1093results about "Water-power plants" patented technology

An apparatus and method for providing electrical energy to an electrical device by deriving the electrical energy from motion of the device. In one embodiment, the inventive apparatus includes a novel kinetic electrical power generator (KEPG) consisting of an inventive oscillating weight having an internal cavity with a freely movable acceleration element disposed therein, resulting in improved acceleration and oscillation capabilities and lower motion threshold for the weight, a system for converting the weight's oscillating motion into rotational motion, and an electromechanical transducer system for generating electrical energy from the rotational motion. The novel KEPG includes components for modifying the electrical energy for storing and/or feeding the modified electrical energy to the electrical device. Optional components may be included for using the modified electrical energy to recharge one or more rechargeable batteries used in an electric device. Alternate advantageous embodiments of the inventive apparatus include, but are not limited to: a KEPG with multiple inventive oscillating weights to increase velocity and frequency of desirable rotational motion, and a KEPG system utilizing multiple electrically coupled KEPG sub-systems.

A power-generating device located in or on the surface of the ocean for generating power utilizing the energy in ocean wave motion. The device is moored to the bow and stern at ˜45° to incoming ocean waves, and with a yawing capability to adjust to change in wave direction. The device delivers power to a shore grid via a submarine cable from a generator. A rotational driving torque to the generator is produced by two long counter-rotating drive tubes, which are held by bearings in the bow hull and the stern hull of the device. As an alternative, hydraulics may be employed for energy capture and power smoothing and used to provide the rotational torque through a hydraulic motor to drive a generator. The main body is partially submerged and has multiple pod floats connected to the structure by rocker arms with bearings through which the drive tubes pass or double-acting hydraulic rams between the arms and the main body, which capture energy through pod displacement and store it in accumulators. Rotary torque of the drive tubes is produced when the pods move up and down according to motion of the waves and is transmitted to the generator to generate power. In the hydraulic case, energy is stored in accumulators as pressure due to the double-acting hydraulic pistons pumping when the pods move up and down according to the motion of the waves. Hydraulic pressure drives a pump, which provides torque to the generator.

An enhanced pumped storage power system. More particularly, the invention is a regenerative power system that utilizes the gravitational forces of downward movement of large quantities of water to convert same to electrical energy. In the preferred mode of implementation, the system utilizes a man-made lake at a first level of elevation. Though higher altitudes can be effective, the lake need only be approximately twenty to thirty feet in elevation. The lake, which may exceed one hundred acres in size, may be elevated above and adjacent a natural body of water, such as seawater at a coastline. As such, sandy terrain associated with the region facilitates initial construction of the system. An underground generator is utilized for the power conversion and pumping of the water back to the upper reservoir during times of low energy demand, allowing for significant noise reduction. Importantly, the system of the present invention may be utilized to provide significant levels of power to serve relatively large geographic areas during times of peak energy demand, when other sources of power are more expensive and subject to power outages. Finally, it should be noted that the components of the system are aesthetically-pleasing in nature, allowing the system to be effectively utilized in a residential area.

Systems are provided for obtaining electrical energy from sea waves using deflectable material, especially EAP (electro-active polymers) type SSM (stretchable synthetic material) that generates electricity when an electrostatic charge is applied to the polymer and it is stretched. In one system (10), a buoyant element (12) has upper and lower parts (14, 22) connected by a quantity (36) of SSM, with the lower part anchored at a fixed height above the sea floor (24) and with the upper part movable vertically to stretch and relax the SSM as waves pass over. In another system (50) the buoy is rigid, but is anchored to the sea floor by at least one line (60) that includes, or is connected to at least a length (64) of SSM material. In still another system (160) a plurality of rigid buoys (162) that float on the sea surface, are connected in tandem by SMM (166, 172) that is stretched and relaxed as the buoys pivot relative to each other in following the waves. The buoys preferably lie with at least 80% of their volume below the average sea surface.

