hydropower plant

Abstract

A hydroelectric power plant comprising an inlet funnel (1) with a widened inlet and a narrowed outlet opening for the water flow; a turbine section (2) with side walls whose opposite sections are arranged substantially parallel to one another; a turbine arranged in the turbine section (2), which is designed in the form of gears (3, 4) connected to one another by roller chains (5) and rotatably arranged between the walls of the turbine section, wherein a plurality of frames (8) are arranged on the roller chains (5) perpendicular to them, each frame (8) being provided with a plurality of vanes (9) pivotable at the same angle, wherein the gears (3, 4) are arranged at different heights to the horizontal to create an ascending section of the water flow as it passes through the turbine, and a barrier (6) is arranged between the gears (3, 4) in the longitudinal direction of the turbine section (2) to provide an inclined surface for the water flow, wherein the vanes (9) of each frame (8) are designed to be simultaneously rotatable through 90 degrees alternately in a first and a second direction,when they pass the upper and lower edges of the closed barrier (6).

Description

[0001] The present utility model relates to the field of energy management and can be used to convert kinetic energy from currents from water reservoirs, sea, ocean waves or river water into electrical energy.

[0002] To reduce the global impact of the greenhouse effect caused by gas emissions, great importance is now being attached to the development of energy generation systems using renewable energy sources. One such renewable energy source is the kinetic energy of sea and ocean waves. The kinetic energy of a wave is captured by continuously moving or oscillating elements that are mechanically coupled to the rotor of an electric generator.

[0003] The disadvantage of such systems is that their efficiency is low due to changes in wave intensity, direction and height, and thus a large part of the renewable energy is lost.

[0004] For example, a system for converting wave energy is known, described in international patent application WO 2022 / 195595. This system comprises a wave-collecting module with multiple inlet openings, a turbine module with a turbine housing, and a water turbine positioned at the height of the water flow. This system cannot optimally utilize the kinetic energy of the water flow because it uses a conventional turbine with limited efficiency.

[0005] The technical result of the proposed utility model is to increase the efficiency of energy conversion of a wave or water flow.

[0006] The hydroelectric power plant proposed in the utility model comprises a wave-catching section in the form of a tapered funnel with an enlarged inlet and a narrowed outlet opening for the water flow; a turbine section in the form of walls having substantially the same profile in the cross-section of the turbine section; a turbine arranged in the turbine section and designed in the form of gears interconnected by roller chains and rotatably mounted between the walls of the turbine section, with a plurality of frames provided with vanes mounted perpendicular to the roller chains, the gears being arranged at different heights relative to the walls of the turbine to generate an upward flow of water as it passes through the turbine.A barrier is provided between the gears to provide an inclined surface for the water flow, the lateral edges of which are at least partially adjacent to the inner surfaces of the opposing turbine walls. The system proposed in this utility model thus makes it possible to direct incoming water waves of varying directions, heights, and flow velocities into the turbine section in the form of an accelerated flow, which is then efficiently used to generate electrical energy. Fig. Figure 1 shows a longitudinal section of the device of the proposed utility model. Fig. Figure 2 shows a part of a cross-section of the device with a frame having a plurality of wings; Fig. 3-5 show a bar with a connecting rod in closed and open sash position; Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of a section of the wall of the turbine section with the strip, the end of which is in a position just before contact with the projection which is in Fig. 2 is shown. Fig. 7 shows roles that are in contact with the leadership.

[0007] The Fig. The device shown in Figure 1 comprises a funnel 1 for collecting a water flow formed by waves, which can be designed, for example, in the form of walls whose imaginary extensions form an angle with each other in projection to provide a widened inlet and a narrowed outlet for the water flow, indicated by arrow 7. In this way, water waves of large amplitude, falling in different directions, enter the funnel 1 through the widened inlet opening and flow out of the narrowed outlet opening at an accelerated rate in one direction into the interior of the device. The dimensions of the funnel 1 can be defined so that it can collect waves with different parameters under given conditions.

[0008] The device further comprises a turbine section 2, in the longitudinal direction of which the aforementioned accelerated water flow moves during operation. The turbine section 2 is designed in the form of walls whose opposing regions are arranged substantially parallel to one another and to the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2. These walls are in the form of rectangular plates and form a channel for the water flow. Alternatively, the walls of the turbine section 2 can also be designed in any desired shape, so that in the cross-section of the turbine section 2 they form, for example, a circle, an oval, a rectangle, a square, or a triangle. Particularly preferred is the arrangement of the turbine section 2 at an inclination angle of 5 to 30 degrees in the direction of the water flow 7 entering the turbine section 2.A turbine is arranged in the turbine section 2, which has gears 3 and 4 connected by a roller chain 5, which are fastened to the walls of the turbine section 2 with their axes transverse to the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2. The turbine is connected to a rotor of an electric generator (not shown in the figure). As an example, . Fig. 1 shows an embodiment with two pairs of gears 3 and 4, wherein the gears 3 and 4 are spaced apart longitudinally by less than the length of the turbine section 2 less twice the height of the frame 8 and transversely by substantially the width of the turbine section 2. The number of gear pairs arranged along the length and / or width of the turbine section 2 may vary, for example, one, three, or four, depending on the longitudinal and transverse dimensions of the turbine section 2.

