Circulation type water tank power generation device

Abstract

To provide a circulation type water tank power generation device that is relatively small and thus can be used even in an ordinary home, and can be installed even in a place where there is no waterway such as an irrigation channel or a river.SOLUTION: A circulation type water tank power generation device is configured such that an atmospheric chamber 2 is connected to one surface side of a sealable water tank 1, with its lower part connected to the water tank 1; a running water chamber 3 is arranged inside the water tank 1, the volume of which gradually narrows from the atmospheric chamber 2 side to an upper part of the other surface side; a water turbine 5 is arranged close to an outflow port of the running water chamber 3; a rotational shaft 6 of the water turbine 5 extends outside the water tank 1 to be connected to a generator arranged outside the water tank 1; and further, a vacuum pump 9 is arranged to reduce the pressure of an air layer 8 that is formed in an upper part of the water tank 1 when a specified amount of water is stored in the water tank 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a circulating water tank power generation apparatus, and more specifically, to a circulating water tank power generation apparatus that generates electricity by generating a strong water current in a flow path placed in a water tank and rotating a water turbine arranged in the flow path. [Background technology]

[0002] A wide variety of generators that use hydraulic power have been proposed and put to practical use, but most of them use the difference in water head, as typified by hydroelectric power plants attached to dams. Since the difference in water head can be created artificially, there are no particular restrictions on where a generator that uses the difference in water head can be installed, although this depends on the scale. However, it cannot be denied that the equipment must be large in order to create the difference in water head.

[0003] In addition, various relatively small hydroelectric generators that utilize natural water flows such as irrigation channels and rivers have been considered (JP 2019-44732 A, JP 2013-189862 A, JP 2013-253577 A). However, in the case of systems that utilize natural water flows such as irrigation channels and rivers, there is little elevation difference in the irrigation channels and rivers, and the water flow speed is not fast, so it is necessary to devise ways to improve power generation efficiency. Needless to say, generators that utilize natural water flows such as irrigation channels and rivers are limited in the locations where they can be installed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2019-44732 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2013-189862 A [Patent Document 3] JP 2013-253577 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As mentioned above, the hydroelectric generators proposed in the past have been large in order to generate the water drop, and are not suitable for general use. In addition, in the case of relatively small generators that utilize the natural water flow of irrigation channels, etc., there is a problem that installation locations are limited.

[0006] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT EMBODIMENT An object of the present invention is to provide a circulating water tank power generation apparatus which is relatively small and can be used in an ordinary home, and can be installed even in places where there are no waterways such as irrigation channels or rivers. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention described in claim 1 for solving the above problem is a circulating water tank power generation device comprising: an atmospheric chamber connected to one side of a sealable water tank, the lower part of which is connected to the water tank; a running water chamber consisting of a plurality of compartments whose volume gradually narrows from the atmospheric chamber side toward the upper part of the other side of the tank; a water wheel disposed near the outlet of the running water chamber; the rotating shaft of the water wheel extended outside the water tank and connected to a generator disposed outside the water tank; and a vacuum pump for reducing the pressure of the air layer that is formed at the upper part of the water tank when a predetermined amount of water is stored in the water tank.

[0008] In one embodiment, the plurality of partitioned chambers communicate with each other via communication holes provided in the lower portions of the adjacent partitioned chambers.

[0009] The lowermost compartment among the compartments has a triangular cross section. In one embodiment, the compartment in which the water turbine is installed is cylindrical.

[0010] In one embodiment, the water provided in the water tank is heavy water. Effect of the Invention

[0011] As described above, the circulating water tank power generation apparatus of the present invention is relatively small and can be used in an ordinary household. As long as there is enough power to initially drive the vacuum pump, thereafter, this can be covered by self-generated power, and any surplus power can be used for other purposes, thereby achieving sufficient energy saving effects. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of a circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] The embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. As shown in the drawings, the circulating water tank power generation device of the present invention comprises an atmospheric chamber 2 connected to the water tank 1 at its lower part on the outside of one side of a sealable water tank 1, a running water chamber 3 consisting of a number of compartments whose volume gradually decreases from the atmospheric chamber 2 side toward the upper part of the other inside surface of the water tank 1, a water wheel 5 disposed near the outlet 4 of the running water chamber 3, a rotating shaft 6 of the water wheel 5 extending outside the water tank 1 and connected to a generator 7 disposed outside the water tank 1, and a vacuum pump 9 for reducing the pressure of an air layer 8 formed in the upper part of the water tank 1 when a predetermined amount of water is supplied into the water tank 1.

