Radial curved valve type power generation device based on capillary force driving and power generation method

Abstract

This invention discloses a radially curved lobe-type power generation device and method based on capillary force drive, belonging to the field of microfluidics technology. The device consists of a radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit and an energy conversion unit. The rotor unit includes 18 curved guide plates with a wetting gradient on their surface, and the bottom guide surface and guide wall form a wedge-shaped flow channel. During power generation, the device is placed on a microfluidic or slow-flowing water surface. Under the combined action of the Laplace pressure difference driving force and the wetting gradient force, the liquid flows directionally from the center to the circumference along the guide channel and is tangentially ejected. The reaction force drives the rotor to rotate, causing the magnetic ring to generate a rotating magnetic field. The change in magnetic flux in the fixed induction core generates an induced electromotive force, which is output to the energy storage capacitor through a closed circuit. This invention requires no external power, can achieve self-contained power generation in low-flow-rate environments, has a compact structure, and is free from contact wear, making it suitable for distributed micropower power supply scenarios.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of microfluidics technology, specifically relating to a radially curved lobe-type power generation device and power generation method based on capillary force drive. Background Technology

[0002] With the increasing depletion of fossil fuels globally and the growing severity of environmental pollution and climate change caused by their combustion, humanity's demand for green, clean, and sustainable energy is becoming increasingly urgent. Against this backdrop, fully utilizing the widely available renewable resources in nature and achieving efficient energy conversion has become a crucial approach to alleviating the energy crisis and promoting energy structure transformation. Water resources, due to their wide distribution, abundant reserves, and recyclability, are considered a green energy carrier with significant development potential, showing important application prospects in areas such as distributed power supply, self-powered environmental monitoring sensors, and independent power sources for micro-electronic devices. Currently, there are diverse energy conversion technologies based on water resources. At the macro level, hydropower technology utilizing the gravitational potential energy and kinetic energy of liquid water is highly mature, and tidal power generation utilizing the potential energy of tidal periodic fluctuations has also achieved commercial application. At the micro level and in emerging fields, technologies such as evaporation energy power generation based on evaporation-induced flow and diffusion energy harvesting based on ion transport generated by salinity gradients are under active research. These technologies are developed according to the different forms and movement characteristics of water resources, and some have already achieved large-scale application. Meanwhile, water-based energy harvesting technologies are developing towards diversification and microscale application, aiming to expand their application scenarios to a wider range of natural environments and engineering facilities. However, despite the increasingly sophisticated macroscopic hydropower utilization technologies, energy harvesting in microfluidic and slow-flowing environments still faces significant technical bottlenecks. Scenarios such as the slow flow of deep seawater, slow-moving rivers and streams in inland basins, extremely low-speed fluid transport within organisms, and residual pressure and flow in urban and industrial pipelines generally exhibit common characteristics such as low flow velocity, sparse energy density, and limited spatial scale. Traditional large-scale rotating turbines or water turbines based on electromagnetic induction principles suffer from significant problems in these conditions, including high starting torque, sharp drops in efficiency at low speeds, difficulty in miniaturization, complex manufacturing processes, and high costs, making it difficult to achieve continuous, efficient, and stable energy harvesting and power output. Therefore, how to fill the gaps in low-flow-velocity, low-energy-density scenarios that traditional hydropower technologies cannot cover, and how to develop a novel device and method that is simple in structure, low in manufacturing cost, and capable of self-driven liquid power generation under microfluidic and slow-flowing conditions, is of significant practical importance and urgent need. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This invention addresses low-energy-density scenarios that traditional power generation technologies struggle to cover. It presents a capillary-driven radial-lobed power generation device. In water surfaces with micro-flow and slow flow, the device utilizes a Laplace pressure difference driving force from radial-lobed current-gathering rotor units forming a gradually widening curve, along with the wetting gradient force from the non-uniform wettability of the substrate surface, to propel the liquid upwards. The liquid is pushed to the top and flows out at a certain angle and velocity. According to the law of conservation of angular momentum, the radial-lobed current-gathering rotor units are driven to rotate by the reaction force of the flowing liquid. A magnetic ring fixed in an annular groove on the circumference of the device rotates in response to this rotation. As the magnetic ring rotates, the magnetic field rotates synchronously, causing a change in the magnetic flux of the fixed induction core, generating an induced electromotive force. The energy storage capacitor, copper wire, and induction core form a closed circuit, generating an induced current which is transmitted through the copper wire to the energy storage capacitor for energy storage.

