Circulating water tank power generation system

Abstract

The objective is to provide a circulating water tank power generation system that is relatively small, can be used in ordinary households, and can be installed even in places without waterways such as irrigation canals or rivers. [Solution] An air pressurizing chamber 2 is provided at one end of a water tank 1, which is covered with a sealed lid, and a blower pump is connected to it. An air separation chamber 3, which has an open bottom, is connected to the air pressurizing chamber 1. An inclined partition plate 5 is provided that divides the inside of the water tank 1 vertically, with an upward slope from the bottom of the air separation chamber 3 and flow openings 6 and 7 formed at the upper and lower ends. A submersible pump is positioned on the upper surface of the partition plate 5, and an underwater pumping pipe extending from it and an external pumping pipe extending from the pump to the outside of the water tank 1 below the inclined partition plate 5 merge and head towards a turbine generator 16. The water flow that rotates the turbine 17 is returned to the underside of the inclined partition plate 5 through a return pipe 18 that extends straight down from the turbine generator 16.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a circulating water tank power generation device. More specifically, it relates to a circulating water tank power generation device that generates a circulating water flow in a water tank and uses the water pumped by pumps installed inside and outside the water tank to generate electricity with a waterwheel generator installed outside the water tank.

Background Art

[0002] A variety of generators that utilize hydraulic power have been proposed and put into practical use. Most of them utilize the water head, such as those represented by hydroelectric power plants attached to dams. Since the water head can be artificially created, generators that utilize the water head are not particularly restricted in terms of installation location, although it depends on their scale. However, it is undeniable that the device becomes large in order to create a water head.

[0003] In addition, relatively small hydraulic generators that utilize natural water flows such as service water channels and rivers have also been considered (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-44732, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-189862, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-253577). However, in the case of a system that utilizes natural water flows such as service water channels and rivers, there is not much height difference in the service water channels and rivers, and the water flow speed is not fast. Therefore, measures are required to improve the power generation efficiency. Needless to say, generators that utilize natural water flows such as service water channels and rivers are limited in terms of installation location.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] As mentioned above, conventionally proposed hydroelectric generators are large in order to create a sufficient water drop, making them unsuitable for general use. Furthermore, smaller generators that utilize natural water flows such as irrigation canals have the problem of being limited in terms of installation locations.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a circulating water tank power generation device that is relatively small, can be used in ordinary households, can be installed even in places without waterways such as irrigation canals or rivers, can operate if there is enough power to initially drive the drive unit, can run on self-generated power for subsequent operation, and can use surplus power for other purposes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The invention described in claim 1, which solves the above problem, is provided in which an air pressurized chamber is provided at one end of a water tank covered with a sealed lid, and a blower pump is connected to it. An air separation chamber is provided in connection with the air pressurizing chamber, the air separation chamber having an open bottom and communicating with the air pressurizing chamber via a water inlet provided on the lower side surface of the air pressurizing chamber. An inclined partition plate is provided that slopes upward from the lower side of the air separation chamber toward the inner surface opposite the water tank, thereby dividing the inside of the water tank vertically. A ventilation opening is formed at the upper and lower ends of the inclined partition plate, and the ventilation opening formed at the lower end is positioned to face the bottom opening of the air separation chamber. A submersible pump is mounted on the upper surface of the inclined partition plate, and an underwater pumping pipe extending from it penetrates the side wall of the tank above the inclined partition plate and extends outside the tank. Furthermore, a pumping port is formed in the side wall of the tank below the inclined partition plate, and a pumping pump is installed outside the tank in that section. An external pumping pipe extending from there merges with the underwater pumping pipe and forms a confluence pipe leading to a turbine-type generator located on the sealed lid of the tank. This is a circulating water tank power generation device characterized in that the water flow supplied to the turbine-type generator through the confluence pipe and used to rotate the turbine is returned from the turbine-type generator through a return pipe that penetrates the sealed lid and goes downward to the lower side of the inclined partition plate.

[0008] In one embodiment, the confluence pipe is widened in diameter midway and narrowed in diameter just before reaching the inlet to the turbine-type generator.