[0014] The atmospheric chamber 2 has an open top and communicates with the water tank 1 via a communication hole 12 provided at the bottom. The communication hole 12 may be a single horizontally elongated hole, but is usually a plurality of (e.g., three) circular holes arranged side by side. Preferably, a short pipe is fitted into the circular hole.

[0015] The water flow chamber 3 disposed in the water tank 1 is composed of, for example, a number of compartments 15-19 whose volumes gradually decrease from the atmospheric chamber 2 side toward the upper part of the other side of the inside surface. The compartments are connected to each other at the lower part. In the illustrated example, the water flow chamber 3 is divided into five compartments 15-19, and the bottom surface is a series of inclined surfaces 20. The lower end of the inclined surface 20 is separated from the bottom surface and the inside surface of the water tank 1, whereby a return port 21 for the circulating water leaving the water flow chamber 3 is formed. The water wheel 5 is disposed in the compartment 18 close to the outlet 4. The compartment 19 can be omitted by extending the compartment 18.

[0016] Each compartment is connected to the other compartments through a circular hole formed in the lower part of the partition wall. A short pipe 13 is fitted into the circular hole. The inventors have confirmed the effectiveness of the present invention by fabricating a prototype device in which the water tank 1 is 120 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 60 cm high. In this case, the short pipe 13 used had an aperture of 5 cm (although an aperture of 4 to 6 cm is also acceptable). The length of the short pipe is set so that it protrudes slightly in front and behind the partition wall. There is no size limit to the device according to the present invention, so if the size of the water tank 1 increases, the pipe diameter will change accordingly.

[0017] The width of the compartment 15 adjacent to the atmospheric chamber 2 is set to cover the entire width of the water tank 1 (both ends are fixed to the inner surface of the water tank 1), and it is preferable that the longitudinal section is triangular. This is to cause a strong downward flow along the inclined surface of the circulating water containing a lot of bubbles, as described later. Since both sides of the compartment 15 are fixed to the inner surface of the water tank 1, the circulating water flows into the compartment 15 only from the bottom, i.e., the return port 21. The compartments 16 and 17 are box-shaped, and the compartment 16 is formed narrower and lower than the compartment 15, and the compartment 17 is formed narrower and lower than the compartment 16. The compartments 16 and 17 may be formed to have a triangular cross section, like the compartment 15. The compartments 18 and 19 are preferably cylindrical, and both are tapered. As described above, the compartment 19 may be omitted.

[0018] The water wheel 5 can be of any type as long as it can be driven to rotate by the water flow, but for example, a Kaplan water wheel for low head can be used. In that case, the water wheel shaft is parallel to the water flow, so the water wheel shaft is oriented upward or to the side by combining gears, etc.

[0019] When operating the circulating water tank power generation system configured as above, first water is supplied into water tank 1 and a predetermined amount of water is stored. Water can be supplied into water tank 1 by removing the airtight lid, or, although this takes time, water can be supplied into atmospheric chamber 2 and allowed to flow into water tank 1 through communication hole 12. Before the system is operated, the water level in water tank 1 and the water level in atmospheric chamber 2 are the same (see imaginary line in Figure 1), and an air layer 8 is formed above the water surface in water tank 1. Note that the water supplied into water tank 1 may be heavy water. Heavy water has a higher specific gravity than normal water, and is therefore thought to improve the driving efficiency of water wheel 5.

[0020] When the vacuum pump 9 is started after supplying a predetermined amount of water into the water tank 1, there is no significant movement in the water tank 1 at the beginning of the pumping, but as the pressure in the air layer 8 decreases and the pressure on the water decreases, the gas dissolved in the water turns into bubbles and is released into the air layer 8, the water level in the water tank 1 rises, and the water in the water flow chamber 3 is drawn into the water tank 1. As a result, the water in the atmosphere chamber 2, which is under atmospheric pressure, is drawn into the water tank 1 through the communication hole 12 and the water level drops (see the solid line in Figure 1), and eventually the water level in the atmosphere chamber 2 falls below the communication hole 12, and most of the water in the atmosphere chamber 2 moves into the water tank 1. From then on, unless the pressure in the air layer 8 increases, only the air is sucked into the water tank 1 through the communication hole 12 and mixes with the water, rising rapidly as bubbles. Since no new water is supplied to water tank 1, the original amount of stored water thereafter circulates within water tank 1 while mixing with the air sucked in through communication hole 12.