[0009] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the gear pairs 3 and 4 are spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2 and are mounted on the walls of the turbine section 2 at different heights above sea level, so that the water flow path forms an upward section as it passes through the turbine. A barrier 6 is arranged between the gear pairs 3 and 4 to provide an inclined, flat surface for water drainage, the edges of which are at least partially adjacent to the inner surfaces of the opposite walls of the turbine section 2. Depending on the pitch angle of the turbine section 2 and the operating conditions, the barrier 6 can be flat or curved and have a closed surface or a surface with openings. Due to the converging shape of the inlet funnel and the aforementioned upward water flow, the kinetic energy of the water in the turbine will be efficiently converted.

[0010] The axes of gear pairs 3 and 4 are attached to the walls of the respective turbine section (not shown in the figure). The gears of each pair are spaced apart by a distance smaller than the distance between the walls of the turbine section, and only one gear per pair is shown in the figure.

[0011] The said gears 3, 4 and roller chains 5 are driven in the direction of arrow 7 by the action of the kinetic energy of the shaft on the wings 9 shown below, which are located above the closed lock 6, ie through the pair of gears 3 and 4, the pair of closed roller chains 5 moves in parallel planes under the action of the kinetic energy of the shaft on the wings 9 attached to the roller chains 5.

[0012] In the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2 in the space between the barrier 6 and the walls of the turbine section 2, a plurality of frames 8 are arranged equidistantly on roller chains 5, wherein in each frame rotatable about an axis passing through opposite sides of the frames 8 in a plane in the transverse direction of the turbine section 2, three Fig. 2, so that each wing is rotatably mounted about its axis at the points of transition from forward movement to reverse movement and vice versa.

[0013] For this purpose, each vane 9 is provided with two bearings 10 fixed in the central section of each of the two opposite sides of the vane 9, so that the axes of rotation of the bearings 10 are parallel to the plane of movement of each of the roller chains 5 and perpendicular to the tangent to the flow path defined by the movement of each of the roller chains 5 at the attachment point of the frame 8 (see Fig. 2). Alternatively (not shown), the axes of rotation of the bearings 10 may be arranged parallel to a line defined by the shortest distance between two adjacent roller chains 5 moving in the same direction, i.e., in the transverse direction of the turbine section 2.

[0014] In the cross-section of the turbine section 2, the frames 8 with the blades 9 arranged therein occupy at least 50%, preferably 70% to 90% of the area between the barrier 6 and the walls of the turbine section 2 on each side of the barrier 6.

[0015] As the gears 3 and 4 rotate, the frames 8 move along a continuous path determined by the movement of the roller chains 5. Since the path of movement of all frames 8 is the same, only the movement of one frame is considered.

[0016] The Fig. 2 to 5 show that above the upper side of the frame 8 there is arranged a bar 11 which is movable along the upper side of the frame 8 in the longitudinal direction, i.e. in the transverse direction of the turbine section 2. The bar 11 has a transverse groove 12 in which the central part of a bolt 13 is arranged so as to be movable in this transverse groove 12. The bolt 13 has a first end connected to the first head of a connecting rod 14 and a second end connected to a bearing element 10 fastened to the blade 9. Alternatively, the second end of the bolt 13 can also be fastened directly to the blade 9 or can transmit the torque from the first head of the connecting rod 14 to the blade 9 in another way. The axis of the second head of the connecting rod 14 is coaxial with the bearing 10 and is fastened to the bar 11.Likewise, in other embodiments of the invention, the groove may be designed in the longitudinal direction instead of the transverse direction or at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the strip 11 (not shown).

[0017] In the Fig. In the position shown in Figure 2, the vanes 9 are arranged perpendicular to the water flow path or the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2, so that the water flow force acting on them is at a maximum. Under the action of this force, the frame 8 moves above the barrier 6 in the direction of the water flow, and via the roller chains 5, the gears 3, 4 cause a rotational movement of the corresponding shaft of the electric generator, which is not shown in the figures.