[0009] In one embodiment, an exhaust pipe is installed on the top surface of the air separation chamber, extending upward through the sealed lid and opening to the atmosphere. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention is relatively small and can be used in ordinary households. If there is electricity to initially drive pumps such as blower pumps, the power can be supplied by self-generation thereafter, and surplus electricity can be used for other purposes, thus achieving a significant energy-saving effect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] A schematic perspective view of one embodiment of the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention (with the sealed lid removed). [Figure 3] This is a plan view of the inclined partition plate in the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a cross-sectional view along line AA in Figure 1. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention has an air pressurizing chamber 2 connected to a blower pump 20 at one end of a water tank 1 covered with a sealed lid 15, and an air separation chamber 3 is connected to the air pressurizing chamber 2, which has an open bottom and communicates with the air pressurizing chamber 2 via a water inlet 2a provided at the bottom of the air pressurizing chamber 2. An exhaust pipe 3b extending outside the sealed lid 15 and opening to the atmosphere is installed on the top surface of the air separation chamber 3. For example, three water inlets 2a are arranged in a row (see Figure 4). In addition, if necessary, an auxiliary chamber 4 is provided in the air separation chamber 3 and communicates with the air separation chamber 3 via a water inlet 3a provided at the bottom of the air separation chamber 3.

[0013] Furthermore, an inclined partition plate 5 is installed, sloping upward from the lower side of the air separation chamber 3 toward the opposite inner surface of the tank 1, thereby dividing the inside of the tank 1 vertically. Typically, the air pressurization chamber 2, the air separation chamber 3, and the auxiliary chamber 4 extend across the entire width of the tank 1 (with both ends fixed to the inner surface of the tank 1).

[0014] The lower end of the inclined partition plate 5 abuts against the side wall of the air pressurization chamber 2, and its upper end abuts against the inner surface 1a of the water tank 1. The inclined partition plate 5 has a large flow opening 6 at its lower end facing the bottom opening of the air separation chamber 3, and a smaller flow opening 7 than the flow opening 6 is formed at its upper end abutting against the inner surface 1a of the water tank 1 (see Figure 3).

[0015] A submersible pump 8 is installed in the area adjacent to the auxiliary chamber 4 on the upper surface of the inclined partition plate 5, and a submersible pumping pipe 9 extending from the submersible pump 8 penetrates the side wall of the tank 1 above the inclined partition plate 5 and extends outside the tank 1. In addition, a pumping port 10 is drilled into the side wall of the tank 1 below the inclined partition plate 5, and a pumping pump 11 is installed outside the tank at that point. As described above, the reason why the passage opening 7 is smaller than the passage opening 6 is that the amount of water pumped by the pumping pump 11 is greater than that of the submersible pump 8, so the amount of water that sprays up from the passage opening 7 is less than the amount of water supplied from the passage opening 6.

[0016] The out-of-tank pumping pipe 12 extending from the pumping pump 11 merges with the underwater pumping pipe 9 and is united into a merged pipe 13. The merged pipe 13 is connected to a waterwheel generator 16 arranged on the sealed lid 15 of the water tank 1. The merged pipe 13 is enlarged in diameter in the middle thereof (enlarged diameter portion 14) and reduced in diameter in front of the entrance to the waterwheel generator 16 (reduced diameter portion 14a). A return pipe 18 for dropping the water that has driven the waterwheel 17 directly downward is vertically provided on the waterwheel generator 16. The lower end of the return pipe 18 opens facing downward from the opening 5a formed in the inclined partition plate 5 to the lower side of the inclined partition plate 5. A water supply valve 21, a drain valve 22, and a water level adjustment valve 23 are installed in the water tank 1.