A coated surface for resisting or enhancing bioadhesion includes at least one patterned polymer including coating layer having a plurality of features attached to or projected into a base surface. The features each have at least one microscale (<1 mm) dimension and have at least one neighboring feature having a substantially different geometry. The patterned coating layer preferably provides an average roughness factor (R) of from 4 to 50. The coating layer resists or enhances bioadhesion as compared to the base surface.

A wave energy converting apparatus 44 and its associated tension mooring system 50 is described. The wave energy converting apparatus 44 comprises an elongate support structure 45 designed to extend above a mean water level in the ocean. The support structure 45 has a submerged member 46 provided in connection therewith below the mean water level. A float member 48 of positive buoyancy is slidably mounted on the support structure 45 so as to be movable in a vertical direction. The apparatus 44 also comprises a linear electric generator 49 having a stator provided in connection with the support structure 45 and a translator integrated into the body of the float member 48. Differential motion of the float member 48 relative to the support structure 45 results in the generation of electrical power by the linear electric generator 49. The tension mooring system 50 comprises a cable 51 extending from a ballast means 52 to a counterbalancing means 53 adapted to be suspended from the submerged member 46 via a pulley mechanism 54. The tension mooring system 50 allows the apparatus 44 to be “tuned” to the prevailing ocean conditions.

An ocean wave energy conversion apparatus includes a float adapted to ride on the surface of the ocean in reciprocal vertical motion in response to ocean wave front action and a lever adapted to ride on the surface of the ocean. The lever has one end coupled to the float. A fulcrum pivotally supports the lever. A magnet is coupled to the other end of the lever. Parallel stator cores having electric coils wound thereon together with the magnet form a magnetic circuit. Springs are adjacent the magnet and interconnected to the lever and the magnet. A barrier is disposed between adjacent stator cores. The upward motion of the float caused by impact of waves will move the magnet downward by the lever and compresses the springs. Downward motion of the float will move the magnet upward by the lever and expand the springs. Repeated movement of the magnet will induce a voltage in the electric coils.

An improved wave energy converter for use in offshore and deep-sea locations. The wave energy converter is adapted for secure attachment to the bottom of a body of water (e.g., the ocean floor), preferably beyond the breaker zone. The wave energy converter is selectively adjustable in length. A hydraulic power generation system is used to convert the energy present in the waves into hydraulic power that can be use to generate electricity and for other purposes, such as desalinization. The system may include a hydraulic piston assembly, a floatation device that is connected to the piston assembly, high and low pressure hydraulic reservoirs, and a hydraulically driven power generator. The floatation device moves upward in response to rising waves, and downward under the force of gravity in response to falling waves. The system utilizes this downward gravitational force to discharge fluid from the piston assembly, which in turn, drives the power generator. A control system is used to detect water conditions and to selectively adjust the length of the support structure and the fluid flow characteristics to dynamically optimize power generation based on changing water conditions.

A self-supported power generation device is installed in a high building having multiple floors to realize self-supported power supply of low power and simplified arrangement. Water reservoir is arranged in a floor-spaced manner by tanks set in different floors. Each tank has a conic converged lower section forming a discharge opening coupled to a power generator unit that is driven by vanes to generate electrical power. Thus, by the water head supplied from each tank to drive the vanes for rotating the power generator unit, and with a vertical stacked manner of the multiple sets of power generator units and tanks, a multi-floor water-weight-driven power generation assembly is established. A water collection reservoir is provided at the bottommost location to collect the water for cyclic use. Thus, self-supported power generation for self-supported supply of power of a building is realized and environmental protection and healthy concerns are also satisfied.

The invention provides a concrete construction method for high-cold areas in low temperature seasons. In the construction method, a whole set of construction standards and specifications for the selection of raw materials, the mixture ratio design of concrete, concrete position, heat preservation during transportation, concrete mixture and pouring, temperature monitoring, concrete maintenance after pouring and other aspects is formulated, so the method solves problems caused by the conventional concrete construction of hydropower projects in high-cold areas and low temperature seasons.