[0004] A method for generating electricity using a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force, characterized in that the device comprises a radially curved lobe-type current-collecting rotor unit and an energy conversion unit. The radially curved lobe-type current-collecting rotor unit is an integral rotating structure with 18 curved guide plates evenly distributed along its outer periphery. Each curved guide plate has a bottom guide surface and a guide wall surface inclined relative to the bottom guide surface, and the bottom guide surface and the guide wall surface are connected by an oblique straight line. The curved guide plate has three ball-and-socket grooves on one side and three ball-and-socket protrusions on the other side. It has an annular groove at the bottom. Adjacent curved guide plates are interference-fitted with the three ball-and-socket grooves and the three ball-and-socket protrusions. The 18 curved guide plates enclose a central chamber. The power conversion unit includes a magnetic ring, an induction magnetic core, a copper wire, and an energy storage capacitor. The magnetic ring is interference-fitted with the annular groove. One end of the copper wire is connected to the induction magnetic core, and the other end is connected to the energy storage capacitor. The induction magnetic core and the support are fixed by a threaded connection.

[0005] The inner surface of the central chamber is a hydrophilic surface. The axis of the curved guide plate points to the center of the central chamber, while the axis of the wedge-shaped flow channel points to a position offset from the center, so that when the liquid leaves along the outer inclined surface of the curved guide plate, it deviates from the center, thereby generating a tangential force at the liquid outlet of the 18 wedge-shaped flow channels, forming a driving torque around the Z-axis. The curved guide plate is configured as an airfoil structure that is thick in the middle, thin at both ends, and horizontal on the lower surface. Its upper surface is spindle-shaped and gradually widens from the center of the radially curved lobe-type converging rotor unit towards the outer edge, with streamlined contours at both ends. The angle between the bottom guide surface of the curved guide plate and the guide wall gradually increases from the center of the radially curved lobe-type converging rotor unit towards the circumference to form a wedge-shaped flow channel. The surface of the curved guide plate is processed with a gradient hydrophilic surface, exhibiting a wetting gradient that gradually increases from the center of the radially curved lobe-type converging rotor unit towards the circumference, for pump-free directional transport of liquid to the circumference.

[0006] This invention also provides a method for preparing a capillary-driven radially curved lobe type power generation device, comprising the following steps: Step 1: A curved guide plate with functional features such as bottom guide surface, guide wall surface, ball-shaped groove, ball-shaped protrusion and annular groove is processed by laser 3D printing method, and a gradient hydrophilic surface is etched by laser to present a wetting gradient that gradually increases from the center to the circumference. Step 2: The curved guide plates are arranged along the circumference, and the ball-shaped grooves and ball-shaped protrusions of adjacent curved guide plates are assembled with an interference fit to form a radial curved lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit. The magnetic ring is interference-fitted with the annular groove at the bottom of the radial curved lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit. Step 3: The induction core is made of hard magnetic material and is connected to the energy storage capacitor by welding copper wires to form a closed circuit. The radial lobed current-gathering rotor unit and the closed circuit are assembled by the bracket to form a radial lobed power generation device driven by capillary force.

[0007] The present invention proposes a power generation method for a radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive, with the following steps: Step 1: Place the device on the liquid surface, and the liquid flows from the central chamber of the radially curved converging rotor unit into the curved guide plate; Step 2: After entering the wedge-shaped flow channel, the liquid is subjected to a wetting gradient force by the surface wettability gradient of the bottom guide surface, and a Laplace pressure difference driving force by the shape gradient of the wedge-shaped flow channel. The Laplace pressure difference driving force and the wetting gradient force work together to drive the liquid to overcome gravity along the inclination angle. θ 1. Flowing upwards; Step 3: The liquid is pushed to the outer inclined surface of the curved guide vane at an angle. θ2. The liquid flows out along the circumferential tangent. When the liquid flows out, it applies a reaction force to the curved guide plate. According to the principle of conservation of angular momentum, the radial curved lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit obtains angular momentum about the central axis and rotates about the axis. The driving torque generated by the 18 curved guide plates is superimposed in the Z-axis direction to form a resultant torque about the Z-axis. Step 4: When the magnetic ring rotates synchronously with the radially curved lobe-type current-concentrating rotor unit, the angular velocity of the magnetic ring and the angular velocity of the radially curved lobe-type current-concentrating rotor unit are... ω Similarly, a magnetic ring with a radial magnetic field generates a rotating magnetic field that varies with the rotation angle; Step 5: With the position of the induction core fixed, as the magnetic ring rotates, the magnetic flux passing through the effective cross section of the induction core changes with time. According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, an induced electromotive force is generated at both ends of the induction core. Step Six: The induction magnetic core and the bracket are fixed by a threaded connection, and the energy storage capacitor is fixed to the bracket by screws, forming a closed circuit with an unchanged spatial position. The induced electromotive force drives the induced current to flow along the closed circuit and is transported to the energy storage capacitor through the copper wire for energy storage.