[0017] Next, the operation of the circulating water tank power generation device having the above configuration will be described. First, when the water supply valve 20 is opened to supply water into the water tank 1, the water fills the lower side of the inclined partition plate 5 while rising from the through-flow opening 6 and flows into the upper side of the inclined partition plate 5, the air separation chamber 3, the air pressurization chamber 2, and the auxiliary chamber 4. Eventually, it also rises from the through-flow opening 7 and fills the upper side of the inclined partition plate 5. Then, when a predetermined water level is reached, the water supply valve 21 is closed, and no more water supply is performed thereafter. At this point, the entire inside of the water tank 1, including the air pressurization chamber 2 and the air separation chamber 3, has the same water level. Note that at this point, air remains in the merged pipe 13.

[0018] Here, when the blower pump 20, the underwater pump 8, and the pumping pump 11 are operated, the air pressure in the air pressurization chamber 2 increases due to the air sent by the blower pump 20, the water surface is pressed, and a lot of air mixes into the water. The air mixed into the water becomes bubbles and is pressure-fed to the air separation chamber 3 together with the water through the water passage 2a. As a result, the internal pressure in the air separation chamber 3 increases, the water level in the exhaust pipe 3b rises, and the dissolved air escapes through the exhaust pipe 3b and is released into the atmosphere. Also, the internal pressure in the air separation chamber 3 acts on the inner ceiling surface, but due to the reaction force and the force due to the inflow pressure from the water passage 2a, the water in the air separation chamber 3 is pressure-fed from the open bottom surface through the through-flow opening 6 of the inclined partition plate 5 to the lower side of the inclined partition plate 5.

[0019] In this way, the air (bubbles) dissolved in water in the air separation chamber 3 rises in the exhaust pipe 3b, undergoes gas-liquid separation, and is continuously released into the atmosphere. The reason for separating and releasing the air here is that not only does the air dissolved in water in large amounts due to the pumping of air in the air pressurization chamber 2 reduce the flow velocity of the water flow, but it may also have an adverse effect on the rotational drive of the waterwheel 17 described later.

[0020] An auxiliary chamber 4, which is a sealed space, may be provided and communicate with the air separation chamber 3 through a water passage opening 3a provided at the lower part of the outer surface of the air separation chamber 3. Water containing a large amount of air in the air separation chamber 3 once flows into the auxiliary chamber 4 through the water passage opening 3a. Here, the air contained in the water separates and accumulates in the upper part, and eventually returns to the air separation chamber 3 and rises, being released into the atmosphere from the exhaust pipe 3b.

[0021] Since the space below the inclined partition plate 5 gradually widens from the through-flow opening 6 towards the through-flow opening 7, the water flow pumped from the air separation chamber 3 through the through-flow opening 6 flows towards the wide through-flow opening 7 on the opposite side. After spraying onto the inclined partition plate 5 from the through-flow opening 7 at the upper end of the inclined partition plate 5, it flows downward along the inclined partition plate 5.

[0022] As the underwater pump 8 and the pumping pump 11 operate, the water above the inclined partition plate 5 is pumped by the underwater pump 8 and flows into the confluence pipe 13 through the underwater pumping pipe 9. Also, the water below the inclined partition plate 5 is pumped out by the pumping pump 11 and flows into the confluence pipe 13 through the out-of-tank pumping pipe 12, and merges with the water flow sent from the underwater pumping pipe 9. The merged water is forced to rise in the confluence pipe 13 and acts to push out the residual air in the confluence pipe 13.

[0023] The pushed-out air is sent from the turbine-type generator 16 through the return pipe 18 to the underside of the inclined partition plate 5, where it mixes with the water. Some of it rises along the back surface of the inclined partition plate 5, passes through the passage opening 7, separates from the water, and mixes into the air layer 19 at the top of the water tank 1. Some of the air also descends and enters the air separation chamber 3 through the passage opening 6, then rises and is released into the atmosphere through the exhaust pipe 3b.

[0024] After the residual air is pushed out, the confluence pipe 13 is filled with confluence water from the underwater pumping pipe 9 and the outside pumping pipe 12. The confluence water is then pushed up to the upper end of the confluence pipe 13, and then, biased by the drop in elevation and pump pressure, it descends and flows into the turbine generator 16. There is an enlarged diameter section 14 with a large flow path cross-sectional area along the way, and beyond that there is a narrowed diameter section 14a with a small flow path cross-sectional area. As a result, the water flow, whose force is increased in the narrowed diameter section 14a, flows towards the turbine 17 of the turbine generator 16, efficiently driving the turbine 17 to rotate.