The invention relates to a power station on a submerged floating platform consisting of a floating structure (1) submerged at a certain depth, where it is moored by means of guy lines (2) with respect to ballasts or mooring buoys (3) located in the aquatic bed, arranging on said floating structure (1) hydraulic pumping mechanisms (5) which are operated by the weight differential of the water column between the crests and the troughs of the waves when such waves pass over them, in combination with a pneumatic system acting as a spring in said mechanisms (5) for operating an electricity-generating turbine (8) through a hydraulic closed circuit.

A floor drain (100) comprising a bottom part (4) having at least one discharge opening (5), a front part being integral with the bottom part (4) and having a first part (3b) being inclined to said bottom part at an angle being at least 30°, such as at least 45°, preferably at least 60° more preferably at least 75° and even more preferably about 90° or at least 90° and having a flange part (3a) being horizontal or inclined to horizontal at an angle being less than 20° such as less than 17°, preferably less than 15°, such as less than 10°, more preferably less than 5°, tow side walls (2) integral with said bottom part and said first part, and a back part (1) being integral with said bottom part (4), said back part (1) extending vertically from the bottom part (4), through and above the plane defined by the flange part (3a).

A channel system for forming a trench is disclosed that includes a number of precast drainage channel sections and one or more alignment keys for aligning and interlocking adjacent channel sections. Each alignment key includes a base shaped for laterally bridging across a predetermined exterior portion of adjacent bottom walls of the adjacent channel sections. The alignment key also includes first and second opposed, inwardly facing jaw members shaped for longitudinally bridging across a predetermined exterior portion of adjacent first and second sidewalls, respectively, of the adjacent channel sections. Each pair of the jaw members can be carried by a respective base, and can be positioned in a lateral and longitudinal direction relative to the respective base to thereby substantially align and interlock the adjacent channel sections.

A hydroelectric turbine generator and control system is provided that optimizes the maximum possible power output at all times by strictly monitoring power output from the generator unit and modulating the wicket gate angle and the runner blade pitch independently of one another. The hydroelectric turbine generator includes a means for separately controlling wicket gate angle and runner blade pitch. The wicket gate angle control mechanism controls the flow into the system, pre conditions flow for maximum power and maintains reservoir level. The runner blade pitch control mechanism continuously monitors the system power output based on actual power produced, and adjusts system parameters in order to achieve maximum power output.

An underwater power generator (10) comprises a support structure (14) including a pylon (22) having a male boss (24) at an upper end of the pylon (22). A generation unit (12) has a housing (15) and a blade set (16). A female socket (28) is provided on the generation unit (12) and is configured to receive the male boss (24). A rotation unit (30) comprises a motorised pinion (56) mounted on an upper section (50) and a fixed ring gear (58) mounted on a lower section (52), wherein operation of the motorised pinion (56) rotates the upper section (50) relative to the lower section (52) about a yaw axis. A seal arrangement (60) is provided between the upper and lower sections (50, 52) to inhibit the ingress of water into the rotation unit (30).

A bridge type river and tide water-power and wind-power combined power generation corridor is composed of a full-bridge type river water-power and wind-power combined power generation corridor, a shore bridge type river water-power and wind-power combined power generation corridor and a bridge type tide water-power and wind-power combined power generation corridor which are respectively a combiner of a tree-shaped wind power generation device (1) built on a bridge plate and a tree-shaped water power generation device built below the bridge plate. In order to effectively utilize the abundant water power resources and the wind power resources in China, the bridge type river water power, tide water power and wind power combined power generation technology is provided, the bridge type river water power, tide water power and wind power combined power generation corridor is built by combining the river water power with tide water power and wind power so that natural energy can be effectively utilized for power generation, more electric energy is provided for people, and the degree of dependence on underground resources such as petroleum and coal is decreased.