[0018] When the upward movement of the frames 8 along the lock 6 is completed, the first end of the bar 11, which is in Fig. 2 top right, to the first projection 15 mounted on the wall of the turbine section at the height of the movement of the bar 11 (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 6), whereby the first end of the bar 11 is displaced in an opposite direction from this wall of the turbine section and the bar 11 moves longitudinally towards the opposite wall of the turbine section in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2. During this period, the pin 13 moves through the groove 12 in the bar 11 under the influence of the connecting rod 14. Since the pin 13 is connected to the side of the vane 9, the vane 9 rotates 90 degrees around its axis and assumes a position along the water flow or along the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2, wherein the vane 9 assumes a position parallel to the direction of movement and its resistance to the water flow becomes minimal.Thus, during the upward movement along the barrier 6, the wings 9 of the frame 8 assume a transverse position which ensures maximum resistance to the water flow, and when the upward movement along the barrier 6 is completed, the wings 9 rotate at the pivot point, ie at the location of the upper gear pair 4, by 90 degrees in a first direction into the longitudinal position shown in . Fig. 4 by a solid line or in Fig. 5 is shown by a dashed line, and provide minimal resistance to the water flow and enable the frame 8 to move with minimal flow resistance when the frame 8 is moved below the barrier 6.

[0019] At the end of the downward movement of the frames 8 along the lower part of the barrier 6, the second end of the bar 11, i.e., the end opposite to the first end of the bar 11, engages with the second projection (not shown in the figure) located on the wall opposite the above-mentioned first projection 15 at the same height of movement of the bar 11, and returns the bar 11 to its original position in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the turbine section 2, causing the vanes 9 to rotate 90 degrees in the opposite direction at the pivot point, i.e., at the location of the lower gear pair 3, to the second direction, to a position that ensures maximum resistance to the water flow when the frame 8 moves above the barrier 6. In this way, each frame 8 moves above the barrier 6 due to the water flow and below the barrier 6 due to the movement of the roller chains 5.

[0020] In order to keep each frame 8 in a raised position, ie in the plane of the cross-section of the turbine section 2 or perpendicular to the tangent of the roller chain 5 at its attachment point, its side walls move in guides 16 made on the walls of the turbine section by means of rollers 17 fixed to rods 18, between which a spring 19 is arranged, which keeps the rollers 17 in the guides 16 during the movement of the frame 8, as in Fig. 7 shown.

[0021] In this way, under the influence of the water flow, a large number of frames arranged equidistant from one another are set in motion simultaneously, thus making optimal use of the kinetic energy of the water flow. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] WO 2022 / 195595

[0004]

Claims

[1] A hydroelectric power plant comprising an inlet funnel (1) with a widened inlet and a narrowed outlet opening for the water flow; a turbine section (2) with side walls whose opposite sections are arranged substantially parallel to one another; a turbine arranged in the turbine section (2), which is designed in the form of gears (3, 4) connected to one another by roller chains (5) and rotatably arranged between the walls of the turbine section, wherein a plurality of frames (8) are arranged on the roller chains (5) perpendicular to them, each frame (8) being provided with a plurality of vanes (9) pivotable at the same angle, wherein the gears (3, 4) are arranged at different heights to the horizontal to create an ascending section of the water flow as it passes through the turbine, and a barrier (6) is arranged between the gears (3, 4) in the longitudinal direction of the turbine section (2) to provide an inclined surface for the water flow, wherein the vanes (9) of each frame (8) are designed to be simultaneously rotatable through 90 degrees alternately in a first and a second direction,when they pass the upper and lower edges of the closed barrier (6). [2] Hydropower plant according to claim 1, characterized by in that the wings (9) of each frame (8) have a blade-like profile, each wing (9) being rotatable through 90 degrees between a working transverse position in which the working surface of the wing (9) is arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of movement of the wing (9), and a longitudinal idle position in which the wing (9) is arranged substantially parallel to its direction of movement. [3] Hydropower plant according to claim 1 or 2, characterized byin that the turbine is provided with a device for rotating the vanes (9) of each frame (8), which comprises a bar (11) arranged on the frame (8) and movable along the side of the frame (8) and having a plurality of grooves (12) therein, each groove (12) having a pin (13) connected at one end to a connecting rod (14) attached to the bar (11), and the other end being connected to the end of each vane (9), whereby the longitudinal movement of the bar (11) at the upper and lower edges of the barrier (6) is converted into a 90-degree rotary movement in one direction of each of the vanes (9) in a frame (8) which passes by this edge of the barrier (6). [4] Hydroelectric power plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the turbine section (2) is arranged at a pitch angle of 5 to 30 degrees, preferably 10 to 20 degrees in the direction of the water flow (7) entering the turbine section (2). [5] Hydroelectric power plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the edges of the barrier (6) at least partially adjoin the inner surfaces of the opposite walls of the turbine section (2). [6] Hydroelectric power plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the barrier (6) is flat or curved in the transverse direction and has a closed surface or a surface with openings. [7] Hydroelectric power plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the distance between the lock (6) and the lower area of ​​the roller chains (5) is greater than the distance between the lock (6) and the upper area of ​​the roller chains (5). [8] Hydroelectric power plant according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that a plurality of frames (8) are arranged equidistant from one another on roller chains (5).

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