[0025] The combined water that drives the turbine 17 flows down through the return pipe 18 with force to the underside of the inclined partition plate 5. As a result, a negative pressure is created around the turbine 17, drawing in the water in the reduced-diameter section 14a and further boosting it. This increases the rotational driving force of the water flow on the turbine 17, and the synergistic effect of the widened-diameter section 14 and the narrowed-diameter section 14a makes it possible to rotate the turbine 17 at a sufficiently high speed, thereby enabling efficient power generation.

[0026] The water that flows down through the return pipe 18 and to the underside of the inclined partition plate 5 flows towards the passage opening 6, and some of it flows back into the air separation chamber 3 from the passage opening 6, and further back into the air pressurization chamber 2, where it is pushed back again by the action of the blower pump 20. Thus, the water in the air pressurization chamber 2 and the air separation chamber 3 circulates through the water tank 1 and thereafter circulates along the same path.

[0027] As the rotational speed of the turbine 17 increases and the amount of power generated by the turbine generator 16 increases, the turbine generator 16 will eventually be able to supply the power necessary to drive the underwater pumping pipe 9 and the pumping pump 11. From then on, the power to drive each pump can be supplied by the power from the generator 16, and the surplus power can be used for other purposes. In other words, the circulating water tank power generation system according to the present invention can continue to operate using only the power to drive each pump in the initial stages. [Industrial applicability]

[0028] As described above, the circulating water tank power generation device according to the present invention is relatively small and can be used in ordinary households. If there is power to initially drive the vacuum pump, the power can be supplied by self-generation thereafter, and the surplus power can be used for other purposes, thus achieving a sufficient energy-saving effect and having great potential for industrial use. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0029] 1 Aquarium 2. Air pressurization chamber 2a,3a water outlet 3. Air separation chamber 3b Exhaust pipe 5. Inclined partition plate 6,7 Flow opening 9. Underwater pumping pipe 10 Pumping outlet 11. Pumping pump 12. External pumping pipe 13 Junction pipe 14 Expanded diameter part 14a Reduced diameter part 15 Sealing lid 16. Hydroelectric generator 17 Waterwheel 18 Return pipe 19 Air layer 20 Blower pump

Claims

1. An air pressurized chamber, to which a blower pump is connected, is provided at one end of the tank, which is covered with a sealed lid. An air separation chamber is provided in connection with the air pressurizing chamber, the air separation chamber having an open bottom and communicating with the air pressurizing chamber via a water inlet provided on the lower side surface of the air pressurizing chamber. An inclined partition plate is provided that slopes upward from the lower side of the air separation chamber toward the inner surface opposite the water tank, thereby dividing the inside of the water tank vertically. A ventilation opening is formed at the upper and lower ends of the inclined partition plate, and the ventilation opening formed at the lower end is positioned to face the bottom opening of the air separation chamber. A submersible pump is mounted on the upper surface of the inclined partition plate, and an underwater pumping pipe extending from it penetrates the side wall of the tank above the inclined partition plate and extends outside the tank. Furthermore, a pumping port is formed in the side wall of the tank below the inclined partition plate, and a pumping pump is installed outside the tank in that section. An external pumping pipe extending from there merges with the underwater pumping pipe and forms a confluence pipe leading to a turbine-type generator located on the sealed lid of the tank. A circulating water tank power generation device characterized in that the water flow supplied to the turbine-type generator through the confluence pipe and used to rotate the turbine is returned from the turbine-type generator through a return pipe that penetrates the sealed lid and extends downward to the lower side of the inclined partition plate.

2. The circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the confluence pipe is widened in diameter midway and narrowed in diameter just before the inlet to the water turbine generator.

3. The circulating water tank power generation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an exhaust pipe is installed on the top surface of the air separation chamber, extending upward through the sealed lid and opening to the atmosphere.

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