The invention discloses a method for drawing a joint scheduling graph of a step reservoir. The method comprises the following steps of: drawing an initial scheduling graph of each reservoir according to designed guaranteed power output of each hydropower station progressively from upstream to downstream by an equi-output method and according to a single reservoir scheduling graph drawing method; drawing an initial scheduling graph for joint scheduling of a step leading reservoir; performing optimization calculation on the joint scheduling graph of the step reservoir; calculating the water power of each hydropower station from top to bottom in a water power sequence according to the initial scheduling graph by taking a long-series history runoff process as an input and taking a period of ten days as a calculation interval, and optimizing scheduling lines in the joint scheduling graph of the step reservoir; and outputting a last joint scheduling graph of the step reservoir and a scheduling rule. Indicated power output in a step joint scheduling graph is used for coordinating, so that complementary scheduling effect of the step reservoir is brought into full play, damage depth of the reservoir is reduced and the utilization ratio of water power is increased.

Includes at least one floating body (1), and is characterised in that includes a device (2) fitted inside said body (1) for transforming the movement of the floating body (1) into pneumatic or hydraulic energy and means for transmitting the energy to dry land or to a fixed structure. An energy-generation system is obtained thereby with a manufacturing time and cost lower than the systems currently known. Moreover, the fact that the transforming device (2) is fitted inside the floating body (1) means that it is protected against corrosion caused by the water, against sharp movements caused by marine currents and against other possible outside agents which might harm or damage any of the components which make up the device.

An undersea power generation apparatus (1) includes two turbines (3) mounted side by side at either side of a support strut of hydrofoil-shaped cross section, each turbine (3) having a set of turbine blades which counter rotate so as to cancel out the respective torque produced by each turbine. The apparatus (1) is pivotally interconnected at point (9) to a pair of mooring cables (7), which are releasably moored to the seabed (6). The turbines (3) are positively buoyant such that in zero current they point vertically upwards as denoted by (8). When the current flows in the direction shown by arrow A, the drag forces on turbines (3) and support strut cause the apparatus (1) to pivot about point (9) and pitch over into condition denoted by (10) and shown in broken lines.

A structure for a tidal flow energy generation system is fabricated from tubular framework having tubular modules with mounts for respective tidal flow turbine nacelles. The node modules include tubular limbs extending in transverse directions and elongate tubes and provided to interconnect with the tube limbs of the node modules. The structure can be pre-fabricated and transported to a location for deployment. The structure can be deployed by means of hovering the assembled structure to the seabed, for example by means of flooding the structure.

The invention relates to a method that a diversion tunnel is rebuilt into a jet current internal energy dissipation tunnel, which belongs to the technical field of water conservancy and hydropower. The method is characterized in that: a drilled shaft is built at the downstream of the water inlet of the diversion tunnel; the lower part of the drilled shaft is connected with the top of the diversion tunnel, and the top is connected with a throat-type pressure tunnel; the outlet of the pressure tunnel in the drilled shaft is shrunk into a jet exit; a blanking adapter is arranged at the diversion tunnel of fore half section at the joint between the drilled shaft and the diversion tunnel so as to form a blind room. The method comprises the following reconstructed facilities: a short pressure water inlet, a derivation conduit section, a current adjusting section, a constriction section, a drilled shaft section, a drilled shaft tunnel connecting section and a diversion tunnel section. The method has the advantages that: the method is suitable for the reconstruction of high-head and mass flow flood discharge tunnel; a stable and effective flood discharge also can be kept in the situation of high water level at the downstream; the newly-built tunnel section occupies a small area with flexible arrangement; thereby the method can greatly reduce the cost of energy dissipating facilities.

An underwater structure includes a power generation apparatus and a supporting structure. A coupling is provided that allows attachment of the power generating device to the submerged support structure. The coupling incorporates the function of a yaw bearing allowing rotation of the power generating apparatus about a substantially vertical axis.