[0008] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: 1. The radial curved-lobe power generation device and method based on capillary force drive of the present invention utilizes a base connection structure formed by a ball-head protrusion and a ball-and-socket groove. The absence of inclined sidewalls above each component facilitates precise surface treatment using micron-level processing techniques such as laser modification, reducing manufacturing difficulty and improving structural consistency and mass production capability. 2. The curved guide plate of the radial curved-lobe power generation device and method based on capillary force drive of the present invention employs a variable cross-section design that is thicker in the middle and thinner at both ends. Its gradually widening lower end forms a Laplace pressure differential driving force, providing active driving force for liquid ascent, while its gradually narrowing upper end effectively reduces the contact area between the liquid and the microchannel wall, thereby reducing flow resistance during liquid backflow or descent and achieving directional transport. 3. The inclined structure of the sidewalls of the curved guide plate of the radial curved-lobe power generation device and method based on capillary force drive of the present invention increases the effective contact area between the liquid and the sidewall during liquid flow, further enhancing the Laplace pressure differential driving force within the channel, thereby maintaining continuous, stable, and uninterrupted liquid movement along the set direction. 4. The wetting gradient force generated by the non-uniform wettable surface of the radially curved lobe-type power generation device and method based on capillary force described in this invention has a synergistic effect with the Laplace pressure difference driving force generated by the gradually widening curved guide plate. The two forces are aligned, superimposed, and mutually reinforcing, achieving rapid, long-distance liquid transport, significantly superior to the transport effect under a single driving force. 5. The magnetic drive of the radially curved lobe-type power generation device and method based on capillary force described in this invention avoids rigid contact between high-speed rotating components and fluids or bearings, significantly reducing mechanical wear, electrochemical corrosion, and cavitation damage. This results in higher system reliability, longer service life, and lower maintenance requirements, making it particularly suitable for long-term deployed unmanned monitoring equipment. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force.

[0010] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the curved guide plate of a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force.

[0011] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of a liquid self-driving principle for a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a capacitor charging principle for a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force. Detailed Implementation

[0013] The specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, but it should be understood that the scope of protection of the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the methods described in the embodiments of the present invention are conventional methods.

[0014] Specific implementation method one: Combining Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the present invention provides a radially curved lobe type power generation device based on capillary force drive. The device includes a radially curved lobe type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) and a power conversion unit. The radially curved lobe type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) is an integral rotary structure with 18 curved guide plates (1-7) evenly distributed around its outer periphery. Each of the curved guide plates (1-7) has a bottom guide surface (2-4) and a guide wall surface (2-1) inclined relative to the bottom guide surface (2-4). The bottom guide surface (2-4) and the guide wall surface (2-1) are connected by an oblique straight line. The curved guide plate (1-7) has three ball-and-socket grooves (2-2) on one side and three ball-head protrusions (2-5) on the other side. The bottom has an annular groove (2-3). Adjacent curved guide plates (1-7) are interference-fitted with the three ball-and-socket grooves (2-1) and the three ball-head protrusions (2-5). Eighteen curved guide plates (1-7) enclose a central chamber (3-3). The power conversion unit includes a magnetic ring (1-3), an induction magnetic core (1-4), a copper wire (1-5), and an energy storage capacitor (1-6). The magnetic ring (1-3) is interference-fitted with the annular groove (2-3). One end of the copper wire (1-5) is connected to the induction magnetic core (1-4), and the other end is connected to the energy storage capacitor (1-6). The induction magnetic core (1-4) and the bracket (1-3) are fixed by threaded connection.

