of flow of liquid within the compression region of the turbine nozzle comprises reducing turbulence of the flow of liquid in the settlement region of the turbine nozzle after the volume is decreased, the settlement region having an area with a uniform volume of liquid capacity and a predetermined length.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein decreasing a volume of liquid capacity of the passageway with the tip of the turbine nozzle comprises directing the flow of liquid outward towards an inner wall of the passageway with the tip of the turbine nozzle, wherein the tip is centrally located in the passageway.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein directing the flow of liquid to the rotor through the at least one channel comprises controlling the increase in velocity of the flow of liquid to a predetermined range of velocity with a decreasing cross-sectional area of the at least one channel.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising channeling the flow of liquid from the turbine blades to exit guide vanes formed in a swirl pattern that gradually uncoils to minimize non-laminar flow of the flow of liquid.

20. A hydro-power generation system comprising:

a housing that includes an inner wall defining a passageway, the housing comprising an inlet and an outlet;

a rotor positioned within the passageway such that the rotor is rotated by a flow of liquid through the passageway, the rotor comprising a plurality of turbine blades and a body;

a turbine nozzle fixedly coupled with the housing and concentrically positioned near the inlet of the passageway, the turbine nozzle formed and positioned to increase velocity of the flow of liquid;

a strut coupled with the inner wall, the strut configured to receive the flow of liquid and further increase velocity of the flow of liquid, the strut further configured to channel the flow of liquid toward the turbine blades and away from the body;

a stator fixedly positioned proximate the rotor such that rotation of the rotor induces the production of electricity;

an energy storage device coupled with the stator, the energy storage device configured to receive and store the electricity produced by the stator; and

a timer electrically coupled with the stator and the energy storage device, and configured to receive the electricity from at least one of the stator and the energy storage device.

24. The hydro-power generation system of claim 20, further comprising a momentary push button configured for operation by a user to induce the flow of liquid to the rotor so that the energy storage device is re-charged by the electricity produced.

25. The hydro-power generation system of claim 20, further comprising:

an electrically operated valve electrically coupled with the stator and the energy storage device; and

a controller electrically coupled with the stator, the energy storage device and the electrically operated valve, wherein the controller is configured to control energization of the electrically operated valve with electricity produced by the generator stator, or stored in the energy storage device.

21. A hydro-power generation system comprising:

a housing having an inner wall defining a passageway, the passageway comprising an inlet and an outlet and configured to accommodate a flow of liquid through the housing;

a turbine nozzle positioned in the passageway near the inlet and configured to increase velocity of the flow of liquid;

a rotor comprising a turbine rotor coupled with a generator rotor by a shaft, the turbine rotor comprising a body and a plurality of turbine blades that are positioned in the passageway downstream of the turbine nozzle, the generator rotor comprising a permanent magnet;

a strut coupled with the inner wall between the turbine nozzle and the turbine rotor, the strut configured to channel the flow of liquid away from the body and toward the inner wall of the housing and the turbine blades; and

a generator stator concentrically positioned to surround the generator rotor, the generator stator positioned external to the housing to remain substantially dry and operable to generate electrical power as the generator rotor rotates;

an energy storage device coupled with the generator stator, the energy storage device configured to receive and store electrical power generated by the generator stator; and

a timer electrically coupled with at least one of the generator stator and the enemy storage device, and configured to receive electrical power from at least one of the generator stator and the energy storage device.

22. The hydro-power generation system of claim 21, further comprising a manual control operable by a user, the manual control operable to selectively allow the flow of liquid to the rotor so that the energy storage device is re-charged by the electrical power generated.

23. The hydro-power generation system of claim 21, further comprising:

an electrically operated valve electrically coupled with the stator and the energy storage device; and

a controller electrically coupled with the stator, the energy storage device and the electrically operated valve, wherein the controller is configured to control energization of the electrically operated valve with electrical power generated by the generator stator, or electrical power stored in the energy storage device.