An ocean wave generator utilizes four artificial jetties positioned along an ocean shore line and angled to each other to form three funnel shapes, one facing the incoming ocean waves and defining an outlet opening therebetween for directing incoming ocean waves therethrough and two facing the shoreline and having a pair of outlets returning incoming water to the ocean. A rotating paddle wheel and electric generating turbines are placed in the openings to capture the energy from the incoming ocean waves and from the water returning to the ocean.

An underwater power generation system (10) that has a line member (30) that moves along a defined pathway. A number of foils (40) drive the line member using the flow of a water current. The defined pathway lies in a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the flow of water current. A power take-off (114, 124) is connected to the line to produce power.

A central axis water turbine is described which comprises a turbine body having a central axis; a rotor mounted on the turbine body for rotation about the central axis, the rotor comprising a central hub supporting a plurality of blades, each blade extending from a blade root mounted on the hub to a blade tip; a generator driven by the rotor; and a housing surrounding the rotor and adapted to direct water flow towards the rotor, the housing converging from a front opening forward of the rotor to a narrower throat adjacent the turbine body; wherein the blades are splayed rearward from the blade root to the blade tip by a tilt angle of 1° to 20° from a plane perpendicular to the central axis.

The invention relates to a method and a device for recovering energy contained by waves. The collecting device (8) comprises a float (7) coupled by means of one or more support bars (10, 11) to an actuator (12). At least one support bar is rigidly coupled to the float (7) or to a support member (62) in the float. In addition, the float (7) is arranged substantially entirely below water level.

The invention relates to a sand-discharge facility at a water inlet of a hydraulic power station, wherein the upper course or the lateral direction of a sand-discharging bottom hole (a sand flushing gateway) is provided with a grid-type sand-discharging gallery, and the basic body shape of the sand-discharging gallery is that the upper portion of a sand-sinking tank is provided with a grid-type top board. The sand-discharge facility at a water inlet of a hydraulic power station of the invention can achieve excellent sand-discharging effect.

An adjustable drain has an elongate base element and an elongate drain element. The elongate base element has upwardly extending walls extending upwardly from the elongate base element. The elongate drain element has a top surface supported by downwardly extending walls, and the top surface has a plurality of apertures enabling water to drain through the top surface. First interlocking elements are vertically spaced from each other on the upwardly extending walls, and second interlocking elements are spaced apart from each other on the downwardly extending walls, enabling the elongate drain element to engage the elongate base element in either a first position or a second position, adapting to either smaller or larger pavers.

The invention relates to a tide generating facility and a generating method thereof, which include as follows: a culvert is arranged under a seaside dyke of a coastal impounding reservoir; a regulating gate and a water wheel are arranged in the culvert; the water wheel comprises a support saddle; a mainstay is arranged on the support saddle in radial direction; the mainstay is sleeved with vanes which are capable of swaying around the mainstay; a positioning device for restricting sway angles of the vanes is arranged at the support saddle; a vertical shaft is driven by a rotating shaft through a steering gear box; and a power conveying system is connected to the top of the vertical shaft, and the generator is driven by the power conveying system. Before a tide rises, the regulating gate is closed. During the process of tide rising, when the water level outside the pool rises to a certain position, the regulating gate is opened. The water outside flows into the pool and at the same time the water wheel is driven by the flowing water to rotate and generate electricity. Before a tide falls, the regulating gate is closed at first. When the external water level falls to a certain position, the regulating gate is opened and the water flows out and shocks the vanes of the water wheel. The vanes are changed to another angle and rotate in the same direction. The tide generating facility is efficient in operation.

A connector (17) is provided to mount a power generation unit of an underwater power generator to a base assembly. The connector comprises (17) a lower connector portion (72) having a stem (62) projecting upwardly and having a tapering profile and an upper connector portion (70) having an inwardly and upwardly extending recess (60). At least one generally cylindrical pin (61) extends radially inwardly into the recess (60) and at least one groove (64) is formed in the stem (62). The groove (64) is configured to allow the pin (61) to travel along the groove (64) as the stem (62) is axially inserted into the recess (60).