[0015] A radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) of a capillary-driven radially curved lobe-type power generation device has a centrally symmetrical structure and is generally disc-shaped. The sides of the central chamber are hydrophilic surfaces to induce liquid into the device. The curved guide plate (1-7) is configured as an airfoil structure that is thick in the middle, thin at both ends, and has a horizontal lower surface. Its upper surface is spindle-shaped and gradually widens from the center of the radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) towards the outer edge, with streamlined contours at both ends. The angle between the bottom guide surface (2-4) of the curved guide plate (1-7) and the guide wall surface (2-1) gradually increases from the center of the radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) towards the circumference to form a wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2). The surface of the curved guide plate (1-7) is processed with a gradient hydrophilic surface, exhibiting a wetting gradient that gradually increases from the center of the radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit towards the circumference, for pump-free directional transport of liquid to the circumference.

[0016] Specific Implementation Method Two: A method for preparing a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force, comprising the following steps: Step 1: A curved guide plate (1-7) with functional features such as a bottom guide surface (2-4), a guide wall surface (2-1), a ball-shaped groove (2-2), a ball-shaped protrusion (2-2), and an annular groove (2-3) is processed using laser 3D printing. A gradient hydrophilic surface is then etched using laser, presenting a wetting gradient that gradually increases from the center to the circumference. Step 2: The curved guide plates (1-7) are arranged along the circumference, and the ball-shaped grooves (2-2) and ball-shaped protrusions (2-2) of adjacent curved guide plates (1-7) are fitted together to form a radial curved-lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit (1-1). The magnetic ring (1-3) is interference-fitted with the annular groove (2-3) at the bottom of the radial curved-lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit (1-1). Step 3: The induction magnetic core (1-4) is made of hard magnetic material and is connected to the energy storage capacitor (1-6) by welding copper wire (1-5) to form a closed circuit. The radial lobed current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) and the closed circuit are assembled by the bracket (1-3) to form a radial lobed power generation device driven by capillary force.

[0017] Specific implementation method three: Combining Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, this invention provides a power generation method for a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force, comprising the following steps: When the liquid flows from the central chamber (3-3) of the bottom guide surface (2-4) into the curved guide plate (1-7), the liquid exhibits a shape that is blunt at the front and pointed at the back on the bottom guide surface, that is, the advance angle is greater than the retreat angle. This shape is formed by the combined effect of the Laplace pressure difference driving force of the wedge-shaped channel (3-2) and the wettability gradient force of its non-uniform wettability surface. The gradient force Δ formed by this combined effect p ᵢ Propelling the liquid upwards. (Combined) Figure 3 The liquid is pushed to the outer inclined surface (3-1) of the curved guide vane (1-7) at an angle. θ 2. The liquid flows out tangentially along the circumference. As it flows out, it exerts a reaction force on the curved guide plates (1-7). According to the principle of conservation of angular momentum, the radially curved lobe-type converging rotor unit (1-1) gains angular momentum around the Z-axis and rotates around the Z-axis. The 18 curved guide plates (1-7) are evenly distributed circumferentially, and the driving torque generated by each plate is superimposed in the Z-axis direction, forming a resultant torque around the Z-axis. Combined with... Figure 4 The magnetic ring fixed in the annular groove at the circumferential position of the radially curved lobe converging rotor unit (1-1) rotates synchronously with the radially curved lobe converging rotor unit (1-1), and its angular velocity is the same as that of the radially curved lobe converging rotor unit (1-1). ω Similarly, the magnetic ring (1-3) along the radial magnetic field (4-2) generates a rotating magnetic field that varies with the rotation angle. In a fixed coordinate system, the position of the induction core is fixed. When the magnetic ring rotates, the magnetic flux passing through the effective cross-section of the induction core changes with time. According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, an induced electromotive force (4-1) is generated at both ends of the induction core. The induced current driven by the induced electromotive force is transported along the induction core and copper wire through a closed circuit formed by the support to the energy storage capacitor for energy storage.