[0021] The flow rate in the water flow chamber 3 is initially slow, but as the pressure in the air layer 8 decreases and the water level rises, the movement of the stored water in the water tank 1 becomes more active, and the water flow rate in the water flow chamber 3 increases. That is, in the lowest compartment chamber 15, the air in the atmospheric chamber 2 that has been drawn in through the communication hole 12 mixes with the circulating water returning from the return port 21 and forms air bubbles that rise rapidly, promoting the inflow of circulating water from the return port 21.

[0022] As the pressure inside the sealed compartment chamber 15 increases, the circulating water that flows in from the return port 21 is pushed down along the inclined surface of the compartment chamber 15 and flows through the short pipe 13 into the adjacent compartment chamber 16. When the pressure inside the air layer 8 is further reduced and the discharge of the circulating water from the compartment chambers 17-19 beyond is accelerated, the compartment chambers 16-19 are successively placed in a negative pressure state, and the movement of the circulating water from the compartment chamber 15 to the compartment chamber 16 is accordingly promoted. The same applies to the movement of the circulating water between the subsequent compartment chambers.

[0023] Similarly, in compartment chamber 16, the circulating water containing many air bubbles that flows in through short pipe 13 rises, is drawn down by short pipe 13 at the bottom of the next compartment chamber 17, and flows from short pipe 13 into compartment chamber 18. Since compartment chamber 17 has a smaller volume than compartment chamber 16, the water flow in compartment chamber 17 moves faster than the water flow in compartment chamber 16. In this way, the circulating water passing through compartment chambers 15-17, whose volumes are gradually narrowing, moves forward while moving like a wave and passes through compartment chamber 18.

[0024] In the compartment chamber 18, the water wheel 5 is rotated by the water flow with increased flow rate, and then the circulating water gushes out from the compartment chamber 19 at the end, and many air bubbles separate from the circulating water and are released into the air layer 8. The circulating water from which the air bubbles have been separated after leaving the compartment chamber 19 also descends, passing under the inclined surface 20 toward the return port 21, where it mixes with the air sucked in from the atmospheric chamber 2. The underside of the inclined surface 20 gradually narrows toward the return port 21, so the water flows into the compartment chamber 19 from the return port 21 with an increased flow rate.

[0025] As the air layer 8 is depressurized, the water flow as described above is generated in the water tank 1. As the air layer 8 is depressurized, the water flow speed increases, and after the water is ejected from the outlet 4, air bubbles separate and begin to foam violently. The rotation speed of the water wheel 5 increases accordingly, and the amount of electricity generated by the generator also increases, until it becomes possible to supply enough electricity to drive the vacuum pump 9. Thereafter, the power to drive the vacuum pump 9 is supplied by the power from the generator 7, and the surplus power can be used for other purposes. Therefore, the power required to drive the vacuum pump 9 in the initial stage is sufficient to drive the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention. Once surplus power is generated, the reduced pressure state is maintained. [Industrial Applicability]

[0026] As described above, the circulating water tank power generation apparatus of the present invention is relatively small and can be used in an ordinary household. As long as there is electricity to initially drive the vacuum pump, the power can thereafter be supplied by self-generation, and any surplus electricity can be used for other purposes. As such, it provides sufficient energy savings and has great industrial applicability. [Explanation of symbols]

[0027] 1. Aquarium 2. Atmospheric chamber 3 Running water room 4 Outlet 5. Waterwheel 6 Rotation Axis 7. Generator 8 Air Layer 9. Vacuum Pump 12 Communication hole 13 Short Pipe 15~19 compartments 20 Slope 21 Return Entrance

Claims

1. A circulating water tank power generation system comprising: an atmospheric chamber connected to one side of a sealable water tank, the lower part of which is connected to the water tank; a running water chamber consisting of a plurality of compartments whose volume gradually narrows from the atmospheric chamber side toward the upper part of the other side of the tank; a water wheel disposed near the outlet of the running water chamber; the rotating shaft of the water wheel extended outside the water tank and connected to a generator disposed outside the water tank; and a vacuum pump for reducing the pressure of the air layer that is formed in the upper part of the water tank when a predetermined amount of water is stored in the water tank.

2. 2. The circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein adjacent compartments among the plurality of compartments are connected to each other via communication holes provided in the lower portions of the compartments.

3. 2. The water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lowermost compartment among the compartments has a triangular cross section.

4. 2. The circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the compartment in which the water turbine is installed is a cylindrical body.

5. 2. The circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the water supplied into the water tank is heavy water.

Images