Claims

1. A method for generating electricity using a radially curved lobe-type power generation device driven by capillary force, characterized in that, The device includes a radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) and an energy conversion unit. The radially curved lobe-type current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) is an integral rotating structure with 18 curved guide plates (1-7) evenly distributed circumferentially. Each curved guide plate (1-7) has a bottom guide surface (2-4) and an inclined guide wall surface (2-1). One side of each curved guide plate (1-7) has three ball-shaped grooves (2-2), and the other side has three ball-shaped protrusions (2-5). The bottom has an annular groove (2-3). Adjacent curved guide plates (1-7) are connected by three... A ball-and-socket groove (2-1) and three ball-head protrusions (2-5) are interference-fitted, and 18 curved guide plates (1-7) surround to form a central chamber (3-3). The power conversion unit includes a magnetic ring (1-3), an induction magnetic core (1-4), a copper wire (1-5), and an energy storage capacitor (1-6). The magnetic ring (1-3) is interference-fitted with the annular groove (2-3). One end of the copper wire (1-5) is connected to the induction magnetic core (1-4), and the other end is connected to the energy storage capacitor (1-6). The induction magnetic core (1-4) and the bracket (1-3) are fixed by threaded connection. The power generation method is implemented according to the following steps: (1) Place the device on the liquid surface. The liquid flows from the central chamber (3-3) of the radial curved lobe type converging rotor unit (1-1) into the bottom guide surface (2-4) and enters the wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2). (2) The wettability gradient of the bottom guide surface (2-4) generates a wettability gradient force, while the shape gradient of the wedge channel (3-2) generates a Laplace pressure difference driving force. The wettability gradient force and the Laplace pressure difference driving force work together to drive the liquid to overcome gravity and flow upward along the inclination angle θ1. (3) The liquid is pushed to the outer end inclined surface (3-1) of the curved guide plate (1-7) and flows out at an angle θ2. When the liquid flows out, it applies a reaction force to the curved guide plate (1-7). According to the principle of conservation of angular momentum, the radial curved lobe type flow-gathering rotor unit (1-1) obtains angular momentum around the central axis and generates rotational motion around the axis. The driving torque generated by the liquid flowing out of the 18 wedge-shaped channels (3-2) is superimposed in the Z-axis direction to form the resultant torque around the Z-axis. (4) When the magnetic ring (1-3) is stationary, it generates a magnetic field (4-2). As the radial curved lobe current-gathering rotor unit (1-1) rotates, the magnetic ring (1-3) rotates synchronously to generate a rotating magnetic field that changes with the rotation. (5) When the magnetic ring (1-3) rotates, the magnetic flux passing through the effective cross section of the induction core (1-4) changes with time. According to Faraday's law of electromagnetic induction, an induced electromotive force (4-1) is generated at both ends of the induction core (1-4). (6) The induced electromotive force drives the induced current to be transported through the copper wire (1-5) to the energy storage capacitor (1-6) for energy storage.

2. The radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive according to claim 1, characterized in that, The inner surface of the central chamber (3-3) is a hydrophilic surface.

3. The radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive according to claim 1, characterized in that, When the droplet enters the central chamber (3-3), its motion is directed along the center of the central chamber (3-3) towards the wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2). After the droplet enters the wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2), its motion is directed along the wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2) towards the outer inclined surface (3-1), forming a double-fold motion trajectory. This causes the liquid to deviate from the center when it leaves along the outer inclined surface (3-1) of the curved guide plate (1-7), thereby generating a tangential component force at the liquid outlet of the 18 wedge-shaped flow channels (3-2), forming a driving torque around the Z-axis.

4. The radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive according to claim 1, characterized in that, The curved guide plate (1-7) is configured as a spindle-shaped structure that is thick in the middle, thin at both ends, and horizontal on the lower surface. It gradually widens from the wedge-shaped flow channel (3-2) to the outer inclined surface (3-1), and both ends are configured as streamlined profiles.

5. A radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive according to claim 1, characterized in that, The angle between the bottom guide surface (2-4) of the curved guide plate (1-7) and the guide wall surface (2-1) gradually increases from the inlet of the wedge-shaped channel (3-2) to the outlet.

6. A radially curved lobe-type power generation device based on capillary force drive according to claim 1, characterized in that, The bottom guide surface (2-4) has a gradient hydrophilic surface, and its contact angle gradually increases from the inner end of the bottom guide surface (2-4) to the outer end slope (3-1), which is used for pump-free directional transport of liquid to the circumference.

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